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| Students on 2011 Costa Rica research trip take time out to zip-line the rain forest |
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| Working with Miami University students in Bahamas Tropical Marine Biology course |
This web site is designed for the use of those students in Mr. Gray’s biology classes and the parents of those students. Please check this site frequently for updates about activities and assignments.
Teaching Philosophy
I try to use a variety of presentation techniques to get across the content in the most interesting manner possible. Lectures are usually accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, numerous videos and even games in order to appeal to different learning styles. With the introduction of the one-to-one initiative, there will also be frequent "flipped classroom" activities. In the flipped classroom, students have the opportunity to work on teacher guided activities and assignments in the classroom while viewing and taking notes on video lectures for homework.
Biology is meant to be "Hands-On"
I try to use a variety of presentation techniques to get across the content in the most interesting manner possible. Lectures are usually accompanied by PowerPoint presentations, numerous videos and even games in order to appeal to different learning styles. With the introduction of the one-to-one initiative, there will also be frequent "flipped classroom" activities. In the flipped classroom, students have the opportunity to work on teacher guided activities and assignments in the classroom while viewing and taking notes on video lectures for homework.
Biology is meant to be "Hands-On"
I try to see to it that students have numerous laboratory and other types of activities to see the actual application of what they have learned in lecture and written about in assignments. Typically, students participate in hands-on activities once each week.
Biology is meant to be experienced outdoors
There should be high expectations
Biology is meant to be experienced outdoors
It is impossible to cover all aspects of biology in the survey courses offered in high school. The classroom also presents limited opportunities to see biology. I offer numerous field trips throughout the year to expand the students’ biological horizons. These include a variety of hikes to local sites such as Doe Run, Highlands Cemetery and the Loveland Bicycle Trail (photo). There are also trips to locations such as the Cincinnati Zoo, Cincinnati Natural History Museum, Krohn Conservatory and Newport Aquarium.
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| Students learn ecology on the Loveland Trail |
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| Mr. Gray participating in Cincinnati Museum dinosaur dig in Montana |
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| Raising chicks |
There should be high expectations
As an extension of the academic expectations placed by our parents in their homes we expect NDA girls to “be all that they can be.” It is expected that students will conduct themselves with common courtesy, good manners and integrity in the school. Students are expected to apply their best to all tests, assignments and projects in order to develop a sense of work ethic. In return, I offer a wide variety of opportunities for assessment including extra credit for field trips and retests so that students of varying abilities have the chance to succeed with the application of their best effort.
