1. David P. Benz At Queens Academy High School Background and Educational Objectives

2. David Benz Teaching Background I started teaching SCUBA diving classes for national certification at the YMCA while I was a senior in high school. In 15 years, I certified over 1000 divers at levels from beginning to pre-instructor. My favorite was a certification in Niagara River, High-Speed diving.

3. Diving Experiences I have had the opportunity to SCUBA dive in several Great Lakes, New York’s Finger Lakes, quarries throughout the northeast U.S. & Canada, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. –Fossil collection in limestone quarries is a favorite diving activity.

4. Downhill Skiing Instruction In 1985, I took a skiing-instructors class and began teaching many SCUBA divers to ski. I have been fortunate to ski in the Adirondack Mountains in New York, Colorado and Canadian Rocky Mountains, and the Fitzsimmons Range in British Columbia.

5. Photography Instruction I started teaching underwater photography for specialty certification in 1978. Both SCUBA diving and photography require that you keep track of many variables simultaneously. –Merging the 2 was exciting and fun!

6. Photography Instruction I taught basic photography for many years. A favorite class was “better pictures with disposable cameras” because it taught people how to view the subject artistically instead of concentrating on the mechanics of using a complex camera.

7. Public School Teaching I began teaching in public school during an undergraduate internship at Kensington High School. –I taught Earth Science in one of Buffalo’s most troubled high schools as students prepared for their Regent’s exams.

8. Student Teaching My first student teaching assignment was at Niagara Falls High School; the only high school in the city. –I taught Physics at the regular and honors levels and a class in Advanced- Placement Physics that was offered for college credit.

9. Lancaster Middle My next assignment was 7 th grade physical science. The school was not able to offer lab activities to students, but I provided a wealth of demonstrations to my students.

10. New York City I began teaching in New York in September 2004. I have been teaching Earth Science, Physics, GED Science, and Regent’s Review classes at Queens Academy High School.

11. New York Schools I feel privileged to walk into my classroom each day, and my goal is to generate enthusiasm for science and learning. Instruction is Standards-based, student-centered, and follows the NYS Core Curriculum.

12. Educational Objectives My first and foremost objective is to develop literacy across the curriculum. I make an effort to improve every student’s literacy skills. –My Master’s in “Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages” (TESOL) helps facilitate this goal.

13. Educational Objectives I develop critical thinking skills in my students. I need them to look at something and ask why? or how? –More importantly, they need to be able to perform an investigation of their own design and answer their questions.

14. Educational Objectives My students will be better prepared for life after high school. –They will have the skills to help them perform in a career of their choosing. –Literacy is vitally important to this goal.

15. Educational Objectives My students will feel safe and respected in my classroom. Every student is encouraged to participate to their highest level. A student-centered learning environment is created with myself as the guide.

16. Educational Objectives Cultural diversity is accepted and embraced as an opportunity for greater learning and understanding. Every culture has something to offer to our learning of science.

17. Educational Objectives Gender bias is not permitted in my classroom. –In coed science classes, boys will often lead, while girls observe and follow. –I insist that every student participates fully.

18. Educational Objectives Science instruction includes: literacy, mathematics, history, technology, social studies and even philosophy in addition to the science curriculum. A good science teacher includes something from all the subject areas.

19. The future I will continue to teach in the largest school district in the U.S as long as I am able to bring a fresh approach to science topics each time I cover them.