Message to Parents Chemistry - The exciting lives of the incredibly tiny.

Chemistry is a fun and exciting branch of science! There is so much to discover and learn about the nature of matter i.e. "stuff", the changes it goes through, and energy in the world around us. There is a lot of new vocabulary to learn. It's almost like learning another language except the grammar is the same. There are intriguing concepts to master, and mathematical skills to be applied to these chemical concepts. Students won't just be able to memorize. Your son/daughter will learn to explain HOW and WHY "stuff" behaves the way it does on the macroscopic and molecular levels. Most importantly, they will be doing Chemistry while learning how to think, problem-solve, collect data, compare & contrast, organize, analyze, hypothesize, summarize, draw conclusions, and then communicate and write clearly about all of this.

Ask your child to teach you the topics they are learning about in class.

While doing chemistry, they will enjoy many demonstrations in class, many of which can be done at home. Be sure and ask your son/daughter to show and explain to you many of the activities they are learning about in class. The best way to learn a subject is to teach it, and if your son/daughter can practice teaching you at home it will exponentially improve their understanding.

How can you help if your child is having difficulty?

Chemistry may be a difficult subject for your child. The most important support that you can give is to provide encouragement to work steady, work hard, and ask questions. Sometimes the most satisfying things in life are those that you have had to work hardest for, and for some students, chemistry may be one of those challenges. Remind them that the teacher (that's me) is on their side and wants them to succeed, and is always ready to help them if they are willing to work at the material to seek understanding.

Please feel free to contact me concerning your child.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would prefer communication by email. Please do not hesitate to contact me at teacher@bluedvilchem.com Or if necessary, call me at school (587-1344x2200). Currently it is best to call between 10:30-12 PM.