2 min read
Hawaii teacher discusses teaching strategy with project-based learning.
Mia-Pia Cummins shares her journey as a middle school science teacher, tackling curriculum challenges and emphasizing hands-on learning and adaptability in education. She discusses the beauty and challenge of teaching in such a rural area like she is in Hawaii. Mia-Pia discusses the challenges she faces as a middle school science teacher, particularly with curriculum choices and state standards. She highlights the importance of having flexibility in teaching materials and the need for mixed media, including printed resources, to cater to different learning styles. Mia-Pia emphasizes the value of allowing students to make mistakes and engage in hands-on learning experiences. Additionally, Mia-Pia and Dave discuss the frustrations teachers encounter with mandated curricula and the importance of adapting to students' needs. Throughout the conversation, they underscore the necessity of empowering teachers with the autonomy to choose and customize their instructional materials.
They dig into differences in different learning environments and cultures stemming from Mia-Pia’s experience growing up in Europe. They emphasize the importance of allowing students to make mistakes and encouraging critical thinking in the learning process. Mia-Pia shares her experiences with using Kesler Science materials and the benefits of having access to a diverse range of resources for teaching. They conclude the conversation by expressing their commitment to improving education and finding innovative solutions to address the limitations of the current system.
Hawaii Science Teachers Association: https://hasta.wildapricot.org/
ABOUT Mia-Pia
Aloha,
I’m Mia-Pia Cummins-VanHerreweghe, and I am a 7th-grade Science teacher at Konawaena Middle School in Kealakekua on the Big Island of Hawai’i. I started teaching Math in 2007, and switched to teaching 8th-grade Science in 2012 and 7th-grade Science in 2014. I hold dual licensure for Math and Science 6-12.
My students are a very diverse group of students from various backgrounds and ethnicities. My classes are fully inclusive for both English language learners and Special Education students. My passion is using project-based and culturally relevant learning opportunities for my students while also focusing on NGSS.
I was born and raised in Belgium and attended the KU Leuven Medical School. After leaving the medical field and moving to the US, I obtained my Bachelors of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo, and my Post-Baccalaureate in Secondary Math Education from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, where I also obtained my Master’s of Education in Learning Design and Technology with a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning.
I currently serve as president of the Hawai’i Science Teaching Association, and will be serving as National Science Teaching Association Director for District XVI (California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, Territory of the Pacific Islands) starting this summer.
Before and after school, I work on my farm in South Kona, where I raise various types of chickens, ducks, geese, and sheep. In my spare time I enjoy baking bread.
