Mary McKinney
Mrs. Mary McKinney
Upper Grade Science
Room 218
Since I was little, learning has always been important to me. During my formative years, I enjoyed putting the time into it and being with my friends at school. When I was older, I was very fortunate to have a teacher who had a passion for science education. I fell into that passion as well, and decided to combine my love for learning and science. Thus begins my 17th year of teaching middle school science.
I attended University of Illinois at Chicago and received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, with a minor in Biology. Soon after, I earned my Masters of Science in Education from National Louis University. Getting my Masters was the best thing I did for my career because I learned how scientists think and work (nature of science), which, in addition to science content, has brought so much value to the classroom.
My science teaching philosophy encompasses bringing together aspects of nature of science, science inquiry, and specific science content within the seventh and eighth grade curriculum at Newberry Academy. The act of investigating and learning as scientists do is as important to the students as what they learn.
I have had many wonderful opportunities to be part of research regarding the development and implementation of lessons using the nature of science to learn science content. As a result, the students are developing a vivid concept of how scientific knowledge is acquired. I have presented a few of these lessons at National Science Teacher Conferences and am a co-author of a piece titled, Teaching Nature of Science Through the Concept of Living, published in Science Scope, a national teachers journal for middle school science.
Lastly, I have two wonderful children: Rowan, seven years and James, three years. I am learning so much from them and enjoying every moment we have together.
