Communication is Key
If you ever have a question or concern about how your child is doing in class, please contact me so we can work together to find the best possible solution. Since we only have voicemail, you will probably reach me faster by email: lbennett@naperville203.org.

Inquiry-Based Learning
Our class will be learning primarily by doing labs and activities and through whole-class discussion rather than taking notes on direct lectures. This will help them tie everything they've learned this year together, and better prepare them for the type of problem-solving required in college and beyond. Summary notes will be posted for each unit on the web page and are also available on request for students without internet access at home.

Extra Study Sessions. I have weekly review sessions on Monday-Thursday mornings 7:15-7:40 in Room 89 and Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:15 to 4:00 in Room 94. We cover everything from lecture review to labs to test-taking strategies. No appointments needed - all my students are welcome!

Decoding I-Parent
If you see an "E" or an "N/A" by an assignment that means the assignment was excused because 1) it was an optional enrichment, 2) it was excused for an absence or extended illness. An "M" means the assignment is missing and needs to be made up. Students typically have two days after an excused absence to make up work, a quiz or test before it becomes a permanent "0" in the grade book. Please note: igrade has its glitches, and sometimes it automatically assigns a "0"/F for missing work not related to an absence. I try very hard to monitor all grades, but if one slips by please let me know ASAP so I can adjust it.

"Why study science?" students ask me. Because without science, I tell them, there is nothing. No food, no air, no music, no cars, no computers, no life. Science touches everything we do and shapes everything we are. It's an exciting, living, breathing, ever-changing subject that once one looks beyond the definitions and equations has the power to inspire awe in even the most skeptical students.

My goal as a teacher is to open the door to the wonders of science; let students discover the beauty of a chemical reaction, the mysteries of the earth and sky, and the role the scientific method plays in their everyday lives. The ability to solve problems and think critically empowers students whether they ultimately become scientists, business moguls, or artists. I try to build three things into every lesson plan - 1) the science, 2) practical applications, and 3) the keys to studying the material effectively. I want your students to feel comfortable learning and enjoy their time in the classroom! I hope you find the material on this website both helpful and enjoyable. Please contact me anytime and let me know how I can help you and your student.

My background:
I spent close to three years at Niles North H.S. and Niles West H.S. working as a substitute teacher, science lab technician, and full-time chemistry teacher. I also taught chemistry, geology, and physical science at Fremd H.S. I completed my Bachelor of Science at U of I Urbana, and my Masters of Arts in Teaching at National-Louis University. I am currently a committee sponsor for the American Chemistry Association (Education Committee), print newsletter editor for ChemWest, and lead instructor for the DuPage area Boy Scouts Chemistry Merit Badge program. I am proud and excited to be part of the Naperville Central science team!

"The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them."

-William Bragg, Sr.

Does your child need extra help?
Study Sessions
M-Th Mornings 7:15-7:40 in Room 89
and Tu, Th afternoons 3:10-4:00 in Room 94*

iparent

*I am also in the LRC Tuesday afternoons from 3:30-4:30.
 

I believe in blending science and creativity. Listen to what my past students have created for extra credit:

The Mole Song

A Whole New Molecule

Lab Safety