FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS
Taylor Kaar, Science Department Chair While Taylor Kaar says he has been paid to teach in one form or another since the age of 14, he has 11 years of “traditional classroom teaching” experience, all at Laurel where he teaches physics. Mr. Kaar’s passion for science stems from his parents and their devotion to exposing him to the myriad forms of science from a young age. “Paleontology and ecology were early loves of mine. From there physics and astronomy became big passions by middle school. All of this was fed by a healthy diet of science fiction literature, which helped expand the bounds of what I thought was possible while I was still learning the fundamentals.” When talking about the philosophy behind the teaching of science at Laurel, Mr. Kaar says, “Our job is to help foster a curiosity about the world around us, how it works, how humans have impacted it, and how we can continue to improve it. In all grades, the most important thing is handson exposure to scientific phenomena.” While this looks very different across K-12, the approach is steady. “Laurel teachers all approach our scientists with respect for and
genuine interest in what they are thinking and how they are approaching an experience,” he said. “This helps to foster a brave learning environment where students are more willing to experiment and be wrong.” Science is a collaborative effort— one where we instill a mindset of sharing and communicating ideas to improve one’s understanding. When it comes to science, there is no better example of the authentic implementation of LCRG research than what takes place at Laurel’s Butler Campus. Mr. Kaar commented, “In Grades 3-5, students are continuously confronted with authentic learning environments through the outdoor campus. Third Grade studies macroinvertebrates and has to struggle with the challenges of using life research specimens. Fourth Grade's dynamic use of both the garden and the high tunnel helps students understand that just because you put in the work and do everything ‘right’, sometimes you don’t get the results you hope for. In turn, this process helps grow their understanding, iterate on their designs, and improve their process as they go. Fifth Grade’s collaborative and crosscurricular lessons on Indigenous peoples help students to see that science is a binding understanding of the world around us and the interactions that both connect us and miss us.”
Highlights | WINTER 2023
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