About Wcbpolish
editLocation
editI was born and raised near Greenville, Michigan, and attended college at Cornerstone University from August 2002-May 2007. I taught science (6-12) as well as health, PE, math, and consumer life skills in Chefornak, Alaska from August 2007-May 2009. After leaving Alaska, I taught middle school science (6-8) at Emmanuel Christian School near Toledo, Ohio. Because my fiancée (now wife) was a Ph.D. student at the Mayo Clinic, I moved to Minnesota to be near her, and we lived in Rochester, MN for several years (2010-2016) Most recently, I am employed by Grand Rapids Public Schools and we are living back home "on the farm."
Work Experience
editSecondary Science Teacher
- Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids, MI August 31, 2016 -
Chemistry and Biology Teacher
- Kasson-Mantorville School District, Kasson, MN August 2012 – July 2016
- Taught courses in Chemistry, General Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Science.
- Provided an academically challenging classroom environment for all students, while providing scaffolding for students struggling with content.
- Planned and supervised a variety of hands on activities including wet labs and field labs.
- Fostered the integration of academic and “real-world” concepts by facilitating dialog between students and community experts.
- Improved student achievement through lesson collaboration as part of the science department’s Professional Learning Community.
- Assisted in the planning and promotion of inter-district activities and services as a member of the Zumbro Education District Advisory Council from 2013 through 2016.
- Received recognition as Rochester Post-Bulletin’s Teacher of the Month in January 2015 and tenure after 3rd year of service.
Sales Associate
- Rochester Fish and Pets
- Provided information about and demonstrated animal care
- Assisted customers in choosing the right care or food product for their needs
- Ran cash register
- Stocked and Faced shelves utilizing FIFO principles
Daily and Long Term Substitute Teacher
- Rochester Area School Districts: August 2011 – July 2012
- Rochester, Kasson-Mantorville, Dover-Eyota, Stewartville, & Rochester Central Lutheran
- Managed student behavior and maintained a safe classroom environment.
- Presented lessons prepared by classroom teachers.
Part Time Biology Teacher/Lunchroom Aide/ECFE Classroom Aide/M.S. Gifted and Talented Teacher
- Montgomery-Lonsdale Schools, Montgomery, Minnesota August 2010 - June 2011
- Created and Implemented content-rich lessons for 10th grade biology students.
- Developed middle school enrichment programs to engage students in scientific pursuits such as a regional ISEF science fair.
- Maintained a safe and inviting school environment for students of all ages as a lunchroom monitor, an ECFE aide, and a positive adult role model.
Seasonal Farm Hand
- Pine Flat Farms, Trufant, Michigan Summers 2000 - 2007, 2009 - 2010
- Operated farm machinery, moved and prepared irrigation equipment.
Middle School Science Teacher
- Emmanuel Christian School, Toledo, Ohio August 2009 - June 2010
- Designed and implemented lessons for general, life, and earth science courses.
- Facilitated hands-on activities such as leaf collections, science fair projects, and lab activities.
- Coordinated lab use and maintenance with other science faculty.
- Promoted student involvement in community programs such as the ZOOTeen volunteer program and the ExxonMobil summer science camp.
Secondary Science Teacher
- Lower Kuskokwim School District, Bethel, Alaska August 2007 – May 2009
- Designed and implemented lessons to ELL students.
- Assessed whether learning objectives had been met.
- Maintained and ordered lab supplies and curriculum resources.
Student Teaching
- Tri County Area Schools, Sand Lake, Michigan January 2007 – May 2007
- Taught units in earth science and biology.
- Developed activities to promote learning in regular and inclusion high school science classes.
Foodservice Aide
- Spectrum Health United Memorial Hospital, Greenville, Michigan January 2007 – July 2007
- Prepared and served food to residents in the Long Term Care Unit.
Zookeeper Aide
- John Ball Zoo, Grand Rapids, Michigan June 2006-September 2006
- Prepared animal diets according to written and verbal directions.
- Cleaned enclosures while following safety protocol.
- Interacted with zoo guests to promote a positive experience.
Custodian/Housekeeping
- Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan September 2002 – December 2006
- Cleaned Van Osdel Hall, reported safety and maintenance concerns.
Zoology Laboratory Assistant
- Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan January 2006 – May 2006
- Maintained lab facilities and supplies such as microscopes and preserved specimens.
- Organized transportation for field studies.
- Prepared and presented material under the guidance of instructor.
Foodservice Assistant
- Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan September 2004 – December 2005
- Washed dishes, arranged ready to eat items, maintained an orderly dishroom.
Leadership and Volunteer Involvement:
editSchool Science Fairs 2006 – 2016
- Judged middle and high school science fair projects at Algoma Christian School.
- Organized the Chaputnguak science fair, grades 3-8.
- Assisted with science fair preparation at Emmanuel Christian School, grades 8-10
First Lego League Robotics Competition 2008 – 2009
- Initiated and coached the Chaputnguak “RoboShamans” team.
- Co-coached the Emmanuel Christian “Warriors” team.
Michigan 4-H 2002 – 2007
- Taught monthly lessons for the Sidney Lakers 4-H club.
- Presented seminars and judged poultry activities in several counties.
- Strengthened the poultry program in Montcalm County.
Rockford Freshman Center Fall 2006
- Tutored freshman students in math and science.
- Provided bi-weekly mentoring to at risk students.
Michigan Science Olympiad Spring 2005
- Created, moderated, and assessed an event held at Montcalm Community college.
- Directing students to event locations.
Community Rebuilders 2003 – 2004
- Interacted with elementary students by playing board games and reading stories.
- Motivated at-risk students to achieve academic, social, and personal growth.
Technology Familiarity
editOperating Systems
- Familiar with both Windows and Macintosh
Gradebook Programs
- Engrade
- RenWeb
- JMC
- Infinite Campus
Other Programs
- Microsoft office
- PowerPoint
- Word
- Excel
- Google Applications:
- Google Documents
- Google Sheets
- Google Presentations
- Google Forms
- SkillsTutor Online
- FirstClass
- TANDBERG videoconferencing
- PowToon
Hobbies
editI enjoy reading, a few video games (no time for this in my life anymore!), and my biggest hobby was raising fancy poultry. I have recently began raising Blattodea sp.
Pages that are in progress and I intend to edit or that I intend to create:
Authors I enjoy
editBooks I enjoy
editLinks
editClass Links
edit- Graph Paper
- filamentality
- Skills Tutor
- Diffen- a compare and contrast website
- Scale of the universe
- Chemistry Matters - Student Webpage
- Christian Educator's Association International
- Jason Neil's Stuff
Science Current Events
editChemistry
edit- Flinn Lab Safety Video
- Absorb Chemistry - the only tutorial I have looked at thus far is the Hard Water one.
- ChemFiesta - lots of great worksheets
- Khan Academy Videos
- BBC Elements Podcasts
- Blank set of 4 orbital diagrams
Chem Comm Water Unit
editPhysics
editEnvironmental Science
edit- Power Up Alt energy Game
- C&EN Speaking of Chemistry videos- Env. topics
- How Big Is that Tree Teachers Guide
- How Big Is that Tree Worksheet
- DIY Skills badge - Idea for Environmental Science?
Life Science
edit- Upper Peninsula Tree Key
- USFWS Endangered Plants of the Midwest
- Ecological Succession
- Commoner's Laws of Ecology
- Letter 'e' Lab
- Letter 'e' Lab
- Say it with DNA activity
- Say it with DNA activity (another version)
- Bird songs
Anatomy
editEarth Science
edit- Permafrost Outreach UAF
- What's up with the Weather Graphing Activity
- American Meteorological Society Data
- Solar system Model
- THEMIS Mars
- Biomes
- World Calendars
Personal Links
editLanguage and Vocabulary
edit- [Prefixes]
- [suffixes]
- List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes
- Greek and Latin roots in English
- Latin Name Meanings
- Latin Words
- MSU word roots
Yup'ik
edit- Yupik Dictionary
- Uyaquk
- Blog from Kong
- Making Mukluks
- making moccasins- good patterns
- Documentary: The Yup'ik Way
- Yup'ik Central Eskimo Language Guide and More
- List of Yup'ik words
- Yup'ik wikipedia!!
- Yup'ik Exhibit at the Anchorage Museum
- Blog about CYF
- Video of Joe Avugiak
- Flickr of Felix and Rose
- Yup'ik Words
- Yup'ik Names
- Yup'ik Stories
- this page has a reading of some of the Bible in Yupik
Church Stuff
editGeneral Church
edit- Meal Prayers
- Types of Crosses
- The Role of Women in the Church
- Women's Ordination
- Mars Hill Church (Seattle)
- Infant Baptism
- Working out Salvation- John Wesley Sermon
- Solo/Sola Scriptura
- Metrical Psalms
- metrical psalms
- Weird Christians (smells and bells)
Online Bibles
edit- Skeptics Annotated Bible
- Blue Letter Bible
- English Standard Version
- King James (see quizzes for each chapter)
- ESV BoCP Devotions
- Mr. Nick Reading the Gospel of John
- Bible Comics
- Psalms in Comic Form
Denominations
editReformed
editLutheran
edit- Society for Lutheran Liturgy
- St. Augustine's House Lutheran Monastery
- Lutheran Order of Matins
- Common service book of the Lutheran Church 1917
- LSB Music
- More scans of LSB hymns from Hymnary.org
- Music Files linked to LSB page numbers
- Lutheran Service Book Sampler .pdf
- Book of Concord Online
- St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster, MN
- Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN
- Around the Word Devotions
- Daily Bible Meditation
- Lutheran Public Radio
- Faith Lutheran Church Video Lectures
- Withertongue
- Concordia Seminary Chapel
- Pr. Donovan Riley
- Banned Books Podcast
Evangelical Covenant
edit- Set Theory in Christianity
- Bounded and Centered Sets in Christianity
- Mission Friends- Membership Class booklet for ECC
- ECC in Alaska
- History of the ECC
Baptist
edit- Community Baptist Church (New Prague)
- Emmanuel Baptist Church (Toledo)
- Converge Worldwide (formerly Baptist General Convention (Swedish roots)
- Northbridge Church
Orthodox
edit- Confession: Protestant --> Orthodox
- Journeys to Orthodoxy
- Orthodox Prayers
- Roads from Emmaus- an Orthodox Blog
Catholic
editAnglican
edit- St. Paul's- the Church I was baptized at
- Solid People- Anglican (Episcopal Missionary Church) Blog
- The Old High Churchman Blog
- BOCP musical settings
- Book of Common Prayer 1928
- Book of Common Prayer - Easy to Use
- Coverdale Psalter- not versified
- Liturgy for Enthronement of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby
- Online Book of Common Prayer
- ACNA Morning and Evening Prayer
- Cradle of Prayer Podcasts - play in browser
- St. George's Anglican Podcasts - play in browser
- Anglican Radio - Plays immediately upon opening
- Traditional REC Resources
- Nashotah House Evensong
- Anglican Homilies
- Trinity Mission Daily Offices
Stuff I find interesting
edit- How to Butcher a Pig
- Floating Sheep Maps
- Ambelopoulia
- Sauropod Vertebrate Picture of the Week Blog
- Omniology?
- Zollman Zoo
- Seek Job Opportunities
- Uncyclopedia... for fun
- Recycle gadgets and get $$$
- Mantis Place
- Answers Research Journal
- Polish Breeder's Club
- Stuff Dutch People Like
Personal Links
editRunning
editFoods
edit- Food Nutrients
- Canning foods
- Fry Bread Recipe
- Akutaq
- Falling Fruit - Maps of Urban Harvest
- Rob Green - Freegan
- Grocery Store Waste
Entertainment
edit- Grooveshark
- Pandora Radio
- 98.5 KTIS- Christian Radio Station near the Twin Cities
- WCSG- Christian Radio Station, Grand Rapids, MI
School Links
edit- RENWEB
- Adcore
- Edhelper
- Engrade
- Discovery Education
- Montgomery-Lonsdale ISD #394
- Kasson-Mantorville High School
- LKSD
- Emmanuel Christian
- Christian Educators Association International (Christian Teacher's Union)
- Jobspot