Episode 44: Phenology-based teaching

With Larry Weber of Kollath-Stensaas Publishing

What is phenology? How does phenology-based teaching work? How does it compare to textbook-based teaching? Naturalist, author, and retired teacher Larry Weber used a phenological approach to teaching for over 25 years with his middle school students, and it opened up endless opportunities for learning and growth. While he adhered less to state standards, Larry was able to help his students foster life skills, much to their benefit. Larry joined us to talk phenology-based teaching and share his insights about spiders and their webs.

Guest:

Larry Weber is a retired teacher of 40 years in middle and high school. For 25, he taught a phenology-based science class. This award-winning class was highly successful. Upon retirement, he became a speaker at teacher conferences and taught University for Seniors, Minnesota Master Naturalists, and Road Scholars. He has written more than 15 books. These are about wildlife of the North Woods — Spiders, Butterflies, Fungi — and other phenology topics: Minnesota Phenology, Webwood, and In a Patch of Goldenrods. He lives on a "forested former farm" in Carlton County, Minnesota, USA where he watches critters and the seasons.

*To purchase some of Larry’s books, visit https://www.kollathstensaas.com/.

*Episode edited by M. Angel Goñi Avila