I have been teaching for 17 years, including grades 5 through 12 and college undergraduate courses.  While I started as an Instrumental Music teacher, I later moved into teaching Science.  

I am a firm believer that building good learning habits in our scholars is the key to achievement in all courses.  In my class, we focus on developing these habits:

1. Investigation - Going where the answers are and digging, rather than waiting for them

2. Reasoning - Using what we know to work our way toward what we don't, rather than guessing

3. Using Evidence - Being able to tell how we reached an answer or conclusion, so we can be sure of it

4. Accountability - Taking responsibility for the tasks we're assigned and the results of our efforts

Through these habits, we can learn anything - even things that first seem difficult.  As these habits become stronger, we'll find that each step we take makes the next easier, because we have strengthened the "mental muscles" we need to get us there!