donald.coe@mpls.k12.mn.us

I grew up in northern Minnesota, on the Iron Range.  I spent a lot of time in the woods and in the Boundary Waters, which developed my interest in science and nature.

I have taught at Sullivan since 2001 and in Minneapolis since 1991.  I hold a BA in biology from Gustavus Adolphus and a BS in education from the U of MN.  I earned National Board certification in 2002 and an M.A.Ed in 2004. In 2011-2012, I will be working on recertification for National Boards.

Science is best learned in middle school through hands-on activities.  Concepts are learned by doing the science and discovering what happens.  I require students to keep a lab

book to record, analyze and make sense of the activities and experiments we do in class.  They will also have notes, vocabulary and homework entered into this notebook.   Do NOT use a glued notebook -- the glue dries out in the school and all the pages fall out!

All students are required to have a science safety contract on file.  You can see or print a copy by clicking the link below the student picture.  This contract must be signed by both the parent/guardian and the student.  Breaking this contract may result in detention or in loss of lab privileges for a period of time.  The length of lab suspension depends on the severity of the safety infraction.