Frontlist | Boardman teacher writes book for the ‘Virtual Weary Student’

Frontlist | Boardman teacher writes book for the ‘Virtual Weary Student’
on Jan 14, 2021

“During the pandemic of 2020, I was trying to help a friend whose son was struggling with an online bio class. My friend said, ‘We have the textbook, a workbook and the answer key — what we need is someone to break down the why,’” Boardman High School teacher Heather Moran said. BOARDMAN — Last year, Boardman High School advanced biology teacher Heather Moran was named Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This year, she has a new title — author. Her book, which can be purchased here, is called “Biology Help for the Virtual Weary Student.” It includes 17 stories she says serve as a bridge between the average biology textbook and her classroom lectures. The stories make what she calls “sciency” words more understandable. “During the pandemic of 2020, I was trying to help a friend whose son was struggling with an online bio class. My friend said, ‘We have the textbook, a workbook and the answer key — what we need is someone to break down the why,’” Moran said in a news release. “After writing several of my normal lectures out for this boy, I realized these same short stories could help other students who might be struggling. I wrote the book over the summer.” Moran reached out to 120 fellow teachers, parents and current and former students to be her review team. Savannah White, a Boardman High School graphic arts student, did all the graphics in the book. “One of my students said, ‘Ms. Moran, I don’t know anyone who’s ever written a book.’ They helped me decide on the cover art. They watched the process. And sometimes I think my students are more excited than me. It’s been a real learning process for us all.” Moran has been teaching science at Boardman Local Schools for 19 years and has served as advisor and coach of the BHS Envirothon Club for a decade. During summer 2019, she escorted a group of 17 BHS students on a trip to Iceland. Their adventures included navigating the Solheimajokull glacier and diving between diverging tectonic plates. Source: Manohing Matters