Mr. Range's passion for biology translates to his students
December 15, 2015
At 12:31 p.m. everyday, sixth hour starts. Mr. David Range comes in and takes attendance. He then goes up to the board to start working his magic. He starts preaching about mitosis, photosynthesis, and cell organelles. The confused sophomores ask him to help them understand tricky concepts that they just can’t get a finger around. He uses metaphors, analogies, and his quick witted humor to try and get the gleam of light in their eyes. As soon as the majority of his students start to understand, a small smile strikes on his face, for he knows it was a success.
Mr. Range is one of the many biology teachers at FHC. He also teaches Biology Success. This class is for kids who struggled with physical science and had been recommended to take it. They all had trouble turning in their homework and studying. With Success, they get to earn credit for extra help and practice.
“ It’s great to see it all pay off. At the end of the year the kids are all on a pretty good track and have at least a C,” Mr. Range said. “ It’s a good feeling that it was me who have pushed them in the right direction.”
Mr. Range can connect to the kids because he wasn’t the best math student in high school. He didn’t really study or he just would wing his tests and hope for the best. It wasn’t until he went to college at Mizzou and learned all of his studying methods. At Mizzou, Mr. Range majored in wildlife biology and mastered in education. Out of college, he started working at FHC as a physical science teacher for four years. He then became a biology teacher. Mr. Range has been a success teacher for three years now and he loves it. At home, him and his wife, who is a marketing teacher at FHC have two kids together. One who is four years old and one whom they just had. “ It’s great to see it all pay off. At the end of the year the kids are all on a pretty good track and have at least a C. It’s a good feeling that it was me who have pushed them in the right direction.” — Mr. David Range
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Mr. Range has always known that he wanted to be a biology teacher. He also would love to teach zobot for his love of plants and animals.
“I like science, and the trivial aspects of plants and animals. I love the complexity of cells and organs. It is interesting how it all comes together to make a functioning organism,” Mr. Range said.
Some things Mr. Range will do in his success class include bio term games, review, and group work. These things help him towards his main goal every week.
The goal for his class is to make sure that everyone improves. He wants everyone to progressively get their grades up throughout the year. Maybe not up to an A, but at least up to a C. A couple years ago, a D student was able to get all of his grades to an A or B. All the other kids had all gotten B’s in his class. He wants every kid to take his class seriously. A lot of kids see that they are in a Success class and think it is a study hall, and Mr. Range just hates that. But Range knows it will pay off for some students. Sarah Swaters, a sophomore in his success. has improved tremendously throughout the year.
“It gives me time to work on homework. I have more help and more time for questions and studying,” Swaters said.
Samantha Pendleton is a senior mentor in Mr. Range’s success class. She had Mr. Range for biology in her sophomore year and also this year for AP Bio. She has grown to love his teaching style and to this day, it still helps her.
Josie Julien
“He is super funny and keeps biology interesting,” Pendleton said. “He is really good at redirecting students and helping them when needed.”
All Mr. Range wants from his Success kids, is to get organized and turn their stuff in on time. He wants them to be able to learn how to be great students and put their brains to work. The last thing he would want from them is that they don’t improve at all.
“I just want to see [the kids] grow and avoid simple mistakes. I want them to develop a good work ethic. They are all very smart and I know they are more than capable,” Mr. Range said.
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