Larry's teaching career began in 1959 as a "Teaching Fellow in Zoology" during his graduate work at Springfield College. He then moved on to Livingston High School in New Jersey where he taught biology for three years. After teaching in an Eskimo school in Alaska, Larry studied biology and science education at an Academic Year Institute at Harvard University. His first teaching position in Massachusetts was at Weston High School where he taught biology from 1965-1979 and served as Team Leader in Life Science. At Weston Larry's emphasis was experiential education and inquiry approaches with general and human ecology as the integrating theme. He developed new approaches in ecology and in plant biology studies and a new program called "Choice Blocks". Larry shared his ideas and approaches at several local, state and national conferences and workshops.
Since 1979, Larry has been at Wayland Middle School where he has taught Earth, Life and Physical sciences in grades 6,7 and 8 and served as Curriculum Leader in Science. His major curriculum work has emphasized "hands on" science in the lab and in the field with natural history and local studies emphasized. A colleague and he developed a new program for grade 6 Basic Physics which is largely "hands on" with many cross discipline projects. Our "house" emphasis requires very close work with teachers from other disciplines carrying out broad themes with common trips and special all-grade days.
Larry is a co-founder of Greater Boston Biology Teachers (1968 - present), Greater Boston Earth Science Teachers (1983 - present) and Middle School Life Science Teachers (1993 - present). He has served as a leader and a planning committee member in each. Larry continues to be active in these groups and in other state and national professional organizations where he presents talks and workshops. A large part of his professional life has been given to developing teaching techniques and new approaches to lab, field and classroom activities. He has worked through "sharing" groups to present workshops and field trips for sharing ideas with new and experienced colleagues and to learn from them. His most recent effort is to take photography, sound and visual techniques a step further by developing new and powerful video techniques and integrating all of these, with the computer, into a totally integrated approach called the "Electronic Classroom". Larry plans to continue developing this program, as well as some "older" approaches, during his years of "redirection", (retirement from classroom teaching). He plans to share these techniques at workshops and conferences both for school teachers and wider audiences.
Larry has been honored by his colleagues in many ways. They have assisted him in his curriculum efforts by listening to his presentations, reading his handouts and giving him suggestions, comments and support as well as sharing many invaluable ideas. They have also honored him in formal ways:
Special Honors
Last Modified: September 21, 2004