Joe Cave Email & Phone Number

I conduct educational programs to preschool through 12th grade students, scout groups, family audiences and other informal youth groups.

I help Facilitate Summer Science Camps consisting of more than one hundred camps and more than 1,300 campers.

Aurora, Il

In the summer of 2013, I enjoyed working at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy with the Golden Apple Scholars on developing a new program for junior high-aged kids called STEM Sports. I advised the Scholars as they revised the lesson plans and then taught the kids in the camp. In addition, I worked with Teacher Candidates from Western Illinois University who taught the STEM sports camp in the Quad Cities and with Teacher Candidates from McKendree University who taught the program in Belleville, IL.

Batavia, Il

Montessori Academy Batavia is a unique teaching/learning experience. As the adolescent teacher, I was responsible for teaching all subjects in a small, self-contained classroom. The campus is a beautiful, wooded six-acre site which includes forest, wetlands and a restored prairie adjacent to the Fox River. Because I taught subjects, I was able to integrate subjects often. We completed numerous Problem-Based Learning units incorporating the natural areas around the campus. Other junior high projects included assisting with the prairie restoration and burning, creating a “scarecrow walk” for the fall festivities, searching for Native American artifacts and numerous community service projects. Finally, the students also developed a micro-economy project in which they created and ran a small t-shirt business.

Aurora, Il

At Aurora University I taught Methods of Teaching Science and Methods of Teaching Math in the Education Department for pre-service Elementary Education majors. Both classes included a clinical experience in a local public or parochial school. My job included teaching theory and then assisting the teacher-candidates prepare their lesson plans for the elementary students. I also taught review workshops to help teacher-candidates prepare to take the Illinois state basic skills test for teachers. In the Natural Science Department I taught the beginning Earth Science class for undergraduate students.

Naperville, Il

My twenty years teaching in Naperville School District 203 were varied and extremely rewarding. After a year of teaching 6th grade Science, I served as the district’s Science Liaison for a year. In this position, I evaluated and revised each K-5 curriculum unit and taught Professional Development workshops for the K-5 teachers. I also taught demonstration lessons in K-5 classrooms by request.During my second year, the district proposed a gifted magnet program (PI+) for the exceptionally gifted students in the district. I was selected to plan the Science curriculum and teach the classes for the 6th, 7th and 8th graders in this program. As the program evolved, I ultimately taught Science, Mathematics and Social Science to the 6th grade PI+ students. In addition to my teaching assignments at Kennedy Junior High School, I served as a team leader, and coached the Science Olympiad team and the girls’ volleyball team. The Science Olympiad team qualified for state 20 straight years and finished in the top 10 sixteen straight years. The 2008 team also qualified for and competed in the National Science Olympiad in Washington D.C.! The 8th grade volleyball teams I coached never had a losing season and won 9 conference championships! I also served as a Director for the Kennedy Regional Science Olympiad. Our school hosted more than 400 students, teachers and volunteers for the two-day event.

Northbrook, Il

As the District Science Resource Specialist in Northbrook, my job was to oversee the implementation of the district’s new science curriculum. I evaluated and revised all the lessons and units for grades K-5. Then I taught grade level in-service workshops for each unit to familiarize the teachers with the new curriculum. In addition, I taught a demonstration lesson in every K-5 classrooms each month through the school year. At the middle school, I advised teachers as needed and started a Science Olympiad team. Finally, I organized and conducted a half-day teacher Science Olympiad for the entire staff which was not only informative, but great fun as well!

Glen Ellyn, Il

I was very fortunate to be hired at Hadley Junior High in Glen Ellyn which was a leader in the middle school movement in the Chicagoland area. While at Hadley, I taught mostly Science, but I also taught Math, Reading and Social Science. I particularly enjoyed the collaboration of the team approach and the many integrated units we taught there. In my final two years in Glen Ellyn, I taught a self-contained 5th grade classroom which I found very rewarding, especially our participation in the district’s resident Outdoor Education program at the Morton Arboretum.

Education record

Additional classes and training include: Project WILD, WILD Aquatics, Project Learning Tree, The CLASS Project, Science Education.

Ms Ed Outdoor Teacher Education, Studied At Niu'S Lorado Taft Field Campus

Bs Ed Elementary Education, Areas Of Concentration In Science And Mathematics