If we analyze the cliché "children learn what they live," we understand that learning, just like life, is a process; the key in both cases being the ability to create excitement and distinctiveness.

The entire nature of science is its own innate "living reality" which surrounds each and every one of our lives. Capturing a child's interest in this phenomenon at the earliest stages of the learning curve is essential to the acceptance of science as a fascinating and integral part of daily life.

Jane Hoffman has undoubtedly cornered the educational market on bringing both the reality and excitement of science to the forefront.

More importantly, perhaps, is the interest at heart which has catapulted her techniques to widespread acclaim and acceptance.

"From my perspective, one of the reasons US students lag so far behind students of other developed nations in all areas of science, as reflected in standardized test results, is that they do not have good, positive experiences in science in the early grades," says Hoffman. She continues "Our school systems still don't generally teach science using hands-on methods. Studies indicate that these very methods are the best ways by which science can be taught."

Hoffman has gained notoriety from this very hands-on approach to teaching the discipline. Appropriately known as the "Backyard Scientist," Hoffman's work is duly acknowledged by the National Science Foundation as a unique teaching resource.

"I was a businesswoman who, in 1980, turned to science because of my young son's own educational experience. I realized that the hands-on approach to teaching science in lower grades virtually did not exist. The only educational vehicle was dry text books," she says.

Hoffman rapidly set out to make change and continues to make her mark on science education. "I get teachers turned on to science by showing them how easy it is. When this is accomplished, their students, in turn, like the subject from the onset." She explains "My techniques are effective because they are so simple and they work. I utilize household materials in my experiments, so implementing my methods is inexpensive."

In addition to having written a series of lively science books, making media appearances, and consulting, Irvine, California-based Hoffman shares her basic techniques on the national level by conducting a variety of inservice workshops for school districts. In the workshops educators spend most of their time doing fun hands-on experiments themselves with Hoffman at the helm.

Jan Artley, Coordinator of Science for the Midland School District in Midland, Texas, sought out Hoffman to provide an inservice for teachers of grades four through sixth this past August.

"The Midland District has deliberately down played text learning of science," Artley says. "We have encouraged hands-on techniques. This, in conjunction with glowing recommendations from other school districts, made Jane Hoffman the perfect selection to meet our needs."

Meeting needs and filling gaps seem to be two of the things that Hoffman does extremely well.

"Jane Hoffman's ability to adapt workshops to specific needs coupled with her wide range of experience and high interest levels for our teachers is why we selected her," says Fern Sheldon.Sheldon, Curriculum Specialist for the Rowland Heights Unified School District in Rowland Heights, California, utilized the services of Hoffman for the district's Summer Institute in July. Attended by 42 elementary teachers and five administrators, the Institute was a comprehensive two-week program focusing on the theme of energy.

"The Summer Institute was extremely intensive. Their first week consisted of 25 hours of pure training for teachers, which included detailed information relative to the state of California's educational direction.

"The second week included peer counseling with students in the morning and additional training in the afternoon," Sheldon says. She continues "Jane Hoffman really provided an exhilarating culmination to the Institute by her presenting five hours of hands-on demonstrations in the area of physical science. She performed approximately between 50 and 60 experiments for us! She is very knowledgeable in content and flexible in providing new ideas."

If nothing less, Hoffman's techniques have illuminated the fact that learning is a process.

According to Jerry Johnson, "It is important for our teachers to utilize the expertise of Jane Hoffman to assist in raising the district's standardized science scores. Furthermore, we want our teachers to become naturally inclined to teach science since, in reality, they do not receive this type of specialized training as rule of thumb."

Johnson, Supervisor of Instruction for the Milan Special School District in Milan, Tennessee, continues "Our teachers who attended Jan Hoffman's two, six-hour inservice workshops last August continue to implement the techniques they learned in their everyday lessons. It is clear that students grasp concepts much more easily by using hands-on techniques."

There's a great deal to be said for the force of energy, Hoffman's own special breed of energy, that is. She gets excited about science, the teachers get excited about science, and ultimately the students get excited too.

This excitement is perhaps Hoffman's personal trademark - a hook, if you will. Can you yourself recall how much classroom science instruction you truthfully absorbed, but moreover, enjoyed in your own educational experience? Chances are that unless your teachers had their own personal trademarks or "hooks," you probably looked at the entire subject as not only somewhat dry, but intimidating too.

Hoffman has successfully broken down the barrier between science and learning. She actually makes the discipline easy to conceptualize and fun to learn.

Fern Sheldon says "Everyone who attended Jane Hoffman's workshop left with a good feeling. The teachers actually got excited about science and walked away confident, knowing they could effectively pass on what they'd learned to their students. Jane Hoffman is a dynamic personality who makes science real for teachers. The excitement she brings carries over to the classroom."

It's not a simple feat to educationally captivate and stimulate children. According to Jan Artley, "It's tough teaching today. Jane Hoffman reinfuses teachers with energy and excitement. She's like a shot of Adrenaline!"

So, just what lies ahead for this fireball of kinetic energy? Hoffman has been invited to be a presenter at the Michigan State Science Association Meeting this February in Detroit. She says she'd ideally like to write more books and expand her inservices.