Since our program is research oriented with a strong emphasis on question development, it is essential that students have access to chemistry teachers at all times. In past years, although we invited students into all chemistry classrooms, most were reluctant to enter an unfamiliar class taught by an unfamiliar teacher. Now, chemistry teachers frequently show up to teach the wrong class. Although this depends upon the mysteries of individual teacher schedules, we have developed a scrambled schedule which partially delocalizes teachers from their classes. When we have succeeded in adopting a scrambled schedule we notice that students from different classes mix much more freely.

We also notice that most students feel comfortable working in other labs and asking other chemistry teachers questions. We especially enjoy getting to know more of our students and in giving ownership of the entire chemistry program to almost the entire student body. The more we welcome students into our programs and classrooms, the more they seem to enjoy our subjects and the more time they spend here.

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