1. Plan and implement assessments that match the
learning targets for any given lesson.
2. Exercise patience when dealing with students who
do not listen well.
3. Be willing to deviate from the plan when
students need specific help.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Best Piece of Academic Work and Reflective Essay
A Literacy Photostory: Improving Classroom Literacy Instruction
I feel that my best piece of academic work was the research project that I did during the 2015-16 school year. This research project took three Missoula high school students and had them take pictures of what they thought of as literacy, and then reflect on the reasons behind it.
As an English teacher, this project really helped me to better understand not only what literacy is, but the possibilities of what it could be. It helped me to know what high school students thought of as literacy, and what they were being taught. Because of this project, I think that my students benefit from my enhanced knowledge of what literacy deficits students have during high school, and how these gaps can be filled. Though I have not yet spoken to any of my students about what literacy is, I have already incorporated multiple aspects of literacy into their instruction, including art projects, videos, reading, writing, speaking and listening, and computer practices. Students need many forms of literacy in order to communicate in the world, and I think that it is important for them to get practice in multiple modes of literacy while they are in high school.
In the future, I hope to also talk to my students explicitly about what literacy is. In my research, I found that students had only a vague knowledge of the definition of literacy, and often times it was only mentioned in their English classes. I hope to change this in the future by implementing interdisciplinary lessons that introduce the concept of literacy in classrooms other than just English. I also hope to advocate to my coworkers and fellow teachers about how they can incorporate explicit literacy instruction into any content area.
I believe that this research paper showcases my content knowledge in English for many ways. For this project, I had to write a literature review for the topic of literacy, which requires the ability to read and analyze the work of others, as well as incorporating these sources into my own academic work. I was also required to conduct interviews with my study participants, which falls into the field of speaking and listening. My understanding in these areas helped me to not only conduct the interviews, but to do an analysis of them afterwards to incorporate into my paper. I also believe that the paper I did for this project showcases my hard work and ability as a writer.
I feel that my best piece of academic work was the research project that I did during the 2015-16 school year. This research project took three Missoula high school students and had them take pictures of what they thought of as literacy, and then reflect on the reasons behind it.
As an English teacher, this project really helped me to better understand not only what literacy is, but the possibilities of what it could be. It helped me to know what high school students thought of as literacy, and what they were being taught. Because of this project, I think that my students benefit from my enhanced knowledge of what literacy deficits students have during high school, and how these gaps can be filled. Though I have not yet spoken to any of my students about what literacy is, I have already incorporated multiple aspects of literacy into their instruction, including art projects, videos, reading, writing, speaking and listening, and computer practices. Students need many forms of literacy in order to communicate in the world, and I think that it is important for them to get practice in multiple modes of literacy while they are in high school.
In the future, I hope to also talk to my students explicitly about what literacy is. In my research, I found that students had only a vague knowledge of the definition of literacy, and often times it was only mentioned in their English classes. I hope to change this in the future by implementing interdisciplinary lessons that introduce the concept of literacy in classrooms other than just English. I also hope to advocate to my coworkers and fellow teachers about how they can incorporate explicit literacy instruction into any content area.
I believe that this research paper showcases my content knowledge in English for many ways. For this project, I had to write a literature review for the topic of literacy, which requires the ability to read and analyze the work of others, as well as incorporating these sources into my own academic work. I was also required to conduct interviews with my study participants, which falls into the field of speaking and listening. My understanding in these areas helped me to not only conduct the interviews, but to do an analysis of them afterwards to incorporate into my paper. I also believe that the paper I did for this project showcases my hard work and ability as a writer.
Kyiyo Powwow Volunteer Experience
 |
| 48th Annual Kyiyo Powwow Flyer |
In the Spring of 2016, I volunteered at the 48th
annual Kyiyo Powwow. I had been wanting to attend the powwow my previous three
years at the University, but for some reason or another, I never got around to
it. When I found out that they were seeking volunteers, I knew that it would be
the perfect opportunity for me to experience such an important event for a
collection of cultures that I have always lived near, but never knew much
about.
My responsibilities as a volunteer were to work security for
the event, so I was stationed by an entrance, and was mostly there to keep
participants and guests safe during my time as a volunteer. While I was there,
I got to see many different outfits and styles that I am not used to, and I had
to instruct myself to remember that this was a cultural experience and not a
costume party. I had a moment of
realization that I truly knew very little about Native American customs. This
was an important experience for me because I got to experience being the
racial/ethnic minority, which is something I do not often experience. It made me feel like an outsider, and I had
to work to recognize that the customs and ceremonies happening at the powwow
were not for my entertainment, but were part of an important cultural heritage
that I was being allowed to take part in.
This experience is important for me as a future teacher because it allowed me to step into a world that I have not grown up in. There
are so many aspects of Native American cultures that I know nothing about, and
even though I will never be able to know all of them, it is important for me to
remember that these customs are not a commodity for white people to witness.
When I have my own classroom, there will likely be Native American students in
it, and I think that volunteering at the powwow will inform my future teaching
as I not only have an experience stepping into that world, but I also have a
better understanding of what it means to be a minority and an outsider in a
situation, which will help me to be a better teacher for students who have
grown up with different experiences than I have. I hope that this experience will help me to be more understanding to cultures that are different than my own, and that this will make me a better teacher.
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