HTH Graduate School of Education Conceptual Framework: Reflection
* Connect theory and practice so that each informs the other.
* Take action and reflect on that action to improve teaching and learning.
* Develop and articulate a personal philosophy grounded in the HTH design principles.
Project Based Learning
This narrative documents one way project based learning was successfully implemented at a "traditional" school. I describe the journey that began with a simple persuasive writing assignment and ended with a heartfelt connection to hundreds of people in a distant country. The students and I will carry the memories and experiences from this project the rest of our lives.
Mi Clase es su Clase
In this reflection I discuss a profound realization as a result of reading a High Tech High Graduate School of Education (HTH GSE) assigned article. Isolation is an all too common problem in a "traditional" school setting," where teachers are rarely provided the time or space to learn from one another". For the first time in my teaching career, it became evident to me that other teachers feel the same way that I do. By starting with daily teacher meetings, doing away with dark, tinted classroom windows, and welcoming an "open door", "let's work together" school atmosphere, we can begin to break down the walls of isolation.
Learn to Love Learning
In this reflective writing, I discuss the importance of recognizing students' needs by getting to know each student personally. Teachers can have great influence on students by taking the time to discover their interests. Knowing their passions, strengths and weaknesses, allows teachers to reach the child on an individual level. With this information, learning comes naturally.
White Privilege?
This narrative piece describes my real life experiences as they pertain to the article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." My eyes are now wide-open to the phase "white privilege". Having grown up in a culturally diverse neighborhood and marrying a man of mixed race, I did not see colors -- but only people. However, this proved to be a disadvantage as a teacher and an even greater disadvantage to my students. I now realize that diversity must be addressed in my classroom to ensure that each student's needs are embraced.