Outcomes in the field
How does Education affect the world, the field, and your community? That seems like such a loaded question! First, let's start with- why is education important to me? Education is important to me because it has been something I have significantly struggled with throughout the years and it ranged from: lack of passion, interest, low attention, not enough hands on activities, or stress. I felt like there weren't enough teachers out there that worked with me that truly, whole-heartedly supported me, listened to me, and encouraged my inner passions. It wasn't until after my first two years of college and I had dropped out and was doing a lot of self-foraging of my passions that I discovered anchors, and mentors that taught me compassion and how it increases your learning capacity. Then learning was great! I had the attention, the energy and the desire to pass on my knowledge in a beneficial way. These experiences led me to unveiling of my teaching potential. ‘If I could plant the seeds in them while they’re young and curious they could be filled with passions and desires and love learning…’ I thought to myself. Education can be used to teach life lessons, set goals and visions, and it can be fun. That’s why it’s important to me because we are told what we can’t do without it but I want to teach what we can do with it.
Education is important to a community and the world simply because of collective intelligence. When each person is full of passions and attention that is coupled with knowledge you unfold a vibrant space where things will get done. People will feel ethically invested in what they are doing because they are there with it, they know about it, and feel competent with helping. I feel like a lot of the time we are burdened with the un-knowing and then feeling pressure to conform a certain way, or pretend to be interested and invest time that you don't have. Perhaps a shift towards Community Supported Education, inquiry based learning will have to be an OP focus in my future.
What are the primary achievements of the project?
To have myself focus on my teaching to expand personal goals, professional goals, and community goals. With intentional teaching you are finding a specific route to aim. I chose to focus on nonviolent communication, positive guidance, social permaculture and why teaching is important to me on an individual level as well as a community level.
Through this project I have expanded my network of teachers in the Central, Wisconsin area. I have done this by: attending meetings, conferences, workshops, and through my job.
Teaching with Intention
The what and why's of teaching
Especially for educators workshop that focuses on Wisconsin Winters and engaging children.
Held by Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee, WI
Learn about animal tracks, nature preschool classrooms, how to incorporate nature into classroom curriculum.
Hone in on what my skill set is as a teacher and document for supporting evidence.
Recognize what it means to teach with intention, define it, and then move with the mindset for future success with teaching with intention.
Personal outcomes
Un/learnings from the project(s)
The effects that I have noted on a personal level have definitely been positive. When conflicts arise, or a child is acting out, I am able to see where they are coming from rather than get super stressed about the situation.
I personally have extreme anxiety and can really work myself up in situations if I tend to overthink-overanalyze. When I teach the kids to talk it through, and to use their words, I am inherently teaching myself the same thing and to work through my anxiety in a peaceful way.
I have learned about so many great resources that exist out there for networking and for tools.
This OP has unfolded goals I want to set at home to increase my compassion as a lover and friend.
I have also noted the rapport I have gained with the children is very strong in such a short amount of time. I want to link it to this project of being very intentional on connection, communication, and listening.
To go with curiosity and that it is not always about answering questions!
I am great at teaching:
- natural cycles: water, rock, life
- Identifying plants and animals
- Life lessons/ personal goals
Political and Patrix effects
How may your work alter the political landscape in your home, your community and the wider sociopolitical arena?
How my work effects MY community: Right now I live in Stevens Point, WI where I work at PreSchool that has been going through a major need of support. We are located in a building that the University wants to tear down and turn into a parking ramp which then leaves the options of: out-sourcing the children to different pre-school's in the community, building a newer building further away from campus, or adjoining it with the Health/Community center. The first option is scary because it completely extincts the center. We are one of the only facilities in the area that requires teachers to have Bachelor's degrees. We realized our support from the community when it became voting time and parents and students gave their testimonials. It was eye-opening to see the impact the preschool has made for our little community and how much support they are willing to invest in us thriving and continuing to educate their youth.
I see my work altering the political landscape by being a positive approach to education while incorporating nature, community, and creativity into the classroom. By adding these three you're scratching the surface on many sociopolitical areas: 'no child left behind', 'no child left inside', montessori/waldorf/reggio emillia based schools, and the intentional community mindset.
Worldviews I observed during this project:
- Valuing human rights
- The golden rule
- Education for democracy
- The attitudinal fix mentality and pacifism
- Valuing family
A worldview/patrix that was observed and I would like to reduce was the traditional gender roles. It has become apparent that there is only one male staff in our school. It makes me curious if this is because teaching is viewed as a female role rather than a male role. Either way, the children are so ecstatic when that male worker is present. It was prominently noted that the male students preferred discussing problems, etc with the male staff. I wish to increase the capacity of male teachers, they're needed!
Managing time, managing promises
This section details my managing time, managing promises in this cycle.
- I used the plan tool to document specific tasks I wanted to do and when. This is a tool in the mahara database. I also used xmind to create a projected timeline. Both of these tools helped me stay on task and keep myself accountable.
- My overall time management and promise management has been rather succesful. Since I had documents to reach back on I knew where I was going, and had a plan on actionable steps. I was able to reflect a lot on previous experiences and self-forage which I thought went really well. It was challenging to have a lack of motivation due to an illness but I was able to still work on little bits and pieces. I have told myself I will be making the April 1st, 2014 deadline and I think that will come true. I really have been trying to push my edge and step back from being such a perfectionist and just getting my content out there this OP, to enable my goal of the april deadline.
- I was sick for about a month during this cycle which really kept my motivation down. I also had spring break from work where school was not in session that I worked at therefore I was shortened on time of actually executing my project. Luckily, I kind of altered my project(s) to be more self-fulfilling.
Professional outcomes
What professional skills have you advanced?
Helping the children design personal goals for the future, and re-inforcing when they act out parts of their goals.
Letting the children know what they can do, and stepping the focus away from what they can't do.
Increase my knowledge and capacity to work with ages 3-5 competently.
Using Observations to Plan For Children's Growth and Development:
I also had a written evaluation that was done in March, 2014 by my Lead teacher. This states specifically where I think I am at/where she thinks I am at, what are strengths/weaknesses I have as a teacher and what she thinks they are, and future goals I have. I have resourced the document down below for you to see.