Learning Manifesto

What is right/wrong with education and what can we do to enhance it?

Digital Learning:
As the world continues to elevate technology in the 21st century. We have begun the integration of technology more frequently over the last few years. However, many teachers have still yet to be equipped with the necessary training or skills to use technology in the most advantageous ways.I believe that in order for students to get the best out of technology integration within the classroom, teachers should receive higher quality professional developments that provide clarity on specific ways to integrate technology applications and use it to its highest beneficial. Instead of spending so much time on creating professional developments on the traditional styles of teaching, we should incorporate more for the digital learning aspect of education. These trainings should include supplemental applications for learning and how to use them (IXL, Zearn, Dreambox), getting the most out of your district learning management systems (Schoology), and reflective practices through technology (e-portfolios). When we work together to equip our teachers with highest level of technological practices, we equip our students with better technological skills within the educational real that impedes success in their 21st century learning.

Curriculum:
As a teacher in Texas, we use Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) to drive curriculum across all districts.The TEKS are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do for each grade level. The problem with the TEKS is that over the years they have changed what students are expected to know to from one grade to the next. For example, TEKS mandated for a 7th grader became mandatory for a 5th grader. When making these changes the state did not think about the mental developmental stages of a child's brain. Therefore, we have seen more failure than success across grade levels.Students have a harder time trying to comprehend material, because it is too complex for the current developmental stage of their brain. With an education system that is constantly moving the bar, we are setting these children up for failure. It is important that the education agencies begin to collaborate with districts and welcome more feedback and input from teachers who can see the effects of their constant changes to our education system. We should also incorporate the healthcare system and collaborate with doctors to gain more insight on the developmental stages of the brain for school aged children and how it can correlate to more appropriate grade level standards based on a students' typical brain development stage at grade. Although, we could all agree on students needing to experience rigor and challenges, it should also be appropriate for the developmental stage of their brain.

My Passion/ Core Beliefs

As I walk through my sixth year in my educator journey, I have expressed certain values and or beliefs to colleagues over time. I have found myself embracing the profound responsibility of nurturing young minds and shaping their future while fostering lifelong learners. Educators must understand that learning goes beyond the walls. It is important to teach curriculum, but we must also teach our youth real-life experiences beyond the realm of content knowledge. This stems from growing up and going through school understanding content, but not being as prepared for real-world circumstances. Learning is like a puzzle; many pieces complete the puzzle, but the middle doesn’t come to life until the foundation (border) is pieced together. So, what is my foundation and how do we seek change?

"A growth mindset is the belief that you can develop your talents and abilities through hard work, good strategies, and help from others." – Carol Dweck

Growth Mindset

Many times, students get frustrated in the face of failure, but I believe in encouraging students to embrace failure. Failure allows students to build confidence, expand their minds, and continue to work toward success. My students understand that I will always give them the tools they need to be successful, but that they must apply the tools and work hard. In my classroom, we celebrate progress, not perfection.

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." – Henry Ford

"When you take risks, you learn that there will be times when you succeed, and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important." – Ellen DeGeneres

COVA

Choice, Ownership, Voice, Authentic Learning. I believe it is important for students to be able to engage in these components throughout their learning. This allows for more collaborative opportunities and a wide variety of great classroom discussions. Providing students with a choice in how they express their knowledge and creativity leads to higher levels of intrinsic motivation and confidence within the classroom space. This also gives students the power to take ownership of their learning experience.

Safe Space/Inclusivity

We spend much of our day with students and vice versa. Each year I have a marquee light that says, “Welcome Home”. I tell students this is our home away from home and no matter what each of our home life is like with our families, we will come here and be a family of our own. Each person is to be treated with kindness, respect, and love no matter the ethnicity or culture. For some students, this reaches them beyond the classroom because many of them come from broken homes whether it's parental issues or income issues being that it is a Title 1 campus.

"If we want to prepare our learners for the future, we need to change our traditional, information transfer models of teaching and learning and embrace pedagogies that give students opportunities for social collaboration and constructivist ideals. We must equip our students to make meaningful connections that are necessary for deep learning." – Tilisa Thibodeaux

Technology Innovation

I believe that digital learning styles are important to the 21st century students. However, it should not replace traditional methods, but amplify the learning experience. I have always been big on “work smarter, not harder” in the name of technology. I am often finding new ways to integrate technology into the classroom to make life easier. Two years ago, I helped begin the transformation on my campus from the traditional station rotation pocket charts to an automated digital station rotation system that teachers could edit as needed. Since being in the ADL program I have also gained a new outlook on the use of technology regarding curriculum content. I believe that we can still use technology as a supplemental tool for lessons with applications like Zearn, IXL, or progress learning, however, with the incorporation of project-based learning and e-portfolios we now transform technology into a means of authenticity and reflection for students. I plan to contribute to the success of digital learning by providing campus staff with updated technological practices including digital learning supplemental resources and e-portfolios that they can integrate within the classroom with campus administration support.

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

-Henry Ford

Parent-Teacher Community

I believe that parents and teachers must work together to build a strong foundation for student success. For me, Class Dojo is the bridge between the classroom and home life in the creation of a parent community. I communicate with parents daily via our class story and announcements chat. These conversations entail concepts that the students are working on across subjects, class notes provided to parents so that they are better able to assist their children with homework, and upcoming campus activities. Children need a strong parent-teacher support system. We together are their biggest advocates.

"It’s the little conversations that build the relationships and make an impact on each student."

-Robert John Meehan

"Learning Beyond the Walls"

Learning is more than just curriculum I believe that we should talk to students about real-world situations…a lot of students may lack guidance, love, and knowledge of how to do certain things in the outside world. This is even more important when teaching students who are birthed from low socioeconomic households. So, it’s not always about the content that you can teach, but what can you teach them that will live in their hearts and minds forever passed the realm of education. I take pride in having real authentic transparent conversations with my students.

"Be an advocate for your students and a catalyst for their success." – Ms. Lee