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About the Author
When I began my teaching career 14 years ago I was young and eager to do my best always. I wanted to enlighten and encourage each of my students to be there best and to never give up. Over the years my teaching has changed, my skills have been worked on and honed in, but my desire to provide the best for my students has never left. I worked in elementary schools for the first 12 years of my teaching career. During this time I worked for 6 years at schools with a large percentage of English Language Learners, 4 of those years focused on teaching fifth grade math. Then I moved up to middle school to work at a school with a high number of English Language Learners. There I taught Math, Science, and AVID. I fell in love with teaching math, and spent much of my time trying to find strategies that helped increase the math proficiency of my English Language Learner students. It was rewarding and exciting for my students to see in themselves that they too can do well in Math.
Since I left the classroom and moved into a more supportive role, I want to know more about what education CAN be and how educators can utilize all the amazing resources and teaching strategies that are out there, but are currently not part of the day to day practice. The Innovative Learning masters provides me with the opportunity to explore, learn about, practice, implement, and share what I have learned with other teachers. This will be the greatest gift that this masters program has provided me, the gift of information, knowledge, and growth.
I chose to focus on teaching English Language Learners math because I focused on teaching math for the last 6 years in the classroom. I understood the challenges and saw a need for leadership and knowledge in the math department at one of the middle schools that I was working at. I knew I wanted to support the teachers at the school to help their English Language Learners in math.
Since I left the classroom and moved into a more supportive role, I want to know more about what education CAN be and how educators can utilize all the amazing resources and teaching strategies that are out there, but are currently not part of the day to day practice. The Innovative Learning masters provides me with the opportunity to explore, learn about, practice, implement, and share what I have learned with other teachers. This will be the greatest gift that this masters program has provided me, the gift of information, knowledge, and growth.
I chose to focus on teaching English Language Learners math because I focused on teaching math for the last 6 years in the classroom. I understood the challenges and saw a need for leadership and knowledge in the math department at one of the middle schools that I was working at. I knew I wanted to support the teachers at the school to help their English Language Learners in math.
Reflections on your Journey
TPACK: Technology, pedagogical, and content knowledge. My TPACK journey has enlightened me to how technology resources can reinforce what students are learning in the classroom. These programs are not just something fancy and fun on a computer that has little educational advantages. Traditional education has shown to no be beneficial for all students, and these programs allow students to access the lessons in ways a traditional lesson can't. Technology can provide students opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned beyond just taking a test and answering questions. I have learned how if one's mindset is changed slightly and with a willingness to try something new, educators can really improve their teaching practices.
TPACK strategies and programs will also be incredibly important with distance learning. COVID-19 has forced educators and schools to teach on a digital platform. We don’t know what the next school will look like and learning how to incorporate technology, pedagogical, and content knowledge together will help teachers to teach their students on a digital platform with limited physical interaction. With traditional teaching methods not possible, it is time teachers take the leap and try new apps and websites to increase a students learning, even if it is all done through distance learning.
TPACK strategies and programs will also be incredibly important with distance learning. COVID-19 has forced educators and schools to teach on a digital platform. We don’t know what the next school will look like and learning how to incorporate technology, pedagogical, and content knowledge together will help teachers to teach their students on a digital platform with limited physical interaction. With traditional teaching methods not possible, it is time teachers take the leap and try new apps and websites to increase a students learning, even if it is all done through distance learning.
Lasting Learning from the Innovative Learning program
The most important lasting learning that I have taken from the Innovative Learning Program is to not be afraid of technology and that I am capable of learning how to use and implement new digital tools. My digital tool belt went from a child's tool belt to a professional repair persons tool belt. I had a few digital tools that I knew and used, but chose not to spend the time to look into and try new tools. This program forced me to try new digital programs, tools, and resources. I realized that I need to not be afraid of new tools, but to embrace them and give them a try. I hope to share my journey with other teachers who have the same concerns that I used to. I can patiently work with them to give new digital resources and programs a try. I can be there for them and support them through their own journeys. I have confidence now in my own vulnerability. Because I allowed myself to be vulnerable and try new programs, I experienced more personal growth than what I could have imagined. I am grateful for the partnership between NapaLearns and Touro University for working together to make this program available and accessible to teachers in Napa Valley Unified. If not for NapaLearns support I could not have considered completing or even starting this masters due the the financial costs. I am appreciative and grateful for NapaLearns investment in my own personal education and growth.
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