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About the Author
I am originally from Sacramento, California. I love to read and relax with my boyfriend and puppy, Gizmo. I am also a huge Disney fan! I go to Disneyland as often as I can. When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor. I always had a goal of helping people. When I got to college I did not want to go to school for years and years to become a doctor. So, I changed my career to being a nurse. I was currently working at Build-a-Bear Workshop and my grandma always told me that she thought I would make a great teacher. Though I was sure I would never be a teacher. After my first year of college I was baby sitting my friend's children and one of them got sick and I told my friend how grossed out I was. After she laughed and laughed (she still laughs to this day) she said to me "how are you going to become a nurse?!" She was right, I hate bodily fluids! How was I going to be a nurse? Well, that began my path to become a teacher.
Six years ago my boyfriend asked me to join him at his house in small town called Dixon. This was such a change for me. Living in a big city for most of my life and moving to a small town was rough. But I got a job in Fairfield and I thought everything will be smooth from there. It wasn't. I was a temporary K-1 combo teacher, I had a rough first year. I had a great mentor who walked me through it. Next, I became a 1-2 combo teacher in Vacaville Unified School District. This is where I found my home. I then became a 3rd grade teacher for two years after that and I am currently a 2nd grade teacher for the 2nd year in a row.
I have only been teaching for 6 years now, but I felt like I needed more. A friend of mine had told me that she went to Touro University to get her Master's Degree. She loved this program! I kept putting it off, even after going to a meeting about the program. Then I was sitting at a PLC training in San Jose and my boss (the principal of my school) said to me, "Alicia, this is the best time for you to get your Master's. You do not have kids, you are still young, just go for it!" Another friend was sitting with us and I asked her if she would be willing to join me on this journey. She said yes and we went searching for the perfect fit for us. We found it with Tour University.
This was the biggest leap and most rewarding experience for me as a teacher. I feel in a year I have grown more than I have in the last couple of years I have been teaching. I have been keeping a list of all the great ideas that have been shared within my cohort and that I have tried for my own classroom. Now my students are becoming 21st Century learners.
Six years ago my boyfriend asked me to join him at his house in small town called Dixon. This was such a change for me. Living in a big city for most of my life and moving to a small town was rough. But I got a job in Fairfield and I thought everything will be smooth from there. It wasn't. I was a temporary K-1 combo teacher, I had a rough first year. I had a great mentor who walked me through it. Next, I became a 1-2 combo teacher in Vacaville Unified School District. This is where I found my home. I then became a 3rd grade teacher for two years after that and I am currently a 2nd grade teacher for the 2nd year in a row.
I have only been teaching for 6 years now, but I felt like I needed more. A friend of mine had told me that she went to Touro University to get her Master's Degree. She loved this program! I kept putting it off, even after going to a meeting about the program. Then I was sitting at a PLC training in San Jose and my boss (the principal of my school) said to me, "Alicia, this is the best time for you to get your Master's. You do not have kids, you are still young, just go for it!" Another friend was sitting with us and I asked her if she would be willing to join me on this journey. She said yes and we went searching for the perfect fit for us. We found it with Tour University.
This was the biggest leap and most rewarding experience for me as a teacher. I feel in a year I have grown more than I have in the last couple of years I have been teaching. I have been keeping a list of all the great ideas that have been shared within my cohort and that I have tried for my own classroom. Now my students are becoming 21st Century learners.
Reflections on your Journey
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Before this journey I have been using technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge. The program has taught me how to combine all of these things called TPACK. I have learned how to match up my pedagogy and content knowledge with finding the correct or best technology to support the students. Finding that "sweet spot" that incorporates all of these things helps increase student motivation and makes the content accessible to all students.
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Lasting Learning from the Innovative Learning program
Entering this program has really changed me not only as a teacher but as a person. I am truly honored to have been able to work on my Master's Degree with Touro University. My teaching practices have been refined an rejuvenated during my time in the program. My students were able to join along with me on this journey and try out many different technologies and new teaching practices. By going through this program my students are on their way to becoming 21st Century Learners.
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