Common + Unity = Community
During Student Teaching
A teacher that works and learns only within his/her own classroom is missing out on a lot of support that is available. There are so many resources that are easy to find in our technological era and we would be unwise to avoid using them. Luckily, many teachers are using social media and online resources to unite and share thoughts on our common profession. As teachers, I am a strong advocate for sharing ideas, teaching strategies, and forming support networks to constantly improve our teaching community and to professionalize teaching.
Math-Team-Matics 2013 |
Math-Team-Matics 2014 |
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One of my favorite parts of teaching is seeing students outside the classroom where they can be themselves and see me at their level rather than as a disciplinary figure or a teacher. To ensure I get to see students outside the classroom, I helped create a Math Competition (Math-Team-Matics) at Grand Valley State University over the past two years. Pictures from this competition are included below and at our Math-Team-Matics website you can also find sample questions used in the competition. In creating this competition lots of collaboration was needed. Primarily between co-founding student Sarah Jamison, GVSU professors John Golden and Karen Novotny, and the Regional Math and Science Center Math coordinator Chelsea Ridge. Together, we created an event that brings hundreds of like-minded individuals together and helped form a community of math lovers. This community may only be together for a day, but that one day is incredible and will not be forgotten quickly by those who attended.
Additional, I have attended sporting events, such as football and volleyball games and school functions such as band competitions and volunteering at the homecoming dance. Every event I attended I was able to see my students in different settings than the classroom. This allowed me to better understand my students and their cultures and thus allows me to better connect to their world and their problems.
Additional, I have attended sporting events, such as football and volleyball games and school functions such as band competitions and volunteering at the homecoming dance. Every event I attended I was able to see my students in different settings than the classroom. This allowed me to better understand my students and their cultures and thus allows me to better connect to their world and their problems.
Attending School Functions and Events
INTASC Standards Addressed
Standard #10: The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being.
Standard #10: The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being.