A wise educator knows that teaching experiences can never surplus.  The following are opportunities I have participated in outside of classroom requirements that have taught me even more about my career path.  They have helped to mold my teaching philosophy, enhance my knowledge as a teacher, and provide new information in this exciting career.

Graphic: http://webinstituteforteachers.org

Transferring from a community college to a university is a little nerve-wrecking!  Because of the Arizona State University-East Walk-a-Thon that I participated in, I will be more prepared for the transfer.  At the Walk-a-Thon, I was able to meet and get to know some education professors of ASU-East.  I asked for helpful hints and preparation ideas that will make the shift from Chandler-Gilbert Community College smooth.  I was also able to talk to the current education major students of ASU-East and ask for their advice for the future.  On top of meeting many important and helpful people, I toured the ASU-East campus.  The tour guide led us all around the campus, so now I am aware of how ASU-East is set up.  I know of the resources that I may be able to use for my future education and am more prepared for any university that I attend. 

Graphic:  Personal Collection

Have you ever had to sit on a cardboard box for two hours and experience the lives of the homeless and hungry people around the world?  Through my participation in the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Hunger Banquet, I was able to have this eye-opening experience.  To start off the banquet, the people placed in the low socioeconomic income were given a small amount of rice on a napkin and dirty water for dinner.  Rice and beans was distributed to the middle class, and a five course meal was given to the upper class.  Being in the low class, I had never been more envious of food in my life.  Not only was I able to realize the mass amount of world starvation through this banquet, but also listened to speakers give insight on ways to eliminate and prevent world hunger.  I will have children in my classrooms who are of all three socioeconomic status’s, and going to this hunger banquet made me more aware and understanding of the children suffering from poverty in an irreplaceable way.

Graphic:  Personal Collection

Hearing and viewing Michael Kabotie’s presentation on his Hopi artwork was a learning experience unlike any other.  The information he provided will definitely assist me in my knowledge and understanding of my students.  Kabotie, an artist, displayed various artworks he created that helped me understand the Hope Indian Tribe culture.  As he elaborated on each piece of artwork, I learned different hidden meanings and symbols of the images he painted.  As a future educator, this information will be very beneficial.  I understand that I will have no two students the same.  In my classroom, students will unite from a vast amount of cultures and life style.  The more that I know about each of them, the better I can relate to my students.  It is also my duty as the teacher to aid my students in creating a unity and community within the classroom.  Knowledge of each student’s individual background and culture will enable me to accomplish this goal in a more efficient and beneficial manner.  I am sure that somewhere down my teaching career I will have a student of Native American culture.  Even though they might not necessarily be of the Hopi Tribe, I am now more familiar with the customs and lifestyles of all Native American cultures.  Michael Kabotie’s presentation was very informative and has provided me with knowledge that will help me become an even better, diverse teacher.

Graphic: http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu

Teachers need to be informed of what is going on in the world of their students.  Proposition 200, which is required identification in order to vote, is creating a huge uproar among many immigrant families.  Because I attended a meeting on this subject, I can better understand what the children that I teach and their families are going through.  I plan on attending many events throughout my teaching career that enhance my knowledge of the struggles my students’ families are undergoing.  The more I can relate to my students and show them I care, the more successful they will be.

Graphic:  http://www.howtogermany.com/images/vote.gif

I learned more within the few hours that I spent at Paving the Way than I thought possible. The information provided was extremely intuitive. Through the outstanding introductory speakers view on the differences between a good and a bad teacher, I gained a greater insight into teaching from the student’s perspective. He told stories of the teachers he had as a student who really impacted him, positive or negative. One story, in particular, moved me and made me want to teach junior high more than ever. During this conference I attended a class on surviving the first year of teaching. It gave some great ideas in becoming one with my class. We played the games that the speaker described, allowing me to see how each of them worked and determining if they were something that I wanted to use in my own classroom. Through this class, I learned of many beneficial activities to use with my students when I am an educator. Next, I attended a seminar called the Parent Trap. During this time I learned a vast amount of ways to make parent/teacher relations stronger. The handouts that were given were incredible! They provided great ideas for relaying information to student’s home. I will definitely use the knowledge that I gained during the Pave the Way teaching conference when I am a teacher.

Graphic: http://www.emc.maricopa.edu