Moving forward
“We do not learn from experience … we learn from reflecting on experience.”
~ John Dewey
My values, which are at the core of who I am, remain consistent across all aspects of my life, including my role as an educator. I view learning as a holistic journey, aiming to enhance my teaching and learning standards by exploring innovative pedagogies, incorporating authentic assessments, seeking new opportunities to develop and improve my facilitation of learning, and examining the assumptions that inform my practice. As Tatum (1997) aptly notes, "We all have a sphere of influence. Each of us needs to find our own sources of courage so that we can begin to speak." My classroom and my students are within this sphere, and I will achieve my goals by actively engaging in these practices:
To further develop and implement an authentic, sustainable teaching approach that weaves anti-racist and social justice perspectives into course delivery in ways that align with existing curriculum. Through this work, I aim to deepen pre-service educators’ understanding of equity, inclusion, and belonging in early childhood settings with thoughtful and intentional consideration of both children and their families.
To intentionally expand assessment options within my courses to create greater space for student choice. By offering multiple platforms and varied ways for students to demonstrate their learning, this goal aims to increase accessibility and provide more opportunities for authentic, meaningful learning experiences.
To develop accessible, practice-grounded resources that translate both foundational and critical theories into meaningful, usable tools for pre-service and practising Early Childhood Educators.
To intentionally enact and revisit my personal teaching plan that integrates anti-racist strategies, using it as a living document throughout the term to reflect on my practice, notice movement, and identify meaningful ways forward.