My Teaching Philosophy
I believe that all children can learn. I believe that all children deserve a quality education with the best possible resources available. I also believe that adult learners deserve guidance and second chances. I believe that challenge is good and overcoming obstacles is a skill that all children need to learn early in their academic career. I also believe that critical thinking, cooperative play and problem solving are skills that our children need more than ever.
Learning is about taking a subject or concept, observing it from all sides and, possibly deconstructing it and then piecing it back together with all that you've observed of its being. All children can process, analyze, interrogate, and interpret information when given the tools to succeed.
I believe in looking at the margins and focusing on the details that often get glanced over or ignored, and then telling that story. We all love stories and we learn best through storytelling. We start our academic careers in the cradle hearing voices and listening to stories. For many of us, if we are lucky, we will leave this earth the same way. With someone talking to us and telling us stories. That understanding is significantly important and the key to learning.
Some of my favorite teachers, the ones that I learned the most from, were the best storytellers. Whether literature, history, science or math, all subjects can be taught through a captivating story. Mastery for students comes when they are able to apply those stories to their lives and retell them with understanding whether orally, written or through some other means.
I value being able to change someones attitude about learning History. So many students come in my classes and say they dislike History because its boring. As a result, they don't understand its significance in their daily lives. My goal is to reach those students and make connections with them to the History of the city they live in, the country they are from and the world that they impact. My goal is to foster a love or reading and History and ultimately, the stories that shape us.
I use stories, primary source documents, photography, media and interactive lessons to guide my students towards deep understandings of History. The best measure of my students learning is the conversations they are able to have with each other and outside of class. A test can tell you what they remember but a conversation can tell you what they know.
Learning is about taking a subject or concept, observing it from all sides and, possibly deconstructing it and then piecing it back together with all that you've observed of its being. All children can process, analyze, interrogate, and interpret information when given the tools to succeed.
I believe in looking at the margins and focusing on the details that often get glanced over or ignored, and then telling that story. We all love stories and we learn best through storytelling. We start our academic careers in the cradle hearing voices and listening to stories. For many of us, if we are lucky, we will leave this earth the same way. With someone talking to us and telling us stories. That understanding is significantly important and the key to learning.
Some of my favorite teachers, the ones that I learned the most from, were the best storytellers. Whether literature, history, science or math, all subjects can be taught through a captivating story. Mastery for students comes when they are able to apply those stories to their lives and retell them with understanding whether orally, written or through some other means.
I value being able to change someones attitude about learning History. So many students come in my classes and say they dislike History because its boring. As a result, they don't understand its significance in their daily lives. My goal is to reach those students and make connections with them to the History of the city they live in, the country they are from and the world that they impact. My goal is to foster a love or reading and History and ultimately, the stories that shape us.
I use stories, primary source documents, photography, media and interactive lessons to guide my students towards deep understandings of History. The best measure of my students learning is the conversations they are able to have with each other and outside of class. A test can tell you what they remember but a conversation can tell you what they know.
The Young History Detectives
History can be fun! The Young History Detectives is a youth program through HOACC that gives children a better understanding of US History. Detectives research topics and identify new ways to get the word out about this history, whether its gathering resources for our files, or creating something new. Board game design, photography, oral histories, storytelling, website development and producing podcasts, are all options to demonstrate knowledge.
Elementary - Collegiate
When asked what I do, educator is first and foremost on the list. My education has given me the tools needed to work in a wide array of environments. I hold a BA in Black History and Elementary Education, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; MA in African American World Studies, University of Iowa; and PhD work(ABD) in History, from Morgan State University.
k-12 EducationI began my teaching career as a member of the Minority Internship Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. That program paired me with teachers that I would learn my most valuable lessons. I was able to build lesson plans, work with small groups and eventually lead classes, giving me an advantage beyond words.
I taught 5th and 2nd grades for the DC Public School System in South East DC. An experience I will always treasure, Orr Elementary School was a hidden treasure of stellar accomplished teachers and leadership. |
Non-Profit
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Curriculum DevelopmentThe foundation of any good course or program is key to the success of the target audience. My goal in developing any curriculum is to give as many tools as possible to the teachers and students alike. We want students to think critically and be engaged in what they are learning. We also want teachers to enjoy teaching and learning right along with their students. Having a master plan is fundamental requirement to achieve a successful outcome and that's what a rigorous and well designed curriculum should deliver.
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Higher Education
While pursuing my Masters Degree at the University of Iowa, I began teaching for both the African American World Studies Department teaching Black Culture and the General Education Literature Department where I taught Black Literature courses. After graduation, I taught Black Family and Black Literature courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
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Museum EducationAt GPBHM, I facilitate community discussions based on topics of interest and events in the local area. to increase knowledge of African Americans contributions and achievements in the Great Plains.
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LibrariesReading has one of the greatest impacts on a child's development and life. There is an avid reader in every child. Whether they read books, on devices, comics or manuals, finding the right mode of reading can change a child's world. I developed programs for students to build critical thinking skills, community awareness and a love of reading.
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