Teaching Profile

The integration of digital applications and resources is necessary to enhance student learning and make social studies both meaningful and enjoyable for my students. In the courses that I have the most experience teaching, mapping and geovisualization tools such as Google Earth and Google My Maps are commonly used to help students apply geographic concepts and skills. I also regularly implement the use of ArcGIS Story Maps and GeoInquiries to help students acquire information in an interactive way and further explore certain topics in useful formats that help relate content to the real world. I also utilize tools such as Google Jamboard, Flipgrid, EdPuzzle, and Poll Everywhere to promote student collaboration and engagement in virtual and in-person settings. I make relevant primary sources and datasets accessible to my students through the learning management system of our school or district so that students can locate and revisit these materials throughout a learning segment. My students also use technology to conduct independent and collaborative research, and it is essential to teach and repeat positive research practices such as investigating the reliability of authors and websites, digital organization and note-taking, and avoiding plagiarism by synthesizing information and properly citing sources.

I integrate artistic expression into my teaching by providing students with frequent and substantive opportunities to be creative. I believe that it is important for students to create both physical and intangible artifacts to deepen their learning of social studies. One example of this would be the Cereal Box Project, where my students repurposed cereal boxes to reflect the cultural characteristics of a country in the world. I also encourage students to incorporate visuals when using the Frayer Model so that academic vocabulary terms are reinforced through words and images. I have students create One-Pagers and hexagonal-thinking posters as forms of independent or collaborative review at the end of learning segments so that students can visually express how concepts are connected. I also engage students by having them create or critically analyze artwork, photographs, poems, music pieces, dance compositions, and athletic activities to enhance their understanding of the concepts we are studying in ways they find relevant to their own interests.

I make an intentional effort to establish strong professional relationships with all colleagues in any workplace that I enter. I appreciate a workplace environment that has a strong sense of community because it helps me believe that I can belong to, excel within, and make positive contributions to such an environment. I am a hardworking and dedicated team member who maintains a positive outlook in the workplace. I aspire to support the faculty, staff, students, and surrounding community of my workplace in any way that I can through my presence and efforts.