Research the Gypsy lifestyle in Wales and England during the United Kingdom's "Gypsy, Roma, and Traveler History Month" to celebrate nomadic peoples beliefs, histories, cultures, and lore and creating learning about the forgotten peoples of Europe.
As a result of the 2019 Funds for Teachers fellowship, I was able to gain a deeper understanding and insight into a culture that is highly misunderstood. This fellowship permitted me to face stereotypes and misconceptions as I learned about the nomadic peoples of the United Kingdom. I was able to meet Gypsy, travelers, and Scottish Tinkers. Being able to research at the University of Liverpool Gypsy Archives gave me a wealth of knowledge and information that I am passing on to my students.
Funds for Teachers Fellowship, 2019, has had a powerful impact on my teaching practice. During the fellowship, I observed biased and discrimination against the Gypsy, Roma, Traveler, and Scottish Tinker communities. This will impact my teaching and my students' learning about tolerance and acceptance of other cultures and lifestyles. It is a new concept in the fight to teach equality and diversity.
Further research after writing the grant, convinced me to include Scotland in my research tour of the United Kingdom. There were several sites of monuments to the Scottish Tinkers/Gypsies. Tinkers fought with the Scottish troops in major wars against the British throughout Scotland's history. Near Argyle, on the shores of Loch Long, I visited the Tinker's Heart. It is a monument to the Tinkers. It is also a scared place where religious rituals and weddings are still performed.
My students learning will change in three areas; World War II, Geographic human migration, and Diversity. In teaching about the Holocaust, my students will learn about the Roma and Gypsy who were also killed in an attempted genocide by the Nazi. Gypsy and Roma travels from India is the longest human migration in history. It is an excellent concept for understanding human migration and adaptation over several hundred years. Learning about the Gypsy/Roma peoples adds to teaching diversity.
As a result of my Funds for Teachers fellowship, 2019, my students are studying a unit on the Gypsy/Roma/Travelers/Tinkers. We will study art, folklore, music, and famous people. We will create timelines of migration. I have several learning activities shared by teachers of Gypsy children that I will use with my classes. Activities include learning symbols, decorating wagons, and current events. Students will complete Project Based Learning projects!
The Funds for Teachers Fellowship, 2019, will be shared beyond my classroom through workshops and seminars. I have prepared a presentation that I feel represents the Gypsy/Roma/Traveler/Tinkers. I have written proposals to present at several conferences. I am excited about sharing the story of these amazing people with other educators. I am also sharing resources and activities shared by the Gypsy teachers!
My Funds for Teachers Fellowship, 2019, was transformative on my teaching practice in many ways. Without a doubt, learning about an amazing culture and meeting people had such an impact! Working with teachers and learning about the challenges others face is inspiring. Working with other cultures has shown me so many things that I "Didn't know I didn't know"! Personally, I feel that this fellowship has actually changed my perspective of our world, thereby changing perspective as a teacher.
Students benefit so much from this type of teacher learning. Of course, they learn a wealth of new information. They also benefit from having teachers excited and revitalized about their teaching practice! It creates better teachers! Students benefit in ways not anticipated such as teachers sharing dialog, political views, and new perspectives. My students love to ask me questions about foods I ate while on the fellowship.
I cannot say enough about how strongly my Funds for Teachers Fellowship, 2019, has impacted me both as an educator and personally. I encourage all educators to research a dream and apply to Funds for Teachers to make that dream come true. As an educator, my fellowship inspired me to bring new perspectives into my classroom and community. Personally, as a veteran teacher, the love of teaching is renewed.
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