Igniting Your Personal and Professional Growth

Describe one or two, specific learning experiences from your fellowship. In words, show us this experience and explain why it was powerful.

One of the learning experiences that I really enjoyed was visiting the middle school campus. I took several things away from this school that I would love to implement in my class. First, I loved the ideas of their school garden. The students were so passionate about what they had grown. They could tell the group everything about it. They planted all types of herbs, and we were able to sample some of it. Also, I loved the design thinking projects that were made by the students.

What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn professionally?

I learned that I need to be more willing to allow my students to try different things that are not directly related to academic standards and allow them to learn by exploring. Visiting the Teton's schools, I saw many things that I teach my students but have not provided the hands-on opportunity for them to explore. The thing that I learned about myself was that I am very adaptable. We had a few challenges going and returning but, in each situation, I restrained from getting frustrated

What were some unplanned or unexpected experiences or outcomes of your fellowship? Or, how did the fellowship you crafted differ from the actual learning experience?

The unexpected experience was the learning environment in which the students went to school. I was expecting a small school but not a community of houses. Students loved it!! They were able to raise chickens, have a green house and grow herbs and even have a workmen's shop with tools. The teachers were even cooking breakfast for the smaller kids. It was a wonderful thing, and the students were so knowledgeable of their sense of space. Also, I was not expecting to see three bears.

Impacting Your Classroom, School and Community

Outline specific plans you have to implement your fellowship and reach your student goals.

There were a lot of ideas that I want to try with my students. When I got back, I immediately started planning my Dream Home Project. I started by developing a series of questions I wanted my students to know. Secondly, I reached out to a realtor within our area and made plan to take the students on a trip to visit homes and to learn more about the career path of a realtor. I am hoping that students will create a design that they are proud of.

What is one way you can leverage your fellowship to create one authentic learning experience for students? (e.g. hands-on learning, projects, community engagement)

I have already started incorporating my fellowship within my class. Students will create a project entitled "my dream home". Students will learn academic standards and have the opportunity to create their own dream home. Finding square footage and creating a 3d model of the scale drawing. One way to leverage my fellowship is to reach out to more realtors and to provide the students with the opportunity to walk through homes that resembles their dream home.

How, specifically, will your fellowship extend beyond your classroom? (e.g. families, school-at-large, afterschool groups, surrounding community, colleagues, etc.)

This learning experience will extend beyond my classroom. I plan to incorporate the strategies and place-based learning ideas within the classroom, that will also go within my community. I'm hoping that the project I have the students do will allow them to see the value of their community and expose them to new career paths. I'm also hoping that this will give the outside community to opportunity to engage with the students.