Teacher Professional Development: I need to learn how to bring the Maker Movement to my students by attending this course designed especially for educators. <profdevpilot>
"The answer is not to standardize education but to personalize and customize it to the needs of each child and community." Like Sir Ken Robinson, I would like to continue to differentiate my instruction to meet the diverse, ever-changing needs of my stellar sixth graders.
I will be entering my seventh year of teaching next fall.
In that time, I've taught every grade, K-6, but 2nd! I've taught in schools with over 90% of the student body eligible for free/reduced lunch, as well as in leafy suburbs where students don't face those economic challenges. What I've learned about students, across all of those differences, is that the more engaged they are in their learning, the more it sticks. Voice and choice is an integral part in making learning meaningful, as are authentic tasks. All of this learning must be situated in an environment where students feel safe to take risks, valued as a community member, and feel successful. After seven years in the classroom, I know I am getting closer to creating this kind of learning community, where students are active and engaged agents of their own education, but I also know that I have a long way to go. The goal is a moving target, one that keeps me striving to become the kind of teacher my students deserve.
My Project
"Maker classrooms are active classrooms [where] one will find engaged students, often working on multiple projects simultaneously, and teachers unafraid of relinquishing their authoritarian role. The best way to activate your classroom is for your classroom to make something," Sylvia Martinez & Gary Stager.
I dream of having a classroom that is abuzz with productive energy where students are engaged in authentic tasks that challenge them in ways unique to each learner. As I've dipped my toe in this kind of teaching, I've come to the realization that it requires much more skill and expertise than typical whole-class instruction. I'd like to be able to create a learning environment that incorporates the best of the Maker Movement's hands-on, constructivist, self-directed approach, but I lack the expertise. Attending this summer course would be my first step in gaining that expertise, and I would be able to implement what I learn immediately in the classroom.
Participating in Making for Educators will help me establish a culture of Makers which will challenge students to solve open-ended problems creatively with STEAM skills.
In addition to being authentic, active, and engaging, the Maker Movement is in line with the "Educate to Innovate" initiative that aims to prepare students to be leaders in the 21st century. As John Dewey famously said, "If we teach today's student's as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow." Let's teach for tomorrow!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Ribeiro and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
