Alternative Teaching - Spoken Word

I absolutely love different ways of learning. It may be, perhaps, one of my favourite things. I enjoy sitting down and watching the benefits of certain ways of learning, I love teaching a subject in multiple different ways, I just feel that all students (including adult students) learn in different ways, and if there is some way that helps every learner in your classroom, why not take it?

I myself tend to turn to ted talks on a regular basis. I love taking a break from life, sitting down, and listening to an amazing individual tell me something new...or maybe something I already knew. Ted talks are familiar and comfortable, and they make so much sense! I believe that an individual grasps a concept when it's taught in a form they love. If a learner loves dance, they will often understand the breakdown of a concept when comparing it to dance much greater than if it is just given to them. I myself often struggle with concepts, and have learned that there are so many ways to gain an understanding of something, that I prefer to teach things to myself in this way. I write notes in a way that work for me with examples that I can relate to and understand. Now, this is getting slightly off topic, but when I talk about alternative teaching, I really want to focus on spoken word here. I know there are so many ways of alternative teaching, but while scrolling through ted talks one day, I found my niche. Spoken word. If you have never heard spoken word before, I strongly recommend you look it up. It speaks to my soul like a cup of coffee at 5 am. I stumbled upon the amazing and talented Sarah Kay. I find her absolutely brilliant. I have listened to almost all of her pieces many, many times since I found her.

Why do I think this is an amazing way of alternative teaching? She embodies spoken word and knows how to make words flow together in such a way, that it makes me want to try it. She discusses the process of writing poetry and her process. Not just Sarah Kay, but spoken word in general, requires a few things. First, it requires a written aspect. A creatively written piece, a skill students are constantly building. Second, it requires oral presentation. Another skill students are constantly building. And finally, and what I feel to be the most important, it involves passion. When a student is passionate, they put 110% into their work, they feel a sense of ownership and responsibility to it. The work they are handing in is not half-hearted or done just because it's 'homework'. It's done because they wanted to finish the work to show a little of themselves. The pre-thinking period requires a silent journal of ones self and ones likes and dislikes.

I just love the incorporation of passion with learning. The more passionate you are, the more you will unknowingly learn. I love when learning is fun and easy!

And really, I just love spoken word, so why not teach what I love?

Bathing Suits to Leather Boots

It's that time of year where the scent and feel of the air changes. Tomorrow is my final day of my summer job, and I am off on the new adventure of the education program. I don't know if anyone else notices it, but I find August brings with it a little chill in the air and a crisp smell of September. This is one of my favourite times of the year. It means back to school and back to routines. I love the feeling of new school supplies, new clothes (because I still do that), and new classes. I absolutely love this step back into routine. This time of year brings a happy mixture of nostalgia and excitement. I feel that there is nothing better than this feeling. It is a lovely thing, and perhaps one of the many reasons I want to become a teacher, I never want to leave behind that excitement of mid-August.

Good luck to everyone going into their first week of school!

Summer Reflection

This summer I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in a library as a Summer Reading Program coordinator. It has been a wild ride. Today was the final sessions and after 7 weeks, I cannot believe my time with the kids are done. I feel like self reflection and assessment is so important in the teaching field, if you aren't constantly learning, how can you teach anyone to enjoy learning?

This summer has been the fastest four months of my life, filled with frustrations, craziness, laughter, and love. What I have learned working with kids is that there are going to be times where they frustrate you, where they do not listen to save their lives, and where you go home absolutely exhausted and drained, but there are so many times when kids entertain and love that it makes it so worth it! Though this summer I have had some difficulties and have doubted my abilities, I am ending this summer sad that it ended, but so glad that the kids walked away happy. Our Finale is in two days and I am so excited to award the kids with their certificates for the summer. They deserve every bit of it! I think one of the most important things I have learned this summer is that no matter how many things go wrong or how many time I feel I have failed, if the kids never want it to stop, I've done absolutely everything right! I have also learned that remembering kids names is really special. I've always managed to remember kids, it's a skill I am very proud of, and it has served me well. Remembering kids makes their experience each day so much more special and the love and joy you get in return is so amazing. Ultimately, this summer has been a filled with chaos, tears, laughter, shouting, love, and finally, a lost voice, and it's been a real adventure!

As I enter my first practicum semester of three, I am a ball of nervousness, terrified, and excited. Throughout this summer I, as per usual, questioned my abilities and my choice. I tend to waver between absolute confidence in my love and passion of teaching and complete terror and questioning. As this summer ends, I know that this passion is real and that this choice I've made is definitely the right one (because a highly recommended into an esteemed education faculty is not enough apparently). I have realized I will always have days that I question my abilities and I will always finish satisfied and in love with the path I have chosen for myself. I guess a decision and dream made at three years of age is one of the best decisions and dreams to stick to.