“Looking at the past must only be a means of understanding more clearly what and who they are so that they can more wisely build the future.” – Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Teachers work on the past and present to build for the future. I take this role very seriously.
In this eFolio, you will find anecdotes and analysis, evidence and examples. The tabs above offer different themes of my teaching and learning this year as well as sections on student growth.
For a general overview, I recommend reading parts of the Philosophy & Growth, Teaching & Learning, and Growth in Student Learning sections.
As a more engaging way to show students my teaching philosophy, I delivered them in a rap (live in class) that I call “Literate.” I do not have film of this, but I do have the original recording, with lyrics below:
LYRICS
VERSE 1
Hey yo: call fair and foul like the Macbeth witches.
Right now you’re curled I’m betting, ‘cause you ain’t yet found your niches.
A heart attack in fact now, you seem to lack that which is,
Now think it’s ancient old when in fact it’s timeless mock like Tupac.
My English class has you talking trash;
I’m pushing to combine to show you what it’s like to mash
Reading and write together, with Shakespeare mixed Jay and Drake
Read and write in English means explore, express, and to create.
We just engage and now communicate, formulate, relate.
Read and write and indulge in the literacy work.
Now is the season for the read and write collaboration,
Glamorization of tools more used than saturation.
Our tall emphasis of narration
Hits us home and school in the world tucked up in writer sanitation.
Now I declare some patience, we have the time to be us and the English:
Turn the page away from barren wasteland.
CHORUS
I’m literate.
I see my word and world and take from it.
My reading and writing in English means that I was meant for it.
Now I’m tryna express a bit.
But when I see the dots I’m thinking connect ‘em until the bulb’s lit.
I’m literate.
VERSE 2
Trust it: I let communicate so I can rate the words in your big brain of late;
I got to know to know you to know how and why do we go.
Why learn the English lessons? To talk to audience,
To scaffold dense and hard writing to make it make more sense.
Your mindful hands around this pen and pad are knowing:
Make thoughts for you believable and never end that brain from growing.
English ain’t wimpy, it came from need to let communicate
Different and new takes on life and to see the word as fresh.
The word rater, communicator, knowing caters, the simulator of data, write now and later;
It’s never been a hater, try the expression then to gain them
Go around and snatch all of the English and attain gem.
This thesis can teach a student now to reach his
Full potential and to see and gain new perspectives through reading and writing
That matters for the knowing, the valuing, communicating, ID constructing.
I’m Entropy and today we’re all meant to be…
[CHORUS]
VERSE 3
If you got evidence then don’t be pensive but use it to commence,
Your hesitance is resident because someone said you shouldn’t and said no.
So I’m assuring all that lack of confidence
That there’s a writer’s will in you that always wants to free the zoo:
A metaphor, valued with a lion’s heart.
What I want more of is a working world connector, a
Big articulator, whose will is practical, tactical,
Who can link the facts or work through ideas to put it back on track.
You never valued school and class ain’t cool, that isn’t magical,
It’s English that will inspire, require the dire life tools.
In fact I can’t see, and can’t imagine
Someone who ain’t a lover to read or a fan or writing;
It’s all about construction, the want to make a name on the subject to
Start to see how we value and build anew.
Do all you can do, ‘cause once you give it up for good
You’re chanced to be and to become the saddest in the neighborhood.
[CHORUS] 2x