My Portfolio

  1. What is questionable about the Roman method of memorizing and speaking publicly as a form of learning? By prioritizing memorization and speaking publicly as a form of learning, educators may neglect other students who may respond better to other learning styles. Additionally, memorizing and truly absorbing information is different. Students can recite facts without fully understanding them, making memorization only a short-term educational approach.  2.  How can Dance be an important learning experience for all kids (speakers of other languages, children with special needs, etc)? Dance appeals to all students, because of its universal application and messaging. It is a form of self-expression that can facilitate emotional awareness while stimulating creativity, personal development, and diverse learning experiences.   3. Why are empathy maps important when developing the curriculum?   Empathy maps give educators insight into student thoughts, feel...

  Creative dance is free-flowing, improvised movement created by the dancer by paying attention to emotions that feel satisfying an meaningful The kinesthetic sense is a combination of movement awareness and decision making The more you connect dance to other areas within academic curriculum, the more the student will find the class useful Aesthetic dance has functional and therapeutic value  Dance relies on kinesthetics.  Kinesthetics involves sensing movement (the physical movement) versus feeling the movement (what the movement envokes in you). The kinesthetic loop is the circular communication between moving parts of the body and the brain; involving the interaction between subjective and objective, and sensing and feeling movement. It is completed in milleseconds and constantly sending messages/feedback to the muscles and the brain, often slipping below conciousness borders. Creative dance tries to heighten our level of awareness between our brain body connec...

  Teaching  = Teaching aims to impart essential concepts and skills for performing specific tasks, fostering an environment where students can safely make mistakes. Effective communication from the teacher helps express key concepts, practical examples, and exercises to prepare students for real-world applications. Coaching  = takes place in real-world situations with action, requiring coaches to draw on experiences when applying fundamental concepts. They support practitioners in adapting their performance to unique circumstances, emphasize basic principles, develop situational adjustment, and focus on consistent improvement through effective communication. Mentoring  = Mentoring centers around guiding students on their personal journey towards fulfillment, particularly as they mature and reassess their future goals. Mentors build trust and facilitate conversations about personal values, emotional balance, and envisioning the future rather than imparting concepts or...

  My Ideal Dance Studio: bright and spacious studio space with ample natural light, a high-quality sound system, vibrant and engaging decor that appeals to children of all ages, designated storage space for dancers, comfortable seating for parents to observe classes with viewing windows or screens to watch their children, separate changing rooms for boys and girls equipped with lockers and facilities for changing clothes, cushioned and non-slip flooring, full-length mirrors along one wall.  Convergent Thinking : taking loose ideas and synthesizing and organizing those ideas into a specific framework to achieve something out of it. Dopamine encourages Divergent thinking as opposed to Convergent thinking. Intelligence: the process of having original ideas that have value; it's the interaction of different disciplinary ways of seeing things. 3 parts of Intelligence It's diverse; visually, auditory, kinesthetically, tactful (VAKT model) It's dynamic  It's distinct ...

  A mission statement is a concise overview of the goals and values that steer a school's actions and direction; it is more immediate than the vision statement. A vision statement describes a school's future objectives, directing internal decision-making towards a desired future state; it is more long-term than the mission statement. Group Drafting Activity: Sample Mission Statement = To empower high school students through the art of dance, fostering self-expression, confidence, and teamwork to cultivate a lifelong passion for dance and creativity. Sample Vision Statement = The vision is to be the go-to place for high schoolers who want to learn dance, where they can become more confident and expressive while having fun together; while at the same time, aiming to create a community where everyone feels welcome and excited about dancing.

  In task-oriented cultures , the main method of achieving goals is through skillful tasks and time management. In r elationship-oriented cultures goals are achieved through relationships; the group to which an individual belongs to is a crucial part of that person's identity. Decisions tend to be made either top-down or only after broad consensus is reached. SEL elements: Sequenced: Implementing connected and coordinated tasks to nurture skills development. Active: Utilizing interactive learning strategies to help students reinforce new skills. Focused: Allocating time and attention towards the enhancement of personal and social skills. Explicit: Concentrating on the cultivation of particular social and emotional skills. Example Teaching Philosophy: As educator, I aim to foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment in which students feel valued and empowered to accomplish their goals. Through diverse and interactive lesson planning and a hands-on approach, I hope to i...

Your Belief:   Inspire learning through compassion and enthusiasm. One Classroom Rule:   Treat others how you would like to be treated. Class Procedures:    1. Helping other students 2. Entering the Classroom 3. Participating in group lessons 4. Taking out/putting away/caring for supplies 5. Getting into work groups 6. Exiting the room 7. Classroom helpers; learning a classroom job 8. Getting help with assignments  9. Guests in the classroom 10. Signals for attention Sample Schedule: 8:00 - 8:30 - Prep Dance Studio 8:30 - 10:30 - Plan Choreography 10:30 - 11:15 - 1st Dance Class period 1. Warm-up (5 minutes): Light cardio and static and dynamic stretches. 2. Technique/Skill (10 minutes): Teach or review dance techniques. 3. Choreography (20 minutes): Introduce a short dance sequence. 4. Cool Down and Stretch (5 minutes): Gentle stretches for muscle recovery. 5. Closure (5 minutes): Recap, feedback, and positive affirmation. 11:15 - 12:00 - 2st Dance Class period...

  Post-pandemic students are experiencing an increased risk in mental health issues, disorders, and symptoms. Goldie Hawn created a holistic approach based on neuroscience to minimize these challenges and integrate elements for reflection and relaxation. Some important practices include brain breaks and gratitude journaling

  The Curriculum Wars Article Early 1990s, K-12 curriculum was going through reform because progressives and traditionals did not agree  Standards were adopted in the early 2000s which made a more centralized learning for students 1988-2004 there was an emphasis on narrowing the curriculum  Changes were being suggested and there was an increase in time spent teaching English and math by about an hour a week and decrease in teaching science  People are excited to reshape education through new technologies New technologies will influence different individual learning styles Common Core State Standards project believes learning should affect what a society wants students to learn Common Core = education traditionalists Non-fiction and fiction readings are not balanced through Common Core Tracking in math is ended in eigth grade Math courses are integrated in Common Core Technology makes it easier to find resources but makes teachers put less effort in Traditionalists be...