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TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

Exploring Love and Empathy in Learning

Exploring Love and Empathy in Learning can look as simple as:

Having students discuss feelings they are experiencing at morning/afternoon meetings.
Having one-on-one meetings with students and parents to connect on a deeper level and be able to gain a better understanding of the child’s background.
Encouraging Use of the classroom coping resources.
Taking the time to meet with students having a conflict, but also knowing when they can solve it on their own.
Helping students develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with their emotions in and outside the classroom.

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Student Government Association

Contributions to the Teaching Profession

Student Government Association:

Years Served: 3 Years

Positions Held:

– Class of 2023 Senator (2019-2020)

– College of Education and Human Services Senator (2020-2022)

Contributions:

Fall 2019 – T-Shirt Contest:

In collaboration with Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School, we ran a contest at the elementary school for a new logo for the university at the elementary school. After numerous entries, the student government association went with one that exuded diversity and equity for all:

“All are welcome here.”

Spring 2022-College of Education and Human Services joint mural with Grace b. Luhrs Elementary:

During my time at the university, it was truly my goal to enhance the community partnership between the on-campus lab school as well as the College of Education and Human Services. The department chair and I got approval for a mural to be placed in our college’s building. For the design we chose a tree, with the leaves being the hands from every single student and faculty at the on-campus lab school. It was such a monumental moment for everyone and the mural has left a mark on the university for years to come. This event was covered in the school’s newspaper: “The Slate.”

Spring 2020-Spring 2021-Lab School Egg Hunt:

For two springs straight, a colleague and I spearheaded a Spring Egg Hunt at the elementary school on campus, Grace B. Luhrs Elementary. We asked/received a generous donation from the Teacher Education Department for prizes for the students. The First Lady of Shippensburg University participated as one of the volunteers during year two of the Egg Hunt.

Spring 2021- Continued…- Buddy Program:

Spearheaded alongside one of my colleagues, we created a program that gives extra social-emotional support to students during lunchtime. At the elementary school on Shippensburg University’s campus, college students attend school lunches at the elementary school and are paired with a “buddy.” The two buddies then begin to form a mentorship that evolves into learning more about social emotional practice in everyday life. Students build a “buddy box” together throughout the year and have a celebration of their time together at the end of the academic year.

Spring 2021- #ShipBeKind

#ShipBeKind was an initiative created by Shippensburg University created to enhance community and kindness on our campus. The director of the lab school on campus came to me and asked if I could create a calendar that was just like the one the university had created, but instead make one for the elementary school. Listed below is the university’s BeKind calendar, and then the GBLUES BeKind calendar I made:

Shippensburg University’s Version:

My Lab School Version:

Fall 2019-Spring 2022 S.G.A Committees:

During my time in Student Government Association, I sat on many committees as a student representative from the College of Education and Human Services. I sat on the following committees while serving in S.G.A.:

Teacher Education Council (includes: Teacher Ed. Department Chair, Dean of College, many professors from the teacher ed. department, administration, etc…)
Budget & Finance Committee
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Food Committee
Sustainability Committee
Etc.

In the Spring of 2021, I was asked to personally present the “Faculty of the Year” award to an educator who I value dearly. I was also asked to narrate the commentary that would go on that particular plaque. Every year, the Student Government Association nominates who they believe the Faculty of the Year recipient should be, then we anonymously vote via a survey online. It was an honor to be able to write and present such a prestigious award to someone who definitely deserves all the recognition.

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Student Aide Position at On- Campus Lab School

Grace B. Luhrs Elementary On-Campus Lab School Student Aide:

Years Served: 2 Years

Positions Held: Student Aide

Contributions:

Bulletin Board Creating: Throughout my time at Grace B. Luhrs Elementary, I was assigned a couple of blank bulletin boards to bring back to life. One of the bulletin boards was specifically in the cafeteria in the school. The topic I chose for the bulletin board was “Food from Around the World.” This was a way for students to see where some popular foods came from originally, and to see some unique foods they may have never seen before from other cultures.

Fall 2022 Recess Programming: As the school progressed throughout my time there, the administration thought it’d be a great idea to add some extra purpose to recess-time. I went ahead and created a calendar that coordinated some educational games and plans to do while the children are at recess. This programming we created included many different entities and even spearheaded buying more equipment and resources for the students to play with during their time outdoors. Some different examples of programs we ran throughout recess programming was Story-Time in the Grass, leaf-identification, cooperative play games like four-square, etc.

Not only did students learn many new cooperative play games and gain more knowledge on outdoor play, but we also created an actual garden on our playground. In the winter, they used this food to create a Fall Feast, right around Thanksgiving time. Some of the things that we grew included: Romaine Lettuce, Kohlrabi Cabbage, Red Baron Onions, Butter Crunch Lettuce, Broccoli, etc… It was so meaningful to be able to watch the buds the students’ planted grow into actual edible food. When the lettuce was all ready to eat, students were allowed to pick a piece during recess, wash that piece and were able to eat it.

Fall 2021-Spring 2022
Spirit Days:

To add some liveliness throughout the school year, and give the students some fun events, the principal created “Spirit Days.” The students at the school voted what the theme of these spirit days would be, and we ended up with about 5-6 themed-spirit days. It was my job to create themed-decor for these spirit days that would be recognized by the students and faculty. I was also tasked with creating activities for the whole school to participate in during the days. Some examples of themed-spirit days we did were: Donut Day, Pajama Day, Kindness Day, etc…

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Peer Teacher Leaders

Teacher Education Prestigious Group

Years Served: 3 Years

Positions Held: Member

Contributions:

This group, specially selected by the Teacher Education Department chair, can be compared to a “student council” of the department. We make decisions that impact the entire department through wellness committees, social media outreach, Mentorship programs, Student-Teacher celebrations, etc… I was one of the founding members of this group and it has grown tremendously throughout the past year. We are the face of the Teacher Education department.