Rome Spring 2015
Although I did not teach in a diverse setting when I was studying abroad, I did encounter valuable diversity experiences.
- I not only witnessed but participated in holding conversations where there were huge communication barriers. When traveling in Poland, my classmates and I had to try to communicate without using any of the English language. We always resorted to hand gestures and facial expressions. We even had to draw on paper in order to ask directions.
- I was able to witness different cultures, from the Italian culture to the French culture to the Polish culture. In experiencing these three countries along with my own American cultural background, I drew connections between the varying cultures. I also saw many differences between these cultures.
AVID Tutoring
I was an AVID tutor for Bismarck High School and Legacy High School in the fall of 2016. Some of the students come from diverse backgrounds, but overall their cultural differences did not alter my regular tutoring routine. AVID has offered me a diverse experience in my teaching methods however.
- I have learned to ask students questions rather than direct them with instructions. This questioning technique allows the student to come to the solution themselves, and they critical think through the steps to get to the answer.
- Ultimately, I have learned to stop talking so that the students can take learning into their own hands. Most of the upperclassmen students could run tutorials themselves. My job was to grade their participation and make sure their questioning skills were beneficial to the entire group's learning efforts.
- I have learned from a teaching perspective how to give them the freedom to learn on their own. I had to let them struggle, so that they could feel and witness the reward themselves.
Sacred Stone Camp
On October 18, 2016, I had the opportunity to assist in the school at the Sacred Stone Camp near Cannon Ball, ND. Unfortunately, the day I went they did not cover any math lessons, but I still helped the students learn in other content areas.
- I assisted in read aloud sessions where I read to some elementary students, and I also helped those students read to me.
- I also assisted in helping students stay focused on their Lakota culture lessons, and I learned many different phrases in Lakota. One phrase that the students will never let me forget is "Mni Wiconi," or "water is life."
- The main lesson of the day was participating in drying corn with other members of the campsite. While we dried corn, we counted in Lakota and sang Lakota songs.
- I also assisted in an active lesson about the life span of a salmon. Students went through an obstacle course that demonstrated what stages a salmon would live through.