Mirror Work

Reflections on My Identity – My background, values, and experiences influence my teaching approach in many ways. I have always been apart of a very supportive family. I have been taught that people are all human and that everyone should be treated with care. This shows in my teaching because I want students to feel valued, cared about, and know they have autonomy in different way in my classroom. I also know my background influences this because I know how privileged I am to be who I am.

Challenges and Growth –Before I taught and was in my field experience, I didn't realize how important programs and funding can be. I grew up in a decently wealthy or well-funded school. Seeing schools throughout Indianapolis has allowed me to see the differencing in funding. I think this allows me to connect more to the community of both students, but especially with teachers. I now realize how much goes into supporting your students, it isn't always just with a budget of course, but funding can truly shift an education.

Impact on Teaching – Self-awareness enhances your ability to connect with diverse students because you can dig deeper into why you want to be the teacher you are. It allows you to connect to your values and understand why you believe what you do. Having this self-awareness also allows you to know when you need to better yourself as a teacher for your students.