Dawn Adams

WHO AM I?

As a lifetime learner, I tend to think of myself as a student, but I am so much more... I'm an adventurer, an advocate of education and human rights, and a lover of plants, animals, art and music. Growing up in various states and schools, it's hard to define a specific hometown; but one thing is definitive-I am a multifaceted person. I am grateful to have a unique perspective of diversity as I enter into my educational journey. I am a mother of four children, including twins. I have navigated divorce, economic hardships, and mental health challenges with my four children, as long as becoming a blended family and stepparent to two additional children. These experiences helped shape who I am and helped me become resilient. Through the support systems available to me, I have learned that a community is a great resource. I am here to support children, parents, and give back to the many amazing communities that have help teach me that I am capable of anything.

All Eight of Us in Chicago

Our Blended Family

Glacier National Park

One of Thiry Eight National Parks We've Visited

WHAT DO I KNOW?

It took me nine years to graduate as I raised four children as a single mother. I began my childcare journey as a private nanny. This led to my passion for helping children learn. After the birth of my second child, I enrolled in online classes to ensure I was offering the children in my life the best recourses available. In 2021, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tidewater Community College. I was awarded an Associate's of Applied Science in Early Childhood Development. It was not easy, but I did achieve my goal. I am ready to offer my support to those who dare to change the trajectory of their circumstances.

My first full time job in education was a site assigned substitute at a middle school in Virginia Beach. These children have inspired me to continue my education so that one day I may have my own classroom. Having the opportunity to sub any class between sixth and eighth grade has built confidence and skill. I can use these experiences to build better relationships with students, parents, professionals and other teachers alike.

I am able to share emotional support, and lead others to valuable recourses that helped me succeed in the community.

My children: Alex, Isabelle, Annabelle, and Donald

Chippokes State Park, VA

Shark Teeth from Fossil Beach

Snow Day in VB, 2025

Twin Falls State Park, WV

Little Known FACT: I own a Photography Company Called Hippie Clicks! Check me out on Instagram @ Hippie.Clicks

WHAT I HAVE TO LEARN...

I have so much to learn! Working with a variety of students will be enlightening as I learn how to accommodate their needs and observe their customs and values. Incorporating student-based projects is one way I hope to make real-world conccetions to my students.

I am looking forward to enhancing my digital skills. One day I will have to administer SOLs, post Canvas courses and report grades. As a high school graduate from 2002, I feel now is an excellent time to introduce myself to new age technology and apply these advancements to accommodate many learners. Field experience and classroom management are top priorities to me. I aim to learn how to be available to all students, while able to manage a group learning and meeting educational objectives.

Working with families, connecting children and their loved ones to resources, and providing individualized attention to all seems like a tough mountain to climb. I am ready to learn how to manage these challenges and build bridges to help students feel supported. I would also like to learn about the professional recourses available to teachers.

I will work hard to achieve these goals and set new goals as I am able to have deeper understandings. I am still subbing and expanding my experiences beyond middle school. Working with a variety of age groups will potentially expand my range.

THE TEACHER I WILL BECOME...

I want to be the kind teacher--invested in children and families alike. I connect with the values of a social reconstructionism approach, among others, and I strongly believe if we give children the tools they need to succeed, they will change the world. These tools are academic skills to read, write, compare, contrast, and state their claims effectively. To create theories and act upon these theories as they attempt to understand the world they live in. In order to become proficient academically, I also believe in the core ideas of the essentialism philosophy. Building strong academic skills will widen the chances students become free thinkers that question conformity and injustices. It is my wish to give students a voice to speak and strength to act. I believe the purpose of school is provide equal opportunity to all children, no matter background, ability, race, or economic status, to "learn." What is to be learn is a topic for discussion, but generally I lean toward academic skills and social issues.

If a visitor walked into my classroom, I hope they would witness a collaboration between people, not just students and adults, but all people. Sometimes school is the only place children have to feel safe. I want to become a home for these students and attempt to teach empathy to students who may not understand this concept. I see the idea of a teacher more as a present guide, in which children are fluid and the educator is alongside this great ocean of various seasons and tides to help and also experience what is happening, as these happenings are ever changing.

Because I have several commonalities with various educational philosophies, my approach to learning is collective... just like my students and families. I believe in both student-centered and teacher-centered learning. Therefore, we will be looking at a multidimensional space with a variety of experiences. Both group work and individual work is at the core of this classroom. Factual and scientific based elements will complement open-ended natural materials that provide spaces to “be free" and opportunities to master core skills as educational resources are within reach. Educational benchmarks should be determined by national level professionals with years of experience. These standards should be clarified and published for students to use as a framework for local and state levels. Mathematical and scientific skills must be mastered. Assessments and interventions are used to create a zone of proximal understanding and topics of interests and perosnal themes will be adaptive to all memebers of the classsroom.

Student work is valued, honored, and showcased alongside high-quality educational visuals and materials. Bulletin boards showcase social issues as well as how children are engaged in learning. A variety of cultures and cultural concerns are valued and openly discussed daily. Children are working to understand the past and apply this knowledge to the future in this classroom. Historical events are discussed freely after a formal introduction, with an emphasis on personal thoughts and feelings from the students' perceptions.

Assignments include basic note taking and assessments to recall basic facts, but also student collaborations like cultural fairs and current event call-to-actions are an integral element to the classroom. We will strive to outreach to other students, teachers, and their families to collaborate and act in ways the children find engaging. Together, the students learn from formal instruction–but what is important to the students also becomes part of the curriculum. A variety of learning approaches will support these concerns with availability to resources, a "what can we do" attention, and encouragement is present, while incorporating a basic academic skill set. The teacher I will become reflects the teachers who invested in me. Their love and dedication help me be who I am now and am becoming. This is what I hope my future students will learn too.

To create my AI image, it took many attempts. I was very happy with the original but wasn't sure it was able to capture the essence of group collaboration I want in my classroom.

I wanted to include it, as it was my first attempt at any AI and I am very pleased with the symbolism.

My search prompt was “Show me an essentialism and social reconstructionism classroom that incorporates a caterpillar growing wings.”

I asked Gemini to edit the original image by typing, “take this image and have children working together and include children's work on chalk board”. AI did not understand.

I decided to venture further to see if I could outsmart the computer...

Artifical Intelligence Upgrade

For these images, I used Google Gemini. I did experiment with additional sites, but Gemini seemed like the most user-friendly. Many prompts were needed to alter the first image to the second. After what seemed like 2,876 commands, I love this image. Other than the creation of the images, AI research helped me articulate my educational philosophies. Additionally, I attempted to create an AI song associated with essentialism and social reconstructionism. The link is provided next to the comment section.

I am surprised how AI has given me some actual confidence in my digital abilities. I will continue to question, note take, and explore books with my fingers, but I am very interested in creating a variety of sensory learning tools for my student in the future to recite, recall, and remember! My policy is to remain grounded in my essentialism core beliefs but open to learning new things.

COMMENTS

Please leave your thoughts! I'd love to hear from you!

Let Me Know If You've Ever Been Any of These Places!

Hi Dawn! I know you've talked about not being very technologically savvy but WOW! Your page is amazing. I really admire how your experiences have shaped your perspective and made you resilient. Your philosophy is full of confidence. I resonate with your views on essential knowledge that students should learn and the academic skills that will lead students to thinking on their own and forming their opinions. The AI image is VERY cool. I think the analogy of a caterpillar as a classroom is very creative and illustrates your desire to guide your students. P.S. The only place I've been to that's marked on your map is here in VA haha. -Sarah Lee

Hello Dawn! I loved seeing the photos of your family and seeing the photos you have taken for your nature photography. Your page was very interesting, and I also liked how much you wrote down to give us a more in-depth perspective of yourself. I believe you should give yourself more confidence in your technological abilities since you seem to know what you're doing! Your AI image is extremely creative and I love the usage of bugs in it! - Dani Ensminger

Hey dawn I really enjoyed reading your page I love how you shared that I liked how you talked about wanting to give your students a voice and creating a classroom where they will feel safe and supported. I also think it great that you want to build your digital skills as a teacher and that you are comfortable to say you still have things to learn about using technology as a teacher. -Imonni Jones

teach the children to love to learn (Remix)Listen and make your own on Suno.

Hi Dawn,

I really admire how your perseverance and passion come together you raised four children, continued your education, and graduated Summa Cum Laude while also discovering a calling to help children and families. It’s inspiring that you now want to use your journey to support others and guide them to valuable resources. What age group do you see yourself teaching when you have your own classroom?”

Hi Dawn,

The way you created your AI classroom is so different and creative. I think it is cool that you collect shark teeth I never knew they were that small and do you collect anything else? I saw that you mention you are looking forward to enhancing your digital skills I as well am not that tech Savy.

Hi Dawn, my dream job since I was a young girl was to become a nanny! When I first moved to Virginia the most perfect opportunity arose, someone in Appomattox was looking for a nanny. Even though I so badly wanted to apply, I ended up getting cold feet and not applying since I was new to the state and didn't know a single person. I really love you explanation of if a visitor walked into your room. Collaboration is so important and for the students we serve, school is their safe space. I just know you will be a nurturing teacher and your students will love you! I look forward to working with you more this semester and I really enjoyed getting to know you better! - Taylor Costello

Hi Dawn! I loved how passionate and how much effort you put into this. I loved how you included your beautiful family in this as well. I know that family is huge and it showed how much you love yur family. I think you will be such a kind, caring, and a safe spacce for your students! I am also surprised how much AI is not only so smart (haha) but how much we actaully use it in our day to day life! -Karis Herrmann

Hi Dawn! Your page is beautiful. I can tell you wrote this with true intent to share and open up who you want to be. Your kids are adorable and im so jealous youve been to Fossil Beach!! Ive always wanted to go lol. I love your AI classroom! It reminds me of the Hungry Caterpillar. You will be such a great teacher!

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