Learning and Teaching

Being an English teacher at an elementary level is an experience that I personally consider very enriching, both for the students and for myself as a teacher. In my discipline, I not only integrate those concepts required in the English program but also integrate others to be able to address different topics and/or problems from different perspectives.

In the educational context, interdisciplinary can enrich learning by allowing students to see the connections between different areas of knowledge and understand how they apply in real life. For example, with art and music: students could explore artists, artistic movements, or musical genres of artists whose L1 (First Language) is English, thus learning related vocabulary and expressing their opinions in English. By encouraging interdisciplinarity, as an educator, I can help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity skills when facing complex challenges that require knowledge and approaches from various disciplines. This can also promote a more holistic and deeper understanding of topics, as students can see how different areas of study intertwine to address real-world issues.

Another way to achieve this is through Content Integration, by seeking opportunities to integrate topics and content from other subjects into my classes. This could involve incorporating readings about science, history, or mathematics, or developing projects that combine English writing skills with concepts from other subjects. This approach would facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing me to work with fellow teachers to design activities or projects that incorporate skills and knowledge from multiple subjects. For instance, organizing English debates on historical topics or conducting scientific research using English resources. Promoting the connection between English class and other subjects can significantly enhance students' learning experiences and help them understand how concepts and skills apply in various contexts. Another aspect to highlight is diversity during the teaching-learning process, which encompasses the variety of individual, cultural, social, and learning characteristics that students possess. This diversity may include differences in learning styles, language proficiency, cultural backgrounds, and special educational needs, among other factors. It is essential to recognize and value diversity in the classroom to foster an inclusive and equitable environment where all students can realize their full potential.

During my pre-practicum, I observed this aspect firsthand as a teacher interacting with students. While as a student, we often perceive this when teachers adapt the curriculum and personalize it to meet diverse needs and learning style. As an educator, now I perceive diversity differently, recognizing and understanding the strengths and abilities of each student to promote motivation and foster meaningful learning. Additionally, one aspect of addressing diversity in my work that I previously didn't realize is the importance of collaborating with families and the community. By establishing collaborative relationships with our students' families and communities, we can support their learning and gain a better understanding of their individual contexts. By acknowledging and addressing diversity in the teaching-learning process, educators can create inclusive learning environments that foster the academic and socio-emotional success of all students.

On the other hand, within the classroom, it requires an inclusive approach that recognizes and celebrates the individual differences of each student. As I mentioned before, from my experience as a facilitator of various groups of adolescents and an educator of children at an elementary level, I have identified other aspects in which diversity is involved and integrated in a more natural way without, in my case, realizing it. Starting with getting to know my students, dedicating that time and understanding their interests, challenges, and strengths helps me adapt my teaching accordingly for their benefit. Second, creating an inclusive environment with diverse materials, valuing and respecting each student's voice, promoting empathy among students, and incorporating a wide variety of resources and materials that allow students to demonstrate their abilities in different aspects will enable them to test themselves and demonstrate what they have learned and are mastering as classes progress.

The reality is that creating environments that, in addition to being diverse, are motivating in the teaching-learning process for my students, is essential to promote their commitment, participation, and success. Something that works for me with my teenagers in my work is allowing students to have a certain degree of control over their learning process, such as choosing the topics we are going to focus on, planning their projects, and organizing them. This, in turn, allows me to offer them feedback on specific aspects that help them understand their progress and the different paths they can choose to progress. Personally, the way I teach my English classes and the way I lead my group sessions at work are more similar than I thought. Since in both environments, and thanks to the promotion of teamwork and collaboration, both groups from different populations find a space and consider the environment that I provide in my classrooms a space to share ideas and learn from each other.

By creating a motivating classroom environment, as an educator, I can inspire students to actively participate in their learning, develop a positive attitude toward knowledge, and reach their full potential both academically and personally. However, I recognize that student motivation has been declining in recent years, either due to external natural events such as the pandemic, COVID, and natural disasters. The drastic change from being in a classroom to studying behind a screen online is one that still continues to have consequences on students' learning levels and, consequently, on their motivation to attend not only a specific subject's classroom but the school in general. Some strategies I have used over the last year to combat this have been to incorporate a variety of activities such as games, debates, creative projects, and group activities, which have kept them engaged and motivated to participate. Additionally, I try to relate the content of the classes and sessions to the interests and passions of my students. For example, I incorporate topics related to music, cinema, technology, or sports that are attractive to them.

To conclude this reflection on what learning and teaching mean and represent for me, I can say that teaching is a tool that allows us to be connected with different realities every day. We have the opportunity to not only give others some of the capabilities they require to excel and develop both personally and educationally, but we can also learn from them and continue to develop as professionals.