For my final project in Critical Pedagogy I was inspired by Andrea J. Ritchies book "Practicing New Worlds Abolition and Emergent Strategies” to synthesize my findings through an art piece. Ritchie does an amazing job in “Emergent Stratagies” of connecting her key concepts and ideas to patterns and phenomena we see in the natural world. For example, in their book Dr. Ritchie states that each dandelion seed is “a tiny parachute that allows it to spread far and wide in the wind.” This really inspired me and so for my art piece, I have drawn myself as a dandelion with my students as the seeds flying away. This is to symbolize me briefly uplifting my students and learning beside them before they set out for their ultimate purpose of flying away to spread their wisdom and plant their seeds with the knowledge and lived experiences. My drawing also includes other concepts inspired by Dr. Ritchies book in the form of mycellium, the fern, the ant and the starling with an artist statement to explain each section of the drawing. My drawing and artist statement have been turned into a Padlet presentation as well as a slideshow so the viewer can decide which way they would like to view it. Completing this assignment allowed me to achieve a deeper theoretical and conceptual understanding by engaging with the theories presented in Andrea J. Ritchie's book, “Practicing New Worlds: Abolition and Emergent Strategies.” By integrating Ritchie's ideas into my work, I was able to connect educational theory with practice, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of how conceptual knowledge can inform and enhance educational contexts.

Additionally, during my studies in Germany, I took the course Comparative Histories and Ideas in which I did a comparative research project on the educational systems in Germany and the U.S., examining how historical and cultural contexts shape curriculum. This research reinforced my belief in the importance of early education on critical historical topics, such as Nazi Germany, Black history, Queer history, and the genocide of Indigenous peoples. I will continue to advocate for incorporating these topics in elementary school curricula to foster critical thinking. I will also continue to create and share lessons around these topics myself until it is mandated. Completing this assignment helped me achieve theoretical and conceptual understanding by critically examining the educational practices of Holocaust education in Germany and applying these insights to the context of the United States Educational system. By acknowledging and engaging with the ideological orientations of Holocaust education, I was able to explore how this approach can be adapted to include a broader, more inclusive curriculum that addresses the histories of marginalized groups in the U.S. This engagement with theoretical and conceptual knowledge allowed me to understand the importance of educating students about the roots of historical atrocities and their lasting impact on society. By proposing a curriculum that encompasses not only Jewish history but also the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized communities, I demonstrated how educational research and practice can inform a more comprehensive and empathetic approach to teaching history in the U.S.