My classroom reflected my students and myself. I used posters, student work, and community-focused decorations to build a space that felt joyful, personal, and safe. One photo shows a chalk mural a student named Alexia drew—an example of how I carved out space for students to express themselves artistically. I’m especially proud of this because it showed that students felt ownership over our shared space.
Instructionally, I worked hard to design lessons that connected to student interests and identities. In our creative writing unit on censorship, students explored freedom of expression by debating book bans and crafting their own zines. In TOK, I designed hands-on activities (like analyzing primary source maps and propaganda posters) that allowed students to experience learning through inquiry.