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Me performing a Bharatnatyam Dance in March 2023

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One of the most important things I learned this semester is that all students come into the classroom with knowledge, and even though it may not be directly related to the content of the class, there are many ways that these skills are beneficial for them in the classroom. As a teacher, it is important that we recognize these Funds of Knowledge and relate to students’ experiences to engage them in the classroom, as “according to Gay (2010), students' interest and engagement in learning increase when educators use pedagogies connected to their experiences”(Muhammad 2020). This photo displays my funds of knowledge, which is a form of  Indian classical dance called Bharatnatyam. This has contributed to my experience as a student and future educator, because I have learned to work well in groups, and be adaptable to many situations. Students’ may have gained these skills from their funds of knowledge as well, and this class has given me strategies and experience for integrating them into the lesson.

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This picture shows a student’s finished introduction assignment

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When I was in school, I rarely saw Indian-American representation and this combined with some bullying from classmates, I grew up feeling ashamed of my culture, and it wasn’t until recently that I began to embrace it. As a teacher, it is important to foster a culturally inclusive and accepting environment so that students feel valued in the classroom. It is important to get to know each student so that the teacher can “know the child as a whole “person,” not merely as a “student” (Moll et. al. 1992), and understand their experiences and perspective. The paper shown in the picture is an assignment given in the beginning of the year in Mr. Sliwa’s class at Oak Middle School, and is displayed on the walls in the classroom. Students are also given the opportunity to present the parts that matter to them the most. This activity allows the teacher to understand the student, and allows the students to get to know eachother.

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This is a picture of the set from Cars Land in Disney California Adventure. It shows a bridge and an application of a parabola in real life. 

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One of the most asked questions by the middle schoolers I have tutored for math is: “When am I ever gonna use this?” or “What does this have to do with anything?” As an educator, it is important to connect the content and learning to real life, by showing them applications of the content with things they might be familiar with. By including pictures and visuals in the lesson, students can see that math exists everywhere in the “real world,” and is not just something we learn in school because we have to! One way to connect their learning to real life is by assigning project-based assessments. A study revealed that students who engaged in project based learning increased their likelihood of getting a 3 or higher on some AP exams. It also noted that the increases in achievement “were similar for students from low-income and higher-income households” (Lucas Education Research), which shows that it has a positive effect on their learning and engagement.

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This screenshot shows an Edpuzzle video on the Pythagorean Theorem that I made for a student that I was tutoring. 

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Integrating technology and Multimodal Learning

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Integrating technology and Multimodal Learning

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In a increasingly digital world, it is essential that students have the skills to use technology. Using technology tools is also a way to keep students engaged in the classroom. Using these tools also allows students to work at their own pace, and specifically with this video students are able to go back and rewatch any parts that they struggled with. The dots on the timeline for the video are opportunities for students to check their understanding with both open-ended and multiple choice questions. It is necessary to include different modes of learning for students, as well as different modes for showing their learning. A study on multimodal learning found that “multimodal literacy practices have potential to bridge gaps between students’ in-school and out-of-school lives,” and allow “students to draw out their out-of school identities and interests to guide explorations of curriculum content” (Nagle & Stooke 2016). Therefore, it is important to incorporate technology into the lesson and assignments so the students can connect to their personal lives and build their tech skills.

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This is a picture of some herbs and fruit that I have just started growing this semester, which represents my personal growth over the course of this semester.

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As a STEM graduate and Math Credential Student, I came into this class not fully understanding why this class was required, and why literacy is important in a math classroom. “Isn’t that the English teacher’s job?” was kind of the mentality I had going in. However, this course opened my eyes to the ways that students struggle with literacy, even in a math class. There were many times I noticed this in the classrooms I observed and with the students I tutored. Whether it was a simple mistake such as not reading the full directions, or something more like misunderstanding the assignment and not being able to show their learning, it was clear that literacy needs to be addressed in the math classroom. As a teacher it is important that we build the skills necessary for students to succeed, and that includes more than just teaching them the content. It also includes building on their current literacy skills and giving them opportunities to practice their literacy. According to Mallinson and Hudley, “linguistic, socio-cultural, and educational issues are intertwined and are directly tied to the underrepresentation of minority students and their academic achievement,” so it is crucial that literacy strategies are included in a STEM classroom. Throughout this course my perspective has changed, and I have grown and learned various ways to integrate literacy building strategies into the classroom.