https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020 Begin each response with your first name, the initial of your last name and the subject or level you teach. en-us 2020-07-13 01:48:45 UTC 2020-09-01 14:08:09 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f3eb.png ajpratt https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711471594 When I was in sixth grade, my teacher noticed a stark dip in my academic achievement and behavior in class. While I was, at times, silly and mischievous, I always excelled in my academic achievement/progress. After weeks of trying to break through with me, she called home and spoke to my mom. Her concern led to a hour long conversation between her and my mom. That conversation led to her finding out that my father had recently abandoned myself and my family. My teacher suggested that, when I was ready, that I give the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program a chance. She believed that I had to spend this time healing my emotional wounds, before I could refocus on my academics. She was right about that. By the following year, I had joined the Big Brother's Program, found myself once again excelling in my academics, and then I begin taking  pride in myself and better care of myself physically. This series of events taught me about the important connection between physical, emotional, and academic well-being and growth. It also reminds me that we have care for our (and our students) emotional well-being, in order to achieve academic progress. 
*Understand the importance of balancing different aspects of their lives (academic, physical,
emotional) to achieve well-being.]]> 2020-09-01 12:59:12 UTC https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711471594 ajpratt https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711532988 The attribute of the graduate profile that seems most naturally brought to life to my classroom is being cross culturally competent. While AP Human teaches students about  spatial relationships, understanding those relationships and how they  develop are linked with being able to understand one's own cultural perspective, being open-minded and positive towards different cultural perspectives, and developing one's skill at empathy in order to become more aware how various cultural perspectives interpret issues and events we encounter. As a student, I grew up in a relatively culturally diverse community. My own ability to respect and validate various perspectives was embedded in the experiences I had with other cultures, which is something I hope to pass on to my students in our course.
*Understand and respect one's own culture and other cultures.
*Aware of national and world issues and events and their impact.]]> 2020-09-01 13:17:59 UTC https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711532988 ajpratt https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711571600 The attribute that I was most naturally drawn to was becoming a resilient learner. I try to impart this message to my students: We are not defined by the trails and tribulations that we face, but rather we are defined by how we choose to face them. I ask students to try and let go of the fear to "fail" or "be wrong," and to learn to not let their obstacles and challenges determine their path. I want them to understand that growth happens as we struggle, or as I like to say, "The struggle makes us stronger."  When we struggle, make mistakes, or falter in our course, we ought to reflect on how to redirect ourselves and our energy. Failure is not fatal, but rather it is reason to adapt and find ways to grow. This is something that I repeatedly emphasize to  all my students (who all are in their first AP course). Too often, I see students who are so afraid of failure that they turn to academically dishonest actions in order to get the points or grade that they think that they need to be successful. Even when I confront the issue head on, I never first look to "punish" them for it. If they get busy and do not prepare properly for an assessment, or they start feeling overwhelmed by the challenges they face. My duty is to show them that they can find their way back to a more virtuous path, and be patient with them if they falter. That is an important component to growing up, learning to thrive in the face of adversity, and being willing to pick themselves up and try again if they stumble. As they learn to better manage their stress and be recognize exactly where and how they might have faltered, it is amazing to see how it positively impacts so many other habits and traits. 
*Actively seek and accept new and difficult challenges.
*View "set-backs" as opportunities to learn and grow.
*Able to adapt to change]]> 2020-09-01 13:28:00 UTC https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711571600 ajpratt https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711689440 The attribute that I most want to achieve greater competency in as a teacher is becoming Problem Solvers and Value Creators. Our world faces challenges that seem insurmountable, yet that is undeniably the reality our students will inherit from our failures as a society. Yet, they sit in a unique position to affect positive change on their world. I want to improve my ability to create learning experiences that help them cultivate a positive belief in their ability to identify and understand problems we face. Yet more importantly, I want to learn how to create authentic learning experiences in which students can do more than just think and talk about issues, but ones in which they can test their ability to turn talk into action. Whether it is addressing an issue like racial, social and economic segregation in society, or addressing resource management and distribution. Addressing this area of improvement for myself is one of my top priorities as I learn to better myself in teaching AP Human Geography.
*Apply creative thinking skills to develop solutions that effectively address problems,
challenges, or unmet needs.
*Able to turn ideas in to actions to address problems, challenges, or unmet needs]]> 2020-09-01 13:57:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ilovechalkdust/vb_grad_prof_HS7_2020/wish/711689440