Diversity Experiences
Adult ELL classroom
Just last year I began working as an aide in an adult learning classroom. Working with adult learners as opposed to K-12 was a new experience in itself, however I have the distinct opportunity of working with students learning english. Many of these people have come from different countries and I have been fortunate to learn so much from them. It has been and continues to be a wonderful experience, not only of leading in a classroom setting, but also of working with students from different walks of life and better understanding how to teach and explain to others.
Avid
Being an avid tutor for multiple middle schools in Bismarck, ND has been a wonderful diversity experience as well as a superb classroom experience helping with multiple subjects. The students come in with problems from homework or tests from different core subjects and to help them achieve an answer for the point of confusion myself as the tutor and a small group of other students must ask them questions to lead them to the correct answer. This forces the students and myself to think of better ways to explain and gain deeper understanding of subject matter. The Avid classroom is a wonderful diverse experience I would recommend to any future teacher.
Music Tours
Throughout my history as a music major our music department has gone on a multitude of tours to unique and diverse locations. From urban schools in Chicago IL, to small rural schools in North and South Dakota, to new environment across the border in Canada, I have experienced a variety of classrooms and school cultures that will help me prepare for any environment I may face in my teaching career.
Chicago
We had the opportunity to perform and work with these students and in some instances even sit in with their band to better work with different students. Teaching them about our instruments, college life, and what it is like to be a music student, these tours introduced us to students of many different backgrounds. These schools consisted of specific gendered schools who rarely received the opportunity to hear mixed ensembles in many cases.
Rural Schools
At the opposite end of the spectrum were schools from towns with populations ranging from a few thousand to a only 500. These students rarely get to hear live music at the collegiate level, so it was wonderful to share that experience with them and encourage them to pursue music. Giving them playing tips and helping them better understand their instrument, especially for beginner students was a great experience.
Canada
A unique experience I have received here at the University of Mary is playing in the steel band. When we go on tour people have usually never seen our instrument so we can share the history of these drums, coming from Trinidad and Tobago, and how they are all handmade by master craftsmen. This tour to Canada allowed us to perform for multiple schools and invite students up to play and try out our instruments.
Just last year I began working as an aide in an adult learning classroom. Working with adult learners as opposed to K-12 was a new experience in itself, however I have the distinct opportunity of working with students learning english. Many of these people have come from different countries and I have been fortunate to learn so much from them. It has been and continues to be a wonderful experience, not only of leading in a classroom setting, but also of working with students from different walks of life and better understanding how to teach and explain to others.
Avid
Being an avid tutor for multiple middle schools in Bismarck, ND has been a wonderful diversity experience as well as a superb classroom experience helping with multiple subjects. The students come in with problems from homework or tests from different core subjects and to help them achieve an answer for the point of confusion myself as the tutor and a small group of other students must ask them questions to lead them to the correct answer. This forces the students and myself to think of better ways to explain and gain deeper understanding of subject matter. The Avid classroom is a wonderful diverse experience I would recommend to any future teacher.
Music Tours
Throughout my history as a music major our music department has gone on a multitude of tours to unique and diverse locations. From urban schools in Chicago IL, to small rural schools in North and South Dakota, to new environment across the border in Canada, I have experienced a variety of classrooms and school cultures that will help me prepare for any environment I may face in my teaching career.
Chicago
We had the opportunity to perform and work with these students and in some instances even sit in with their band to better work with different students. Teaching them about our instruments, college life, and what it is like to be a music student, these tours introduced us to students of many different backgrounds. These schools consisted of specific gendered schools who rarely received the opportunity to hear mixed ensembles in many cases.
Rural Schools
At the opposite end of the spectrum were schools from towns with populations ranging from a few thousand to a only 500. These students rarely get to hear live music at the collegiate level, so it was wonderful to share that experience with them and encourage them to pursue music. Giving them playing tips and helping them better understand their instrument, especially for beginner students was a great experience.
Canada
A unique experience I have received here at the University of Mary is playing in the steel band. When we go on tour people have usually never seen our instrument so we can share the history of these drums, coming from Trinidad and Tobago, and how they are all handmade by master craftsmen. This tour to Canada allowed us to perform for multiple schools and invite students up to play and try out our instruments.