On Becoming a Teacher, and Flexibility
I have lately been forced to consider how I might utilize my skills if not in the comfort of a classroom. As such, I have pursued work with local non-profits, Kalamazoo College, and El Sol Elementary. My original certification was for Social Studies and History, subjects about which I am passionate and that connect directly to my devotion to service learning and community-building. When jobs that put my degree to direct use were unavailable, I found a position working with Fair Food matters at their Growing Matters Garden. At the garden, I expanded my knowledge to include curriculum planning for outdoor education. This past Fall, I wrote and implemented a lunch-time garden program for second graders at El Sol Elementary, a project funded by and staffed with volunteers from Kalamazoo College.
This professional, technical writing has influenced my perspective on education and further augmented my literary repertoire. I have long touted, (with limited experience behind my claims) that education can happen anywhere. I now have a sense of not only how powerful non-traditional educational environments can be, but also that teaching in unique environments is motivating, exacting work. I would be eager to explore these sorts of opportunities more. It was the hope for finding, or creating, work for myself either within or without a traditional brick and mortar school that led me back to Western Michigan University to earn my English endorsement. My goal in doing so is to open more professional doors, be it at a school, coordinating supplemental educational programming, or better preparing myself to discuss with young people why it is so satisfying to read a book or write a journal entry under the perfect tree after we've picked tomatoes. My efforts to find work in the education field have forced me to be flexible and patient - traits that are also so necessary for the writing process.
This professional, technical writing has influenced my perspective on education and further augmented my literary repertoire. I have long touted, (with limited experience behind my claims) that education can happen anywhere. I now have a sense of not only how powerful non-traditional educational environments can be, but also that teaching in unique environments is motivating, exacting work. I would be eager to explore these sorts of opportunities more. It was the hope for finding, or creating, work for myself either within or without a traditional brick and mortar school that led me back to Western Michigan University to earn my English endorsement. My goal in doing so is to open more professional doors, be it at a school, coordinating supplemental educational programming, or better preparing myself to discuss with young people why it is so satisfying to read a book or write a journal entry under the perfect tree after we've picked tomatoes. My efforts to find work in the education field have forced me to be flexible and patient - traits that are also so necessary for the writing process.