Bryan Van Pelt's bportfolio

             Standard 12 states teacher leaders evaluate and use technology for teaching and learning.   In this day and age, it is very important teachers have a positive relationship with technology as it encompasses many aspects of daily life.   Similarly, o ur students have essentially been raised on technology as well.   Teachers must utilize this highly important learning tool to connect with their students and provide an array of learning opportunities and experiences.   Prior to taking the Teaching with Technology course, I did not use much technology and actively avoided it.   The reason being I felt it was too “clunky” and I am more efficient with my time not using it.   The only technology I would utilize might be a Google Slides presentation or showing a YouTube video to students.  Likewise,  I have disliked most online music teaching tools as the quality of material is usually quite low...

Standard 5 states teacher leaders establish a culturally inclusive climate that facilitates academic engagement and success for all students.   To accomplish an understanding of what this standard entails, I took the class Culturally Responsive teaching.   Of all the courses within the Teacher Leadership Program, this course addressed the most personal and vulnerable aspects of not only my teaching, but my place in society as a whole. Through numerous engaging group discussions, articles, and reflective papers, I now have a better grasp as to what it takes to create a culturally inclusive climate for students. Reflection: As defined by Wlodkowski and Ginsberg (1995), culturally responsive teaching is “a pedagogy that crosses disciplines and cultures to engage learners while respecting their cultural integrity. It accommodates the dynamic mix of race, ethnicity, class, gender, region, religion, and family that contributes to every student's cultural ...

Standard 6 states teacher leaders communicate and collaborate with a variety of stakeholders. To complete this standard I took the course of Communication and Collaboration and Engaging Communities.   Both courses focused on thinking outside of your classroom and focusing on the faculty, staff, and surrounding communities.   As a Teacher Leadership student not intending on enrolling in the principle certification route, I was skeptical on the usefulness of learning how to engage communities specifically.   Why would I need to learn about the details of engaging with the surrounding community when I teach music?   Aren’t those broader issues for administrators?   My teacher training thus far has only focused on the classroom practice and not on the broader community of the school.   The Engaging Communities course shed light on the importance of not only engaging with the community but taking steps to understand and acknowledge the space i...