For my capstone project, I decided to make a collage of the different theories and skills for success that I learned in EDUC 401 and 402. I decided to build the collage within a silhouette in order to symbolize that these are skills and theories that I have internalized and plan to work into my teaching and pedagogy. There are many different meanings behind a lot of the pictures represented, but I’ll touch on only some of the meanings behind the pictures.
The hands in the top left of the collage symbolize the High Five notion of Be an Ally, along with the general concept of diversity. All classrooms are diverse, and students have diverse needs. It is important that I create an environment in my classroom where these diversities are accepted, and that my students feel confident to support any diversities both inside and outside the classroom.
The picture that says Focus on the Journey, Not the Destination represents the High Five notion of Focus on the Journey, and also dives into the idea of formative versus summative assessment The journey is the formative, giving students the tools and feedback they need to grow and flourish so that once they reach the destination, or summative assessment, they’ve been set up for success.
The compass and map symbolize the career education theory of roadmap to success. As teachers, we should be giving students the tools and directions they need, laying out the map for them, and trusting that what we’ve taught them will guide them across that roadmap.
The paper airplanes symbolize the importance of teaching leadership skills to students so they can lead their own journeys and be active participants in their lives. The zigzagging paths of the planes also symbolize the different paths students take in their learning, how one student’s path to learning doesn’t necessarily look like another’s, and that that is great.
The photograph of the birds with one away from the others symbolizes the Circle of Courage notion of independence. It’s great to be a part of the flock, to be accepted by your peers and your friends, but it’s also important to teach that being different is okay, that knowing who you are taking strides to be that person, to be able to do things on your own, is something good. The bird away from the others represents this independence, but also ties back to diverse learners in that what works for most of the birds in the flock—or the students in the class—doesn’t necessarily work for all of them.
Yoda, as a Jedi Master, represents the Circle of Courage notion of mastery.
The penguins with their cup and string phone represent the core competencies of collaboration and communication, which I plan to weave throughout my teaching.
The tangle of string represents chaos theory, as well as the metaphor of teaching as untangling a ball of string. You have to find the end of the string for a student as a starting point, the place where your teaching can reach them, and then untangle the string as their learning progresses. Sometimes the string gets more tangled, but if you move and twist it just right, if you treat the string, the learner, with enough care and consideration, eventually you’re going to get it untangled and the learner will flourish.
The city in the hands represents the career education big idea of community, as well as the general concept of the classroom as a community. The classroom should be an inclusive, safe space for students, and, as their teacher, we should give the students opportunities and activities and lessons to build this sense of community and belonging.
The dandelion growing through the cracks symbolizes Hope Filled Engagement. When you nurture minds and give them hope, learning and engagement can grow and blossom from even the most unforgiving cracks.
The person walking towards the heart shaped cave symbolizes the High Five notion of following your heart and your passions. Students should be able to weave their passions into their learning and should be encouraged to do what they love, both in and out of school.
The Lifelong Learner name tag represents the High Five idea of Stay Learning, as well as the idea of keeping a growth mindset. I should keep my mind open to learning opportunities, and do my own work outside of school to continue learning and growing, both things that directly impact my teaching and my pedagogy, as well as both doing new things and taking chances myself and encouraging my students to do the same.
The hands passing the heart represent the Circle of Courage notion of generosity. Students should be encouraged and praised for developing their generosity, and should be encouraged to be kind and caring with their classmates at school and everything in their lives outside.
The paper chain of people represents the Circle of Courage idea of belonging, which is a concept I’ve already discussed in the importance of building classroom community.
The magnifying glass represents the career big idea of self discovery and identity. It’s important that students are able to explore who they are, and be given opportunities to figure out who they are in the moment as well as how who they are might change in the future.
The person on top of the mountain represents the idea of gumption, in a metaphor of the learning process as being like climbing a mountain. Everyone’s journey to the top is different, but anyone who has enough gumption, as well as the right tools and supports, can make it there.
The hand holding the tree represents the personal and social core competency, as well as the First People’s Principles of Learning. It’s important to teach students about the connections we have to the earth, and the responsibility we have to make the world a safe, happy, good place for ourselves and future generations.
I can/can’t do it symbolizes keeping a positive mindset, teaching students to think positively about themselves. Just because you aren’t good at something the first time or just because you can’t do something yet doesn’t mean that you can’t do it at all or will never be able to do it.
The change/chance picture represents how we should teach students to embrace change and take chances. Just because something is changing doesn’t mean it’s bad. This change could open up new opportunities, as long as we are brave enough to take the chances that are presented to us.
Finally, the butterflies represent the final High Five idea that change is constant. I put them outside the silhouette because this is such an important thing to keep in mind throughout everything. A student one day won’t necessarily learn the same way the next, and classroom dynamics will change depending on many variables, big and small. Keeping this constantly changing environment in mind is vital in creating a learning environment that works for the students in my class.
All of these notions and ideas and theories are ones that I plan to incorporate into my thinking and mindset as a teacher, and bring into my teaching pedagogy.
This silhouette collage could also be incorporated as a class activity, which I discussed with the panel at my capstone presentation. At the beginning of the year, I would have students create a collage of things that represent who they are within a silhouette of themselves, and then again at the end of the year. This would allow students to see how they have grown and changed over the year, and could be accompanied by a writing assignment, adapted for whatever grade I am teaching.
