Course 1 Final Project Part I

DOMAIN 1: PLANNING & PREPARATION

The Art Of Being:

I have spent a lifetime planning and preparing for this moment in my career. Having worked with at-risk youth since I was one, I recognize I have been on the journey of BECOMING a teacher for many years. Today, as a student AND a teacher on stipulations, I am growing in my confidence in BEING a special education teacher of students with emotional and behavioral deficiencies.

The Art of Doing:

For me, the key to “Doing” in this domain is to KNOW Thyself (i.e. Temet Nosce). For me, confidence means recognizing that while I may have weaknesses, I also have enough strengths to overcome them. In this way, I have everything I need to plan and prepare for serving students. In other words, discernment of my own skills and abilities is critically important. I MUST recognize 1) What I CAN Control, 2) What I CANNOT Control, and 3) What I Can INFLUENCE when I plan and prepare to serve students.

DOMAIN 2: LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

The Art Of Being:

I have been raised to be a warrior. As such, I have always approached my environment whether it be the home, the streets, schools, classrooms, sports, politics, or even spiritual realms as a battlefield. As I have grown and matured in faith, I have learned to ask two (2) very important questions… LORD, what are You showing me, and what is my role in it? In short, I have always wanted to understand my world and the importance of my place in it. Today, I view my world as a mission field with unending possibilities for learning, serving, and living a life of relevance with both meaning and purpose. 

The Art of Doing:

For me, the key to “Doing” in this domain is Curiosity. When I learn to ask better questions, I ultimately find better answers. In this way, knowledge is power (still ONLY to the extent it is applied). By modeling curiosity, students gain access to new perspectives and options and in this way, they have a better chance of learning, doing, and being who they were originally created and designed to be as well. It’s also important to lead students into curiosity… so I’ve created a classroom filled with objects specifically chosen to support conversations around Character & Leadership Development (CLD), Social & Emotional Learning (SEL), and College & Career Readiness (CCR). Would you like to see what my classroom looks like? If so, click the “Play Button” on the monitor image.

DOMAIN 3: LEARNING EXPERIENCES

The Art Of Being:

In my humble opinion, it’s very difficult to “guide” someone to a place I’ve never been. So, in my quest for a “life which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19), I have come to believe the following:

• “The Meaning of Life” is to DISCOVER our gifts (i.e. blessings, talents, passions, skills, abilities, experiences, relationships, resources, etc.)
• “The Work of Life” is to DEVELOP our gifts (i.e. study, practice, experiment, test, etc.)
• “The Purpose of Life” is to DISTRIBUTE our gifts (i.e. start a family, work/career, volunteer, serve, etc.)
• “The Secret of Life” is to Love What You Do, Love Who You Do It With, and Love Who You Do It For.

The Art of Doing:

For me, the key to “Doing” in this domain is to help each student understand and appreciate life in new and profound ways… to discern the differences between making a living and designing a life. For this reason, Learning Experiences MUST be relevant (i.e. customized and personalized) to each student. As students begin to unpack and understand the brilliance of “Know Thyself”, they will soon find they have already been equipped with everything they need (i.e. curiosity… a prerequisite to a growth mindset) to live life in new, meaningful, and relevant ways. As world-renowned author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says, “If you’re not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”

DOMAIN 4: PRINCIPLED TEACHING

The Art Of Being:

For me, “principled teaching” is secondary to “principled learning.” I believe I MUST first, learn about myself (e.g. discern my gifts), my craft (e.g. become a content expert), my students (e.g. their hopes, dreams, joys, concerns, and fears as well as their friends/families), my role in our building (e.g. who wants/needs to be served and who will allow me to serve them), and my role(s) within our community (e.g. building relationships with parents/families, non-profit agencies, businesses looking to hire students, etc.). In short, I believe learning AND teaching are moral pursuits that require a steadfast approach to both inquiry and reflection. In this way, I am preparing myself to teach (i.e. Super Statement #1. I am Ready – graphic).

The Art of Doing:

For me, the key to “Doing” in this domain is to MODEL everything I am learning as I am teaching. As a parent, I have modeled the concept of family (and much more) and have been blessed with a beautiful wife and three wonderful children who have successfully demonstrated that love back to me. As a coach, I have modeled the critical concepts of the sport and have been overjoyed with players who have successfully demonstrated those skills and abilities back to their teammates and coaches. Today, as a teacher, I hope to model the following Super Statements (below)… and I’m excited to see continued growth in my students as they strive to demonstrate competencies that will ultimately lead to remarkable lives both now and after high school (i.e. Super Statement #9. I am Relevant – graphic).