Edify: to instruct and improve.

The first semester of my two years at the Graduate School of Education is under way. The class Development of Ideas in Physical Science paired with being a teaching assistant for Physics for the Sciences is the main point of my current academic, career-oriented learning. The dozen or so of us in the 2010 contingent of the science education program are reviewing the physical phenomena we have known our whole lives and studied in depth for the later part of them. We are approaching the topics as a teacher would introduce them in a classroom, and simultaneously learning from our mistakes and successes in doing so as TAs.

The definition in the title of this post makes me want to use the word in a personal statement of my vision as an educator. (subject to change)

To be patient, confident and determined in edifying children and youth in their development of knowledge, wisdom, and virtue. To be humble and sincere in letting them do the same for me. To be systematic and trustworthy in collaborating with the rest of the local, regional and global education communities to propagate sustainable, effective practices. 

Written in the Hour before Class

After finishing the this week’s readings (or skimming the last two), I was a pleasantly surprised to see that I am capable of writing the assignment so quickly. If you are how I was, you find great pain and extreme difficulty in (1) sitting down, (2) starting to write, (3) writing the first word, (4) first sentence… Fear not! That is the solution; do not be scared that the ideas that you have are not good enough. At least that was the barrier I had to overcome.

I thank my English teachers for their patience and encouragement. But it was not until after high school that I broke through and could write with confidence. I hope find and polish that courage in my students. For me the barrier was disbelief of my potential stemming from situations in my development; for others it might be the fear of harassment for being nerdy. How can a teacher be effective, though, when there are so many psychosocial walls to knock down?

Here is my first (non-lab report) paper since freshman year.