As a teacher and learner I consider myself a constructivist at heart. However, I have been in a traditional setting for my entire educational experience. As a student I remember the desks being placed in rows, most assignments were done individually and the teacher always had all the answers. There may have been some group assignments and projects but mostly I remember taking notes, studying for the test, completing a multiple choice assessment and then going to lunch.
School became interesting in high school when I became involved in theater. I was a shy kid and drama class always pushed me out of my comfort zone Theater taught me to be a creative problem solver, set goals and accomplish them, collaborate with peers, and have a lot of fun.
Theater had a great impact on my teaching style. Although I have always taught in a traditional setting and have readily complied with traditional teaching methods I have always implemented aspects of constructivism. I believe wholeheartedly that the teacher should be the facilitator of knowledge while encouraging students to take an active role in their own learning. In my classroom, students worked in partners or groups, they discussed their thinking with one another and they actively participated in projects, experiments and solving real-world problems. My students were encouraged to reflect on their learning, share their understanding with others and modify their conclusions as needed.
When I am not in the classroom I enjoy distance running, spending time with family and friends and dancing. I started learning Latin dance a year ago and it has been a sharp learning curve. It has really helped me to sympathize with my students when they are given new material to comprehend. Next project will be learning the cha-cha!
