A key component of enacting culturally relevant and responsive practices is engaging in continuous self-reflection to gain deeper understanding of the beliefs and biases that impact the way you interpret and engage with others. In that regard, this blog serves as a space where I critically reflect on my own personal perspectives, beliefs and the key experiences that have shaped who I am as an educator and continues to motivate my commitment to the transformation and re-humanization of teaching and learning.
The word cloud above is a slightly modified version of one of the three that I used in the visual presentation for my doctoral dissertation defense. Note: I hope you don't mind word clouds because they are going to be ALL OVER this blog. I'm an incredibly visual person and while working on my dissertation I figured out that this was the best way for me to make sense of and represent the themes that were coming through from my data (more on that in a later blog post). Each one of the words in that cloud are central to my personal, academic and professional development including my vision for myself as educator as well as my perspectives on what the aims and purposes of teaching and schools should be and the effective approaches to achieving said aims. Throughout the various entries I post here I will address most, if not all, of the terms in that cloud.
In addition to serving as a place for my own self-reflection and continued development, I also want this blog to function as an interactive community. Readers are encouraged to engage in dialogue with me and other members of the Ivy Rose community by posting comments sharing their own experiences, asking questions that push us in our beliefs, interpretations and encourage us to take on new perspectives. As our community grows I will also take a step back, asking readers to send in their own stories and responses and featuring them as guest-blogger posts.
I am excited for the journey that lies ahead. Let's build and grow together!