My logo is a picture from the regional Irish dance from two years ago. My best friend and I both qualified for the World Irish Dance championships. She is Hispanic and I am Caucasian, but we both come together and enjoy the Irish dance and heritage.

Dancing allows me to understand the “complex nature of ethnic groups” because it creates a sense of community and allows intergroup relations. In Irish dance, people worldwide from North America to Europe to Mexico to South Africa to Australia come together as friends sharing a common interest. As a teacher, it is essential to embrace all cultures and encourage students and colleagues to come together as friends in the classroom.

In the world of Irish dancing, we have a governing body that makes decisions that they feel will benefit everyone. They work to eliminate controversy and discrimination among schools and dancers. This is the same for the school systems. The administration works hard to create fair conditions and environments for all students.

People from many cultures embrace dancing, as it is one of the most expressive forms of communication. If there is a language barrier between different cultures, dance is a way to overcome those barriers. It is a way to express emotion and at times can be more powerful than words. For me, dance creates equity. When we are judged or assessed in competition, adjudicators focus on the dance performance, rather than the appearance of the dancer, much like teachers should focus on the mind and performance of the student rather than the appearance of the student.

January, 2009

A is for American
           I was born and raised in the United States. It is a place
           where people of many cultures can come and live as one.
           I am proud to be an American.

B is for Biology
           Biology is the study of life.

C is for Catholic
           Religion is something that is important to my family and me.

D is for Daughter
           I am a daughter.

E is for Education
           I am very grateful for the education I have received.

F is for Family and Friends
           I wouldn’t be where I am today without the love and support
           from my family and friends.

G is for German
           My great-grandparents came from Germany. I have been
           to the country several times. I have a minor in German
           language.

H is for Home
           I like to know that I always have a place to go “where
           everybody knows your name.”

I is for Irish Dance
           Irish dance has taught me to embrace other cultures and
           integrate it into my own. I have traveled nationally and
           internationally to compete with other people around the
           world.

J is for Justice
           Every person deserves to be treated with justice and
           fairness.

K is for Kinesthetic Learner
           As a kinesthetic learner, I believe that students learn by
           doing rather than observing.

L is for Life
           Every life should be embraced.

M is for Music
           Music can tell you a lot about culture. It allows people to
           express themselves by playing and instrument or singing.

N is for Niche
           Every person fits in this world. They occupy their own
           little niche.

O is for Opinion
           In the U.S., freedom of speech is important. Every person
           has the right to his or her opinion.

P is for Patience
           To be an effective teacher, patience is required. Students
           do not learn at the same level nor pace.

Q is for Quality not Quantity
           The quality of learning should be examined, not the
           quantity in number scores.

R is for Reflection
           I reflect daily on my lesson plans to ensure that I am
           teaching to the best of my ability.

S is for Scholar Practitioner
           I define myself as a scholar practitioner.

T is for Tolerance
           I have learned to be tolerant of all people.

U is for University of Arkansas
           I have earned my higher education degrees at the U of A.

V is for Voter
           Voting is very important to me.

W is for World Traveler
           I have traveled to 8 different countries. It has taught me
           to embrace and adapt to other cultures.

X is for Xenial
           Every person needs to be xenial, or hospitable and friendly
           to visiting foreigners.

Y is for Yoga
           Yoga allows me to meditate, relax and reflect.

Z is for “Zeit”
           “Zeit” means “time” in German. It is something that I never
           have enough of, but I am grateful for what I do have.

February 27, 2009

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