Owl and Key

I have chosen the combined symbols of the owl and key for several reasons. Both symbols have a personal and professional significance for me. This logo accurately represents me as a learner — and as an emerging professional.

The owl is an international symbol of wisdom. As a teacher, it is my goal to spread wisdom, encourage learning, and always continue acquiring new wisdom for myself. The owl is the perfect choice of symbol for any teacher, as well as for any student. In Early Indian folklore, the owl is associated with wisdom and the power of prophecy. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the owl was seen as a symbol of witchcraft. In Greek Mythology, the owl, Athena’s favorite bird, known as Little Owl, was a protector of armies and had night vision. In Rome, the owl was seen as a predictor of death. Before the deaths of Julius Caesar, Augustus, Commodus Aurelius, and Agrippa, the hoot of an owl was heard.   (Source: the website The Owl Pages.)

As you can see, this one bird is a symbol of many different things across many different cultures. Knowing these different connotations of one bird reminds me that, as a teacher, I must know and respect the differences among my students at all times. Personally, I have a strong connection with the owl, as it was the symbol of my sorority in college. This brings back wonderful feelings of sisterhood and friendship with women from all different walks of life. Also, my favorite book series, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, features the owl in the prominent position of postal system! As an English teacher, my goal will be to help students connect and identify with literature, and the owl serves as a reminder to me of how much I love Harry Potter.

I chose to include the key with the owl because the key symbolizes the unlocking of my students’ futures. This may sound a little cheesy, but literacy is very literally the KEY to successful futures. By learning to read, my students are unlocking doors they have never been through before. This is what I intend to do as an English teacher. According to Wikipedia.com, the key is an object symbolic of opening and closing powers. It represents knowledge, mystery, initiation, and curiosity. These are wonderful attributes of both teachers and learners, for without curiosity, nothing can be learned. Two keys crossed together comprise the symbol of St. Peter, who held the keys to the gates of heaven and are also found in the crest of His Holiness the Pope. (Source: the website House of Names.)

These two symbols together create my personal logo, one I hope to use throughout my career. I believe they connect to Banks’ Principles of Learning very well. Principle One states that a teacher should be aware of how student behavior is affected by ethnicity, race, gender, and so on. These symbols serve as a reminder to keep these things in mind. Principle Two states that all students are able to meet high standards by UNLOCKING their futures and using KNOWLEDGE — and I know this to be true. Principle Four states that all students should be given opportunities to participate in extra- and co-curricular activities, and the owl reminding me of my sorority is an accurate reflection of that.

Principles Five though Nine address Intergroup relations, and this symbol reflects group memberships, stereotyping, cultural values, social skills, and opportunities to interact with students from different cultural backgrounds just by looking at the different historical significances each picture holds. Principles Ten and Eleven deal with collaboration and leadership skills. As a teacher you must know how to work with others and lead your classroom. The owl, the symbol of goddess Athena, is a great reminder of leadership, and the key, a symbol of curiosity, shows that people must work together in order to learn.

Lastly, Principle 12 addresses assessment. By understanding where all of your students come from and identifying the differences between them, you can fairly assess student work. Without taking cultural backgrounds into consideration, you cannot fairly assess any student’s performance. My symbol once again will serve as a reminder that I will take every student’s background to heart, and make it my first concern to know and understand them before assigning grades.

This assignment was very thought-provoking, while remaining fun and creative. I hope that when I have my own classroom, I will be able to give assignments that encourage cultural awareness, collaboration, and highlight our uniqueness.

January 30, 2009

A is for Arkansas Razorback
           My alma mater

B is for Bapthodist
           Raised Baptist, married to a Methodist!

C is for Contact-Wearing
           My exceptionality

D is for Drawl
           Y’all, that’s the language where I’m from

E is for Emerging Professional
           As I seek out my first job as a teacher, I am constantly
           reminded that my professionalism is “emerging”

F is for Family and Freckles
           “Kisses from Angels” is what my grandmother always
           told me, since they stand out on my fair skin.

G is for Grateful
           I am so grateful to have been raised in a loving,
           middle class home

H is for Husband
           My values and beliefs are evident in my marriage,
           which is FOR LIFE!

I is for Interventionist
           Working in a “Read 180” classroom helped me to see
           that I love working with literacy

J is for Justice
           Life may not always be fair, but it is important to me
           to create as just an atmosphere in my classroom as
           possible.

K is for Kleptomaniac
           I have learned that in the teaching profession,
           nothing is original. The best teachers “steal”
           and collaborate ideas all the time.

L is for Lady and Lifelong Learner
           I am proud to be a woman, and someone who will never
           cease learning.

M is for Musical Miss Tulsa (former)
           One of my greatest accomplishments was serving the city
           of Tulsa and competing in Miss Oklahoma in college.

N is for Native American Husband
            Not only is my husband Native American, but my children
           will be as well, so this is a culture that is part of my life.

O is for Okie
           I am proud of my home state

P is for Psi Chapter, Chi Omega
           Being part of a sorority while in school opened my eyes
           to new cultures, people, and ways of life.

Q is for Quest
           Everyone should have a “quest” for their life.  Mine? 
           To get a position teaching, start a family, and pass on my
           values, beliefs, and cultures to my future children.

R is for Reader
           While reading is a hobby of mine, is has become
           my life’s passion: to pass on a love of reading to my
           students.

S is for Southern Belle
           I was raised to be a genteel lady, complete with manners
           and hospitality

T is for Trio
           Millie, Wookie, and Dixie Belle are my three pets
           that show my compassion and sympathetic nature.   

U is for Uncle Sam
           I am patriotic and American

V is for Voter
           It is my civic duty and responsibility, which I take very
           seriously

W is for Witches and Wizards
           A true fantasy lover, I honestly believe one book
           can change your life.

X is for Xena and Hercules
           Greek Mythology fascinates me as a learner and
           a teacher, how much of the world was affected
           by this one great culture??

Y is for Young at Heart
           Sometimes I feel younger than my 25 years, but I have
           grown and discovered more about myself with each year.

Z is for Zebra
           My hometown has the only red and white zebra mascot
           in the world. Go Claremore Zebras!

February 20, 2009

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