Jessica Robles graduated last weekend from the UCSB Teacher Education Program with a multiple subject teaching credential. Robles will go on to teach at Solvang Elementary School next academic year, but before she does, she answered some of our questions. Congratulations, Jessica!
GGSE: What did you like most learning about? What topics did you find particularly intriguing?
Robles: What I liked learning the most this year was that teaching is not just about doing lessons on mathematical concepts or phonemic awareness/phonics. Teaching is about building a relationship with the students and facilitating their growth and understanding. I was very fortunate to be placed at a Dual Language Immersion elementary school. When student teaching at Adelante Charter School, I got to witness an environment of learning that was based on equity and cultural representation. In my 5th grade placement, I got to learn about Teaching Tolerance Curriculum. In following the Teaching Tolerance standards, the students were taught about their own identity, diversity in cultures, social justice issues, and ways in which to effectively take action. I think it's important that we teachers correctly teach and represent the social injustices that have happened throughout history so that they can be corrected/prevented in the future. Another thing I really like learning this year was the importance of developing a growth mindset, an idea introduced by Carol Dweck. If students know that they will learn through their mistakes it will encourage them to challenge themselves and defend their understanding of what we are trying to get them to learn. Going along with that is the practice of mindfulness. There is always so much going on, not just for each individual student, but for the teachers as well. I think it’s important to incorporate the practice of mindfulness in the classroom.
GGSE: What did you learn about yourself this year that surprised you? About your students? About the field of Education? Etc.
Robles: It's a little hard to put into words just how much I have learned and grown both academically and personally this past year. As a grad student, I learned that I am capable of doing the work even if the to-do list is never ending. As a student teacher, I have learned that sometimes your lessons are not going to go exactly how you planned them, but things will still work out. Everyday my students amazed me with their amazing ability learning and demonstrating their understanding in TWO languages.
I also learned a lot about the importance of collaboration with in your grade level team. It was very helpful to have another student teacher in the other 5th grade class because it made the process of planning a little less stressful and we were able to collaborate and build upon each others ideas.
GGSE: If you could give one piece of information that you wished every person on the planet knew about teaching or about children in schools, what would it be?
Robles: I think that the one piece of information that I wish everyone on the planet knew was how capable students are. They are capable of learning (even if its at a slower pace than others), they are capable of solving problems (even if it not following the exact procedure we want them to), and they are capable of learning a new language (even if they speak it with an accent). Students are capable of many things as long as they are given the tools, encouragement, and high expectations.
GGSE: What are your plans upon graduating?
Robles: Upon graduating I will be working at Solvang Elementary School in Second Grade. Since they just started their DLI strand in Kindergarten this year, I will be teaching in English only for my first year then, my second year, I will have that first DLI class as second graders.
GGSE: Is there anyone in the Gevirtz School you would like to thank?
Robles: I would really like to thank my small group supervisor Eva Oxelson for always being encouraging and supportive. Also, I want to thank my amazing Cooperating Teachers that I was very fortunate to be placed with. They set a great example of what it takes to be an amazing bilingual education teacher. They always gave me the freedom to try things, which I believe will help me learn and grow in my practice as an educator.