Teaching and Learning Metaphor:

Update from November 28, 2024:

Now that the first semester is almost over, my special necklace represents more than just my Grandma. It represents my classmates who are all kind and who include everyone easily. The beads represent each of us because we are all unique, different colours and shapes, yet we are all needed to create the circle shape. Now that we know each other better, we rely on one another. We all have special talents, some more apparent than others, but everyone’s talents are interconnected and required to keep the momentum of our learning community.

This necklace was created from natural materials, hammered seeds and glass blown beads. Just as the seeds and beads had to go through an arduous transformation to become the beautiful necklace, the BEd students are learning and changing to become passionate educators. We can’t all be strong at the same time but that’s the beauty of the circle – we’ll take turns holding the fragile ones up until they regain their strength.

The circle also represents the Medicine Wheel and reminds us that we all need to care for each aspect of our lives – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The Medicine Wheel reminds us that we need balance in our lives or we’ll topple over. As students this is so important.

This necklace was always very special to me and now it has a whole new story attached to it that fills me with joy and pride.

Original from September 15, 2024:

This necklace means a lot to me because my Grandma, who gave it to me when I was five, meant a lot to me. She did not have a lot of possessions so for her to give me this was really special. When I was too young to go to school, my Grandma would phone the farmhouse and ask if Mrs. Jones could come over for tea. I always waited for that call and it made me feel so special and grownup. She lived in a log house that my Dad made her that was just across the yard so I would run over when I got the call.

I would like to be a teacher who includes everyone. My Grandma was good at included everyone, and I guess  that’s why we all have so many happy memories about her. She made us all feel good about ourselves and looked at our strengths instead of our weaknesses. She had a wonderful laugh and loved to think of things that made her happy.

My necklace is made up of handmade glass beads which are imperfect but colourful. This is just like the students in my class. They will be all different sizes, shapes, and colours and none of them will be perfect, but they will all be beautiful and unique. The glass beads are separated by many handmade small beads. Earl Henderson looked at this necklace closely one day and said he thought the small beads were seeds that were pounded flat. He said that’s how many beads were made long ago. I like to think that this Indigenous knowledge will be strung throughout my classroom and spread between my students. I hope I can teach them many things about Indigenous ways.

The necklace is a circle which doesn’t have a start or finish. My classroom will also resemble a circle because no one will be more or less important than anyone else.

Lastly, my necklace is very old and I’m a bit scared to wear it anymore in case it breaks. When I heard Brené Brown talk about vulnerability, I thought of this necklace. She says that when students are vulnerable, they’re like turtles without shells on and the knowledge can soak in easily. But when they put their shells on, no information gets in.