GLOBAL EDUCATION GUIDE
Introduction
I have created and designed this website to give everyone here at Pinon Unified School District a better insight to what Teachers for Global Classrooms (TGC) program is about and also to share with you my international field experience which is in Colombia. I have included a collection of national and international resources to assist you in learning more about global education. Global Education is a creative approach of bringing about positive change in our society and is an active learning process based on the universal values of tolerance, solidarity, equality, and justice. My goal is to introduce global awareness to all classrooms within our school district and to give you some support on your professional growth and your students' development as globally competent citizens. As a TGC fellow, I believe it is our ability to better prepare our students for the world today and to promote both elementary and secondary readiness and global competency.
Teachers for Global Education
In the summer of 2016, I received my official letter from IREX stating that I was chosen to participate in this prestigious program. TGC is a year-long professional development opportunity for US educators K-12 to become global education leaders in their school community and also to empower our youth as global citizens. While participating in this program, I've come to realize, learn and understand the importance of global awareness therefore started to globalized my thinking, my teaching, and my perspective. I am happy to invite you to join me as I begin my journey this summer in Armenia, Colombia.
Rationale
Through my participation with TGC, I began to learn and got familiarized with what Global Education was about and how I, as a Navajo educator would introduce this concept to my school. It made me realize the importance of teaching global awareness to our youth at PUSD and across the Navajo Nation. I believe by teaching global education, we can enhance our youth with awareness about the world we live in, deepen their respect for other cultures and learn to accept everyone for who they are. As I began my coursework in September 2016, I had to decide on how to bring awareness about “Global Education” to my students, my colleagues, my administrators and my community. Residing in a small community like Pinon, it wasn't hard to discover that only a handful of individuals were aware of events that were happening in our world today. So my journey began and by taking baby steps I started with my Kindergarten class. I have yet to introduce it to my elementary school and looking forward to sharing it with them soon. “Mapping the Nation” is a good resource for us to view and share, it is a visual picture of what is happening in our world. The article “The Top 10 Characteristics of Globally Competent Teachers” is a must read for all of you. This article will open your eyes to why “educators” should have exemplary skills and why having these characteristics are important.