CURRICULUM GUIDE FOR S.C. TEACHER CADET COURSE | EXPERIENCING EDUCATION, TENTH EDITION
Theme I: Experiencing Learning
Unit 1: Awareness and Reflection
Realizing My Powers
*Mandatory activity
Objective: Students will be able to record self-reflections in an autobiographical essay
examining themselves as individuals, learners, and community members.
Essential Question: What have we accomplished?
Activities:
1. Begin this activity by taking students through the following imaginary trip:
Close your eyes. Imagine that you are entering a food store called
Success Unlimited. Looking ahead, you notice that this store is different.
Instead of being filled with groceries, the shelves are stocked with containers filled with
successes that you have had since you were a young child. Moving from aisle to aisle,
you fill the shopping cart with your accomplishments, such as learning to ride a bicycle,
winning a contest in middle school, getting your driver’s license, or volunteering
to work in a hospital.
Continue your shopping until your cart is full. As you check out, the cashier hands you
a receipt with your name and says, “You have a long list of successes.” Now open your
eyes. As you unpack your bags, record on your sheet 15 or 20 accomplishments. From
your earliest memories, include those times that have powerful memories for you as an
individual, a learner, and a community member.
2. Distribute “Realizing My Powers: List of Successes” student handout.
3. From the list, each student will select five experiences, making sure the essay includes
one success as a learner, one as an individual, one as a community member, and two
other successes that have been most meaningful to the student. Explain that each
student will write an autobiographical essay entitled “Realizing My Powers.” Students
should be encouraged to include in this essay information gleaned from activities in this
section (“Through the Eyes of a Friend,” “Me from All Angles,” “Coat of Arms/Shields” or
“Quilt Squares,” “Scavenger Hunt” and videotape).
4. Each student will do a mini-presentation for the class on one entry (one
paragraph) in the essay.
Note: When appropriate, Teacher Cadets can use or adapt this essay for college and
scholarship applications.
Materials:
• Handout: “Realizing My Powers: List of Successes”
Assessment:
Teachers may use a writing rubric for evaluating this essay.
Time:
Approximately three minutes per student presentation
Standards:
I.1.1: Students will analyze their strengths and areas for improvement as learners.
I.1.2: Students will evaluate themselves as diverse individuals, learners, and
community members.
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