2023 Taiwan-U.S. Teacher Professional Development Workshop

Lesson planning and delivery with the Global Competence and Sustainable Development Goals, exchanging collaboration project ideas through a school visit, exploring the mix of old and new of Taichung

 

Integrating Global Competence and Sustainable Development Goals

 

Through the Taiwan-California Classroom Connect program, we embarked on an intercultural journey, collaborating with Blue Lake Union Elementary students from Humboldt County throughout the 2022-2023 school year. This initiative not only showcased Taiwan's captivating beauty but also deepened our understanding of each other's cultures.

 

Jenn and I were particularly excited about crafting diverse activity ideas inspired by Malala's Magic Pencil. These activities involved predicting, matching, sequencing, and more. Yet, it was the students' reflections on how Malala's story could translate into meaningful actions in their own lives that truly gave these activities depth.

 

Amid workshops, our host schools thoughtfully introduced quintessential Taiwanese leisure activities, allowing Humboldt teachers to savor scallion pancakes and red bean wheel cakes. These flavors added a local touch to our experience and offered them a new palate adventure.

 

Exchanging Collaboration Project Ideas Through School Visits

 

A brief visit to KMJH showcased our school's curriculum, highlighting local culture spots. Notably, we wanted to share the remarkable dance class program with Jenn. Our visit included witnessing their dedicated rehearsal for an upcoming national dance competition.

 

On Jenn's final day of visiting, we treated her to a traditional Taiwanese breakfast before heading to the National Museum of Natural Science. This educational experience left me feeling like a student again, eagerly absorbing explanations about life's origins, natural selection, and more.

 

As our journey concludes, gratitude fills our hearts. Collaborating with Blue Lake Union Elementary students was a chance to celebrate Taiwan's beauty and foster cross-cultural understanding. Our workshops, hangouts, and engaging demo class solidified connections. We immersed ourselves in activities inspired by Malala's Magic Pencil, sampled Taiwanese treats, and proudly showcased our school's unique curriculum. The rhythm of KMJH's dance practice left a lasting impact, just as our visit to Taichung's Natural Science Museum enriched our learning. Jenn's anticipation of our visit to Humboldt mirrors the bonds we've nurtured. With these remarkable memories, the Taiwan-California Classroom Connect program's impact will endure.