Bennett Personal Pedagogy

Strategies

Artifacts

Megan Bennett Personal Pedagogy

+ more

At a glance

My teaching is grounded in the quote "A child is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited". I blend constructivist, liberationist, and 21st-century learning frameworks with the goal of inspiring a love of learning.

Experiences

+ more

Formative moments which shaped my beliefs

Click the "more" button below to read about some defining moments in my teaching career. These moments have helped me shape and refine my personal pedagogy.

Theory

Frameworks which shape my pedagogy

Click "more" to read about the pedagogical theories I resonate with.

Formative Career Experiences

FOCUS at LSU

2008-2010

As a college student, I supported an LSU-student run summer camp that provided college and arts experiences for high-achieving high-schoolers from underserved schools. This was the basis for my decision to become a teacher.

Teaching Language Learners at Eagle Ridge Academy

2012-2017

Supporting diverse students in my gen-ed English courses taught me that a safe and FUN learning environment is crucial for student success. Watching some of my students be the first in their families to cross a graduation stage filled me with inspiration and a drive to help students break barriers.

CLD Master's Coursework at CSU

2018-2020

Here I deepened the pedagogical knowledge I gained in my undergraduate studies. I was especially impacted by research on special-needs students who are also learning academic English. Critical pedagogy was a focus in this time of my career.

21st Century Learning at GOAL High School

2017-present

Working as an instructional coach at an online high school has allowed me to combine my passion for critical and constructivist pedagogy with technological pedagogy like 21st-Century learning design. This has culminated in a teaching style that prioritizes student agency, future-forward thinking, and authentic learning.

Aligned Pedagogies & Frameworks

Social Constructivism

developing knowledge through community

Major figures: Dewey, Vygotsky, Berger, Luckmann

Liberationism/Critical Pedagogy

using teaching to make the world a more equitable place

Major figures: hooks, Lourde, Freire, Giroux

21st-Century Learning

co-creating the future of learning

My Important Texts

• Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paolo Freire
• Teaching to Transgress, by bell hooks
• A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America, by Ronald Takaki
• Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, by Zaretta Hammond
• Democracy and Education, by John Dewey

Artifacts

Examples of my pedagogy in action, from teaching adult learners at GOAL High School. Click each image to enlarge.

+ why?

+ why?

+ Why?

Strategies I Champion

Software & Tools

• Teams
• OneNote
• Sway
• PearDeck
• iorad
• ScreenPal

Intended Outcomes

For learners

Authentic problem-solving

Exciting, safe environment

Future-ready skills practice

For me

Maximize time with students

Data-driven decision making

Lifelong learner mindset

Unlimited Revisions

Provide students with detailed feedback and time to revise work as often as they like, until they get the grade they want

Sheltered Instruction

Applying SIOP best practices such as highlighting academic vocabulary and activating background knowledge on a topic

Warm Demanding

Maintaining high expectations through unconditional positive regard for students