REBECCA SNYDER
Welcome to my e-portfolio!
Education:
The College of New Jersey
Majors: Secondary Education and History
Minor: Psychology
Recent Position:​
Long Term Social Studies Teacher
Carl Kumpf Middle School, Clark, NJ
2 sections of Ancient World History and 4 sections of US History 1
Sixth and Seventh Grade
September 2020-December 2020
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CARL H. KUMPF MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOCATION AND BASIC INFO
Clark, NJ
Grades 6-8
Student Population: 481students
Recognized as a "School to Watch"
Incorporates team teaching
MY CLASSROOM
My goal is to encourage students to learn to work as a team, while supporting students to become independent thinkers and researchers.
"TAKE A RISK"
Kumpf faculty and staff aim to encourage students to strive their personal bests, as well as their impact to the local community. Students are encouraged to take Responsibility, have Integrity, Self-control, and Kindness (or taking a RISK).
"THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS."-ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
MY PHILOSOPHY STATEMENTS
WHAT BELIEFS GUIDE MY TEACHING?
STATEMENT 1
ACTIVITIES SHOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND STUDENT INTEREST.
STATEMENT 2
HISTORY COURSESÂ SHOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BE HISTORICAL THINKERS.
STATEMENT 3
THE CLASSROOM SHOULD BE A WELCOMING AND MOTIVATING ENVIRONMENT.
STATEMENT 1
ACTIVITIES SHOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT, SOCIAL INTERACTION, AND STUDENT INTEREST.
HINDU SNAKES AND LADDERS
Students worked in small groups of 2-4 and played a game of snakes and ladders. Their goal was to reach Hindu deliverance from suffering. Competition between students sparked as students landed on snake heads or the bottom of ladders, moving them down or up respectively. Once a group member reached delivernce, they responded together to reflective questions. These questions had them consider how concepts like dharma, karma, and reincarnation were involved. They then made comparions to Buddhism and if a Buddhist would play.
INCORPORATION OF POP CULTURE
During the unit of Ancient Egypt, students translated song lyrics from emojis to written English language. After lyrics were translated, students compared emojis to hieroglyphics through a class discussion. A comparison between the two arose. Each picture represents either an object, word, or action. The comparison allowed students to understand how the images of an ancient language is similar to the emojis they use everyday.
STATEMENT 2
HISTORY COURSES SHOULD ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BE HISTORICAL THINKERS.
TIME TRAVEL TO ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
Students strengthened their ability to empathize with the people of the past through the idea of time travel. They pretended they time traveled back to Ancient Mesopotamia. Students wrote home on their time as a Mesopotamian citizens; they expressed what life like, explaining the environment and how they were adjusting to daily life. This allowed them to understand life during ancient times by putting themselves into the shows of Ancient Mesopotamians.
STAKING A HISTORICAL CLAIM
Students created a historical claim on the construction of the Egyptian Pyramids. There is controversy on how the pyramids were created exactly. Students needed to state whether they thought the pyramids with a ramp on the outside or if the pyramids were built inside out. They needed to pull five pieces of evidence from provided resources to prove their claims; evidence could be pulled from websites provided. Students also needed to write any other sides that could be taken and list any evidence that might support that side.
STATEMENT 3
THE CLASSROOM SHOULD BE A WELCOMING AND MOTIVATING ENVIRONMENT.
WALL OF STUDENT ART
During my time at TOIS, any artwork I received from students was hung onto my chalkboard. I wanted students to be proud of their work, no matter the subject content. As the months went on, I encouraged students to hang any or display any art on this wall.
SEATING ARRANGEMENTS
Tables are provided for students to sit at during class. Students are grouped together in groups of three to four. This seating arrangement allows students to work together efficiently and to get to know their peers. Students are given assigned seats in order to get to know and work with new peers.