Welcome and Introduction
Welcome to Kaleidoscope: Educator Voices and Perspectives. Just like peering into a kaleidoscope and seeing a range of intricate and colorful reflections, this journal will offer a range of thoughtful and connected perspectives from the multi-faceted areas of teaching and education through the reflections of educators. In an effort to share the knowledge and insight gained through our work in KSTF’s unique professional network, the journal will provide substantive and reflective writing informed by our classroom practices and our collaborative inquiry. It is the editorial board’s hope to encourage educators to reflect on their own practices, engage in dialogue with other teaching professionals, and empower transformation in teaching and schooling practices.
This inaugural issue of Kaleidoscope: Educator Voices and Perspectives comprises five articles representing a range of experiences, viewpoints, and writing that demonstrates this journal’s intention of sharing a variety of voices and perspectives.
Two of the articles in this issue address science curriculum and curriculum in practice. Senior Fellow Zach Powers, along with former student leader Mimi Wilcox, writes about his physics class’s engineering project, Team Blend, an international service learning project. Senior Fellow Casey O’Hara explores the potential prospects of interdisciplinary, sustainability-focused, project-based science learning.
Three Fellows—Senior Fellow Mark Hartman, 2010 Teaching Fellow Heather Hotchkiss, and 2012 Teaching Fellow Kate Miller—recount the development, trials, and triumphs of their cross-district International Baccalaureate (IB) Physics collaboration group.
Two authors probe the depths of their practice in self-critical reflection. 2013 Fellow Justine Myers considers the evolution of her beliefs about teacher-student relationships. Senior Fellow Kate Markiewicz shares the deep, practitioner-inquiry process that led her to uncover and acknowledge areas for personal growth as a teacher.
This issue is just our first opportunity to present the voices of current Fellows and experienced educators sharing their perspectives on their classrooms and practices. All of our Fellow contributors deserve our gratitude and respect for bringing their writing forward for us to read, reflect upon, and learn from. We want to thank them, and we are proud to showcase who they are.
