
Dinah Brown
Co-Director of SDSU CGI Professional Development
“Teaching is a calling, not a job.”
“Teaching is a calling, not a job.”
Co-Director of SDSU CGI Professional Development
Provide Professional Learning for teachers in Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI).
On a typical day, before COVID, I would go to school districts and work with teachers in Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) which is a research project that supports teachers in learning about how kids solve problems without being taught specific procedures. Those sessions sometimes involved model lessons in classrooms. I am still providing teacher professional learning, but currently teaching through Zoom and Google Classroom.
Here's the first step for everyone
I recommend volunteering in a classroom before making your decision to become a teacher. Teaching is a calling, not a job. I have been lucky to have a profession that I love and do not see it as a job. Teaching is the most worthwhile profession, but it is hard work. Find a teacher or program you can support and make sure teaching is what you want to do. If it is, you will know it immediately and it will become your passion, not your job.
"I do not remember hearing any discouragement about pursing college or my teaching dreams. As a first generation college graduate, I was celebrated. My family and the educators I worked with were very helpful and encouraging."
My parents were always supportive of my education, and when I decided to return to school they even paid for my apartment. Not only did my parents support me, but sibling and people in my church group really helped me pursue my education dream.
While I was volunteering at an Elementary School, I was tasked with walking the students to the bus, one boy named Juan held my hand all the way their and waved goodbye to me, thats when I realized I had to be a teacher.
I was luck to have had been employed were I completed my student teaching. So, I already had a job when I graduate from CSUF. I went straight into teaching, and spent my life being a teacher for about 18 years.
What keeps me interested is the fact that giving a math worksheet is simple, however, teaching the way I believe should be taught requires a lot of work and effort. Therefore, I believe I should find easier ways for teachers to teach my way.
I am proud of my work with CGI, because if I can change math instructions for as many teachers as I can, in turn I can help twice as many kids, therefore, giving them an opportunity to succeed in math.
Student at CSUF