My assignment was to highlight Ms. Jessica Eaker this month. Ms. Eaker builds student knowledge using high-engagement activities. The activities, some shared below, allow students to dive deep into content and think through real-life applications, and generate a variety of products. Farmington Municipal Schools continues to have a commitment to student mastery of content and Ms. Eaker exhibits what that looks like in practice! Some of her assignments include:
- "Build Your Own Atlatl" is a competition in which students build their own atlatls (handheld catapults for spears) and compete against their peers, which gives students an appreciation for the mechanical skills and ingenuity of ancient civilizations.
- "Historical Figures Résumé," where students choose a historical figure mentioned in New Mexico History and create a résumé for that person. The challenge is that they have to find a way to make bad choices or actions sound good to make their person marketable.
- "Navajo Long Walk Diaries," where students create four diary entries that track the suffering and resilience of the Navajo People, who were forced to endure the Long Walk to the Bosque Redondo Reservation.
- "New Mexico History Timeline," where students have a chronological account of important events in our state's history. They add to the timeline periodically throughout the semester.
- "New Mexico History Mind Map," where students work with a partner to create a mind map that spans the content taught during the semester. This is created as a study guide for their final.
In my interview, I wanted to know more about Ms. Eaker’s teaching philosophy and what advice she would give to new-to-the-profession teachers.
What is your approach and philosophy behind teaching? And, what is your favorite part of teaching?
Ms. Eaker: “I believe that all students can learn. It is my job to equip students with the skills and strategies to succeed. I love teaching because of my students. They are the best part of my day. They are funny, kind, and creative. They have such an incredible way of looking at the world. I have so many amazing stories from my years as a teacher. They never cease to amaze me.”
What would you say have been the most valuable lessons you learned in your career, both lessons that could be applied in and outside of the classroom?
Ms. Eaker: “My generation is not great about disagreeing with one another in a respectful manner. We tend to think that if someone disagrees with us, then we cannot be friends. As a teacher, I have witnessed students be on completely opposing sides during a debate and leave the class as friends. They understand the importance of having a respectful discourse and knowing the diversity in opinions is one thing that makes a nation strong. It really is an amazing thing to witness. I have had my faith restored in our future.”
Have you seen a change in student behavior or a shift since the covid-19 pandemic and remote learning era and how that might have affected learning?
Ms. Eaker: “It seems that students are lacking in emotional development after COVID. This is a change that seems to be less obvious as we get further from the pandemic, but it was obvious our first normal year back that we had some growing up to do. I addressed this by being very explicit with my expectations and directions.”
How have you overcome these challenges that might have impacted students?
Ms. Eaker: “I try my best to be a bright spot in my students’ day. I strive to be relatable and approachable so students feel comfortable talking to me. I work not to judge or demean students and always be on their side. You would be shocked how many students feel they are not valued and I try to right that in my classroom.”
How do you approach certain assignments and topics and structure the lessons? Are there certain topics that work better as interactive lessons as opposed to others?
Ms. Eaker: “I have found that students like history better if they are able to understand how it impacts or relates to them. I spend a great deal of time at the beginning of each year to get to know my students. By doing this, I build a strong rapport with them and can find how to make history important to them. I do not think that every lesson has to be completely interactive, but needs to tie somehow to their present selves. I keep this in mind when planning all lessons. I weave humor and real-life examples into each lesson to make them interesting and memorable.”
What are your thoughts on the San Juan College High School (SJCHS) program and the early college opportunities provided to students in the area?
Ms. Eaker: “I love the opportunities offered at SJCHS. Although the perception is that SJCHS is for ‘smart kids.’ I respectfully disagree. Anyone who is dedicated to their education can be successful here. This program gives students a chance to work toward their future.”
What kind of advice would you give to someone just coming into a teaching position?
Ms. Eaker: “Nothing can prepare you for the classroom. All teachers struggle in their first year because of this. It will not be at all like you expect it to be. In the second year, they will be better adept at handling classroom management and lessons, but will still struggle. By the third year, it will be apparent if you are meant to be a teacher. So, stick it out and rely on the teachers around. We all want new teachers to succeed!”
Ms. Jessica Eaker teaches history at San Juan College High School and has a career spanning more than a decade with experience from middle to high school grade levels, including 5 years at Mesa View Middle School and 3 years at Piedra Vista High School.
Mr. Nez is a Senior at San Juan College High School. During his internship with the FMS Public Relations Office, Mr. Nez has been learning about creating content for Farmington Municipal Schools and writing about his experience at San Juan College High School.