Teaching Statement

In this assignment we where tasked with writing a teaching statement to our dream school, and discribe our pedagogy. This first draft was suppose to be at least two pages. while the final draft is suppose to be 3-5 page with citations.

See-La-Cumm Wovoka

Native Pathways

Teach Statement

03 February 2026

My goal in teaching is to develop students’ natural intuition, provide them with a foundational array of ways to listen to their bodies, and show them how relationality is key to understanding the world around them. I want my student to question the empathic aspects of society and question hierarchical systems. My teaching history is rooted in community organizing and foster parenting. I first started community organizing in 2006 during my time in community college, and have fostered children as a single parent since 2012. As a professor, I am qualified to teach graduate courses on celestial studies and shamanic traditions, and I am excited to teach undergraduate courses. courses in sociology, ecology, indigenous studies, and astronomy.

Teaching Philosophy ***(Aleta -good to reflect on future N - say add action steps, and problem solve, cite source)

Questions I ask myself before instructing.

How do I feel?

What does my body tell me about the moment I am living in?

Is the source, or the universe, trying to tell me something?

What is my relation to those I am about to address?

Am I able to provide a positive, supportive, reciprocal atmosphere and relationship to those around me?

Student and Education at the center of the Moon Wheel: these guiding questions help me center the students' learning experience. I believe the key to educational success is cultivating a lifelong curiosity about the natural world. (Natosha, add more) Emersion and real-world, in-person experience are the foundation of human consciousness. Children learn by mimicry, and if the goal is to inspire childlike wonder. I self-narrate while working through exercises, accommodating different learning modalities. Being deliberate about learning processing allows me to pause and ponder classroom questions. At the same time, the student I bring together aligns content objectives and long-term goals to support student success within the time constraints.

I teach by example and repetition, centering each student's mind-body-spirit-universe connection through self-discovery, knowledge of self, and relationality between stars, students, and trees, unlocking students' true potential.

Using Exploratory Learning is a central philosophy toward education, as it allows students to guide the class by questioning their connectedness to universality and finding that path. In contrast, they become aware of their internal cycles. Allowing them to use internal energy to guide their path. The student will understand that being connected to the innerself leads to the success of the external.

Providing a Safe and Welcoming Environment is a large part of my teaching style. How can I expect my students to learn if they are not comfortable? Becoming attuned to one’s body requires a calming atmosphere. Practicing patience, tolerance, and understanding are core virtues of mine. Classroom goals always include learning how to learn, guiding students to identify their best learning style, supporting and celebrating their accomplishments, and encouraging them to dive deeper into the intricacies of their interests.

Teaching Interest - My interest in teaching is rooted in being self-taught and reliant

Mentor - From a young age, I have been a mentor, passing on knowledge to those younger than me. I remember being young, wanting nothing more than to have proper siblings to share space with.

Leadership - I have always been a natural leader. I had leadership positions in many roles, from organizations and clubs to the student government and the office of student engagement. While at Tacoma Community College, I helped create a documentary film about student voice and the reality of students at the community college. I often participate in coalition-building with black and brown communities.