Name: Ian Kirschner
Breakthrough Program: Breakthrough Miami, College Bound
Subject Teaching: American Sign Language
School Attending/Year: University of Florida, Senior

Firstly, however much I've taught, I've learned much, much more from my students this summer. They've taught me to love the ebb and flow of teaching and that has surprisingly contributed to a growth of patience and vitality. These elements have significant value within and beyond the classroom. It's unbelievable to think how very, very fast this summer has gone by and how quickly we are approaching Celebration. In my American Sign Language (ASL) and Teacher Track classes, we are now preparing contributions to Breakthrough Miami's Celebration.

College Bound functions quite differently than other sites at Breakthrough Miami. Our students (now entering high school) embody Breakthrough -- since they have been a part of the Collaborative for 4-5 years. They understand the ins and outs of the program and will not hesitate to educate us teachers on that knowledge. As the summer soldiered on, I grew to embrace their experience and use it to our collective advantage to discuss education in Teacher Track.

In Teacher Track, the rising 10th grade Breakthrough Miami students are given an opportunity to undergo ITTI training while also discussing pressing issues about education. I now think of it as an ITTI/Educational Philosophy course. It took a week or two, but students are now understanding the importance of collaborative work and rhetoric in a classroom -- as a teacher and a student. They are beginning to see the value in being patient as a teacher and student. In addition to an understanding of ITTI, they can speak with each other more effectively about their own philosophies about education. Their final project consisted of teaching a 20 minute lesson on their passion. Lessons ranged from the history of chocolate, to step dancing, to astronomy, to origami. As our final week of College Bound sets in, the Teacher Track students will create and perform a song that represents the College Bound principles of leadership and advocacy.

In my ASL class the students are performing an introduction to Celebration. Teaching a language is truly amazing. Six weeks ago these students came in with minimal to no understanding of ASL and Deaf Culture. Discussion and self-commitment on behalf of each student has allowed them to effectively communicate in a language that is intrinsically expressive. Breakthrough Miami will be able to see the progress all of our Breakthrough Miami students have made.

This summer has taught me that a class inherently has moments of unpredictability. As a teacher this summer I've learned to need to be ready for these moments and steer the class in a positive direction. Although that has not always been easy, it is reassuring to know that my students are prepared to showcase all they've learned at Breakthrough Miami's Celebration.