Part one of the Fulbright involves filling out lots of paperwork. I have ten days to submit all sorts of things, including a promise not to use drugs, an understanding I represent the US, my bank information, a bio, and a project description. This last bit is feeling difficult. Also difficult: listing the dates I want to be in NZ.
Decision #1: Project Description. My application included this short summary of my personal and professional goals: Through the Fulbright DAT, I want to be challenged to think differently about the content and pedagogy I am using in my history classes, especially as it relates to my Pacific Islander and Native American students. I hope to learn how New Zealand schools are systematically addressing achievement gaps between white, Maori, and Pasifika students, through culture-first curriculum and pedagogy. Public schools, and history classrooms in particular, have a powerful role in shaping the collective memory of a community. I’m interested in history classrooms (and schools) as sites of reconciliation in a community and in the country as a whole. I know all of this, and yet I am unsure of how best to measure or document that.
Decision #2: My program dates can be February 1-June 1, 2016 for a 4-month program or February 1-June 30, 2016 for a 5-month program. My inclination is to do the 5-month program, because why not? When else do I get to live in New Zealand? However, the complicating factors are finding a job upon my return, which could be difficult if it’s July and how does this work with Jen joining me. I also know I’m hoping to travel beyond Wellington, so I am wondering whether I’ll feel conflicted about officially working through June. I need to find out whether I can arrive early and/or stay late to do traveling on my own.
Decision #1: Project Description. My application included this short summary of my personal and professional goals: Through the Fulbright DAT, I want to be challenged to think differently about the content and pedagogy I am using in my history classes, especially as it relates to my Pacific Islander and Native American students. I hope to learn how New Zealand schools are systematically addressing achievement gaps between white, Maori, and Pasifika students, through culture-first curriculum and pedagogy. Public schools, and history classrooms in particular, have a powerful role in shaping the collective memory of a community. I’m interested in history classrooms (and schools) as sites of reconciliation in a community and in the country as a whole. I know all of this, and yet I am unsure of how best to measure or document that.
Decision #2: My program dates can be February 1-June 1, 2016 for a 4-month program or February 1-June 30, 2016 for a 5-month program. My inclination is to do the 5-month program, because why not? When else do I get to live in New Zealand? However, the complicating factors are finding a job upon my return, which could be difficult if it’s July and how does this work with Jen joining me. I also know I’m hoping to travel beyond Wellington, so I am wondering whether I’ll feel conflicted about officially working through June. I need to find out whether I can arrive early and/or stay late to do traveling on my own.