Maranda Wilkinson

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Gandhi

A mere ten words, yet, so powerful are they. These words guide me as I attempt to live my life to the fullest. I am currently a 7th grade geography teacher as well as the girls' soccer and basketball coach at North Middle School in Winchester, Tennessee, and can honestly say that it is the best job I could ask for at this point in my life. Two years in now, success and failure have become my friends--success because there is little that tops changing a life in some form or fashion and failure because, without it on some level, there can be no change.

Today's social studies teacher can be no slacker as the majority of the student population, for some odd reason, tends to cringe at the thought of sitting through another boring lesson involving random dates and those who are no longer among the living. I can't blame them as I have, for sure, had my fair share of history courses when I all wanted to do was beat my head on my desk, but one can try to change their outlook. At the beginning of each school year, I take a class pole on how many like social studies and how many don't. One-fourth or less, each year, raised their hands in favor...just what I was hoping. This lack of enthusiasm is actually something I look forward too as it helps supply a portoin of my motivation for the year. I assure them that, by the end of the year, they will either love social studies or at least have less of a negative view towards it. There is no turning back from that point, and I strive to make each lesson, each each project, and each unit worth coming to social studies class. I realized that if I want perceptions to change about my field, I need to be the change. The works that follow represent me in some form or fashion and dsiplay how I choose to be the change.

Follow this link to hear all about them: Wilkinson Digital Porfolio

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