Remembering life as a child in elementary school, I can name all of the amazing and life-changing experiences I had outside of the classroom. Going to the theater, learning about fish at a nearby pond, and experiencing engineering with a race car tour at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway all gave me experiences and access that I wouldn't have gotten without the efforts of a teacher. To be an effective educator in my field, it is essential to produce experiences and access to scholars who wouldn't normally get access to special and meaningful lessons. When scholars can start to think about life outside of the classroom, outside of their neighborhood, and outside of their city, they begin to see that they are global citizens, capable of going anywhere or doing anything. Making real-world connections to my math content is vital to give to my scholars. If they can see how the classroom translates to the world around them and make those connections, they will see the meaning behind class and the rigor of the day. When scholars have this spark, parents may begin to realize the potential in their scholars, and access the materials and resources available to their children.
Conclusion By showing scholars what lies outside of the classroom and, sometimes, outside of New Orleans, they begin to see what they can achieve as they grow older. Connecting math classes and life lessons with access opportunities gives my scholars valuable resources that they couldn't get otherwise. Participating in virtual tours of colleges seemingly too far away, taking in a jazz concert in their neighborhood, or attending a tour of a local college give a well-rounded set of experiences that hit home for all of my scholars. Something in each of these access opportunities has lit a spark in the scholars' lives. When scholars begin to connect the dots with school and life after school, they begin to unlock the resources they need to be successful. If I set up the experiences for them, they are going to be unstoppable.