Kelsey Magaña
Adult Learning and Professional Growth
I learned that I still have trouble with time management and self care. I have become better at setting boundaries and trying to prioritize my own mental health and well being. I am learning how to plan more time into my routines for reflecting and long-term goal setting.
Although I love people and can be very social, I work best when writing and planning when I have quiet time alone. I also need a lot of structure and deadlines to be motivated to get work done.
Throughout this process, I have had to learn to pace myself and also reach out to others for help. I have learned to delegate and trust others more in a group setting.
I often find it challenging to measure my own ongoing growth, so I reached out to my partner teacher and asked what he noticed about my growth. He said he admires my generosity of spirit and the way I devote myself to my work and the students. He also said I have grown by setting higher expectations for students.
I agree with his observation. I am learning to continue listening to each of my classes and addressing their needs. I think I have learned to be more proactive in my own classroom and in my school. I am also being more proactive as a grade level team member.
Testimonials
Ms. Magana combines Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to help our scholars learn, explore, and solve problems in new ways. Her passion and enthusiasm push our Redding scholars to investigate current, real-world problems. They collaborate in groups, ask questions, think critically, and communicate their thinking. Scholars persist through challenges to develop resilience and goal-directed skills. Ms. Magana has collaborated with colleagues and provided them with exceptional learning opportunities to incorporate into their classrooms. Ms. Magana's dedicated approach, strong leadership, and problem-solving skills lead to a successful S.T.E.A.M club here at Redding elementary. Thank you for providing our scholars and school with this phenomenal learning opportunity.
Thank you
Mr. Gause
Redding Elementary
Principal
Ms. Magaña first shared her passion of teaching STEAM and leading students which helped me become more comfortable in a STEAM environment. She then provide scaffolds to help me begin leading alongside her by first inviting me to lead a stretch break, then leading the introduction slides, then participating in the experiment, then leading experiments alongside her and the other leaders. She helped build my confidence and gave me classroom management and engagement ideas that I have utilized across topics. These ideas include movement, visuals, repetitive routines, and including music.
​
Amelia Tehrani
Student Teacher
Redding Elementary School
Ms. Magaña has been an amazing grade level partner and science teacher leader at Redding ES. She has helped prepare fun and engaging hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEM) lessons and projects for our students. She leads science instruction and support for project based science learning at Redding, sharing her amazing talents and knowledge with me and our students. She has listened and problem solved to address the needs of our students to bring science project activities home and to make it a family experience, especially important during shelter in place. She has shared materials and prepped supplies for classes and created interesting and developmentally appropriate lessons on seesaw for our students. She leads zoom STEM classes every Friday for students after their regular classes, open to students of all grade levels. She also developed young science leaders in upper grade students to do science demonstration and lead parts of the lesson for younger students. She is the best! She has made STEM learning fun and a vehicle to promote a stronger sense of community at Redding.
Jeremiah Jeffries
Redding Elementary School
First Grade Teacher / Teachers for Social Justice