David Wells Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Chicago, Illinois

-Gained basic familiarity with the language teaching methodology used in Waldorf/Steiner schools, a more intuitive and holistic method of teaching. Changed my teaching style to more effectively reach young children with minimal Mandarin. Used acting, body language, music, and art to engage students and convey meaning.-Customized the Waldorf ESL curriculum to meet the specific needs of students in China. Coordinated with classroom teachers to reinforce main lesson topics.-Built relationships with students, staff, and parents, and participated in the life of the close-knit school community. Helped develop programming for special events such as parent evenings and festivals.-Worked with the school administration to set standards for international teachers at the school. Attended staff meetings and trainings, adding my input to the cooperative running of the school.-Mentored German volunteers and staff, and become more proficient in the German language. Translated German teaching material to English.-Participated in international workshops and training events, sharing ideas with teachers from many parts of the world. Helped international teachers who were visiting the campus understand Chinese culture.-Developed my Mandarin to intermediate fluency, sufficient to communicate about day to day matters with students, parents, and fellow teachers.

-Taught Oral English and Culture and the Media classes to between 250-350 students (a mixture of Sophomore English majors and interdisciplinary honors students) weekly.-Developed independent curriculum for classes. Topics include intercultural communication, issues in the media, global awareness, environmental issues, mapping, and storytelling.-Led students on observational field trips to the areas surrounding campus, developing their awareness of English as a tool for everyday communication.-Led teacher workshops with MPC (Mennonite Partners In China), my sponsoring organization-Currently developing a web site to showcase student work and videos in partnership with colleagues in Indonesia, Brazil, Kosovo, and the United States. Facilitating one-to-one international email partnerships between students.

-Directed the computer lab and coordinated the technology program, serving ca. 1200 low income students.-Taught weekly computer classes to ca. 850 students, grades K-8. Developed joint lessons with classroom teachers to reinforce classroom curriculum. Tailored lessons to specifically address students' cultural backgrounds. -Developed curriculum in media literacy, encouraging students to critically examine messages prevalent in today's multimedia landscape. Developed several units on the history and culture of Rap and Hip-Hop, areas of special interest to students. Ran a successful school blog to encourage student writing.-Maintained the school's computer network of ca. 150 computers, upgrading and maintaining software from a central server. Consulted with the school administration to purchase and deploy 60 new Apple computers for teacher and classroom use. Upgraded existing computers when possible.-Designed and maintained the school's web site. Found web resources as needed to reinforce classroom topics.Performed administrative duties required by Chicago Public Schools, including E-Rate surveys and implementation of district-wide computer testing and training. Conducted staff in-services.

Administered Wildwood School's Media Center, an open library and computer lab serving 350 students.-Taught weekly computer classes to all students, grades K-8. Worked closely with classroom teachers to develop lessons that reinforced the classroom curriculum. Instruction based on the International Baccalaureate model, which emphasizes project-based, interdisciplinary lessons. -Developed curriculum to teach media literacy, internet research skills, web page creation, simple computer programming, and the design process.-Responsible for maintaining the school's network of ca. 50 Apple computers, including a computer lab, classroom computers, and servers. Researched and ordered new hardware and software as funds permitted. -Kept informed of current developments in both Library Science and Educational Technology by reading publications, subscribing to email listservs, taking classes, and attending conferences and seminars. -Staff sponsor of the Update, a quarterly school newspaper written and edited by students, and the Tech Team, a group of students trained to assist in digital photography, video editing, and web page design. -Wrote grants to acquire new books and video material for the library collection, including two $5,000 matching grants from the CPS Department of Libraries. -Designed and maintained the school's web site. - Recommended appropriate books, video materials and web sites to staff and students. Developed a library outreach program of book talks, reading lists, and peer book reviews to target young adult readers. Labeled fiction books according to genre to increase the collection's accessibility to students.- Supervised a library aide.

-Taught all subjects in a self-contained seventh grade classroom, working with 26 students from eight different countries and many ethnic backgrounds. Emphasized cross-curricular projects and interdisciplinary activities. -Coordinated an Oppenheimer grant project in which second, fourth, and seventh grade students worked together to write, direct, and perform their own shadow puppet plays based on international folk tales. -Assigned numerous interdisciplinary projects that required independent web research. -Emphasized classroom literacy by exposing students to a wide variety of reading materials beyond basic basal textbooks, including newspapers, web pages, primary source historical documents, student writing, and novels.-Initiated a reading buddies program in which seventh graders read to second grade reading partners on a regular basis. Set aside a daily period for sustained silent reading of student-selected texts.-Assisted students in producing their own radio documentaries on prejudice, which were then recorded during a field trip to WBEZ radio.

-Taught six and twelve week artist residencies at various underserved Chicago public schools.-Designed and executed lesson plans for residencies in archaeology and in nonviolent problem solving.-Partnered with classroom teachers.-Worked with diverse populations, including ESL classrooms, developmentally disabled and at-risk students.-Developed and taught a long term residency in the art and culture of Ancient Israel for Armstrong School, using the resources of the Johnson Family Foundation, A.R.T., and the Spertus Museum.

Worked at the Artifact Center, a mock archaeological dig site and museum designed to teach archaeology and ancient history to children of all backgrounds, ages 3 and up.-Developed curriculum for several short and long-term workshops for families, school groups, and teachers, using a specific studio art activity to deepen visitors' understanding of daily life in ancient times.-Taught an average of 60 children per week, developing their skills in observation, curiosity, and creative problem solving. -Designed and installed permanent exhibits; researching initial concepts, developing interactive presentation methods, and fabricating individual exhibit components.-Supervised museum technical staff and interns in exhibit design.-Scripted, designed, and produced a CD-ROM for an interactive computer kiosk, using PhotoShop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, and Director; collaborating with Onshore Multimedia, Chicago.-Designed and built support materials (dioramas, models, etc.) for lessons, exhibits, and outreach kits.-Presented plans and exhibit proposals to funders, educators, and colleagues from other museums.

-Work exhibited both locally and nationally, including exhibitions with Jan Cicero Fine Art (Chicago), Thomas Barry Fine Art (Minneapolis), and Pierogi 2000 (New York).-Represented in several private and corporate collections, including the UIC Medical Center, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and Deutsche Bank.

Mfa, Painting And Drawing; Painting; Sculpture

Elementary Education

Ba, Studio Art; English

Education record