JTA

9-12th grades (EdTech, English, Asian American Literature, Writing. Ethnic Studies, TEAACH Act-Asian American History). Higher Education: Curriculum and Instruction. Education Consultant: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Students learn best when they make authentic connections with their environment and their education; therefore, it is important for students to gain meaningful, lifelong experiences in and outside the academic classroom, but it is more so important that they are given options. Although I pick essential required material for reading and writing, the students are given choices for major assessments. What do they want to research? I remind students that if they are not passionate about connecting to the material, then intrinsic motivation and curiosity will be nonexistent. With each student-initiated project and each session of my courses, my teaching and assessments become more granular and stronger as I learn and grow with my students and colleagues through discussion and feedback. In terms of assignments, my formative assessments include weekly discussion boards or dialectical journal entries, which provide me with opportunities to informally assess students’ engagement, questions regarding the texts, and overall learning. Formal, summative evaluations such as papers, projects, case studies and presentations contribute to current research and provide me with more critical level of their mastery in learning. I assess the effectiveness of my teaching by analyzing their first paper and their last paper. As I look for growth in their writing and comprehension skills, students are also shown their first and last assessments, so they can witness their own development by the end of the semester. I utilize divergent questions to see if they can generate multiple creative solutions. As I grow in my field, I demand more questions and use more Socratic techniques while incorporating my dry sense of humor with attempted improv.

In 2014, Dr. Achettu developed the first-ever one-year core course on Asian American literature for Chicago Public Schools, marking a groundbreaking achievement as the first of its kind in the nation.

Loyola University Chicago (BA, MEd, EdD)

I have taught remote, hybrid, and in the traditional classroom for high school and higher education.