This post was written by Kailua Intermediate teacher Joshua Noga for SHiNE (Supporting Hawaii’s New Educators), an HSTA program for members with up to three years of experience teaching in a Hawaii public school.

Ma ka hana ka ʻike.
One learns by doing.

This is an ʻōlelo noʻeau, or Hawaiian proverb, that centers my teaching philosophy. This quote not only applies to student learning, but also to my learning as a teacher.

As an eighth-grade social studies teacher teaching U.S. history, I want the learning that goes on in my classroom to revolve around my students’ ability to take knowledge and put it to use. I’m not interested in making my social studies class one where students come into the classroom and listen to the teacher recite facts and dates with no participation.

In my classroom, students learn by doing. To practice democracy and governance, our students selected five classmates (three women and two men) to represent them in their class council. The class council allows students to voice their concerns, create class laws that all must abide by, and have a say in the content they are learning.

In my classroom, the real learning happens outside. Every other week, my students work in our school garden. They plant everything—kalo, sweet potato, beans, carrots, tomatoes, corn, broccoli, eggplant, green onions, watermelons, squash, ulu, papaya, and mint. They also recently started a garden of native plants, which includes palapalai, mamaki, ti, and aloe. Each time our students go to the garden, they are given a prompt question to think about and objectives they need to accomplish. After 30 minutes of working outside, students wash their hands and head back to class to write down their observations and answer the prompt question in their notebooks.

In my classroom, field trips are called field experiences. My students have gone on at least one field experience each quarter. So far, these experiences include a trip to Windward Community College, opening day at the Hawaii State Legislature, and hosting our school’s Makahiki Festival. I hope they will remember facts and dates in U.S. history, but I know they will remember visiting the Hawaii State Capitol and meeting with their state senator in the Senate chambers. These types of experiences open doors and have the ability to change the trajectory and life of our students.

My students may not remember the words, but I know they will remember having to oli kāhea before every class—mele that tell stories of Kailua and the proud kānaka maoli Samoan social studies teacher they had in the eighth grade at Kailua Intermediate School.

If they don’t, it’s okay. While educating our keiki is my life story, I just hope that I was a positive, caring, and influential chapter in their story.

If you are new to the profession or new to Hawaii's public school system—or would like to help those who are—and want more information about SHiNE, please email shine@hsta.org.