Identify two quotes that you embrace in your teaching or your work as a School Counselor. Reflect on why these ideas are valuable to you as a counselor or teacher.
The first quote from the article that truly stood out to me is "...Educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." This recognizes the effort multiple educators have put in to making their classroom culturally competent. However, the achievement gap still exists for students of different cultures. This article is asking what we can do better. Instead of expecting African American and other culturally diverse students to fit our educational mold, we should allow them to come to school and learn how they know best, based on their culture. We should be learning from the students.
Another quote that I liked is "Culturally relevant teachers utilize students' culture as a vehicle from learning." As I previously said, instead of teaching students to learn our way, let them perform authentically in school while teaching all of us and other students. The teachers aren't the only ones who can stand to learn from culturally diverse students. A culturally embedded classroom has the opportunity to produced even more well rounded students.
Culturally relevant teaching requires that students maintain some cultural integrity as well as academic excellence is the first quote that stood out to me. We have to allow our students to express themselves and their cultural values if we want to have a welcoming classroom environment. We cannot stifle their culture for the "greater good of the classroom" as some teachers believe (even though that does the exact opposite). As someone who is not from WV, sometimes I realize that I am not aware of what my students are talking about. Rather than brushing over it, I ask questions and use it as an opportunity to learn. This helps students feel like I care about them, thus, they're more receptive to me as a counselor.
"One of the reasons Indian children experience difficulty in schools is that educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." is a quote that really resonated with me. We are doing this entire thing backwards. As mentioned above, we are oftentimes stifling our students. As a counselor, I do my best to relate what I'm teaching students (emotional regulation, academic skills, etc.) to their culture, SES status or home life. We are throwing kids into education without knowing anything about them - but expect them to be so forthcoming with us. It really doesn't make much sense at times. I am actively trying to switch my approach to encompass culture more and more.
Very interesting article. Though the studied involved only primarily African American schools with high low-SES rates I imagine that the major points Ladson-Billings makes could be applicable to other minority groups. I am curious how these pedagogical methods could translate to a highly diverse school, where students come from a variety of backgrounds.
In the author’s second point about developing cultural competence she describes the classroom’s artist in residence effective because: “She did not ‘import’ role models with whom the students did not have firsthand experience. She was deliberate, in reinforcing that the parents were a knowledgeable and capable resource.” Showing positive role models from the classroom’s community provided opportunity for the students to see successes rooted in their own cultural context. I have heard a lot about how children need role models who look like them, this point from Ladson-Billings deepens this point to achieve higher cultural competence.
Related to this, the author dives into her third point, critical consciousness, by stating: “Beyond those individual characteristics of academic achievement and cultural competence, students must develop a broader sociopolitical consciousness that allows them to critique the cultural norms, values, mores, and institutions that produce and maintain social inequities.” How important for a pedagogy based in cultural relevance to actively examine what values and norms currently oppress some groups of people in our society. I feel that higher critical processing like this can be successful even in younger students and teaches students important cognitive and cultural skills. For me, much of this article related to Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire which was a major factor in my pursuit of a career in education. Teachers, learners and members of the greater society all are co-creators of knowledge and must be acknowledged as such.
“Beyond those individual characteristics of academic achievement and cultural competence, students must develop a broader sociopolitical consciousness that allows them to critique the cultural norms, values, mores, and institutions that produce and maintain social inequities.” This first quote was really impactful for me to read because I think it is important to remember that we are not only teaching students to be success for themselves, but to also be a successful part of the world. As teachers and counselors, it is important that we teach our students that it is important to be aware of and reflect on the world around them, so that they can be a better consumer. If we only focus on the individual needs, then we are giving them a well-rounded experience. I agree, that if we only focus on each student individually, without considering the education process as a whole, then we may continue to see the social inequalities that run rampant in our society today. This idea is valuable to me as a counselor because I can incorporate this message into lessons and make it known that this is something the students can be aware of and think about. “The teachers kept the relations between themselves and their students fluid and equitable. They encouraged the students to act as teachers, and they, themselves, often functioned as learners in the classroom. These fluid relationships extended beyond the classroom and into the community.” This quote is such a great reminder that we, as counselors and teachers, can learn so much from our students. I experience this daily as I work at my two internships sites. I am always amazed by how much students know and how much they want to learn. I think it is so much more beneficial when everyone can work collaboratively together, rather than having such a distinct roles of power. As a counselor, we need to support our students outside of the classroom and remind our students that we are available for fun activities too, not just whenever something bad happens or they need to discuss something serious. I really value this message that it sends to students. That we are human just like them and we all are more similar than we are different.
I do not have much experience actually teaching yet, but there are a a few quotes from the article that I think are important. The first is when Native American children are being discussed. It says that the reason why these children have problems in school is because "educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." This quote says so much because so many times as teachers I think we want to make sure students feel accepted and we try to bring as much of their lives into the classroom as possible. While this is definitely important, it is not as important as students actually learning. Sure, they may remember their fourth grade teacher letting them make a traditional food for their classmates but can they remember that teacher helping them learn in a way that corresponded with their life?
The second quote from this article that I think is something teachers should think about is, "Beyond those individual characteristics or academic achievement and cultural competence, students must develop a broader sociopolitical consciousness that allows them to critique the cultural norms, values, mores and institutions that produce and maintain social inequities." It is important for students to understand the flaws of the society they live in. I do not believe we need to make them think the world is horrible and unaccepting, but their are flaws in everything, nothing can be perfect. If students are made aware of things that are unfair they may be able to help fix the flaws. I also think that having discussions like gives students a likeness between one another, they may find that there is someone they do not have anything in common with but they both feel passionately about an issue and are able to work together and discuss solutions. By bringing the "real world" to students, I think it will not only give them a head start on thinking about how they can make the world better, but can also give them issues where they can find common ground, regardless of their culture or differences.
The first quote from this article that I feel inspires my way of teaching is when the article mentions that “culturally relevant teaching requires that teachers attend to students’ academic needs, not merely make them feel good.” I feel this means to go the extra mile as a teacher. It’s not enough to simply give students information and think you have done your job, but rather you must be a mentor as well as a teacher. When it comes to students of other cultures, it is not enough to simply teach their culture to make them “feel good “as the article mentions but rather the teaching must have some relevance to the class. This is how I plan to teach students with an eye toward expose them to as much culture as I possibly can. The second quote that I found to be of value to me in my teaching is when the article says “in the classroom culturally relevant teachers, students are expected to engage the world and others critically.” This means that students do not just accept the information given to them blindly. This is the kind of students I want to shape. I want to help mold free thinkers and students who learn to question. I feel it is important to know that it is ok to ask questions and there is never a stupid question. This again is the type of classroom I would like to have. I would want my students to feel comfortable coming to me with questions especially in a time when so many of them are developing their moral conscience as I will be teaching secondary education. Many of the students will be struggling to find themselves and I feel the only way to truly accomplish this is to try on many hats and not be afraid to ask questions.
1. “ …Asserts that one of the reasons Indian children experience difficulty in schools is that educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture.” I thought it was a very interesting way to think about what is taught in the classroom. As counselors we think of meeting clients were they are to best serve their needs- in this sense we need to meet students where they are with their understandings and how they may view different topics or the world in general. We have to reach out to them and find out how we can help instead of simply teaching our own culture to students who are not a part of that. 2. “She created an artist or craftsperson in residence program so that students could both learn from each other’s parents and affirm cultural knowledge.” This section talks about how one teacher had students families come in and educate about their culture. I think this is a very important idea to present the information to other students and help them to understand. I also wonder if it would be more productive to have the students present on different topics themselves, because they would have to talk to their parents and do some research on their own. This would help them raise their knowledge and educate their peers
Educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into education, instead of inserting education into the culture. This quote is important to me because it illustrates the need to acknowledge and celebrate where students are coming from. If you don’t understand where students are coming from, it is difficult to engage them and meet their needs in the classroom. In the article, one technique that was mentioned was having parents come in and act as experts in some area. The students then learned from the experts and did a variety of activities related to the topic. This is a way to engage students and help them feel that their culture is important and has relevance to school, thus inserting education into culture. Another technique that was mentioned was the use of studying rap music lyrics to learn about poetry. Again, this is a way to make students’ culture relevant to school. All students need literacy, numeracy, technological, social, and political skills to be active participants in a democracy. This quote is important to me because I think it is really important to keep in mind what skills students need to learn in order to be able to participate fully and effectively in society. Just because I am planning to teach science doesn’t mean that I am exempt from helping students to learn other important skills. Technological and numeracy skills fit well with science, but other skills are important as well. I need to include those other skills in my teaching. I will also need to be sensitive to and aware of students’ cultures in order to include those skills in such a way that the students are benefited and can learn them.
One quote that stood out to me the most was “Culturally relevant teachers utilize students’ culture as a vehicle for learning”. Being aware of and integrating a student’s culture into teaching provides an opportunity for engagement and shows the students that you care.
I also liked “In the classrooms of culturally relevant teachers, students are expected to “engage the world and others critically””. Our jobs as teachers and counselors are to prepare students for success in the future. Teaching them skills that can benefit them for a lifetime is such an important piece to being an educator. Teachers/counselors who are culturally relevant also serve as an example to other students in the school that being knowledgeable and open to learning about different cultures is crucial.
1. "...educators have traditionally attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." This quote might be talking about Native American students and their difficulties in education, but it can definitely be applied to all cultures everywhere. Rather than assimilating students into the standardized educational procedure, educators, counselors, and all school personnel should be devoting their efforts to see the culture and teach students to treasure it and understand it. There can be such a lack of understanding and knowledge among both teaching staff and students. Noting the cultural differences and using them to teach and understand can be a powerful way for students to learn about their differences, but not see them as a means of separation which happens all too often in schools.
2. "They believed their work was artistry, not a technical task that could be accomplished in a recipe-like fashion." I love love love love this quote. These teachers knew what they were up against and were passionate about their jobs and the context that their jobs as teachers fell within. There is so much more to teaching than following the same monotonous routine each and every day. Teachers have the opportunity to make their classrooms and teaching styles the way they want. When working with low SES or students of various demographics, it is critical to be aware of one's teaching style and make sure it is flexible. I love that the teachers within this article felt so proud and passionate about their work. They know that they make a difference and can change lives, but they can't go about it in a cookie-cutter like fashion. They have to be engaging and willing to take risks. I truly believe that teachers who have this mindset are going to be so much more effective and happier within their professions.
“Culturally relevant teaching requires that students maintain some cultural integrity as well as academic excellence.” This quote was memorable to me because it emphasizes that students learn best in environments in which they are comfortable. I loved the examples they gave to accomplish this. One teacher used rap music to relate poetry to her students. I really liked this because I think music is such a universal thing that can be embraced by anyone of any race or culture. Another teacher brought in prominent people from different cultures in from the community to share the expertise with her students. I think this is really important for students to see older members of their culture being successful in the real world. Integrating these techniques into your classroom is a great way to help students achieve academic excellence while still being aware and inclusive of their cultural values.
“They believed their work was artistry, not a technical task that could be accomplished in a recipe like fashion. Fundamental to their beliefs about teaching was that all of students could and must succeed.” I love this quote. I think it is so important to truly believe this way if you are becoming a teacher. You need to be aware that all students have the capacity to learn, but they need a comfortable, nurturing environment in order to be successful. As a teacher it is your responsibility to find a way to motivate and build relationships with students to help them reach their potential. It isn’t enough to simply present them with information, you have to make the learning experience meaningful to them so that they actually retain the lessons you’ve taught.
"In the classrooms of culturally relevant teachers students are suggested to "engage the world and others critically."" This quote and the following sentence really spoke to me as I have a lot of personal experience in engaging the world critically (!) and I love the idea of having a classroom where we critique the textbooks and discuss class inequality. I think that presenting a realistic view of the world is essential to get students to invest in their own education. I've spent far too much time in classrooms where authoritarian or "traditionalist" teachers wasted their breath trying to defend arbitrary rules or decisions from above. A sense of injustice is necessary in this unjust society and provides an incentive to learn- survival and betterment of oneself and the community.
"The teachers kept the relationship between themselves and their students fluid and equitable." Assuming a role besides that of pedagogue seems to be common sense to me; that is the difference between being in a classroom and watching a series of video lectures. When one is trying to teach a group that is struggling with issues that the education system was not designed to handle or even ignores a greater sense of cooperation is necessary between the instructor and their students. By allowing students to assume different roles it obviously would allow for them to pursue their passions and fully express themselves. For a student going through the difficult process of adolescense in a troubled community this could perhaps even lead to a sense of catharsis.
I really appreciate this reading. "Initially, as I observed teachers, I could not see patterns or similarities in their teaching. Some seemed very structured and regimented, using daily routines and activities. Others seemed more open or unstuctured.¨ I think this speaks to me because I´m always striving to find the best method to do things or the way that will work for most students. During my observation, it's easy to try to pick out different techniques and try to reason why it is or is not the better teaching method. However, this article made it clear that there is no one way even for any one teacher. One person could use a technique that another could not use as successfully, and that does't make either right or wrong. Trying new things is totally okay and can lead to the discovery of things that work for YOU.
"The teachers saw themselves as a part of the community and teaching as a way to give back to the community. They encouraged their students to do the same." I LOVE this and can tie that feeling of "my teacher cares about us" to my own experiences in high school. I loved going to the classes in which my teacher knew that I won the discus throw last night and that our band would march in the ______ parade this weekend. It was fun, and I felt appreciated. I wanted to work for them, and I know my colleagues felt the same. I think this is so important in general and see how it can be especially important for students who need the extra motivation, encouragement, and feeling of being valued. I will absolutely try my best to do this for my future students.
"Rather than allow that power to influence their peers in negative ways, Lewis challenged the boys to demonstrate academic power by drawing on issues and ideas they found meaningful. As the boys began to take on academic leadership, other students saw this as a positive trait and developed similar behaviors." This idea is something that any teacher should want in a classroom setting and especially with students who lack motivation or positive self image academically. Because young people value peers opinions so much more than adults, if a teacher can motivate a low aspiring student to push harder and be a leader, others will follow suit. "The teachers saw themselves as a part of the community and teaching as a way to give back to the community." I like that teachers can feel pride for the job they do and they are a part of whatever community their school district resides in, whether that be inner city or rural. When a teacher immerses themselves in the life of their students and participates within community activities and events, it can be an impactful and uniting factor within the classroom.
The first quote from the article that truly stood out to me is "...Educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." This recognizes the effort multiple educators have put in to making their classroom culturally competent. However, the achievement gap still exists for students of different cultures. This article is asking what we can do better. Instead of expecting African American and other culturally diverse students to fit our educational mold, we should allow them to come to school and learn how they know best, based on their culture. We should be learning from the students.
ReplyDeleteAnother quote that I liked is "Culturally relevant teachers utilize students' culture as a vehicle from learning." As I previously said, instead of teaching students to learn our way, let them perform authentically in school while teaching all of us and other students. The teachers aren't the only ones who can stand to learn from culturally diverse students. A culturally embedded classroom has the opportunity to produced even more well rounded students.
Culturally relevant teaching requires that students maintain some cultural integrity as well as academic excellence is the first quote that stood out to me. We have to allow our students to express themselves and their cultural values if we want to have a welcoming classroom environment. We cannot stifle their culture for the "greater good of the classroom" as some teachers believe (even though that does the exact opposite). As someone who is not from WV, sometimes I realize that I am not aware of what my students are talking about. Rather than brushing over it, I ask questions and use it as an opportunity to learn. This helps students feel like I care about them, thus, they're more receptive to me as a counselor.
ReplyDelete"One of the reasons Indian children experience difficulty in schools is that educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." is a quote that really resonated with me. We are doing this entire thing backwards. As mentioned above, we are oftentimes stifling our students. As a counselor, I do my best to relate what I'm teaching students (emotional regulation, academic skills, etc.) to their culture, SES status or home life. We are throwing kids into education without knowing anything about them - but expect them to be so forthcoming with us. It really doesn't make much sense at times. I am actively trying to switch my approach to encompass culture more and more.
Very interesting article. Though the studied involved only primarily African American schools with high low-SES rates I imagine that the major points Ladson-Billings makes could be applicable to other minority groups. I am curious how these pedagogical methods could translate to a highly diverse school, where students come from a variety of backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteIn the author’s second point about developing cultural competence she describes the classroom’s artist in residence effective because:
“She did not ‘import’ role models with whom the students did not have firsthand experience. She was deliberate, in reinforcing that the parents were a knowledgeable and capable resource.”
Showing positive role models from the classroom’s community provided opportunity for the students to see successes rooted in their own cultural context. I have heard a lot about how children need role models who look like them, this point from Ladson-Billings deepens this point to achieve higher cultural competence.
Related to this, the author dives into her third point, critical consciousness, by stating:
“Beyond those individual characteristics of academic achievement and cultural competence, students must develop a broader sociopolitical consciousness that allows them to critique the cultural norms, values, mores, and institutions that produce and maintain social inequities.”
How important for a pedagogy based in cultural relevance to actively examine what values and norms currently oppress some groups of people in our society. I feel that higher critical processing like this can be successful even in younger students and teaches students important cognitive and cultural skills. For me, much of this article related to Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire which was a major factor in my pursuit of a career in education. Teachers, learners and members of the greater society all are co-creators of knowledge and must be acknowledged as such.
“Beyond those individual characteristics of academic achievement and cultural competence, students must develop a broader sociopolitical consciousness that allows them to critique the cultural norms, values, mores, and institutions that produce and maintain social inequities.”
ReplyDeleteThis first quote was really impactful for me to read because I think it is important to remember that we are not only teaching students to be success for themselves, but to also be a successful part of the world. As teachers and counselors, it is important that we teach our students that it is important to be aware of and reflect on the world around them, so that they can be a better consumer. If we only focus on the individual needs, then we are giving them a well-rounded experience. I agree, that if we only focus on each student individually, without considering the education process as a whole, then we may continue to see the social inequalities that run rampant in our society today. This idea is valuable to me as a counselor because I can incorporate this message into lessons and make it known that this is something the students can be aware of and think about.
“The teachers kept the relations between themselves and their students fluid and equitable. They encouraged the students to act as teachers, and they, themselves, often functioned as learners in the classroom. These fluid relationships extended beyond the classroom and into the community.”
This quote is such a great reminder that we, as counselors and teachers, can learn so much from our students. I experience this daily as I work at my two internships sites. I am always amazed by how much students know and how much they want to learn. I think it is so much more beneficial when everyone can work collaboratively together, rather than having such a distinct roles of power. As a counselor, we need to support our students outside of the classroom and remind our students that we are available for fun activities too, not just whenever something bad happens or they need to discuss something serious. I really value this message that it sends to students. That we are human just like them and we all are more similar than we are different.
I do not have much experience actually teaching yet, but there are a a few quotes from the article that I think are important. The first is when Native American children are being discussed. It says that the reason why these children have problems in school is because "educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." This quote says so much because so many times as teachers I think we want to make sure students feel accepted and we try to bring as much of their lives into the classroom as possible. While this is definitely important, it is not as important as students actually learning. Sure, they may remember their fourth grade teacher letting them make a traditional food for their classmates but can they remember that teacher helping them learn in a way that corresponded with their life?
ReplyDeleteThe second quote from this article that I think is something teachers should think about is, "Beyond those individual characteristics or academic achievement and cultural competence, students must develop a broader sociopolitical consciousness that allows them to critique the cultural norms, values, mores and institutions that produce and maintain social inequities." It is important for students to understand the flaws of the society they live in. I do not believe we need to make them think the world is horrible and unaccepting, but their are flaws in everything, nothing can be perfect. If students are made aware of things that are unfair they may be able to help fix the flaws. I also think that having discussions like gives students a likeness between one another, they may find that there is someone they do not have anything in common with but they both feel passionately about an issue and are able to work together and discuss solutions. By bringing the "real world" to students, I think it will not only give them a head start on thinking about how they can make the world better, but can also give them issues where they can find common ground, regardless of their culture or differences.
The first quote from this article that I feel inspires my way of teaching is when the article mentions that “culturally relevant teaching requires that teachers attend to students’ academic needs, not merely make them feel good.” I feel this means to go the extra mile as a teacher. It’s not enough to simply give students information and think you have done your job, but rather you must be a mentor as well as a teacher. When it comes to students of other cultures, it is not enough to simply teach their culture to make them “feel good “as the article mentions but rather the teaching must have some relevance to the class. This is how I plan to teach students with an eye toward expose them to as much culture as I possibly can.
ReplyDeleteThe second quote that I found to be of value to me in my teaching is when the article says “in the classroom culturally relevant teachers, students are expected to engage the world and others critically.” This means that students do not just accept the information given to them blindly. This is the kind of students I want to shape. I want to help mold free thinkers and students who learn to question. I feel it is important to know that it is ok to ask questions and there is never a stupid question. This again is the type of classroom I would like to have. I would want my students to feel comfortable coming to me with questions especially in a time when so many of them are developing their moral conscience as I will be teaching secondary education. Many of the students will be struggling to find themselves and I feel the only way to truly accomplish this is to try on many hats and not be afraid to ask questions.
1. “ …Asserts that one of the reasons Indian children experience difficulty in schools is that educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture.” I thought it was a very interesting way to think about what is taught in the classroom. As counselors we think of meeting clients were they are to best serve their needs- in this sense we need to meet students where they are with their understandings and how they may view different topics or the world in general. We have to reach out to them and find out how we can help instead of simply teaching our own culture to students who are not a part of that.
ReplyDelete2. “She created an artist or craftsperson in residence program so that students could both learn from each other’s parents and affirm cultural knowledge.” This section talks about how one teacher had students families come in and educate about their culture. I think this is a very important idea to present the information to other students and help them to understand. I also wonder if it would be more productive to have the students present on different topics themselves, because they would have to talk to their parents and do some research on their own. This would help them raise their knowledge and educate their peers
Educators traditionally have attempted to insert culture into education, instead of inserting education into the culture.
ReplyDeleteThis quote is important to me because it illustrates the need to acknowledge and celebrate where students are coming from. If you don’t understand where students are coming from, it is difficult to engage them and meet their needs in the classroom. In the article, one technique that was mentioned was having parents come in and act as experts in some area. The students then learned from the experts and did a variety of activities related to the topic. This is a way to engage students and help them feel that their culture is important and has relevance to school, thus inserting education into culture. Another technique that was mentioned was the use of studying rap music lyrics to learn about poetry. Again, this is a way to make students’ culture relevant to school.
All students need literacy, numeracy, technological, social, and political skills to be active participants in a democracy.
This quote is important to me because I think it is really important to keep in mind what skills students need to learn in order to be able to participate fully and effectively in society. Just because I am planning to teach science doesn’t mean that I am exempt from helping students to learn other important skills. Technological and numeracy skills fit well with science, but other skills are important as well. I need to include those other skills in my teaching. I will also need to be sensitive to and aware of students’ cultures in order to include those skills in such a way that the students are benefited and can learn them.
One quote that stood out to me the most was “Culturally relevant teachers utilize students’ culture as a vehicle for learning”. Being aware of and integrating a student’s culture into teaching provides an opportunity for engagement and shows the students that you care.
ReplyDeleteI also liked “In the classrooms of culturally relevant teachers, students are expected to “engage the world and others critically””. Our jobs as teachers and counselors are to prepare students for success in the future. Teaching them skills that can benefit them for a lifetime is such an important piece to being an educator. Teachers/counselors who are culturally relevant also serve as an example to other students in the school that being knowledgeable and open to learning about different cultures is crucial.
1. "...educators have traditionally attempted to insert culture into the education, instead of inserting education into the culture." This quote might be talking about Native American students and their difficulties in education, but it can definitely be applied to all cultures everywhere. Rather than assimilating students into the standardized educational procedure, educators, counselors, and all school personnel should be devoting their efforts to see the culture and teach students to treasure it and understand it. There can be such a lack of understanding and knowledge among both teaching staff and students. Noting the cultural differences and using them to teach and understand can be a powerful way for students to learn about their differences, but not see them as a means of separation which happens all too often in schools.
ReplyDelete2. "They believed their work was artistry, not a technical task that could be accomplished in a recipe-like fashion." I love love love love this quote. These teachers knew what they were up against and were passionate about their jobs and the context that their jobs as teachers fell within. There is so much more to teaching than following the same monotonous routine each and every day. Teachers have the opportunity to make their classrooms and teaching styles the way they want. When working with low SES or students of various demographics, it is critical to be aware of one's teaching style and make sure it is flexible. I love that the teachers within this article felt so proud and passionate about their work. They know that they make a difference and can change lives, but they can't go about it in a cookie-cutter like fashion. They have to be engaging and willing to take risks. I truly believe that teachers who have this mindset are going to be so much more effective and happier within their professions.
“Culturally relevant teaching requires that students maintain some cultural integrity as well as academic excellence.” This quote was memorable to me because it emphasizes that students learn best in environments in which they are comfortable. I loved the examples they gave to accomplish this. One teacher used rap music to relate poetry to her students. I really liked this because I think music is such a universal thing that can be embraced by anyone of any race or culture. Another teacher brought in prominent people from different cultures in from the community to share the expertise with her students. I think this is really important for students to see older members of their culture being successful in the real world. Integrating these techniques into your classroom is a great way to help students achieve academic excellence while still being aware and inclusive of their cultural values.
ReplyDelete“They believed their work was artistry, not a technical task that could be accomplished in a recipe like fashion. Fundamental to their beliefs about teaching was that all of students could and must succeed.” I love this quote. I think it is so important to truly believe this way if you are becoming a teacher. You need to be aware that all students have the capacity to learn, but they need a comfortable, nurturing environment in order to be successful. As a teacher it is your responsibility to find a way to motivate and build relationships with students to help them reach their potential. It isn’t enough to simply present them with information, you have to make the learning experience meaningful to them so that they actually retain the lessons you’ve taught.
"In the classrooms of culturally relevant teachers students are suggested to "engage the world and others critically."" This quote and the following sentence really spoke to me as I have a lot of personal experience in engaging the world critically (!) and I love the idea of having a classroom where we critique the textbooks and discuss class inequality. I think that presenting a realistic view of the world is essential to get students to invest in their own education. I've spent far too much time in classrooms where authoritarian or "traditionalist" teachers wasted their breath trying to defend arbitrary rules or decisions from above. A sense of injustice is necessary in this unjust society and provides an incentive to learn- survival and betterment of oneself and the community.
ReplyDelete"The teachers kept the relationship between themselves and their students fluid and equitable." Assuming a role besides that of pedagogue seems to be common sense to me; that is the difference between being in a classroom and watching a series of video lectures. When one is trying to teach a group that is struggling with issues that the education system was not designed to handle or even ignores a greater sense of cooperation is necessary between the instructor and their students. By allowing students to assume different roles it obviously would allow for them to pursue their passions and fully express themselves. For a student going through the difficult process of adolescense in a troubled community this could perhaps even lead to a sense of catharsis.
I really appreciate this reading. "Initially, as I observed teachers, I could not see patterns or similarities in their teaching. Some seemed very structured and regimented, using daily routines and activities. Others seemed more open or unstuctured.¨ I think this speaks to me because I´m always striving to find the best method to do things or the way that will work for most students. During my observation, it's easy to try to pick out different techniques and try to reason why it is or is not the better teaching method. However, this article made it clear that there is no one way even for any one teacher. One person could use a technique that another could not use as successfully, and that does't make either right or wrong. Trying new things is totally okay and can lead to the discovery of things that work for YOU.
ReplyDelete"The teachers saw themselves as a part of the community and teaching as a way to give back to the community. They encouraged their students to do the same." I LOVE this and can tie that feeling of "my teacher cares about us" to my own experiences in high school. I loved going to the classes in which my teacher knew that I won the discus throw last night and that our band would march in the ______ parade this weekend. It was fun, and I felt appreciated. I wanted to work for them, and I know my colleagues felt the same. I think this is so important in general and see how it can be especially important for students who need the extra motivation, encouragement, and feeling of being valued. I will absolutely try my best to do this for my future students.
"Rather than allow that power to influence their peers in negative ways, Lewis challenged the boys to demonstrate academic power by drawing on issues and ideas they found meaningful. As the boys began to take on academic leadership, other students saw this as a positive trait and developed similar behaviors."
ReplyDeleteThis idea is something that any teacher should want in a classroom setting and especially with students who lack motivation or positive self image academically. Because young people value peers opinions so much more than adults, if a teacher can motivate a low aspiring student to push harder and be a leader, others will follow suit.
"The teachers saw themselves as a part of the community and teaching as a way to give back to the community."
I like that teachers can feel pride for the job they do and they are a part of whatever community their school district resides in, whether that be inner city or rural. When a teacher immerses themselves in the life of their students and participates within community activities and events, it can be an impactful and uniting factor within the classroom.