3 Things That Stand Out To Me- AP

Alfie Kohn- What To Look For In A Classroom: This article was not really an article but more of "do's and don'ts" of a classroom. I love the idea that the teacher should be in the back of the classroom instead of in the front, asserting dominance. He made some really good points that artwork is so important because it shows the students being hands on, and an extremely clean classroom is no signs of life. When entering the kindergarten class, his list of things were circling my brain and I was checking off the positive attributes of a classroom, the way Kohn would.

Shalaby- Troublemakers: Troublemakers do not get the attention they deserve just based on a stereotypical title they have. In my kindergarten class, there are two boys that are always touching things and moving around, and the teachers view it as they just do not want to complete their work; the truth is that they most likely do not understand the work that is needed to be done or they just need a movement break. All it takes is for you to ask, "what can I help you with" and 99% of the time they will tell you, they just needed that extra boost and focus pull. 

Barnga Card Game- I have not seen grown adults give up that easily in my entire life. My kindergarteners give word scrambling more of a shot then my friends in this card game; it proved to me that no matter the age, 6 or 20, it is normal to get frustrated and give up, but we rely so much on our educators to pick up on our slack when we struggle. So quick to give up. 

Queering Our Schools- AP

Quote: Woke Read Alouds- "Now if you look at Kelly, you might not think that because you might be use to hearing people call people like Kelly she or her. I am going to let you in on a little secret. Just because people may dress or look a certain way on the outside, that does not necessarily mean they feel that way."

Response: Like as the student who lit Sasha's skirt on fire, typically when in school the LGBTQ+ is targeted heavily. Kids tend to single out others with "differences" as stated in the text that if their peers wore something out of the ordinary, they would say that they most likely love it as a way to build relationships and trust. Every human being is entitled to their own beliefs, but you still give people the liberty to feel what they want to feel and act how they want to. When we stop judging and start understanding, our stress goes down, and we find inner peace. Acceptance is like medicine for the soul. At the end of the day, how another person dresses, acts, or is in general is no reflection of yourself, so why would we care? Honestly as a person I grew more and learned from students I typically would not be friends with, both intellectually and physically. 

Quote: Students and teachers at Oakland High responded by mobilizing support for Sasha. They collected money for medical expenses and sponsored a “Stroll for Sasha” along the bus route, which was spontaneously marked by rainbow ribbons. The varsity basketball team wore "No H8" t-shirts with Sasha's name on the back". 

Response: What the text is trying to accentuate is that it takes a whole village to address certain issues such as hate towards the LGBTQ+, but one person to start the commotion.  There were probably several other accounts of bullying towards the LBGTQ+ community, but the more severe the bullying is, the more serious it is taken. Little, micro aggressive comments should be taken to the same severity as lighting a skirt on fire. The importance of this quote is to make you think about all the other bullying that gets unnoticed; cyberbullying, sexual bullying, public harassment, and verbal bullying are all other different branches of bullying that still matter. Understanding the impact on individuals and society helps better understand the prevention and intervention process.  Importance of Studying Bullying:

Quote: "There are reasons why teachers and administrators are reluctant to adopt school wide approaches that open up discussions of LGBTQ rights and homophobia. We worry about backlash from parents".

Response: This is an excuse. At the end of the day, you have to compensate for your students needs. You cannot worry about outsiders opinions when your students are going to benefit from your support. Targeted children often suffer from poor performance in school, sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. And let's not forget the students doing the bullying; they're at a much higher risk for a whole host of issues that could extend into adulthood, ranging from violent behavior to substance abuse. How your student succeeds is in your hands, not the parents. They send their kids to school for you to deal with the real world problems. 

 

Heir- AP

Reflection: My mother had a grade 4 Brain aneurysm and pulmonary embolism when I was 7 years old; this tragedy left my mom handicap and paralyzed on the left side of her body. In a vegetative state, my grandmother fought for my mom to live a somewhat normal life, trying to take her to the movies, to get her nails done, or go to day programs that benefit what she needs. Although my mom was not technically a student, the programs she attended were class like, to rebuild muscle and brain memory that was once lost. Throughout the program, we discovered, as stated in the text, "(a) world that has not been designed with the disabled in mind", she struggled in the bathroom... a bathroom! The entire set up was not handicap accessible and she ended up stuck in there, unable to pull up her drawers calling for help and no one heard. The building itself promoted growth, but was insensitive to her needs and several others as well. My grandma spoke up for my mother, and immediately pulled her out of the facility. "Therefore, as more adults with disabilities take on more powerful roles in society and seek to influence schooling, the attention to these issues will hopefully increase". This is absolutely true because the more disabled representatives speak up for themselves, the more likely change will happen to adapt to their needs. The problem, in my opinion is that no one knows where to start or who to go to. Disabled people can only represent themselves so much, and people such as Penny and my grandma are excellent advocates. Penny said that she was aghast that the social worker was surprised that she expected her son, Joe to get a job. By receiving support from an advocate, you can confidently navigate complex systems and advocate for your needs and those of your community. Disability Advocacy: 

Rodriguez- AP

Connection: The "American Dream" is about being coming here to find comfort and safety, but what comes with the freedom are the stereotypes and forcing American culture onto other people. We claim to accept all those of different languages, race, size, but judge people based on their "non-americas" home life. Richard Rodriguez shares about how much you miss out on by not being primary English-speaker and the way educators perceive you based on these differences. This article made me think about the amount of students that struggled in my school because the educators frowned upon them. As stated in the text, all it takes is "buenos dias" to make a student feel included and safe within their own classroom. Feeling like the outcast among a crowd of cliques because the teacher comes to your house, questioning your parents and how they raise you at home should not be a common theme found in education now or 7 years ago. Woonsocket High School was so segregated that we had an assembly about how those of the hispanic population at my school are dragging down graduation rates; but it is not about how they are bringing down our graduation rates because they aren't capable, it is because they are not given the same opportunity to succeed in the same way primary English speakers. I spoke to a young lady in my A.L.L.I.E.D. class I will not name, and she expressed how difficult it was to be a non primary English speaker, not only in school but outside of school specifically. She was expected to learn random English words that her family could not even help her with because they aren't familiar with it, and are held to such high standards.  Teaching Non-Native English Speakers (like a pro):

Literacy with an Attitude- AP

 Quote: "Teachers made every effort to control students movement". 

Explanation: In school, I always wondered why I felt as though I was in a prison; you have to ask to use the bathroom, single file line, certain times to eat lunch. The importance of this quote is the emphasis behind how teachers are the ones who are asserting these rules to control students. From student-tutoring experiences through Inspiring Minds, I have gotten personal insight about school "etiquette" that they disagree with, and from that a majority of students felt restricted to learn if their teacher demands so many rules from them. Many students within the text are held after their class time to finish their homework, which makes the students not want to learn even more. Kids dealing with a strict teacher are usually more likely to rebel, display changes in well-being, and are generally less likely to reveal they are facing a problem at school. The whole point of being an educator is to have your students feel comfortable in their environment to make them strive, not struggle. 

Quote: "The children were seemed to believe that there were rewards; good grades lead to college and a good job. Remember, these were fifth graders". 

Explanation: Somewhere within time, education became lost in over-the-top "standards" that are influenced in society. Children in the elementary school were expressing how little to no interest they have in their school work, but still are expected to succeed with no support. Giving a child work that has no interest to kids is like giving a 2-year-old a T-bone steak; it really does not make sense. The importance of this quote centers around how micromanaging your students is draining to not only the students, but the teacher as well. It is ineffective and lessons the students desire to learn. I see that a lot within my kindergarten class. The students have such a fixed schedule everyday, that it can be hard for them to enjoy what they are doing. Never mind the class is inclusion based, so the students already find the idea of school to be challenging for them.  Can a Boring Teacher be a Good Teacher?

Quote: "They were taught that knowledge in their textbooks is more valuable than their own experience".

Explanation: A repeated theme in societies teaching is how not useful what the students learn in school is. Granted, a majority of classes do provide solid information, but is the information that they are learning useful? Textbooks, with their dry prose and dense information, can sometimes fail to engage students, especially if they don't connect the material to students' lives and interests. The importance of this quote is to emphasize the upside of using actual experiences in the classroom. It allows students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life situations, promoting a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Practical teaching also encourages collaborative teamwork and the development of important skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving. All things that can recenter a students focus for the better. 

 

FNED Video Analysis Templates- AP

 

Kohn's Wonderful Way of Thinking- AP

 

A classroom has been an absolute prison for me my entire academic carrier, up until I stepped foot on a college campus. I feel extremely claustrophobic, it is never a comfortable temperature, the walls are boring, and the decorations are bland; overall not a good time. A dull and lifeless environment causes students to not want to learn, which is what this small reading is about. Ever since the recollection of time, classrooms are designed as a way to keep students contained in their learning environment, but quite frankly I have had more of a hard time learning than success with classroom learning. Classroom physical environments affect student achievement. The facility's structural features, such as inadequate lighting, noise, poor air quality, and deficient heating can undermine learning. The classroom's symbols, such as objects and décor, also influence student achievement. I have noticed that classrooms with LED lights, inspirational quotes, and student art work have better student success rate in classrooms; my friends and I thrive more in calm environments. A structured classroom, and a 'sense of purposeful clutter' often translates to a safe classroom. Kohn makes an interesting point that desks in a row, side by side from each other is the worst way for students to sit in a classroom. Students do tend to speak more in small group or pods in comparison to assigned seating. I noticed that as a college student, we speak more in groups of three or four, which Kohn also agrees is the best method of learning between students.  How Classrooms are Designed: