Blog#8

Read: Literacy with an Attitude 

Written by: Patrick J. Finn

Reflection:

After reading this article, I learned a greater meaning or message behind writing. The concept of reading and literacy comes with more depth, such as power, class, and social control. Most students in the United States will read dialogue heavily based on their social class. This will then affect the way they think, act, and relate to the authority of their classroom. We are taught that most working-class students learn obedience while the upper-class students are taught independence and leadership. Our schooling systems are the lead role of existing social inequalities.  Finn teaches us to teach "Literacy with an Attitude”,  meaning,  empowering all students to think critically and challenge the injustices. 

To share with the class:

Through all my years of schooling, I didn't always agree with the reading pieces I read in school. I always thought they were always so focused on specific groups of people. And if the topic was changed, we would spend minimal time learning about the reading. I can totally agree with where Finn is coming from with the deeper meaning of literacy. However, I feel like this concept is tricky to grasp. For younger students, they won’t understand that most of literacy is center focused. As time goes on they will just believe it to be normal information to then realize one day that there may be a greater understanding of what they are reading. Finn makes a great point that education should not prepare students to fit into society but to almost transform it. I wish that through my years of schooling I had a mindset or an idea of these statements. As young and enthusiastic new educators, I believe that this reading would be beneficial to keep in mind. Out of all authors I had a deeper connection to this reading even though it was a little bit longer.

 

Precious Knowledge and Virtual Classroom Tour

 Precious Knowledge:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11w-WupRICLaNSYkG2qh3CLEGStVmKjODb1X1BYqBTqc/edit?tab=t.0

Virtual Classroom:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yiMae7yg6EKO7mGOvtTi3TF6iQV7BYSSBnQ9G1zmy3A/edit?tab=t.0

Week #7

 Read: What to look for in a Classroom—---- Written By: Alfie Kohn 

Watch: Introduction to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

Reflection: 

After working in many classrooms, as well as a daycare weekly most of the stuff in this week's article was all familiar to me. Visuals of student work in the classroom are something that everyone sees immediately when you walk into the environment. It shows the parents what the children are doing at school and also shows their progress. Having student work on the wall as well as a stress free and organized environment is very important for classrooms. 

Within the video we learn about a culturally relevant pedagogy in academic environments. We learn that culture and diverse students bring new elements to a classroom that make the learning experience so unique. It’s so important to bring awareness to these backgrounds of students which can almost boost their confidence. 

To share in class: 

 When reading the article I was able to relate to having pictures in the classroom. At my daycare we made memory blocks for our infants. These memory blocks are soft memory foam blocks with family pictures for children to look at throughout the day. While doing tummy time and practing how to sit the children have the opportunity to look their family. After a couple weeks, I realized in great detail how each family and culture is so different. Some children just have mom, dad, and siblings while others have extended family which is a crucial role in their life. These elements will soon make the charcterits of these children shaping them to the individual they will once become. I find it so crazy how these children at such a young age look at these images and almost recognize their faces! On the flip side, I could see how this isn't conducive to everyone because some children don't have as many individuals in their life. This isn't a bad thing, but just something that sets children apart that parents may see when they come into the classroom.