My Inquiry Project Journey
This inquiry project started out as way to bring art and literature into the classroom that was reflective of the students I teach. It ended up being an inquiry project on how to create a classroom that represents the students I teach. I think I ended up going this course because regardless of what I bring into the classroom when it comes to art and literature I have to first understand who the students are that I am teaching. A student who is hispanic will get more out of reading Bless Me Ultima and a student who is Native may understand something like Sherman Alexie's novel. If I can cover both of these in a classroom and use projects to enhance the literature (like an art project to go along with it) not only am I respecting my students and their cultures, I am also introducing them to ones they may not know a lot about.
I have learned that students are more engaged in a lesson when they can see themselves reflected back in it and will get more out of it if it is presented in a way that represents them. I think it is also important to remember that as a teacher, I am not here to force knowledge on my students so they can pass tests, I am here to facilitate their learning so they can continue in their education with passion about what they are learning.
My next step is to continue accumulating curriculum that can support my students in the classroom. This include projects, lessons, and literature that help me create curriculum based on my students. I have to also take the time to get to know my students at the beginning of each year and continue to get to know them throughout the time they are with me. We all grow and change everyday and it is important to keep up with the changes they are going through as they grow. I also want to come up with projects that are based on interaction with my students such as socratic seminars and small group projects.
I hope I continue to learn and grow throughout the years as a teacher. With everything being online (at least for the present) and so many unknowns, I think it is even more important to listen to our students and figure out what they need from us as teachers. It is a crazy world we live in but by listening and helping each other we can make it a better place. It is my goal to create a classroom, whether it is online or in person, the respects all my students and facilitates a type of learning that they want to come back to day after day.
Thank you, Kathryn. You are a culturally responsive teacher who will create "mirrors" for your students along with "windows" and "sliding doors" As Rudine Sims Bishop and Emily Style [https://www.weareteachers.com/mirrors-and-windows/] as metaphorically referred to these. You will provide more opportunities for your students to see themselves reflected in the stories that they read. Your classroom library will be full of books that look like them and sound like them and whom they can relate. You will collaborate with your school librarian in making sure that there are books representative of the students in your school. Your classroom will be an inclusive one where students have agency and voice to express themselves as readers and writers who have something to say and listen to one another as a writing community. You will provide opportunities for them to share their reading and writing as authors in Author Chairs, Poetry Readings, publishing their writing in class anthologies. You will invite parents/guardians of your students to join Book Clubs so they can enjoy the books your students are reading! This is where the partnership with your school librarian is important to order multiple copies of books for parents and your students! If there is no money in the budget, you will ask local businesses for donations. Better yet, you will call Scholastic Books and request a donation of books. You will advocate for your students and learn alongside them in building trusting relationship of mutual respect. Students will ask to be in your classroom each year!
ReplyDeleteI can see it, Martha! Best Wishes to you in your program and teaching career!
Appreciatively,
Frances