As I read the article by Henry I could not help but to disagree! Think of the Obama’s! Michelle Obama is black, wealthy, and a successful businesswoman! If all teachers are permitting the African American or cultural diverse women to be silent then how did Michelle Obama become so wealthy and well known! Look at Oprah Winfrey! She may have been educated like the article discussed but was able to pull herself together as an adult and today she is one of the wealthiest people in America! I cannot think of a Caucasian woman who has done the same. Can You? This article made me more aware of the importance of teaching the history of famous African American and how we benefit today from their creations or inventions! There are no books on our third grade book list that deal with cultural differences! I know that next year I will add some of these books to Cleveland County’s list. As teachers I feel that we all get behind from time to time in our teaching! When I find myself in this situation, the first thing that I ditch is history! What about you? History is not on the EOG so this becomes the first thing I mark off on my lesson plans when pushed for time! I am not sure about black girls learning to be silent, but I did have a caucusing AIG that was very quite this school year. When she wrote you would have thought that she was a high school student instead of a third grader! The journals discussed in this article are an excellent idea in which I will definitely use next year! I do not give my student options on if they want to answer questions in class. I pull sticks with the students name on them! This keep all students ready to answer at all times! This is a fair and consistent way to do classroom activities!
After reading the next article I will ensure that I read more cultural diverse literature in my classroom! I will try to cover all cultures represented in my classroom! This article took me back to my first year teaching! I had a student who was a Jehovah Witness! I was very careful that I did not make or let him participate in an activity that his culture did not approve of! However, I found him wanting to do more and more activities that he was not suppose to do! Looking back I now realize that he was just trying to fit in and to be liked! The parents still tell me to this day that I am his favorite teacher because "I loved him for who he was!" Wow this is a powerful statement after reading these articles!!!
Thanks for the podcast! If you have not taken Teacher As Research, you may want to take notes! This podcast would have really helped me if I had heard it before I took the research course!
Comments (6)
I love your enthusiasm!! I'm glad I wasn't the only one that was a little upset while reading these articles. I agree with you about history and culture - and next year. I have already started a list of books that I want to buy this summer to encorporate culture into my reading lessons.
Posted by Loren Van De Griek | June 15, 2009 3:20 PM
Posted on June 15, 2009 15:20
Not sure who's this is, but try to remember that there is only ONE Michelle Obama and only ONE Oprah Winfrey. I'm not sure that is it helpful or appropriate to generalize from two women to an entire race of women....
Whoever is the author of this post, please contact me ASAP.
Posted by Alecia Jackson | June 15, 2009 8:37 PM
Posted on June 15, 2009 20:37
Can you remember your favorite teacher? Mine was my second grade teacher who did exactly what we wish these teachers did - get to know their students - take a genuine interest in finding out who they are and what motivates them. I remember loving school, but once I met Mrs. Cox, school became a passion - a place where I knew if I worked hard I could succeed. A place where someone ELSE cared about me.
That is the kind of teacher I want to be & I want my children to have!! That is the kind of teacher you were to your student who just wanted to fit in.
Posted by Tamera Wilson | June 15, 2009 10:51 PM
Posted on June 15, 2009 22:51
I think sharing these inspirational stories with your students can help them realize that they too can improve their future by believing in themselves. One difference between the two women you mentioned and majority of minority girls in schools is that they believed in themselves. A lot of girls, I'd even say most girls in middle school, have low self-esteem already, but when they're coming from a culture that is doomed to fail in this society it can only get worse. So I think it is great to celebrate these two women and other women who have defied odds. Sonia Sotomayer, our new Supreme Court Justice, is another woman who has an amazing story! Share and celebrate!
Posted by Kelly Beckley | June 16, 2009 12:14 AM
Posted on June 16, 2009 00:14
I agree that I am glad I listened to the podcast about Qualitative Research before I take "Teacher as a Researcher" in the fall. Maybe now I won't be as lost as I was scared I would be. It has been a few years since I have actually researched anything for a paper, so I am more than a little nervous.
I get students who come to school for the first time when they are 8, 9, and 10 years old. Many are not literate in their home language and neither are their parents. That is another hurdle that is hard to get over but not impossible.
Posted by Caroline Walker | June 19, 2009 10:43 AM
Posted on June 19, 2009 10:43
I do the same thing, if I run out of time, I usually skip social studies. Like you said, it is not tested. It's sad that we have to do this. I love history and I love to teach history. I too want to buy more books to share with my class. I also had sticks with the students' numbers on them that I pulled.
Dana Eudy
Posted by Dana Eudy | June 20, 2009 11:29 AM
Posted on June 20, 2009 11:29