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Blog #11 - Reflection on the Semester

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For our final blog post, we had to reflect on three impactful activities/readings/videos we did throughout the semester.  1. Kohn Classroom Chart One of the things I will keep in mind and always remember is the Kohn Classroom Chart. I think the chart is a simple perspective to look at how a classroom is being run and set up. I enjoyed breaking down our own classrooms in our placement because it shows how each one of my classmates have a different perspective and opinion on their own classrooms. In the future, I will keep this chart in mind when I become a teacher. 2. Troublemakers by Shalaby Another thing I will remember and something that stood out to me this semester is the Troublemakers article we read one week. I really like this article because it shows a different way to think of "troublemakers." It is meaningful because it shifted my idea of what a troublemaker is in the classroom setting and made me question okay maybe there is a reason for this behavior and usually t...
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Sexual Orientation Reflection After TED Talk

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          In the video, "How a Sanctuary for Self-Expression Can Change Lives," I think the TED talk was very informative and can be inspiring for many. The transgender girl, Reed, knew very young, from the age of 3 or so, that she wanted to be a girl. She dressed up in pink and sparkles and pretended to have long hair with scarves and towels. Her parents, unsure how to support her, eventually let her go and be true to herself. A mother of a gay man was also a part of the TED talk and talked about how scary it was to let her son be who he was. I think both perspectives of their speeches were very informative because they can freely talk about their experience and how we need to end the gender "norm." I think the gender norm is tricky for parents to balance with raising their kids, because we have a very unfriendly society. I think that as a young child, you should be able to be free to be who you want to be, but maybe as parents, create more guidance and un...
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Blog #10 Sex and Gender-Based Systems

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The video, "Woke Read Alouds: They, She, He Easy as ABC" aims to educate kindergarteners about different pronouns through an alphabet-based book. The video shows Ki, the teacher, reading a book that introduces children to various pronouns such as "he," "she," "they," "ze," and even "tree." While the intention behind this video is to promote inclusivity and understanding I think it is still a hard topic for young children to grasp at such a young age. The thing that jumped out to me the most was the pronouns, "ze" and "tree" which I've never heard of before being used as a pronoun. In my opinion, using the word "tree" as a pronoun is kind of confusing, especially using it in a sentence acting as a pronoun. Just think of the sentence, "Tree is sitting under the tree." It is a little weird to know exactly what I am talking about and I think this would be confusing for young children. I ...
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Blog #9 Eliminating Ableism in Education

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Hehir's "Eliminating Ableism in Education" - Quotes Thomas Hehir's "Eliminating Ableism in Education" highlights the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities due to societal biases. Hehir critiques schools for trying to "fix" students instead of embracing their unique learning styles. The text emphasizes that ableism—the belief that being non-disabled is preferable—creates significant obstacles. Heir points out how this affects students with various disabilities, like deafness or dyslexia, where they are forced to meet "normal" expectations. It also shows societal and institutional biases rather than the disability itself. Overall, the need to challenge educational systems and cultural beliefs to ensure equal opportunities for all children is a common theme in Hehir's call to diverse learning needs. We can see some of this in the quotes throughout the reading: 1. “I was taught to read print, not Braille, because everyone felt...
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Blog #8 Aria by Richard Rodriguez

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Quotes from Aria by Richard Rodriguez The passage Aria by Richard Rodriguez was a personal but powerful reflection of his life. He explores his emotions of being a child and transitioning languages and cultures and how it affects him. The change of languages was beneficial but mentally tolling and he tried to express himself but didn't know how to. #1: “What I needed to learn in school was that I had the right—and the obligation—to speak the public language of los gringos.” This quote expresses Rodriguez's success in learning the American language was not only helpful but important to his career. When Rodriguez said that the language was a "public language" it shows that it presents itself with opportunity and acceptance. It was important because it helped Rodriguez realize that our language is more than communication it can be used as access to knowledge. #2: “In that moment of trivial misunderstanding and profound insight, I felt my throat twisted by unsounded grief...
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Blog #7 Literacy with an Attitude

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Argument - Literacy with an Attitude by Patrick J. Finn For this week's blog, we had to read Patrick Finn's Literacy with an Attitude. In the book, he introduces the idea that schools teach students differently based on their social class. Finn argues that working-class students often receive an education that keeps them in lower-paying jobs, while wealthier students learn skills that help them succeed and take on leadership roles. He believes education should empower all students to think critically and challenge unfair systems. Finn explains two types of literacy: "Powerful literacy" (helps people question and change the world around them) and "Functional Literacy" (teaches only basic skills to follow rules and get by in life). He argues that working-class students are usually only given functional literacy, which keeps them from moving up in society. Also, Finn describes how schools teach differently depending on students' social class: Working-class ...
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Blog #6 Alfie Kohn

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Alfie Kohn's chart has two categories: "Good Signs" and "Possible Reasons to Worry." I agree with many of Kohn's ideas in this chart because it provides some things to consider as a future teacher when setting up the classroom and teaching. In my future classroom, I will put the time and effort to make my room as welcoming and open as possible for all my students. I want to create a safe space where students have fun learning and enjoy coming to my classroom every day. When I think about what are the things I loved about school in the past, a lot of it falls under Kohn's "Good Signs" column. Throughout my entire schooling, I have always felt more comfortable and welcomed when the environment itself looked and felt open and welcoming. During my sophomore year of high school, my English teacher had a classroom with lamps and lots of decorations around her room to make it feel cozy. Our desks were grouped in twos facing the front board, but we alw...
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