Reyes FNED246

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 ...

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...

I work with a PreK class, and they are 3 years old. Because they are so young and this is their first year of school, they are still learning how to behave in a classroom. There are a total of 11 kids in the classroom, and 7 of them have IEPs. With that in mind, I don't think I have a true troublemaker in my classroom. Occasionally, every kid in the room "acts up." Specifically, this girl, we will call her Lily, likes to give me and the other adults in the room a hard time when it comes time to change activities. Lily comes to school ready to hug anyone who walks into the room. She dresses well and listens...for the most part. I believe she is from a Hispanic background but I am not exactly sure. When I walk into the room, they are doing "rug time," and she always gives me a smile and a wave. She is from a family that speaks Spanish and will sometimes speak Spanish but uses mostly English. Both teachers in the room are White. Once it is time for "open play,...

  This week we were assigned to read the preface and introduction of Carla Shalaby's book Troublemakers. In the sections we covered, Shalaby talks about the prison-like nature of our school system and its impact on young children. The most vocal kids are often the ones we can learn the most from, yet they’re frequently labeled as "bad" or "problematic." The book highlights the difficulty of going against the "rules" and emphasizes the importance of asking questions and having the courage to stand up for your beliefs, even when it’s challenging. This message resonates deeply, especially in a classroom setting where students are encouraged to think for themselves and challenge the norms around them. We as teachers have to value all voices of students, especially those who are often dismissed. I have seen from experience the "troubled" kids, and yes it can be difficult to help them but that does not mean I give up and "push" them away....