Laura’s Blog

I found this chapter very powerful.  I especially liked the section on Finding Satisfaction in the Everyday.  I think that is what keeps most teachers coming to work.  This week I was extremely frustrated.  My para was pulled to proctor for the CRCT and I was pulled to teat a small group.  I had to write sub plans for the sub who was in my room half of the day.  GKIDS, the state kindergarten assessment, was due also.  Needless to say I was tired and cranky most of the week. Yet, every afternoon I would return to my class and was greeted with enthusiastic hugs and comments.  They made me feel like a rock star every time I reentered the classroom.  That is why I go to work everyday!  In the chapter Mauro Bautista was quoted “I am proud to affect the lives of so many students and their parents.”  I feel the same way.  Reading this book has given me some good ideas on how I can expand on the things I am already doing.  To quote the speaker today I look forward to many years of teaching and “finding the excellence” in my students everyday. 

I am not sure if it was deliberate or not that we talked about politics last week considering rally that was downtown on Wednesday.  Due to the really I have been involved in some very heated discussions about politics with some of my friends lately.  It may be hard for everyone to believe but I am extremely opinionated and usually try to avid talking politics because I can get very angry. 

I did enjoy the project and would like to assign it to all of the teachers at my school.  I think that all too often teachers take the opinions they hear other people express and they never research it themselves.  I have to admit I have done it.  I never sat down and fully read NCLB.  TO me it seems that as government employees we should be more up to date on the politics in education and how they affect us.  

In my opinion one of the best things that educators can do is know the current events surrounding education.  In my undergrad program we had to collect 50 educational articles.  Did you know that most of the articles pertaining to education are in the metro section of the paper?  You should check it out. 

It was really interesting reading this article this week.  I noticed several references made in this article that were also made in my math reading this week. 

This weeks class was very interesting.  I have to admit I was excited to have a new topic up for discussion.  I enjoyed the pre-class readings about Ruby Payne and the studies of several schools.  I did not get t say this in class but I am not sure if the study we be accurate now.  The study was done in the early 80′s.  I think that teacher development and new teacher programs have pushed and taught teachers to have higher expectations.  I do know that the program put into schools of poverty do impact the teaching.  Some of the programs do not encourage thinking at all.  This topic reminded me of our former classmate Sakon.  She was always talking about programs in her school.  I think she did what many good teachers do she shut the door and taught the children the way she felt was best. 

I really enjoyed the 10 chairs demonstration.  I have to admit it is frustrating having friends who have less education than I do make 2 time what I make every year.  However, I love my job.  Not many people can say that. 

I spent a great deal of time thinking about my homework assignment this weekend.  I feel like I have pushed my limits being in this program this year.  When I entered the program I did not expect to spend such a great deal of time reading about cultural diversity.  I feel like some of the reading has been repetitive.  The reading that most disturbed me this year was the book We Can’t Teach What We Don’t Know: White Teachers, Multiracial Schools.  My frustration with this book and articles like it is that white teachers are lumped into one large category.  I am an individual. I work in a school with white, black, and multiracial teachers.  None of the teachers I work with are exactly alike.  Each teacher has a different style. Each has different political and religious beliefs.  I teach in the same school system I grew up in.  I have only taught in two schools.  I feel like some of the readings and class discussions view this as a disadvantage for my students.  I am outraged by this.  Every week I get up and go to work and try to do the best I can to teach the students in my class.  I feel like as along as I continue to be open to learning new things and teaching to the best of my ability I am a good teacher. 

I really enjoyed the packet of readings.  I liked Beyond Pink and Blue the best.  It is always inspiring to read about that kind of impact a teacher can make by teaching about social justice.  The book that the class made sounds like an excellent project.  In the article the class completed the book with a first grade buddy class.  I am going to try and get my book buddy class to complete this project with my kindergarteners.  I am excited about trying this project with my students. 

The Culturally Authentic Bias article really made me think.  While I had never heard any of the stories or characters that the author discussed, I think it is an important point that needs to be discussed.  Not all multicultural materials are beneficial in the classroom.  Teachers need think critically about all materials they use in the classroom. 

I really related the Culturally Authentic Bias article to the Down but Not Out article.  I think that some multicultural materials are used in classrooms artificially or for “frills.”  I spoke in class about a frustration I had during black history month.  I was upset that I was asked to put up a bulletin board about a black athlete just because it was black history month.  My school does not make me put up a bulletin board about a Hispanic athlete for Hispanic Heritage month or a female athlete for Women’s history month.   My argument then was that if the school is going to assign these projects they need to do it in a way to make sure that we celebrate all the cultures in the school.  I think that these kinds of projects are what the article was referring to as “frills.”  I work hard to make sure I am teaching my children about social justice and fairness.  I am not sure if projects like this are teaching the children anything.   

I have been thinking about our small group discussion since class ended on Thursday.  I really liked the way Rhina introduced the discussion.  She made it a point to say that we all have room to grow.  I fell like most of the time on my blog I am relating what I do to the readings to justify my practice.  I entered this program because I wanted to learn and grow.  After reading the Classroom Management chapter I want to change my practice.  I discussed in my small group how I would like to be more positive and less of a behaviorist.  I really try to start the year this way but after winter break I find myself asking children to pull pieces, my behavior management system.  I think that the positive talk is something small that I can try to do every day.  Natalie also made a point in groups that different children respond to different classroom management techniques.  Her point really resonated with me.  I think that the biggest thing I learned form class is that I need to be reflective about all aspects of my classroom.  I think more reflection will lead to growth I want to make as an educator.