Much of what we have learned in this course has been based on the introduction of new ideas. As Buehl states in Chapter 7 of Developing Readers in the Academic Disciplines "So much of what we endeavor in our work with students pursues the possibilities of extending who they are"(264). This is a question that is important to note as we continue our studies: are we allowing, through our mediation, the evolution of identity or have we created an dictatorial space where all students become mini versions of ourselves. Many times, we have been faced with teachers who are a little bit of both, allowing for the free expression of ideas but driving students to the same conclusions with the force of knowledge and a classroom bordering on a cult of personality.
When we think about the classrooms we desire to have, it is in the best interest of the teacher to not have a dominating identity in the classroom. The injection of personal bias into teaching is inevitable, but it is important to monitor what is being said in our classes. It is righteous and vital to know the dominant narratives, especially in the realm of history and society, and teach our students to question that. When I was in middle school, the mere thought that I would ask my history teachers about Kwame Nkrumah and Stokely Carmichael was enough to turn them an even lighter tone than what can be assumed.
When we have students who ask these questions, we should not attempt to deflect. It may not fit into our lesson plan, but we should always provide a space for the ideas and notions a student has, whether that is in, before or after class. As I am won't to draw from Freire, I will do so again. "If the structure does not permit dialogue, the structure must change". This statement is applicable as much in our own classrooms as it was when Plato taught Aristotle over 2000 years ago. Create the spaces which allow for questions, controversy and a flourishing of oppositional thought and identity.
"Drop the Mic"
ReplyDeleteNice Blog Joe! I try not to comment on blogs with the typical "I liked reading your blog" but unfortunately I did like reading your blog. From your picture to your honesty in the conflict of creating a balance in the classroom between yourself and the uniqueness of your students. I look at your picture and think of scaffolding and the comment at the end of chapter 7 that Buehl makes. "Insiders who gradually become accomplished readers, writers, and thinkers in an academic discipline may take for granted the processes that have become second nature to them." We are the facilitators of that process and not the creators of it.
Hello Joe,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your opinion that "create the spaces which allow for questions, controversy and a flourishing of oppositional thought and identity". We are living in a cultural melting pot, and our students may have different cultural backgrounds and experiences, so there will be coming up with different ideas. As a teacher, we should allow them to think diversely and let them speak out loud because "forcing" them to put into one shoe is unacceptable and stressful. Confucius had pointed out that teachers should teach students in accordance with their aptitude so that each student can reach their academic potential abilities. Even though it seems difficult for us teachers, I think if we put into practices, it may be realized in some degree.
Hey Joe,
ReplyDeleteI very much like the idea of a genuine dialogue existing in the classroom, as opposed to an overly-strict adherence to lesson plans. Many students that lose their motivation to be engaged in class likely find themselves in classrooms of the latter sort. Luckily, a sense of awareness in regard to how each one of us runs our classroom will ideally allow us to create spaces of the nature that you describe!
It's interesting that you brought up that a teacher shouldn't have a dominating identity in the classroom because the fact is, even though we want our kids to oppose us and create dialogue and debate, they often don't. So students end up just absorbing the teacher's biases and thoughts, which is exactly as you said, what we don't want. I think a very important part of being a teacher is recognizing your own biases and consciously ignoring the urge to put it into your teaching. I think if a teacher is able to properly do that, a space for students to express their own opinions will automatically develop.
ReplyDelete