Healing Centered Engagement

In the article, Ginwright argues that we should be taking a healing-centered approach to learning. Many people are healing from trauma, and building empathy with others who experience trauma can help. Empathy is critical and the center of engagement. Ginswright shares how he feels that we are not defined by our trauma, and I agree with that; everyone has to deal with something, and it doesn't make us who we are. Once the trauma is acknowledged is when the healing process can start. This healing-based approach focuses on building an identity for someone, reflecting on the trauma, and ensuring we put our well-being first. In this new perspective, Ginswright talks about how they focus on the person, how they are a good person, and the impact of the trauma they experienced. It focuses on who you are as a person over being a victim of trauma. This can help youth workers gain more knowledge and how to help others and themselves. Although this new way of healing is political, which he makes known. He talks about this method because he feels that how we try to help our youth is not the best and can make them feel like victims of the situation. 

Comments/Questions/Points to Share: Everyone heals differently, and most people's situations are different from others. If we can understand this, there can be more empathy for those dealing with trauma, and they could feel more support during the healing process. Working with kids, I notice how every kid can be calmed down in a different way when they are upset. When I am a teacher, I want to connect with my students so I can support them in the best way for them. 

Hyperlink: https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/how-support-students-who-have-experienced-trauma-guide-aspiring

When you look at everything we have done this semester, what stands out to you as meaningful?

 After looking back at the semester by looking at the slide deck and all of my blog posts, the 3 parts that stood out to me the most and I will really keep with me are all the group work/the midterm checklist we did, Delpit reading, and Teaching Bilinguals. 

The Silenced Dialogue by Delpit was the reading that stuck with me the most, and I believe brings up very important information. Her codes and rules of power were something that really made me think. It made my eyes open to see and understand better. This is something that will always be in the back of my head that I will be conscious about and think about in my teaching career. 

The Teaching Bilinguals Video that we watched will stay with me and gave great tips to help. This was very useful for me because I was able to implement them while in my service learning placement. It is also great to know for my future teaching career; it is tips I can take with me when I deal with language barriers. 

The group work for me was what stood out to me the most. Group work is really important and has helped me have a much better understanding of all the readings we have done. Not only can we teach each other, but we get to know each other in the class, which I think makes for a better-run class and better environment. It is more like we are all there to support and motivate each other when we work together and get to know each other. This way, we can all help each other because not every reading or assignment is clear to everyone, so now we can all have a better understanding of the topic we are on. As well as the midterm checklist was something that was very useful and helpful. It helped me recognize and know where I was in the middle of the semester when things start to get even more stressful. It was a great tool to use, and it was very helpful, along with the midterm letter, which I thought was a great way to let thoughts and feedback out. The midterm checklist is something I want to use on my own to help myself stay more organized and on top of everything for future semesters.

Hyperlink: https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/instructionalstrategies/groupprojects/benefits.html

Woke Read Alouds and RI Laws and Policies

Reflection: Being able to have support and being comfortable in your school, and being who you are is very important. All students should feel that they are safe at school. I think that the RI Department of Eds laws help those students, especially at this time. This is very important because there is communication going on regarding the importance of the topic. Having the definitions is great to have so teachers can educate themselves. If students feel the support from the school staff they will be more engaged and willing to their educational journey. It is also important that the teachers are aware and have the knowledge to support their students because this then can play into their student's mental health and safety. Being able to share and teach other students as well can have a big impact in a positive way; which could be reading articles to bring it in as a learning opportunity. The book He, They, She, as Easy as ABC is so important and was great to hear in the video. This gives the language that makes students able to express themselves and who they are. Growing up they never really teach or share; I believe now that it is important that it is shared and taught. Especially in middle schools and high schools. I know it can be a hard topic to discuss with elementary-age students, but there are ways to share. This way, students may be able to understand how they are feeling inside. 

Questions/Comments/Points To Share: My cousin recently came out as transgender. They were nervous at first to tell the family and especially my grandfather who is very old school. I know my side of the family is very supportive and of course, we gave them our full support. I will say it did take some thought to make sure I addressed them by the correct pronoun, but they understand especially with family there might be a slip-up just due to growing up with each other and being used to saying those pronouns. They know there is support and that what matters is the support and love that is given.

Hyperlink: https://www.ride.ri.gov/InsideRIDE/AdditionalInformation/News/ViewArticle/tabid/408/ArticleId/379/RI-Department-of-Education-Reaffirms-Policy-on-Protections-for-Transgender-Students.aspx

Examined Life and Hehir

Extended Comments: As I read through Brian's blog, he put in lots of great information and really touched upon the essential parts of the reading, as well as the video. Both share how people with disabilities face many challenges not only in their day-to-day life but in the classroom as well. I thought that was a great few words summarizations because that really is the hardest part. I like how the reading shared many stories because it really shows that there needs to be more done. With Ableism in schools, it is really difficult because everyone should have a fair and equal chance no matter what they deal with in their day-to-day life. It should not be hard for someone to get the help they need and should not have to try and prove to others. People should be open and willing. It is sad that there are so many difficulties for students and parents in getting help from schools. I also found the sections about The Education of the Deaf to stand out me. I think for me, it was because I believe all teachers should learn ASL because it is very beneficial. These students will feel more included and have a better educational journey if we had more resources for them. I agree with Brian when he talks about how, in the 19th-century oralism set back this movement and how that can relate to Delpit. It really is the culture of power and how being able-bodied makes someone basically have more power. The reading, really shows how the world just wants "cure" (great word used by brian) people with disabilities rather than add the resources and support they deserve, because everyone is fully capable of anything they put their mind to. While in the video, there was one story that was followed, which is about Sunaura Taylor. She shared her story and the effects of how she is treated by others. The part about asking for help stood out to me as well. It can be scary to ask for help, but it shouldn't be. There is a stigma around that, and there shouldn't be. We should all be getting the help we need and deserve. As the video went on, she tells us how she realizes asking for help is actually good. There will always be hard times in life, and having the strength to ask for help is the better path. It should not be looked down on at all. "Both point out that it is the people around them, and the thoughts and assumptions people have of people with disabilities that are the root to these problems and are what needs to be changed in order to solve this issue."

Points to share/ comments/ questions: Growing I saw my parents experience difficulties with getting help for my younger sister. My little sister was born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy and ADHD. Her ADHD went undiagnosed for a while because they were not listening and giving her the chance to get tested. The school only saw her physical disability. It was hard for her at a young age to go to school dealing with everything. She was a preschooler with a walker who had to get many surgeries. The school at first did not have any type of lift to help her with the few stairs, but thankfully that was fixed. 

Hyperlink: https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/what-is-ableism/

Teaching Bilinguals and Aria

Argument: In both the Videos and the reading Aria by Richard Rodriguez, they touch upon similar topics and how important they are, even though there are some differences. In the Videos, there are many tips and points that are very important and useful. It shares how we can learn a lot from other languages, and it is important to maintain speaking other languages. Because it can be helpful in the classroom. Each bilingual student in the classroom can bring something valuable for everyone involved in their journey, as well as for themselves. It can be very challenging working with a student who does not speak the same language as you, but if you can even learn part of the language/having the language involved, that can help grow a stronger connection, and it will create a better learning environment. While in Aria, Richard Rodriguez talks about his journey growing up and how being a bilingual learner affected him. Growing up he did not get the support he needed, instead, he was having his culture and first language essentially taken away. His teacher would just speak to him in English and not address him any other way. They even asked his parents to speak English at home. This can be scary not knowing a language and having no choice but to try and figure it out. It takes away from who he is when they do not allow him to embrace the language he knows and the culture he knows. 

Questions/Comments/Points To Share: In my service learning placement I can see how it can be difficult not knowing a language someone else speaks. A lot of the students in the classroom I am in speak Spanish. Some of the tasks I have to do with the students can be challenging because I have to figure out how to communicate, so we both understand. It has helped me learn a lot and is very beneficial. I also notice how well the teacher handles everything and incorporates the other languages.

Hyperlink: https://www.edutopia.org/article/supporting-multilingual-students-early-grades/

Finn: Literacy with an Attitude

Reflection: While reading, it really made me think about my own schooling while I was growing up. The author shares how 5 public elementary schools in Northern New Jersey were studied. This connected to me because that is where I grew up and went to school. So, I made many personal connections and could think back to how I remember it. Going to school in New Jersey, there were a lot of different towns around that were of all other social classes. I lived 10 minutes from a very upper-class neighborhood and 10-15 minutes from a lower-class area. I lived in an upper-middle-class area. My school was very similar to the affluent professional schools but also had aspects of middle-class schools. The reading shares how working-class schools tend to the teacher has all the authority and is always right, so the kids have no say. Not just with "rules" but with creativity and thinking as well. Middle-class schools are taught out of textbooks, and other sources must be approved. The teachers are just stating information. While in affluent professional schools, the kids learn through experiments and experiences. They have more say and can think outside the box more. Lastly, elite executive schools tend to be more complex. Students have more trust in the teachers and can really have their say on things. The two more upper-class types of schools work on analysis and knowing why. Growing up, I had a few friends from horseback riding who went to elite executive schools. 

Questions/Comments/Points To Share: This reading made me think of Delpit and how she talked about how social class/ status can play a factor in our education. If we have a higher class teaching a lower class, there can be a disconnect, and we must teach each other those unspoken rules. This reading shows and points out how different schools can be just in the way the teachers teach and respect the students. While in this reading, he talks about how we need to teach all this through literacy. Even if it is hard, these complex topics must be addressed.

Hyperlink: https://www.epi.org/publication/early-education-gaps-by-social-class-and-race-start-u-s-children-out-on-unequal-footing-a-summary-of-the-major-findings-in-inequalities-at-the-starting-gate/

Video Analysis

Teach Us all:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19VIDpZs9TUdbvb7gk49sZALrnPCz8zOWqDL50Jsi_lU/edit

Precious Knowledge:

 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1klIE0ESuG2PKnTH8g1BcHS2D70slqlbrj663Gdin78s/edit?usp=sharing

Classroom Tour: