“First, let us begin with a look at the many teachers who are reluctant to acknowledge racial differences or grapple with these and other differences in the classroom.” pg. 34
As I reflect back to my teaching at John Marshall HS, I believe that I was “color-blind”. I was a veteran teacher of 10 years. I was not culturally aware, let alone able how to develop a culturally sensitive curriculum that integrated diverse viewpoints and histories. I thought I knew how to apply instructional strategies that encouraged all students to achieve, but as I reflect back to that experience, I was way off tract. I was not conscience of the differences in my classroom (or I just tuned it out). I did not receive any direction from my administrators or colleagues. I did not have any professional development or training on how to teach to a diverse classroom. In hind-sight, my traditional approach to instruction clearly did not work for the entire classroom. Unfortunately, it was a very narrow approach to teaching.
The Dreamkeepers "Education, like electricity, needs a conduit, a teacher, through which to transmit its power- i.e., the discovery and continuity of information, knowledge, wisdom, experience, and culture. Through the stories and experiences of eight successful teacher-transmitters, The DreamKeepers keeps hope alive for educating young African Americans."
Knowing what you know now... what would you SPECIFICALLY do differently? How has this effected your perception or teaching or being the teacher of multi-cultural children? How do you think this effected your students... unfortunately are they worse off because of your inability to tune-in with them... or unawareness of difference? These are just a few questions I thought of when reading what your wrote, but it is good to know that you have recognize some faults... or mistakes but what are you going to do about it, to be better for your future students.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you for reflecting on your teaching. One thing that makes a teacher great is their ability to look at their teaching and say, " Hey, I need to change this," which is then promptly followed by "and this is how I'm going to fix it". I have to do this all the time I'm constantly thinking, " How can I do this better next time." Sometimes I fail a student in the approach I take with them, and I have to go home and think about it and come in the next day with a whole new attitude and approach.
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