My class is extremely culturally diverse. For a teacher to plan a lesson to fit everyone would be extremely difficult. To be relatable to the students the teacher should know how it feels to learn in a classroom such like their own. They should be problem-posers as said by educational theorist Ira Shor in his book called “Empowering Education.” He also says that teachers should empower their students and that lays the foundation for their interactions in the classroom. Teachers should help the kids come up with problems and then encourage them to find their own solutions. The key is to allow participation between everyone in the classroom to be free flowing and non judgmental. Children will not remember anything in the classroom if what they are learning is not related to something in their own lives. Standing at a head of a classroom just saying things means nothing without reference.
Sadly, in the classroom I observe I do not see participation of students or encouragement to do so. Children are told to be quiet. If they try to help their friend sitting next to them they are shhed and personal stories on subjects being presented by the teacher are not accepted. The teacher makes assessments based on what the student writes or does in the time given to them. It is so bad that I feel like I to should keep my mouth shut so that the kids will not get in trouble. I try not to blame the teacher because I am not in their shoes and do not know what pressures they are under to teach the children.
However, they are not learning. They are going through the paces in order to get a passing grade. In dealing with multicultural classrooms relationships between students and teachers must be free flowing in order for the kids to feel safe enough to discuss problems that could then be used by the class to find a solution. Instead the teacher is constantly distracted by the others in the room with little focus on the individual. The teacher will read the paper and make corrections with little to no explanation of why it is wrong. I do not like picking out only the bad I see in the classroom but it is difficult to see any positive. If it was calmer the students and the teacher could collaborate in a way that not only teaches the material but allows real personal time between everyone. How to do that is a question that is still troubling me. Everyone is at different levels not only intellectually but maturity. Maybe instead of separating the trouble makers from the rest of the class, integrate them with peers who will help them focus, which could take some the stress off of the teacher because they would not have to constantly look up to see what someone has done.
I have not seen the ideas of Ira Shor put into practice personally, but know that one day I will try my hardest to make learning relatable for my students in order for them to learn the material that will last a life time. There will be a lot of apposition because Ira is not focusing on test scores or grades but what students should experience while in the classroom and that is not what the adults in power of the schools want to hear. This is just one of the things that will need to change so that children of America can see learning as fun and not just adults talking nonsense.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteYou have accurately represented Shor's ideas in relationship to a passive classroom. (I love your image!) The prompt asked you to consider assessment, in particular. How would you address this?
Dr. August
Hi Ashley!
ReplyDeleteI love the picture you posted with this blog. I think it is perfect especially since I can definitely relate to the passive classroom thing. Some classes that I have had from K-12 were just plain boring. I wish some of it was more hands on in some way. For example: history class. I find history to be interesting, but I never actually LEARN it because the teachers just talk and lecture.
In response to having a calmer classroom: I agree. I wish I had an idea how to create this classroom. I was actually talking to my teacher the other day and told her how some of the class (that you and I are in together) have stories about their teachers telling them to get out while they can. My teacher didn't tell me to not go into teaching, but to get into a different district because the one she is in expects so much out of the teachers and they never get a pat on the back for increased test scores. I can understand her frustration. You put all that time and effort into helping the students and still get the "You can do better" speech.
My teacher makes having a calm classroom look easy. She also explained to me it took her 8 years to create her tactics in order to have a calm classroom. She had to start off strict at the start of each school year and learn each student. She has to read when to push a student or when to back off because of something that happened in the students personal life.
On another note, I'm sorry your class does not have much participatory action in it. Not to sound high on my horse, but my teacher always tries to incorporate the whole class. She has the children stand up and read their answers in complete and full sentences. Sometimes between lessons she will sit and tell them how awesome they are and that they are the best and to keep doing their best.
I think to incorporate your class and to praise them definitely helps the students to do better because they feel wanted, and they have an incentive to not let the teacher down.
See you soon!
Kailyn
I can relate to everything you are saying in this blog. The classroom I that volunteer at is completely out of control. The teacher has no sense of calmness about her and it shows in everything she does.
ReplyDeleteThe curriculum in my classroom is all scripted, which leads to very little participation. I see that the students are truly bored in class and I can see that they are not learning much.
Our teachers should really try to work with the students and make learning fun for them. I really do believe in what Ira Shor says when he talks of cognitive and affective. We need to make our students want to learn the information and the only way we can do that is by triggering them emotionally!!
You whole blog is awesome! You picked great pictures and I love the dance video!!