Education is more than teaching
As I thought about writing my last medium post, I had a hard time deciding on my topic. Throughout this semester I have learned so much thanks to Dr. Wilder. However, a few things have stuck out to me as an aspiring educator. The idea that students come from diverse backgrounds and have different forms of literacy stuck out the most. This idea was foreign to me until I heard the Malcom Gladwell podcast. His podcast on the “Harvard Crisis” sparked my interest into learning how education and literacy is viewed by people that have different S.E.S…
In the Pod Cast Gladwell follows the journey of a Hispanic American teen living in a rural town in California. During this podcast the audience is able to see the struggle of a brilliant child who want to learn. This podcast helped me to understand that although people come from different backgrounds and S.E.S, everyone should have access to the education that her or she deserves.
As I move into this crucial point in my life (student teaching) I am reminded by that podcast and other lesson that were taught by Dr. Wilder that each individual has their own way of learning and their own unique form of literacy. As a student teacher I can help students best by embracing their different forms of literacy. Based on the culture and background of that student, I will learn to let them showcase their potential and embrace their unique form of learning and literacy.
One of the ways that I plan to reach students that have different forms of literacy is by allowing them to redefine what literacy is. Literacy can consist of more than just traditional print text; it can take the shape of many other different forms. One of the ways I plan to show my students that there are other forms of literacy is by reading the graphic novel March. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow’s did a news report on the effect of that this graphic novel could have on educated young adolescents on the civil rights movement. I also plan to show students pictures and films so that they are able to grasp a deeper understanding on important topics such as the holocaust and WW2. However, if they are comfortable writing a rap or drawing their views of the events then I will be more respective to this overall behavior.
Throughout this year I have learned that young adolescents need teachers to become more than just educators for them. They need their teachers to become advocates for their learning. How they form their own opinions, ideas, and learning strategies is unique to them. As an aspiring educator I see that it is very crucial that teachers listen and make themselves more aware of their students. By knowing their interest, learning styles, and background, teachers will not only create a better classroom environment, a better relationship with their students, but they will help to create a student who is confident in his ability to learn.
