Title: Creating Classrooms for Social Justice
Dr. Tabitha Dell'Angelo (2014, September 29th)
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/creating-classrooms-for-social-justice-tabitha-dellangelo
With this dynamic topic of social justice emerging within the education systems it is difficult to know where to begin when it comes to teaching it within the classroom. How do you inspire your students to that high level of thinking and create a safe atmosphere where comparisons and conversations can be had respectfully? Dr. Dell'Angelo breaks down what social justice means for you as an educator and how it can be interwoven within your everyday classroom and curriculum. She describes four basic ways you can begin to build social justice into your classroom and create a higher level of thinking and understanding among your students.
Audience: Current and future educators and perhaps curious parents
Relevance: Informs the current or future educator of ways she/he can begin to build social justice within the classroom using basic techniques. Educates future/current educators of how social justice is defined; " Social justice is recognizing and acting upon the power that we have for making positive change " - Dr. Angela Dell'Angelo
This article provides several suggestions for creating classrooms for social justice. One particular phrase that stands out is “academic siblings”. The “academic sibling” is described as students may not always get along and agree, but they with a strong classroom community feel, students will know classmates will always have their backs. I appreciate this because it is very true. Students need to understand that everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences and every viewpoint matters just as much as the rest. It is this understanding that brings respect and openness in the classroom. We have been working on this daily the past couple weeks and I look forward to evaluating the successes. I also appreciate the article focuses on what the teacher can do. Ultimately, it is up to us as educators to think extremely carefully about the content we present to our students.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how this article emphasizes that social justice can be taught in the classroom setting in connection with core subjects and instruction. As you discuss, it is important to think through how educators can foster high level thinking and keep students’ dignity in mind. Educators have a powerful role in creating a classroom that is safe, and encourages learning inside and outside of the classroom. It is essential that students understand the impacts of social change on a larger scale, and see that they can be “agents of change.” In classrooms where teachers spend time on building community, students ask questions, where students are able to construct their own meaning and be independent thinkers, I have seen a positive difference.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of social justice being interwoven into the everyday curriculum will definitely broaden our student’s perspectives if done properly. The article warns against presenting different walks of life in a stereotypical manner. This is key because if you are trying to promote social justice within the classroom, but you do it in a manner which is stereotypical, you are essentially destroying the idea of social justice. Misrepresenting people can do a great deal of damage. I also really liked the statement, “If there's something happening in the news that you can link to your content, do it.” This will help promote generalization to our students and give them the real life situations they need for retention and overall understanding.
ReplyDelete"Social justice is recognizing and acting upon the power that we have for making positive change. Teachers do this every day in many ways. "
ReplyDeleteThis statement is important to my philosophy of teaching. In creating positive change for students, we can create a better learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and positive. I appreciated the idea of "sending letters to a real zookeeper". It is by completing projects of this type that students can feel as if they are truly part of the community. They can learn that "people" will listen to them and respond to their questions and thoughts.
As a new teacher, I have been told over and over, "Get to know your students, learn about their backgrounds and learn about their interests." It was good to see this message reinforced because I place this as a high priority in my new position. It is not always easy but I believe worth the effort.
Finally, it is important to note that many practices that support a social justice orientation are also reflective of best practices in teaching.