Ideas that had my attention to the most:
- Front-loading/Building Background Knowledge
- The Lesson Plan watched in class
After last class, I realized how similar front loading and building background knowledge are. They are very informational and get the brains going. These topics are sometimes new to the children so I think it is nice to begin with an activity of some sort. In class we did the “tea party” method. While doing this activity I was surprised to find out information on Harriet Tubman that hadn’t once known. Along with that the facts that stuck with me I later saw later in class during the short reading. The more you keep seeing the facts the better you get a memorizing it. This was very useful.
The lesson plan we watched in class was interesting. It had a lot to do with what we were talking about in class. But what drew my attention to most was how calm and comfortable the teacher was with the subject she was teaching. There was diversity within the classroom. But I tried to put myself in those children’s shoes and I think I would have been uncomfortable to talk. Of course I see that now and I know the only reason I can say this now is because I feel strongly about the way children are taught slavery and civil rights. Growing up I was taught it was another revolution that “changed” the world, but in reality it really wasn’t just a thing that happen. It shaped todays society and created the very separatism we have in our classrooms. It is hard for me to reflect on this because in my mind I felt like I was the only in the class that looked at the video like this.
Haley Berkeley
Haley,
I’m glad you found the tea party strategy to be useful. I think it really helps to set purpose for reading and can build confidence for struggling readers, particularly when sentences come up that they remember hearing.
I imagine it’s difficult to be the only student of color in a classroom when we are discussing issues like civil rights and slavery. I know the lens with which you view these things is different, and that’s okay. It doesn’t make your views wrong or unimportant. Your perspective on these things is valuable to the class and to your teachers, because we haven’t experienced what you have.
This is a good place to tell you, if you don’t already know it, that teachers often learn as much from their students as their students do from them. So keep sharing your thoughts, even when they’re difficult to put into words, because you are teaching us too.
Hi Haley, one of the most important things to learn about historical thinking skills is that CONTEXT MATTERS. This can mean that each one of us brings a unique experience to teaching that allows us to use our unique perspectives to better empathize with our students. You have been blessed with a unique perspective that will both support students who feel like they are on an island (feel alone) and open the eyes of students who have no idea what it is like to live life with your experiences. Providing lessons that allow students to “discover” feelings about historical events and then write about their feelings can be the most authentic learning experience out there! Thank you for your honest reflection. I appreciate your willingness to share it with us. The context of your life will bring rich and meaningful learning opportunities to your students.