I Make Things

Well I started a conversation about race all wrong. A teacher from a Northend school said something like “race is really just an issue of economics” and I came back with “that is total bullshit.” From there I had to step back and talk from my own experience, ask questions, and state facts. It is amazing to me how so many teachers think that getting black kids to achieve is so mysterious. If you are a white teacher, like me, it takes more work to reach out to black kids and make them feel at home in my classroom and it may take more effort on my part to encourage them to succeed. There may also be extra hurdles for me to cross to make connections with black student’s parents. It just amazes me how white people, like myself, have such a hard time with internalized racism and have a hard time committing to do extra work to make the world a better place for kids of color. On the other hand, I’m an experienced teacher who has been committed to teaching kids of color for a few years and I am still discovering ways that I can improve my teaching to reach different students.

Critical Thinking Workshop
I’m at a teacher workshop retreat around the concept of critical thinking. The idea is to get teachers together to make up curriculum to get students (and teachers) to think more critically. The group I am with has made up a structure to teach social skills to bring kids from an ego-centric attitude to a cooperative mindset. We are using drama to drive it home and make it fun. Enough for now, as I am at the sleeping lady resort in leavenworth and there are people waiting for this computer.