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What is worth learning?

    When asked, what is worth learning? The first thought that enters my mind is core subjects. Is math really worth learning? Or is Science? However, this question may result in many different answers depending on the topic at hand. For this weeks module, I'm choosing to discuss the blackout poem. "What happened to me that day in school was not a type of violence involving physical harm but rather a type of emotional destruction legitimized as teaching." When we are learning, are we taught lessons that are going to benefit us in the future? Or as future educators are we instilling good lessons our students will remember years after being taught? In my blackout poem I wanted to express how teaching can result in more harm than good if not done out of good conscience and benefit to our students. Not only that, but I thought to express violence in schools involving physical harm I feel that this is best represented through explicit curriculum. Through explicit curriculu...
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What does money really have to do with It?

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            What does money really have to do with it? Education is defined as the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at school or university. So where does money come in? Not only is money needed to fund schools, it is also necessary to fund the teachers, faculty, and students. Because teaching is a job, it is very clear why they need to be paid. However, why do students need money? While reading the article "The Poverty Myth" by Jacqueline Ching, the student, Brenna, shared her experience as a low class student. She was made to feel inferior because of her free/ reduced lunch by her peers and even riding the bus as other students were picked up and dropped off in nice cars. However, it doesn't stop there. Sadly, some teachers discuss the status of their students among their peers too. Instead of finding ways to accommodate them. Students are more aware of their situations than some may think. Because of this reasoning, ...
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How does gender affect the teaching profession?

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         The simplified definition of gender is the referral to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This is much different than sex and should be treated as such when it comes to interacting with someone who identifies as something other that. As a teacher we need to respect our students in order for our students to do the same, This starts with who they are and how they choose to identify or represent themselves to us and their peers.        This topic may be seen as very controversial in the sense that many people don't see the significance of referring someone by their chosen name or pronouns. This action not only causes conflict within the person but also to those around them as well. They may not feel respected or even valued enough which is dehumanizing.      As educators it is our job to ensure the comfort of each and every one of our students. Although not everyone will agree...
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Do I have the full picture?

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      When asked, do I have the full picture? What comes to mind? What pops into my head is understanding each individual aspect before drawing a conclusion. This may compared to the steps of a puzzle.          Understanding, before making quick judgments allows for active communication for all types of conversations. In this weeks module, a topic that stood out to me was dysconscious racism and the article that followed. The peers of Autumn Roberson- Manahan, actively taunted her using a racial slur. Although they may have not seen the severity of using it, these words greatly impacted Autumn. They did not understand how that would make another individual feel because they chose not to see the bigger picture. This may be the result of not having disciplinary actions done to them. That is until Autumn stood up to them and risked her own academic reputation. The administration did nothing to prevent this and chose not to see the bigger picture as w...
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How do we talk about issues that matter?

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How do we talk about issues that matter?      Voicing our own opinions on topics that may seem controversial can be unsettling especially when conflict is expected. However, that uneasiness allows for questions to arise and create conversation. We may be scared that others will question our own thinking process but this broadens our knowledge to different perspectives. In order to talk about issues that matter, we must listen and think about our questions and thoughts before stating or asking. We must take into consideration the feelings of others while confidently stating our own thoughts. If we begin to diminish our own ideas, we deplete the significance of our own values. Discussing issues of importance allows for the us to grow as people.      In the reading "How I Faced My Identity When Teaching The Construction Era" by educator Brigid Rowlings, she states "Take the time to do the foundational work of creating and increasing comfort and safety." She ma...
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Introduction/ Heidi Do

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           Hi there! My name is Heidi Do and here is a little bit about me. I am currently a sophomore majoring in education, specifically elementary education. I have always had a passion for spending time with children and got my first job as a swim instructor to children primarily but i would also teach adults occasionally. Seeing my students progress and achieve their goals was always very rewarding. The looks on their faces when they know they achieved a very significant skill and knowing they will be able to apply the skills when necessary is why I chose to pursue education. I have a few teachers in my family and although they have expressed that there is no specific timeline that goals are set to be achieved and teaching isn't the easiest job, the thought of knowing students are being taught skills that they can use is fulfilling.       I would like to become a kindergarten teacher that teaches all of the basic subjects. That way ...
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