Open Discourse in Secondary Classrooms
Welcome to Mr. Kupfer's Blog. I am delighted to communicate with all of you through this technology.
The purpose of this Blog is to serve as a course activity in Blog development. Blogger.com is a fantastic tool to exchange ideas quickly and efficiently. Being that "blogging" is user-friendly and available anywhere a computer with internet is located, this facilitates effective discussions. Blogger.com is a great source of technology to use in the classroom because it is free. However, there exist many other organizations (i.e.-professional environments) that may be able to profit from utilizing a blog. Hopefully, by the end of this course we should (as professional educators) be able to use this technology to make information more accessible to students. This type of information presentation is desirable for use in the classroom because it is a form of technology that the students enjoy.
In this course Blog we will discuss why it is important to engage all students in a respectful, meaningful way. Considering this notion, why is it often times difficult to reach African-American males in low-income communtities? I believe it is very difficult to motivate disenfranchised black students in low-income areas that may have never had a good teacher (someone who cared to motivate them). Please feel free to refer to White Teachers/Diverse Classrooms and post your comments, concerns, and condemnations.
Thank you.
The purpose of this Blog is to serve as a course activity in Blog development. Blogger.com is a fantastic tool to exchange ideas quickly and efficiently. Being that "blogging" is user-friendly and available anywhere a computer with internet is located, this facilitates effective discussions. Blogger.com is a great source of technology to use in the classroom because it is free. However, there exist many other organizations (i.e.-professional environments) that may be able to profit from utilizing a blog. Hopefully, by the end of this course we should (as professional educators) be able to use this technology to make information more accessible to students. This type of information presentation is desirable for use in the classroom because it is a form of technology that the students enjoy.
In this course Blog we will discuss why it is important to engage all students in a respectful, meaningful way. Considering this notion, why is it often times difficult to reach African-American males in low-income communtities? I believe it is very difficult to motivate disenfranchised black students in low-income areas that may have never had a good teacher (someone who cared to motivate them). Please feel free to refer to White Teachers/Diverse Classrooms and post your comments, concerns, and condemnations.
Thank you.
I am opening the floor for all of you to discuss why we need to encourage critical thinking through open classroom discussions.
ReplyDeleteI think open discussion is important for students as a way to learn open-mindedness. African-American males, as mentioned in WTDC, have limited positive male role models. Also, mothers tend to coddle them more than the females. If they're raised without having people expect success and responsibility, they are unlikely to listen to a teacher who attempts to force this upon them. This doesn't only apply to African-American males, but any child who is raised without parents having high expectations of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cgoff but it really does not apply only to African Americans. All races have issues with male role models. Also, African American mother do not really coddle their sons. They let their sons take control of the household and make them feel they are men before they actually are due to the absentee of a father.
ReplyDeleteI think E. Morriessette has a great point about African American males, and how many of them become men before they should be. This is difficult because it creates a vast difference in the girls and boys. It makes teaching boys so difficult because they do not view teachers as an authority figure because they are the authority figure at home. Critical thinking, I believe, causes all people to step outside of who they are and what they know to really think about something in a new way. Students are able to view things from a different perspective,and also see things from a new perspective by listening to others. By having open classroom discussions, several students are able to express their views, therefore having diverse views presented at the same time. Students will begin to see things in new ways, which is important for growth and understanding each other and other cultures.
ReplyDeleteCgoff,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have mentioned. I thought it was interesting to read in WTDC that mothers across the board tend to have similar behaviors towards their male sons. I know that responsibility cannot be forced upon students, but they must learn some accountability and understand the consequences when they do not do what they should in an academic sense. I also know that this does not only apply to African-American males, but for purposes of discussion I find that African-American males in high-needs schools usually need a little more in terms of motivation from the teacher. This is also the case for many others.
E. Morriessette,
ReplyDeleteMany students have difficulty participating in classroom events. This is obviously not exclusively African-American males. I find that most students in lower-income areas will have difficulty with motivation. This is why we should as educators be even more steadfast and forthcoming in our roles as teachers because this (school) may be one of the last places we are able to make a difference in society.
Bosarge,
ReplyDeleteWe definitely do not need to allow our students and children as teachers and parents to become too authoritative too early. Many students should gain responsibilities, but only when it is appropriate. When authority and responsibility are balanced, then a student can explore his/her creative and intellectual opportunities
I must also add that regardless of how we may perceive a group of students, new class or old, we must consider their background and their daily trials and tribulations. Only then, can we make pathways to help students.
ReplyDeleteI agree balance is so important. However, how do we as teachers find that balance with students who come into the classroom already with adult responsabilities? And with adult mentalities?
ReplyDeleteSBosarge,
ReplyDeleteThere may still be a balance that can be found. Yes, many students will believe that they are "adults," and rightly so, they may have similar responsibilities as adults, but this does not excuse their disruptive behaviors in the classroom. We must consider the world we live in and the community around us as a basis for our teaching style and methodology, but we must also make it clear that the classroom is for learning (even if there exist some other issues that our students may be facing at the same time they are students). I always say that if students want to be treated as adults (whether they think they are adults or not) that they must behave and act like adults. This is a very simple idea. Often times, this will work with many students, but I find that all students who claim to be an adult usually have some learning even yet to do in that area. You, as the classroom teacher must teach the core concepts and state standards, etc., but you must also teach life skills and rationale (if possible) so that students feel that you care about them (even outside of the classroom). I think it is great when students come into the classroom with extra knowledge, but I always try to mold that knowledge into something positive, regardless of how I have to get there. Yes, this is easier said than done, but I have never had to give up on a child, nor would I. You must work with what you have and make something of it. Their is not necessarily a "to-do" list, but more of a "how to think" mentality that one must take as a teacher of multicultural and diverse students.
I agree with you Peter, I think that if a student, low income or not, will not respect their teachers if the teachers don't reach out their pupils in a respectful way. Unfortunately, due to many situations low-income households go through, actually getting up and coming to school at 6:30 in the morning was probably the last thing they wanted to do. A lot of these kids feel that school is somewhere they have to go in order to stay out of trouble, not necessarily a place of learning. So, in order to keep our students engaged we must not only be interesting, but allow them to be interesting. Ask for their input, respect their thoughts, and encourage them to think. I think that this will help the achievement gap and encourage learning.
ReplyDeleteMs. Calhoun,
ReplyDeleteYou are right. Many teachers do not allow the students to express themselves. Instead, if a peep of sound comes from any student, often times the teacher castigates them and creates a situation where students fo not feel they can express themselves in any way. This is unfortunate. Hopefully, with a new age of teachers, we will be able to address these issues. We must treat all students fairly and how we would want to be treated ourselves. I do not know how teachers think that being condescending is going to receive a happy response from children, but this happens all to often. Kudos on a good point.