What's Your Dream?

Watch this video as a class and ask your students to respond to the following questions in the comment section of the blog?  It's very important that we start talking about Dr. King's legacy before MLK day.

What is your dream?
How does Martin Luther King's dream affect your life today?

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Fun Theory

How does this video relate to culturally responsive teaching strategies?  When you address a student's culture as a positive asset to their identity as a learner, it increases classroom engagement and achievement. This video is a great example of how one small change in your teaching approach or classroom space with regard to culture can raise the fun level!  This change might be a new mentor text, an interactive bulletin board display, or an exciting academic project about student backgrounds.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Video - Staff Meeting

Latishia Wilson, an awesome DRT, shared this video. This video changed my perspective about what it means to be a culturally responsive teacher. I really enjoy using a wide variety of strategies. For example, I have noticed that "Pick a Stick" really increases engagement and active listening. I am also using "Musical Around the Room" to preview vocabulary words. What are your thoughts and reflections about this video.

Text-To-Self Connection to Multicultural Literature

In second grade, we are teaching making connections to our literacy groups. During independent reading time, Jahmaya was able to make some amazing text-to-self connections. "My brother comes to visit me, and I know he will come back soon... just like the character.." She explains. This is an exciting example of using multicultural text to provide a vehicle for minority students to make connections. Also, students who are not minorities identified with this same experience reflected through the main character of the book called, Brothers. Multicultural text is a positive teaching tool for all students because it illuminates how we share similiar experiences as human beings.

November DRT Newsletter

What are your thoughts about November's DRT newsletter?  Post feedback comments about further suggestions and reflections.  Do you plan on inviting the Artist in Residence to your school community?

First Grade Math Game Night

Woodbrook Elementary's first grade team hosted a success night for parents.  Students taught their parents math games for the Investigations math curriculum.  This is an excellent example of cultivating the home-school connection.

My Favorite Multicultural Books (Adele LaFontaine)

Adele excitedly shared two of  her favorite multicultural books.  She explains, "I love the book, Barack Obama of Thee I Sing, A Letter to My Daughters.  It talks about how children can grow up to become whoever they want to be.  I also like The Other Side by Jacqueline Woods because it teaches children to think for themselves. " Please make a comment about these examples of multicultural literature.  Have you heard of these books or shared them with students?

Mix It Up day took place on October 18.  It's a day for students to step outside of their comfort zone and build relationships with students that they do not know very well.  Joselyn Whetzel coordinated the lunch festivities.  Students sat next to different people and learned something new.  Joselyn is also coordinating morning meeting activities for Bullying Prevention Month.  Our students will be signing a pledge and discussing strategies each day to build healthy peer relationships.  What are your thoughts as a teacher on the tradition of Mix It Up Day?  Did your students share any new insights with you?  Did you choose to do any of the suggested morning meeting activities?

Mrs. Carlson and Ms. Wills Multicultural Book Club

My class will be book buddies with Mrs. Carlson's class, and we will be incorporating a read aloud of a multicultural book each month.  The students will also get to enjoy some sort of edible treat from the book to experience part of the culture featured in the book .  In our first session, we read Too Many Tamales.  Mrs. Carlson said, "The kids were very excited about the book and enjoyed making illustrations of their favorite part."  Ms. Wills said, "One of my class parents made the tamales.  This was a great way to make a family connection."

Cultural Awareness through Art - Joan Chapman

Joan Chapman is Woodbrook's art teacher.  Joan has a self portrait of every child in the form of a rainbow posted in the school hallway.  She also asked every student at Woodbrook to draw a picture of their home.  With student work, she created a community bulletin board.  These projects show the diversity of life experiences within our school community and also serve as excellent examples of taking the initiative to cultivate the home school connection.

Hispanic Heritage Text Set - Alison Carver

Alison Carver and school volunteers created a text display with books depicting Hispanic culture.  Also, in honor of Hispanic Heritage month, Alison wrote her library message in Spanish.  This was an incredibly creative idea that has started a trend for our Woodbrook staff.

Is there an Estelita in your Classroom?

 

Ms. Wills' class read a book called the Rainbow Tulip.  It's a heartwarming story about a young girl  who is called Estelita at home and Stella at school.  I was truly enlightened by my students' discussion.  Paula said, "Estelita is pretty like me." Kevin, said, "I speak Spanish at home, and English at school just like Estelita."  I used this read aloud as an introduction to the text to self comprehension strategy.  To make the book more fun, we ate lime icecream just like Estelita did with her mother.  Check out the author's website and book reviews.   http://www.patmora.com/book_pages/tulip.htm

October Word of the Month (Diversity)

October is Diversity Awareness month.  The October word of the month is diversity.  We are defining diversity as the quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals.  We are focusing on cultural diversity however students will explore other aspects of the enviornment that could be classified as diverse.  For example, our Woodbrook garden is made up of different kinds of plant forms that grow cohesively.  Students will be able to make scientific observations in learning enviornments such as this.  The displayed graphic organizer will be posted on classroom word walls.  A selected student may draw a picture to further enhance their knowledge.

Hispanic American Interactive Bulletin Board

Teacher Feature - April Sommer explores culture through illustrations and writing.

April Sommer asks her first grade students to draw a picture of one of their family traditions.  This is a simple but very impactful way of inviting cultural diversity into the classroom.  April said, "This activity gave me a springboard for conversations with my students about what is important to them.  It also gave me insights about their family life."   What kinds of activities or discussion topics have you initiated for students to think about this word, "culture?"  Feel free to share your thoughts about April's activity or student thoughts and reflections about the word culture.

What's coming up next?

Hispanic Heritage month starts on September 15.  Fourth and Fifth graders will be sharing historical information about important figures in the Hispanic community.  We will feature the following people:  Frida, Cesar Chavez, and Sonya Sotomayor.  Check out some interesting quotes to explore during morning meeting and throughout the month of September/ early October.  How does sharing these quotes and background information support your path as a culturally responsive teacher?  Please comment and share teacher thoughts and student reflections.

Cesar Chavez

"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.

Frida Kahlo

“Painting completed my life.”

Sonia Sotomayor – US Supreme Court

"Although I grew up in very modest and challenging circumstances, I consider my life to be immeasurably rich."

September Word of the Month (Culture)

Each month our staff will be introducing a new vocabulary word centered around student background and cultural diversity.  The word culture is being explored throughout various morning meetings and activities.  We are defining culture as a shared way of life, common values, beliefs, and traditions.  Feel free to make a comment regarding student thoughts on culture or teacher beliefs on why this is an important topic.