Identity Blog
For my politics and policy class, I created a blog in which I analyze my role and identity as an educator in a country where public education is largely driven by politics and high-stakes policies. Visit my blog at http://urbanhistoryteacher.wordpress.com/ to learn more about my teaching identity and role in educational policy.
Sample blog post from my blog
Application to Teaching
Lesson idea can be found at: http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/shaping-our-culturally-responsive-selves |
I consider one of the greatest strengths of my teaching identity to be my ability to draw on the funds of knowledge of my students from different communities. It was not until I read the article, "Funds of Knowledge for Teaching: Using a Qualitative Approach to Connect Homes and Classrooms" by Luis Moll, that I realized that there was a specific phrase for the strategy I use to connect my students' cultures and communities to my classroom and teaching. An activity that I used at the beginning of this year to learn more about my students and their particular funds of knowledge was the circles of my multicultural self activity (adapted from teachingtolerance.org). In this activity, students expressed different parts of their multicultural identities, and then reflected on how those characteristics affect them. From this activity, I gained insight into my students and their communities which I drew into my lessons throughout the year when appropriate. I will continue to use this activity in the future as both a community building and data collection activity. |
