Evaluate teaching ideas and picture books on identity.
The book I chose to read and evaluate is titled "The Field" by Baptiste Paul. This book is about a Haitian community that comes together for a pick-up Futbol (soccer) game. You see boys and girls of all ages come to both play and watch the game unfold. Throughout the book, the author switches between English and Creole, the language spoken in this community. This is a very short and concise book, but you can grasp so much about the community and culture through the illustrations, rather than just through the words on the pages.
This book is one that many people can connect to, as futbol/soccer is one of the most popular and inclusive sports in the world. Additionally, by having the words in both English and Creole, a student who is from this country may be able to recognize words, and show that it's okay to know two languages.
The first teaching idea I chose to evaluate was "Where I'm From: Family, Community, and Poetry". This is an activity/assignment with the goal "to build community and a more welcoming classroom environment by learning about classmates’ families through poetry". This assignment allows students to share about their culture, and home life in a positive and fun way. It also allows students to share their multiple identities and the many things that make them who they are.
The second teaching idea I chose to evaluate was the "Domains of Identity Safety". These three domains are "Student-Centered Teaching, Cultivating Diversity as a Resource, Classroom Relationships, and Caring Classroom Environments". This idea promotes students contributing their "ideas, thoughts, and feelings". It also emphasizes that diversity is a resource for learning and allows students to "co-create curriculum by drawing on their unique backgrounds". It also fosters positive relationships between all members of the class. Relationships are built on kindness, fairness, and acceptance. Lastly, this idea focuses on creating classrooms that feel comfortable and inviting to students. Which, hopefully, will allow them to feel comfortable to share their identities with the class.
July 13, 2023 - 10:13 AM
Hey Olivia, I like the book you chose because I feel it's very important to include the student's other languages and represent diversity in the classroom library. Representation gives the students a safe space in the classroom and gives them a sense of inclusion. I feel it would have been more beneficial to me and my peers if we had books that supported people of different races, religions and genders. Books are a huge resource for students to learn so it's crucial that the selection is diverse.
ReplyDeleteHi Olivia! I love the book you chose! It is so important that students know how awesome it is to be fluent in multiple languages, and the fact that that concept is represented so well in this book is amazing. I also chose to evaluate the "Where I am From" poetry activity because I loved the fact that it allowed for students to share their multiple identities and all of the unique aspects that make them who they are! After reading your evaluation of "Domains of Identity Safety," I agree that that idea would be a great tool for creating a positive classroom environment where students feel safe to be themselves and express their individuality!
ReplyDeleteHey Olivia!
ReplyDelete"The Field" looks like a sweet and informative book. I really appreciate that this book communicates significantly through the photos rather than just words. Not only does that make this story one that can be used for the younger ages but it can also be a book that students with reading deficits can read. As someone with Dyslexia, this was something that was lacking in my elementary school experience so I appreciate it more when I see it. I also love the poetry assignment you evaluated. It is so important to include many forms of art in the classroom; I think poetry is often one that is left out in elementary school. I attended a private school for elementary school and this school had an intentional focus on poetry, which allowed me to develop a love for this art and even still write my own. Students with no prior knowledge about poetry may struggle to write their own, how do you anticipate preparing students for something that may be very new to them?