The job of an educator used to be about teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Today, it is far more than just teaching academics. Today, there is a much bigger picture. Teachers help students to make sense of the world, to be kind and to respect one another. Teachers help students to see their own value and to recognize value in those different from themselves. Our goal is to support them to become the best that they can be. I want to help them understand their surroundings, recognize injustices and to use their voice effectively to stand up against them. These bigger picture items are what will guide them to a successful and productive life.
If we want change in the world, we have to start with the children. Too often, children are sheltered from these topics because it makes us uncomfortable. How can we expect our children, our next generation, to change the world if we don't provide them the appropriate skills and opportunities to recognize injustices, to find their voice, and practice activism? We can help by providing an opportunity for youth to explore and reflect on their own experiences and feelings of injustice by exposing them to individuals working to make the world a more inclusive place.
All of the books listed discuss important, but often hard to discuss topics, such as race, inequality, and oppression. While focusing on one story a week, our class will discuss the bigger context of the story, our feelings towards it, the actions, and the problem-solving of the characters. Most importantly, these discussions will give my students an opportunity to reflect on what they would do in a given situation, which will, in turn, empower them to be an advocate and work towards making a better world for all.
About my class
The job of an educator used to be about teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Today, it is far more than just teaching academics. Today, there is a much bigger picture. Teachers help students to make sense of the world, to be kind and to respect one another. Teachers help students to see their own value and to recognize value in those different from themselves. Our goal is to support them to become the best that they can be. I want to help them understand their surroundings, recognize injustices and to use their voice effectively to stand up against them. These bigger picture items are what will guide them to a successful and productive life.
If we want change in the world, we have to start with the children. Too often, children are sheltered from these topics because it makes us uncomfortable. How can we expect our children, our next generation, to change the world if we don't provide them the appropriate skills and opportunities to recognize injustices, to find their voice, and practice activism? We can help by providing an opportunity for youth to explore and reflect on their own experiences and feelings of injustice by exposing them to individuals working to make the world a more inclusive place.
All of the books listed discuss important, but often hard to discuss topics, such as race, inequality, and oppression. While focusing on one story a week, our class will discuss the bigger context of the story, our feelings towards it, the actions, and the problem-solving of the characters. Most importantly, these discussions will give my students an opportunity to reflect on what they would do in a given situation, which will, in turn, empower them to be an advocate and work towards making a better world for all.
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