Blog #8: Aria

Hello! 

    This week in my FNED class we read a story about a Spanish speaking girl named, Aria. The story begins with explaining that in school Aria, struggled. She was not improving in her academic success due to the language barrier she was facing. The nuns that were teaching her tried to push her out of her comfort zone and get her to speak, but she had no interest in it. Everything changed one day when the nuns showed up at her house to speak with her parents. From that day forward, her home life changed forever. Her English continued to improve each day, she found herself volunteering in class (raising her hand). While she found a new language, she lost her other one. Aria explains that at home it was silent. Her parents were left behind at home, they weren't understanding her English so no one would talk at home. All you would hear is silence. She became sad that this was her new normal, that she lost her favorite thing about going home. 

    In the end of the reading, it states, "Today I hear bilingual educators say that children lose a degree of 'individuality' by becoming assimilated into public society." This quote explains that when children of other cultures/languages go into school, they lose what makes them an individual. They become part of the melting pot of America and use English only. By doing this, students lose where they came from, and in that process they lose themselves. 

    In the classroom that I am currently placed in, I feel as though I can kind of see this process starting. I am in a kindergarten classroom, so it is very early into their education. All of the children that are in this class are all Spanish speaking. During circle time, you can definitely see the speech barrier between the teacher and students the most. The children in the class are always encouraged to talk, but struggle through it with broken English. It is not encouraged to speak English within this class, the children are working on speaking in English. During the period I am there, the students have a designated time to work on their speaking skills. They will do things like show and tell and have to get up in front of the class and talk in complete sentences. Through this process I am sure some students will also feel like Aria, because they are losing their own normal that they have know their whole life. 

    For my own future classroom, I hope that all my students don't lose themselves through education. It is important that all students are represented for who they are. Thank you for reading!

- Maci Maiello 

Blog #7: Literacy With An Attitude

 

Hello blog readers:)

This week's blog is focusing on the book, Literacy With An Attitude by Patrick Finn. 

    Patrick Finn makes the case for a redefinition of literacy that empowers working-class kids by emphasizing their social justice and civic rights over middle-class assimilation. Finn argues that literacy should be viewed as a powerful civic right that empowers working-class and disadvantaged kids to recognize, argue, and defend their civil, political, and social rights, challenging the established opinion that views it as only a means of upward mobility. According to the book, working-class children should not be educated to become middle-class because most of them don't want to be, but rather to be able to utilize literacy to fight for social justice and to speak for their own interests. The book advocates for a more equitable educational system by offering solutions for educators, parents, and community organizers to adopt a literacy-based strategy that empowers children from working-class families. 

    I believe this book provided positive insight on what educators should be wanting to achieve with each of their students no matter what class they are placed in. Schools provide students with the education that they will need to be able to make it to any class they wish to be apart of. In many ways it is an escape for many to achieve what they want for themselves. Teachers should be empowering their students to be who they want to, and to help them achieve that. A person's background/class should not define the level of education a student receives. 

Thank you for reading:) 

Maci Maiello

Blog #6

 Welcome back bloggers! 

    In class this week, we watch a classroom tour video! Within this video, the teacher took us around her middle school classroom. First impression of the class... it was BRIGHT! I think a bright, colorful classroom provides a positive learning environment for the students! Second thought, it is too organized! This is definitely something I wish to be like in my future classroom. There were many posters on the wall that displayed what subjects she taught. It also had a homie feel, with all of her pictures from her own personal life. Another important thing that I noticed when watching the video was her enthusiasm. You could tell that the teacher was very excited and that she truly loves her job! It is so important to have teachers like this because if they are happy and excited about teaching, then the students will be excited about learning. It creates a positive environment for all! 

    Another thing that we took a look at this week was culturally relevant pedagogy! This video talked about how each student that makes up a class will bring their own culture to it. It is the job of the school/teacher to adapt to each of there students and who they are. It should not be the students adapting to what the school wants of them. Teachers should be cultural connection builders, this means providing understanding, creating relationships, and promoting inclusivity among all. Teachers should be focusing on making sure they aren't making a students culture their only trait. Such as not grouping all Latino's together just because of their culture. Students should all be integrated regardless of their culture. This is definitely something that will help make all students feel welcome for who they are! 

Thanks for reading:)

Maci Maiello

School Placement: Troublemaker

 Hello bloggers! 

Today's topic I'm going to talk about one of the troublemakers that is apart of my classroom placement. 

I am placed in a kindergarten class, therefore schooling is new to all students that are within the class. It is an adjustment. But this certain child has his own set of problems, and struggles more than the others. 

For all of the classes I have attended I have seen a common theme in all of them. From what the teacher in the class has told me, this child has a difficult home life. His mother left him at a young age and moved to a different state. The boy is now living with his father, and the father's girlfriend. When the boy is at school, the teachers in the class are very lovey towards him, and want to provide a space for him to feel comfortable and loved. 

The first time that I was there, he was no feeling well. The teacher informed me that this child never acts like this and is always all over the place. The whole time I was there the child played on the couch and felt and the teacher gave him a blanket to cuddle with. 

The following week I was there, the child was acting completely different. He was all over the classroom, not able to sit still in his seat. During circle time, the Childs biggest problem is not talking. The child kept having to get reminded to stop talking. He would keep on repeating himself over and over. The child also always think she is right so when talking with other kids he will get upset with them for what they say. 

When completing on assignments a teacher always is making sure to sit with him, so he stays on task and completes his work. If not he will be up moving around, and shouting. During the class the student gets many reminders that he won't be able to go to recess if the work is not done, and if he is not acting appropriately. The teachers always make to give the student breaks, and they will take him for walks around the building to get moving. 

Lastly, the teacher informed me that the student has come a really far way. He used to throw fits and scream and throw the chairs. I have not seen this behavior from this student myself, which shows improvement. 

I believe this student has more work to improve on with his behavior. But the teachers in his class are there to help him succeed, and they are very caring for him. I think this is the best classroom for this student and they have his best interests in mind. 

I am looking forward to continuing to work with each of the students in my placement! I am learning a lot already:)

- Maci Maiello