Jennifer's blog

  Blog Post #9 - Review of the course: In the last three years, I have worked as a substitute teacher at Cedar Hill Elementary where I have taught students at all grade levels, including those in Special Education. This semester, my experiences have brought to light the inequalities present in our education system. While going through the course materials, I found three specific articles that resonated with me, as they connected me to my personal encounters in both my assigned placement and the classrooms, I assisted in. Firstly, Delpit's piece, "The Silenced Dialogue," shed light on issues of communication within classrooms and among administrators. Secondly, Kohn's article, "What to Look for In A Classroom," made me realize the influence that the classroom setup can have on the learning environment for students. Lastly, Herir's work, "Toward Ending Ableism in Education," holds significance due to my personal experiences with family members, a...

  Blog #8 RI Laws and Policy/ Woke read-aloud   After reading through the laws and guidance surrounding transgender and nonconforming gender students in RI, I had mixed emotions about a few of the policies. On one hand, I am a firm advocate for protecting individuals against any form of discrimination. My nephew made the courageous decision to come out that he was gay during his sophomore year of high school. It was an incredibly difficult choice for him, but one that changed his life in a positive way. He had known he was gay since middle school, and the struggle caused him anxiety and depression. Thankfully, he had an extremely supportive family by his side. However, he also had to deal with hatred and name-calling. While our society has progressed in accepting these differences, it is crucial to acknowledge that, just like with any aspect of one's identity, there will always be individuals who have hatred and refuse to accept it. This is precisely why we require laws that d...

BLOG #7 Herir, "Eliminating Albeism in Education"    ARGUMENT : In his article, Hehir introduces us to Penny, a woman whose son challenged doctors after they concluded that he could never lead a life like his non-disabled peers. Surprised and taken aback by their assumptions, she refused to accept that her son was limited in his abilities to live a normal life. Moving forward, she worked with many activists to change the world of these assumptions.     This article highlights the impact of ableist assumptions on the education of children with disabilities, compromising their education. Ableism is discriminating and excludes individuals with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Like Judith's perspective on how society viewed her disabilities, she asked for help in order to keep others from judging her on how she used her body to get a coffee or pay for a purchase. Trying to be accepted by society is always a challenge. This is an example of how society create...

  BLOG #6        Rodriguez “Aria"    Argument:   Rodriguez makes a few arguments in his essay "Aria”. One of his main arguments is that bilingual education can create a divide between public and private life, causing a disconnect between school and home environments.  He  discusses his experiences growing up in a bilingual household and attending an English-speaking school. His family primarily communicated in Spanish at home, creating a private space to express their language and culture.    However, when he entered school and began learning English, he started to use the English language and less of his own.  When he was discussing how he was learning the language and engaging more in school, he said, “I moved very far from the disadvantaged child I had been only days earlier. The belief, the calming assurance that I belonged in public, had at last taken hold.” He always felt like he didn’t belon...

  BLOG POST                                  Intersectionality TED TALK/WHEEL OF PRIVILEGE:   Ted Talk with Kimberle Crenshaw was truly eye-opening. Prior to watching this talk, I was unaware of the number of black women who have fallen victim to police violence. It is surprising to realize that these stories often go unnoticed but focus on black males in the media surrounding police brutality. Kimberly's talk gave me a better understanding of intersectionality, which is new to me. At first, I found it confusing, but as she explained this term, I began to better understand the overlapping of sexism and racism. This was a reminder of the struggles that black women face, as they not only deal with racial discrimination but also sexism. Kimberly’s talk relates to the wheel of privilege and how these dimensions intersect and interact with one another. This wheel of privilege helps us recognize the...

  Blog Post #5 Finn, “Literacy With An Attitude” Argument:  In chapter 2 of "Literacy with an Attitude," the author, Patrick Finn, discusses the different styles of teaching observed in elite and middle-class schools. The chapter provides a summary of the author's research. One of the main points highlighted is teaching approaches between different types of schools. In middle-class schools, the students are expected to follow a fixed curriculum and are rarely given the opportunity to engage or express their own ideas. On the other hand, elite schools tend to have a more progressive approach to teaching, focusing on critical thinking, creativity, and individual expression. In these schools, teachers encourage students to actively participate in their own learning process, through hands-on activities and group projects.  The chapter also examines the impact of these different teaching styles on students' literacy development and preparation for future jobs. For example,...