Equality is treating everyone the same. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful.
From article, From Equality to Equity: Six Steps Toward Equity by Shane Safir
"If we're committed to the success of every child, we must acknowledge the uneven playing field that exists for many: ELLs, students with special needs, children experiencing trauma or relentless poverty, and students of color who confront unconscious biases about heir capacity. Walking toward equity will help us to create inclusive, 21st-century classrooms."
1. Know every child.
2. Become a "warm demander".
3. Practice lean-in assessment.
4. Flex your routines.
5. Make it safe to fail.
6. View culture as a resource.
Three things I agree with:
ReplyDelete1. I agree that it is important to know every child and how to address his or her individual needs. Looking at research and tips related to teaching students in poverty or students who have disabilities may be a great asset to you as a teacher.
2. I think equity is an appropriate mindset to have, given that people are coming from a variety of different backgrounds and face a variety of different challenges.
3. I think making it safe to fail is a good philosophy to have seeing as students are going to mess up and will have to learn from their mistakes.
Two questions:
1. What does it mean to be a "warm demander?"
2. What is lean-in assessment?
One aha moment I had was realizing that we really can make it easier for all students to achieve similar levels of success if we learn how to address the needs of different types of students and if we are flexible with them as they learn.
Great questions Lauren - nice perspective on this blog area. I am interested and looking forward to hearing the answers to your questions here. I believe every child is so special and important and respecting each child's individuality is so important to their growth and to being a teacher that made a difference in their life.
DeleteAngela Broadhead
What I think of as a "warm demander" is someone who expects a lot, but is there to offer all the support needed to meet those expectations.
ReplyDeleteA lean-in assessment has to do with proximity. Assess by getting close to a students' learning instead of always giving tests to assess their progress. You can learn a lot by leaning over shoulders and watching them work then talking to them about what they have done. Takes more time and effort, but the best things always do!
I really like the point about making the classroom a safe place to fail. Children in m ore affluent families have plenty of opportunities to explore and fail. Children living in or close to poverty often learn that one misstep can end in disaster. Therefore, they don't take chances on their future or even try for something beyond the status quo. Making the classroom a safe place to fail gives them a chance to explore and discover their strengths.
ReplyDeleteBrandy
I think the picture at the beginning is a very powerful picture. I liked that this section was very personal to the children. I feel like most subs I have had in the past, could have cared less to get to know me. And I feel like that was a missed opportunity for both of us. I think it is so important to build those connections with the kids and make them feel cared about. I also liked that DeLana explained the two terms I had questions about! I like the idea of being a warm demander, setting high expectations, but helping them achieve those.
ReplyDeleteAutumnn Chandler
I like that you make a point about getting to know the students. The book definitely puts emphasis on the lesson plan, but DeLana puts emphasis on relationship building. I do think this is more important. Especially as substitutes; we really have little time in the classroom.
DeleteBrandy Tidwell
I agree completelywith the article.
ReplyDelete- Montse Miranda
1. I agree with focusing on each student as an individual with different personalities and learning styles. One on one relationships and modified lesson plans are important skills in meeting one's needs more specifically.
ReplyDelete2. The standardization of education and increased expectations teaches children perfectionism from an early age. While it attention to detail is useful, perfectionism and a fear of failure can be overwhelming. Focus on growth rather than meeting standards and individuals will feel less discouraged.
3. I enjoy approaching everything with empathy. I do not want to be an unapproachable person. I agree with the warm demanding approach. I want to be seen as a major source of support for students, not an enemy.
How can one balance warmth with staying assertive? My passivity often takes over to avoid conflict.
How do you build those relationships when the children are aware it is short term and are less open to getting to know the substitute and more prepared to manipulate them?
My aha moment was realizing that to treat everyone equally is different from treating everyone the best. Individual needs vary, especially depending on class size and dynamic.
I agree with being empathetic, and trying to be on a student's team, rather than their enemy. A great approach to relationships with people in general!
DeleteYes!
DeleteGreat questions Gianna! We will talk about these on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteResponse to Equality vs Equity:
ReplyDelete1. I agree that the #1 priority is to get to know the child and to not treat them all the same. Creating a relationship is key for successful learning.
2. I agree that being flexible in the classroom is necessary. Unexpected things will always come up and it is usually better to go with the flow than to stick to lesson plans.
3. Creating a safe classroom environment where kids feel free to express their ideas is a big deal for kids. And I can imagine that it is a hard job for the teacher... because no matter how hard the teacher tries to create a safe place sometimes one bully or antagonizing child make it difficult for the whole classroom.
I have one question-- As a substitute teacher how much should you really take on to create a safe place... because you might only be there one day and not have a big effect on the classroom dynamic?
AHA Moment: In the last part of the article is says' Do not ignore differences'. 'Culture, it turns out, is the way every brain makes sense of the world.' I really like this idea and had a am excited to work with different cultures and learn different ways of understanding the world.
~Hannah Jeske
I agree Hannah! I love that way of thinking!
DeleteI need to ask another question to fill the assignment....
ReplyDeletemy second question is::
How do you avoid favoritism in a classroom? With the equality vs equity idea it might seem like you are giving more attention to some of the kids who might need it more.
~Hannah Jeske
Delete1) I agree its important to make it 'safe to fail', since a lot of kids lack confidence, especially in front of their peers.
ReplyDelete2) I also agree that equity is important. Kids of the same age have such a varied set of skills and academic levels that leveling the playing field is key for those who lag behind or have learning disabilities.
3) I really like the term 'warm demander.' I'm a big believer in positive reinforcement, focusing on strengths and potential rather than failure whenever possible.
I agree with the equity approach, but how do you assess those needs as a short-term sub? Outside of notes left by the full-time teacher, are there strategies for pre-emptively identifying students who need additional help?
I also liked the idea of using culture as a resource, but I'm a bit confused as to how to do this in practice. It seems easy to offend people by making assumptions about their cultural identity.
My 'aha' moment was remembering that routines used by my teachers in high school were often flexible. The most effective teachers, especially in science or math, would dedicate time to things students struggled with on tests, and allow extra time for tasks as needed.
I like the "warm demanding" too!
DeleteI would also like to gain the ability to be flexible but I wasn't sure how. I didn't think that just assigning more time for difficult assignments was a way to do that! That's a great way to start for me.
DeleteThings I agreed with:
ReplyDelete1. I am really glad that it's pointed out how some children don't get so many opportunities to fail without bad repercussions. I think that even affluent kids sometimes have this fear of failure; most of the affluent kids I teach have horrible test anxiety.
2. I really enjoy having a lot of different students in a classroom, because they can learn so much from each other.
3. It's good to remind us of this, because as subs we might feel that we have no influence on a child's life and it's not important what we do during that one day in the classroom, but every interaction with a child does matter, especially if it can be more positive.
Questions I have
1. Is it frowned upon if you have a lot of activities where kids help each other out, rather than being at the board lecturing a lot of the time? I find that I get intimidated when I'm up there too long so I like to break them into small groups and maybe give them a worksheet and then have them come up to the board and explain to the class what they've been doing.
2. I have noticed that a lot of the parents that come to me for tutoring are wealthy, but their kids will sometimes be almost illiterate - this is strange to me since the parents are so wealthy in some cases that it's odd that they wouldn't notice that their child can barely read. Is this a trend that you have noticed in your teaching?
My "aha" moment: Practicing 'lean-in' assessment is why I like to work one-on-one with students and why I'm a little nervous about being in front of a whole classroom. I like to notice every detail of what a student is doing so that I can see exactly where they need help and I've been wondering how to do this in a larger group.
I have typed this response three different times, but here is the fourth. For some reason, Google keeps saying I do not have access to this site. So, let's try this again. The one that resonates the most with me is the "Safe to fail" technique. I wish all of my teachers would praise this more than they previously have. They don't understand the long term consequences of telling a child that failure is not an option. This will more than likely create a permanent mind frame for that student, even as an adult. The one that I will have the hardest time with is the flexible routine. I tend to be a rather stringent person who loves deadlines, so this is the area that I will most likely have to work on.
ReplyDeleteYes! The classroom is one of the only places where it CAN be safe to fail. Failure is just a part of life, and I think we do a disservice to kids by teaching them to avoid it at all costs instead of teaching them how to deal with it and do damage control and take care of themselves when it inevitably happens. Addressing failure head-on can make kids more resilient and confident. It can help them to learn that failure isn't the end of the world, and it can be an opportunity to teach kdis about self-care and how to be kind to themselves even when they mess up. Failure is such a huge opportunity for learning, too!
DeleteDelana Parker 9-8-2017 Lucy.C
ReplyDeleteMy "AHA" About Bullying
I know several people close to me who have experienced bullying who have shared their experiences with me. My husband was a victim of bullying. He was bullied as a child as well in high school. He was bullied because he was gentle, tall, and he was Jewish.
I have a huge emotion for any child or adult that is "Bullied" in our society. Parents should teach these
ReplyDeletechildren not to be mean and to a point, basics of some understanding others religons.This could be a grate antidote C.for peace in our world...Starting with "America" LucyC.