Blog Post #1:

Locating Yourself for Your Students:

In the article, Locating Yourself for Your Students, Priya Parmar and Shirley Steinberg discuss the importance of educators identifying themselves for their students to create a  safe environment for discussions about race and ethnic matters, and also establishing who they are in relation to curriculum. Parmar and Steinberg describe their experience teaching a hip-hop literacy class to adolescent students of color in Brooklyn and Bronx public high schools . Both women take time to explain their relationship to the subject as well as identify themselves racially. By doing this, both ladies are able to make meaningful connections with students and engage them in learning. I think sharing your identity with your students makes you more transparent and allows you to connect with them on a different and more personal level. 

This is exactly how I feel! I am Ms.Wilde! 


Comments

  1. Victoria RestlerJanuary 22, 2018 at 8:30 AM

    Thanks for your thoughtful post Kelly. Do you "locate yourself for you students?" And if so, how? What does talking about race and language and culture look like in your kindergarten class?

    And I totally relate to that particular image of Ms Wilde as well! What are some of the thoughts/ ideas/ worries/ reflections taking place in your version of the drawing?

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  2. Eleanor deMuthJanuary 22, 2018 at 5:20 PM

    Hi Kelly!

    I can completely relate on feeling as though you are Ms. Wilde, I looked over that picture for a good 5 minutes after reading because I felt so connected to it. Our brains are so packed with stress and information that we sometimes forget to think as people. I think your point about sharing identity with your students is key. We need to open doors for our students and provide them the opportunity to discuss identity in a safe environment and what better way to that than model! Thank you for sharing your response! See you in class!

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