Nothing New Under the Sun

This week we read a very interesting article titled Urban teacher’s use of cultural management teaching strategies. I walked away from the reading with the infamous question we all ask from time to time: Is there anything new under the sun? What I am really getting at here is ....do teachers in urban settings need a different set of classroom management strategies than teachers in other settings. And, if so, what are those strategies? the reason I ask is because the authors suggested strategies such as caring for students, being assertive and communicating effectively. Not sure about you guys, but I worked in Boca Raton, quite the suburban area, and I needed those skills as well. I am very reluctant to share much more than this blurb but my mind is all over the place regarding the author's interviews and findings. The title suggests that the reader would be given a specific set of strategies to work effectively in urban classrooms, but after reading the article.....I was left feeling like there is truly nothing new under the sun.  Do children in urban classroom require a different skill set or tool kit or do teachers in urban settings need a good crash course in ethnocentrism? Now that's another blog. lol.

Teachers Just Don't Understand

In Milner's text, Start Where You Are but Don't Stay There, he proposes several mind sets and practices for teachers to employ when working with students in urban or marginalized communities. For the most part, Milner contends that teachers should seek to enter the world of their students' and allow students peek into the windows of their teachers' lives as well. I used to be on the fence and had mixed feelings about teachers allowing students access to their personal lives, however, I definitely believe teachers should make every effort to build meaningful relationships with their students. Often, students tend to group teachers with other adults, mainly parents, and conclude that they just don't understand. Because the purpose of schooling means different things to different students, teachers are in a unique position to have a significant impact on a student's life. For some students, the caring and support they receive from a teacher, is just as powerful as that from a parent or family member. One way teachers can show their concern for students is by providing opportunities for students to share their world view and concerns. Whenever possible, teachers should show students they understand the world from their student's point of view, which is an effective strategy towards building meaningful relationships with their students.

I still have a dream

In this course, I've come to realize that a teacher's definition of 'urban' is a matter of life or death for children growing up in poverty. Education is still the great equalizer and we need teachers who are prepared to teach 'everybody's child'.