Blog Post #4: The Roots of Critical Pedagogy
Blog Post #4
The Roots of Critical Pedagogy. Choose one critical pedagogues from Wink, Chapter 3. Research their life and their work. Create a product to represent/explain them and upload to your blog.
Response Title: Krashen the Critical Pedagogue
I chose to focus on one of the briefly mentioned critical pedagogues, Stephen Krashen. Although he gets much less focus than some of the other "main" critical pedagogues mentioned by Wink in this chapter, his ideas resonated with me in a big way.
The product I chose to create is something I would probably use at the middle school level or early secondary level. I created a calendar for March 2014 that incorporates significant historical events, the birthdays of historical figures (authors, politicians, etc.), and cultural events. It also uses white space to focus on different languages (could be any but I would probably go with the linguistic backgrounds of my students).
The goal of this product, which is briefly stated on the calendar, is to have students connect with one of these people, languages, historical events or holidays by choosing one and reading more about it in a resource provided by me in the classroom (book, article, newspaper, magazine, etc.). They would then share what they learned with the class, which will hopefully spark the interest of other students.
The only thing I would have liked to have done a bit differently is to include more cultural variety, as many of the items represented on the calendar come from the U.S., but in actual implementation I could use my own resources - parents and families of students - to include more diversity.
Krashen's focus is on the necessity of fostering literacy in a student's native language in order to help them become more literate in a second language, which results in the student developing a much deeper overall literacy. I connected so deeply with him because I LOVE language. I have books scattered all around my house and am always reading three or four different things. I love nonfiction, fiction, magazines, blogs, practically anything! I truly believe that literacy is key to student achievement at all levels, and by encouraging ESL and bilingual students to continue developing literacy in their native tongue, we are helping foster a love of language that will spill out into every area of their life, rather than making them feel ashamed of their native language and possibly preventing them from truly mastering English.
Now, enough words, let's read the world...through a calendar. The link is a PDF: Pedagogue Calendar (the link will open in a new window)
Janelle S.’s comment
This is a really cool idea!! I love the thought of using the calendar in this way. It gives a fresh approach to learning and gives the students variety!
Kyla G.’s comment
Nice job on the calendar! Is this really the 25th anniversary of the Valdez oil spill?! Wow, does that make me fill old!! I still remember when that happened. I have also been to Valdez since the spill was cleaned up and what a beautiful place. I have a picture of the gorgeous mountains and have told people to imagine this view while turning a complete circle!!!
If you ever get a chance to visit, GO!
Julie T.’s comment
I love things that have random facts on them. It makes it interesting for me. This would be a great focal point in a classroom so that all the students have something they can look at and find something that interests them. It has a lot of choices and that's great! Gone are the days of one single project for everyone!
Jessica H.’s comment
The calendar was nicely created. Your idea on having the student pick a book, article, etc to read to a great idea. It's a way to show them all the different events that take place in that particular month. It could also show them events that may not be taught, but it could make them aware of them. It's a neat way to see what all took place in time!
Donna W.’s comment
It's funny. I am very fond of Stephen Krashen. Maybe it's because he is a literacy person. I guess I am not quite understanding how the calendar tells us about Krashen and why Krashen is considered a critical pedagogue? But I think this is a just a "me" problem. Is the idea that the calendar promotes a love of literacy and language just as Krashen promotes these ideas in his work?
The Roots of Critical Pedagogy. Choose one critical pedagogues from Wink, Chapter 3. Research their life and their work. Create a product to represent/explain them and upload to your blog.
Response Title: Krashen the Critical Pedagogue
I chose to focus on one of the briefly mentioned critical pedagogues, Stephen Krashen. Although he gets much less focus than some of the other "main" critical pedagogues mentioned by Wink in this chapter, his ideas resonated with me in a big way.
The product I chose to create is something I would probably use at the middle school level or early secondary level. I created a calendar for March 2014 that incorporates significant historical events, the birthdays of historical figures (authors, politicians, etc.), and cultural events. It also uses white space to focus on different languages (could be any but I would probably go with the linguistic backgrounds of my students).
The goal of this product, which is briefly stated on the calendar, is to have students connect with one of these people, languages, historical events or holidays by choosing one and reading more about it in a resource provided by me in the classroom (book, article, newspaper, magazine, etc.). They would then share what they learned with the class, which will hopefully spark the interest of other students.
The only thing I would have liked to have done a bit differently is to include more cultural variety, as many of the items represented on the calendar come from the U.S., but in actual implementation I could use my own resources - parents and families of students - to include more diversity.
Krashen's focus is on the necessity of fostering literacy in a student's native language in order to help them become more literate in a second language, which results in the student developing a much deeper overall literacy. I connected so deeply with him because I LOVE language. I have books scattered all around my house and am always reading three or four different things. I love nonfiction, fiction, magazines, blogs, practically anything! I truly believe that literacy is key to student achievement at all levels, and by encouraging ESL and bilingual students to continue developing literacy in their native tongue, we are helping foster a love of language that will spill out into every area of their life, rather than making them feel ashamed of their native language and possibly preventing them from truly mastering English.
Now, enough words, let's read the world...through a calendar. The link is a PDF: Pedagogue Calendar (the link will open in a new window)
Janelle S.’s comment
This is a really cool idea!! I love the thought of using the calendar in this way. It gives a fresh approach to learning and gives the students variety!
Kyla G.’s comment
Nice job on the calendar! Is this really the 25th anniversary of the Valdez oil spill?! Wow, does that make me fill old!! I still remember when that happened. I have also been to Valdez since the spill was cleaned up and what a beautiful place. I have a picture of the gorgeous mountains and have told people to imagine this view while turning a complete circle!!!
If you ever get a chance to visit, GO!
Julie T.’s comment
I love things that have random facts on them. It makes it interesting for me. This would be a great focal point in a classroom so that all the students have something they can look at and find something that interests them. It has a lot of choices and that's great! Gone are the days of one single project for everyone!
Jessica H.’s comment
The calendar was nicely created. Your idea on having the student pick a book, article, etc to read to a great idea. It's a way to show them all the different events that take place in that particular month. It could also show them events that may not be taught, but it could make them aware of them. It's a neat way to see what all took place in time!
Donna W.’s comment
It's funny. I am very fond of Stephen Krashen. Maybe it's because he is a literacy person. I guess I am not quite understanding how the calendar tells us about Krashen and why Krashen is considered a critical pedagogue? But I think this is a just a "me" problem. Is the idea that the calendar promotes a love of literacy and language just as Krashen promotes these ideas in his work?