Blog Post #4 - What to Look for in a Classroom by Alfie Kohn, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (Quotes)

     My first quote came from Kohn, it was the category that stood out the most to me. He says that a good sign in a classroom is, a “Room overflowing with good books, art supplies, animals and plants, science apparatus; ‘sense of purposeful clutter.’” I fully agree with Kohn on this point. I love it when classrooms are decorated and full of books and resources. It makes the room feel more inviting and like a space where you can successfully learn. Something common in my high school was painting ceiling tiles. In an English class, you might see classic book covers painted on the ceiling, or in a science class you would see the stages of mitosis. It gave us something to look at, but it also showed us that previous students have learned and enjoyed their time in that classroom.

    The next quote I chose comes from the Culturally Relevant Pedagogy video. One of the speakers in the video explained that “Culturally responsive teaching then says that rather than always insisting that the students adapt to the culture of the school, the school needs to adapt and modify some of its sending messages.” I think she was trying to emphasize the fact that school curriculums are often made with only one perspective in mind. It doesn’t take into account that students from other cultures might need to learn differently. When there are cultural filters placed on information, it can be hard for students of different backgrounds to understand. This is why it is so important for teachers to be that bridge between what the student already knows from their culture and what they are being taught.

   My last quote also comes from Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. She says that we need to be aware when teaching students, “We have to remember that students approach learning not as cultural blank slates. So they bring into the classroom all of those cultural experiences.” When it comes to learning, people are never blank slates. They will always have some level of experience no matter how small or large that may be. With younger students, it’s important to make connections with what they already know to help them understand new concepts.

    While Kohn and the Culturally Relevant Pedagogy are pretty different pieces they do connect to each other. Kohn looks at the characteristics of a good classroom environment. While CRP focuses more on the students in the classroom and what different characteristics they have. I think these are both very important concepts to understand for future teachers. It isn’t just about having a welcoming environment or knowing each student, it’s both. You want a welcoming and productive environment that caters to the success of each student.

   I found this related article about mindfulness. This was a concept that I heard a lot during my middle/high school career. The article talks about some differences you might notice in students' behavior and possible reasons as to why they act this way. Being mindful of the different students in our learning placements is an important skill to have. Being Mindful of Cultural Differences