Teachers in Media & Current Events
What is the name of the "educational resource" being used - and protested against by teachers - for problematic revisionist history in Florida?
PragerU.
Name one of the biggest public celebrations in La Crosse.
Oktoberfest.
See also: https://explorelacrosse.com/things-to-do-in-la-crosse/festivals/
Name one student-centered philosophy we've discussed this semester.
Progressivism, humanism, and constructivism.
True or False: culturally responsive teaching means taking a look at the cultures in your classroom and just teaching about those cultures.
False. CRT necessarily means teaching about various perspectives and integrating cultural knowledge even if you have a 100% homogenous class.
Teachers are mandated reporters and therefore required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. Name two other professionals who are mandated reporters.
True or False: IEPs must be followed in public schools.
True.
What is one trope or stereotype commonly seen in movies or TV shows featuring teachers?
Teacher as the savior
The unconventional teacher with unconventional methods
Teacher as strict and unmoving in a changing world
What else?
When did Hanukkah begin this year and when does it end?
December 7 - December 15
Name one teacher-centered philosophy we've discussed this semester.
Essentialism, behaviorism, and positivism.
Name one strategy of Culturally Responsive Teaching.
Learning about and from your students, integrating various cultures and perspectives into the curriculum, including representation of a multicultural classroom, working with community leaders and prominent cultural figures. What else?
You teach at a predominantly low-income school. Name one way to help students with basic needs in your classroom without spending your entire paycheck.
Community and school outreach - some families may have more means to donate snacks, hand-me-downs, and other classroom necessities.
GoFundMes or other crowd funding opportunities for yearly funding of the classroom.
Slowly hoarding shelf-stable foods and necessities that students who really need it can use in the future.
What is Act 10 and when was it passed?
Act 10 banned the right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin for government employees, with the exception of police and firefighters. It was passed in 2011.
Name one critique of teachers from society - what do people say or think about teachers?
Teachers get too much time off. Teachers are indoctrinating our children. Teachers are just glorified babysitters. Teachers should not have tenure. What else?
What is Ramadan and in which season does it typically occur?
Ramadan is an Islamic holiday that celebrates the Islamic prophet Muhammed's first revelation. It typically begins in the Spring and lasts for about a month. Ramadan 2024 begins on March 10 and goes through April 9.
True or False: considering education in the U.S. has moved from more teacher-centered to now more student-centered, all learners will be engaged and learn best under teachers who focus on student-centered teaching philosophies.
False. All students learn differently and some will prefer more direct, to-the-point teaching methods as opposed to more democratic or experiential teaching.
http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml
In addition to CRT, what is one strategy in working with multilingual learners and closing opportunity gaps?
Translation of key terms and vocabulary, gestures, speech modification, allowing students to speak/write in their first language (L1) when considering answers to questions or in small group discussions, building and activating background knowledge. What else?
What is one of the best and most important thing to do first when you have a new class of students in front of you.
A) create and implement a list of rules
B) build relationships and trust
C) show the students you "aren't like other teachers" and tell them about your unconventional but effective teaching methods
B. The students need to know you are on their side. We are their advocates.
Which act ensured the teaching of the history, culture, and sovereignty of the eleven First Nations in Wisconsin? When was it passed?
Act 31, passed in 1989
What is the famous line from Dead Poet's Society repeated by the students in the classroom upon Robin Williams's departure?
"Oh Captain, My Captain!"
Japan.
You teach in a Kindergarten class and know you will have to model and build positive behaviors and social interactions in your classroom. However, you tend to lean more towards a student-centered teaching approach and would like to instill some democracy and more open discussion if possible. What is one way you can do this?
Guided discussions based on student interest; letting students talk about big subjects or important concepts.
Morning meetings where students can bring in something to share and talk more about.
Exploring math with hands-on, tactile practice (using manipulative, allowing students to build more visual representations of math lessons and assignments).
Less teacher-talk: allowing students to explore lessons through open but guided activities. Science experiments, walks in nature and making connections to classroom content, art and music activities.
Activating and building background knowledge are key components to teaching lessons. What is an example of background knowledge that students in Wisconsin/the upper Midwest, USA might be generally culturally familiar with that students from a different cultural background may not be familiar with?
More passive dispositions, movements, interactions. Think about how locals in NYC might pass one another on the streets/in stores vs here in Wisconsin.
Familiarity with the history, knowledge, and cultural practices of the First Nations of Wisconsin.
True or False: just like core content subjects (English, Science, Social Studies, Math), art, physical education, and music also have designated state standards to follow.
What do ESEA, NCLB, and ESSA stand for, and when were each passed?
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965), No Child Left Behind (2001), and No Child Left Behind (2015)
Name the current TV sitcom that has been praised for being a better portrayal of teaching in public schools in the U.S.
Abbott Elementary. Returns February 7th, 2024 :)
Which American winter holiday was created without a particular religious affiliation in 1966?
Kwanzaa. The name is Swahili for "first fruits" or a celebration of the winter solstice in many Western and Southeastern African cultures.
What is one critique of student-centered philosophies? What is one critique of teacher-centered philosophies?
Student-centered are "too democratic" or don't focus as much on core content, classrooms are too flexible and need more strict rules and guidance.
Teacher-centered are too strict and leave no room for flexibility. Some teach using old methods and the disciplines may be too harsh.
What else?
No set timeline. Every teacher starts somewhere different in what they know. The journey never truly ends, and culturally proficient teachers are always seeking new resources, new sources of knowledge, reflecting and growing. We are VERBS.
What is a school legally required to do if a family does not speak English or are deaf/hard of hearing and they attend the conferences?
Use a professional translator. This translator/interpreter can be hired by the school or district, they can be hired for the evening, or they can be bilingual staff that are either salaried or paid extra for their work.
What is the state agency that grants teaching licenses, implements standards, and is generally responsible for education in the state of Wisconsin?
DPI - the Department of Public Instruction
True or False: Wisconsin school districts recently banned several books from school libraries.
In which month does Chinese New Year typically occur?
January or February. Chinese New Year in 2024 is February 10th and is the year of the dragon.
What is the best philosophy for teaching K-12 schools?
There isn't one.
True or False: Celebrating and talking about different cultures and important figures within cultures during their designated months is good enough to be a culturally responsive teacher.
False. Integrating cultures and important figures throughout the curriculum and school year would be a better strategy of CRT.
How can we deal with diversity in the classroom?
We don't! Diversity is not something we need to "deal" with, rather a fact of teaching. There has always been and will always be diversity in the classroom, even if you can't see it.
We learn about our students, we learn beyond our students, we reflect, we collaborate, we engage, and we grow. Most importantly, we are empathetic and flexible.
What can schools in Wisconsin do if they need additional funding beyond what they are granted from the federal and state governments?
Initiate a referendum in which locals in a district can vote on whether or not the schools will get the money they need.