Our Differences
On the outside, you can see many differences in our classroom. Some of us are tall while others are short. Some of us look alike and others look different. If someone came into our classroom during fifth period, for example, he or she might notice right away that seven of us identify as black or African-American, six of us identify as hispanic or latino/latina, two of us identify as mixed race, and five of us identify as white.
We also have differences that can't be seen on the outside. Some of us come from homes where more than one language is spoken. Some of us were born outside of Kentucky, and a few of us were born outside the United States. We come from different backgrounds and experiences. Some of us have always lived in Louisville, while others have lived in other places all over the country and even the world. We have many siblings and few. We have half-siblings and step-siblings and brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and grandparents, some close to us and others further away. We also have different faiths, belief systems, and world-views.
We like to learn in different ways, too. Some of us like to draw pictures, others like to write stories, and still others like to act out what they are learning. Some of us love reading, some of us dislike it, and some of us find it hard. That's okay! We are going to have fun with stories and writing, and we are going to learn how to be better readers this year.
How I Address Differences
Your students have told me how they want to be identified. This is an important piece of how I will get to know them over the course of the year: as they define themselves, not as the school or I would define them. At the same time, I am aware of the needs and differences that I find in their files, and will do my best to offer learning opportunities that complement their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses. Each child has slightly different academic needs that I hope to address over the course of the year.
Follow the links below to learn more about the ways I intend to address differences.
No comments:
Post a Comment