Classroom Confidential -- Chapters 10 and 7

Chapter 10:

What's the big idea about social justice? Why are the ideas of chapter 10 important for a Christian teacher?
I thought this chapter was very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the part where Schmidt says "teachers realize that most of their students observe, experience, or think about issues of social justice every day. Great teachers do not ask kids to leave their life experiences at the door each morning" (p. 215). I love culture and the idea of how our beliefs and experiences impact our actions and the way we learn. I think it's so important to remember that kids bring their experiences with them into the classroom and use their backgrounds to learn.

I think that sometimes we so quickly forget that we are not just teaching our kids math and science, but also about the world and how we interact with it and with other people. Schmidt explains that "[w]hen you're teaching social justice, the curriculum is ourselves" (p. 215). As Christian teachers, we need to remember that "when you introduce your students to social justice education, you encourage them to look at the real world inquisitively, boldly, and from various points of view to observe how other people, particularly children, exist" (p. 216). Despite where we're teaching, Christian teachers should be finding ways to illustrate Christ's love in all that they do.

Social justice is a part of our world. Students need to be made aware of this so they can have a better understanding of their world and their role and responsibility in the world. It is our job to educate them about this in a way that they can understand.

Chapter 7

Based on Schmidt's chapter seven, how will you use the community in your own classroom? Cite Schmidt in your response. What are compelling reasons for doing so?
This chapter was really interesting in that it promotes the idea of using the community in our classrooms -- something that is so important and sometimes rarely used. Some ideas that stuck out to me from this chapter include:

1. Community based projects put kids in the driver's seat
2. Community-based projects are academically and socially rigorous
3. Community-based learning requires different ways of knowing

I particularly agree with the second and third of these because I believe I've experienced these before. In my opinion, learning occurs more frequently and deeply when students are acting through meaningful projects and hands-on experiences. Getting involved in the community outside of a school can be a fantastic way of doing this.

I hope to provide opportunities for students to participate in community events and service too. It might be fun to invite individuals to the class to speak with students about their jobs or other topics. It will definitely take a lot of work upfront for these types of projects, but the long-term effects will definitely be worth the effort. When kids get involved in the community, they learn about values and ideas bigger than academics. They are picking up skills and ways of thinking that can be transferred to tons of different situations and experiences. Students can learn so much from their community. It is crucial that teachers do all they can to build these bridges for their students.