,"If we give our children sound self-love, they will be able to deal with whatever life puts before them."--bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress, 1994 One of the most fundamental things in my teaching practice is my desire for all of my students to feel that they can be their whole, authentic selves in my classroom. Because I strive to be as authentic as I can be in every aspect of my life, I want and encourage my students to explore their own identities through our study of history and world cultures. I believe that true, authentic learning is only possible when students feel that their identities are affirmed, that their teacher loves and cares for them, and that they are in an environment where they are safe to be who they truly are. When students feel safe, they can take steps to explore ideas, topics, and viewpoints that may challenge their own comfort levels, which is where learning occurs most naturally. I want them to be comfortable leaning into their discomfort, to find brave spaces, and to explore the world around them with an inquisitiveness and desire to know more. Informed by a social justice oriented pedagogy and the influence of bell hooks, my classroom practice is rooted in a recognition of every student and the hope that they can connect our curricula with their own lives.
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"Confronting one another across differences means that we must change ideas about how we learn; rather than fearing conflict we have to find ways to use it as a catalyst for new thinking, for growth."--bell hooks, Teaching to Transgress, 1994. |