The kids had a big responsibility this week to use all of their research time from the past few weeks to put into presenting what they have learned and their feelings/experiences with the social justice issue they chose (as described in previous blog entry). Many students took this opportunity and ran with it, choosing topics that are current in society but also extremely personal to them. Several students chose this opportunity to discuss Immigration and what that experience has been like for them/their family, relating it to disturbing and educational statistics. Others chose climate change, I loved seeing the passion that students had for bettering our planet and their ideas for implementing it at a small scale, and even their plans to study environmental sustainability in college! I was moved and inspired by the students who chose to touch on racism and police brutality. They backed up their opinions with facts and with interesting results retrieved from surveys they created and administered to as least 30 people of all ages. It was mind boggling to review the anonymous responses given by students, teachers, parents, and members of the community alike, especially when students related their chosen issue to our community in Commerce City. This raised the question: Is this a problem where we live? How so? Two students took this opportunity to be brave by openly coming out as part of the LGBTQ community to the entire class when presenting info on LGBTQ rights/hate crimes. Like I said, these presentations were tearful every class so we were careful to establish sacred space related boundaries and also re-establish the room as a judgement free zone before presenting. Talking in front of a group is nerve wrecking enough, let alone when you are a teenager who is revealing something vulnerable about yourself, respect is everything. Huge props to them, I did not have a SINGLE student refuse to present, they all were courageous and participatory- even if they did not fully finish, they all shared thoughts and answered peer questions.
I am SO proud of them and honored to be the one to witness their growth over time, both individually and in their class/table relationships. On the last day of class I told them thank you for allowing me to experience their personalities, for allowing me into their hearts, and for truly accepting me for who I am- An imperfect human with a lot of love to give and a dream to be here discussing these topics with them, pushing them to be the best versions of themselves. It is because of them that I am dedicated to becoming a better teacher and a better person as a whole, always. I told them that I moved here alone not too long before I started working in this building and when times were difficult, my classes became my family. They were always there to cheer me up and make me laugh, even to motivate me without knowing it through their own stories of resilience and perseverance. Each one of my classes offered unique challenges that I will continue to reflect on and learn from, I am the luckiest person in the world to call myself their teacher.
Some pics from presentations!
Mya created a children's book about LGBTQ people that spread awareness and equality, and mostly emphasizing the importance of treating everyone the way you would like to be treated. She read her book slowly, enthusiastically, and with emphasis on her drawings just as if we were little kids. It was so cute!!!
This is a cool project made by Myreya. When you pulled the tabs at the top of the photos there was a little pop up of information about the photo relating to climate change. She even ended up letting me keep the plant!!!! They named him Jeffrey :-)
This comic strip was one of my more surprising projects. While it may lack color, this black and white story exposed a journey taken my an immigrant family and all the sacrifices they made for their children and future children to have a better life. At the end he ended up saying that the character graduated from Kearney and was in high school reading his comic aloud to his class in YESS. It ended up being revealed that this was a true story describing the hardships and successes of immigration experienced by Ignacio's parents, grandparents, and great grandparents.
This is Giselle's tri-fold presentation representing many shocking facts and data acquired from her survey. In the space below the bar graph she had a photo of her parents (which she took after she turned it in because her parents wanted it back, of course) but the paragraph to the bottom right is what made all of this information very emotional for everyone in the class, including her. She spoke of how grateful she is that her parents came here without money or food, barely even a plan. But all they knew was that they were determined to give their children better opportunities than what they had. It is because of this that she has plans of becoming a doctor and giving it all back to them one day as a way to say thank you and I love you.
Noelani chose a topic that was not on the list of options to choose from but I approved of it because of her passion for a topic that is often ignored- Funding in Education or "Red for Ed". She explained what is was and why this issue was so important to her, she said that she wants to become a teacher one day and she wants other people to value their education more and for students to understand the value of having teachers in their lives. In the bottom left, she took the time to write out how thankful she is for her teachers by describing how they have changed her life when she thought no one else was around to care about her well-being. I am better for having met Noelani and I am thankful to be one of the teachers that was there when she returned to ACHS after having to leave for personal reasons. She is a strong, hilarious, empathetic, intelligent, mature, and UNIQUE person full of grit with a lot to offer the world... And not to mention a damn good mentor. Sorry for the swearing but I feel that it is necessary emphasis! She will undoubtedly grow up to pay it forward and change many lives as a teacher.
I will end this final post with the quote on the bottom left of Noelani's project...
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."
- Aristotle
Until next year,
Ms. C
P.S-
Lastly, here is a card signed by myself and all my students for Ms. Jenna, the lady in our building who gave us our own classroom in January. In it, if you squint your eyes hard enough, you can read how finally having a home in the building has impacted our students.
Many thanks to Jenna, and also to everyone who has ever taken the time to read up on what we are up to in C251. We had a great year, I can't wait to do it all over again in a few months!
Peace and HAVE A GREAT SUMMER EVERYONE! 💜
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