CHOOSE A TEXT:
Two texts that have stayed with me the most so far are the Asset-Based School Paradigm and Lisa Delpit’s The Silenced Dialogue. I was really drawn to the Asset-Based School Paradigm because it connects so well to my work in an elementary school. As a school nurse, I work with students every day who come to school with a wide range of needs, challenges, and experiences. This reading stood out to me because it reminded me of how important it is to look at students' strengths rather than just focus on what they are struggling with. I think this topic matters a lot in my own work because the way adults see and talk about students can really shape their school experience.
I also found The Silenced Dialogue very relatable. That reading made me think about how power works in schools and how not all students come in already knowing the unspoken rules of the classroom. Delpit explains that schools often expect students to speak, act, and learn in certain ways, but those expectations are not always clearly taught. This stood out to me because it made me think about how easy it is for adults in schools to misunderstand students when they don't consider the full picture. Both of these texts feel meaningful to me because they connect to the importance of how adults view, speak to, and support students. These are texts I would like to share with others at my school because I think their messages are both meaningful and easy to connect to real life.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH?
I would like to share this topic with a couple of teacher assistants at my school. They work very closely with students every day and often spend a lot of time supporting children who may be struggling in different ways. Because of that, I think they have a big impact on how students feel about themselves and about school. I would really like to talk with them about this article because I think the ideas in it connect directly to the work they do every day and could lead to a really good conversation.
WHAT FORMAT MIGHT WORK FOR YOU?
I think a small group discussion would work best for my Teach Out project. I would like to give them a brief summary of the article in simple language, then use a few discussion questions to guide the conversation. I think this format would make the topic feel more relaxed and natural, while still giving us the chance to reflect on how these ideas show up in school. This is the best way to connect the article to real student experiences.
Ashley, I really appreciated how clearly you connected both texts to your role as a school nurse. That perspective stood out to me because a lot of times we think about these ideas only in terms of teachers, but your position shows how every adult in a school contributes to how students experience that space. The way you described seeing students beyond their challenges and focusing on their strengths really reflects what asset-based thinking is supposed to look like in practice.
ReplyDeleteYour connection to The Silenced Dialogue also made a lot of sense. What you said about students not always knowing the unspoken rules really stood out to me, because it is something that gets overlooked so often. Schools expect students to “just know” how to behave, speak, or respond, but those expectations are not always taught. That can lead to misunderstandings where students are seen as difficult or disengaged, when really they may just be navigating a system that was not built with them in mind.
I also think your choice to work with teacher assistants is really strong. Like you said, they spend a lot of time with students and often build close relationships with them. That means their mindset and language can really shape how students see themselves. I like that your format is a small group discussion, because it creates space for real reflection instead of just presenting information. It feels like something that could actually shift thinking in a meaningful way.
Your post made me think about how important it is for all adults in a school, not just teachers, to be on the same page about how we view and support students. Even small changes in how we talk about students or respond to them can make a big difference in their experience.
Yes! I love this andI think it will be really meaningful to talk and deepen your relationshps with those teaching assistants, too!
ReplyDelete