In my future classroom, I intend to look at multiple perspectives through open discussion. As a social studies teacher I hope to look at the world around us and our country through the perspectives of many different view points and identities. Looking at historical viewpoints and discussing how they may be normative narratives or one-sided viewpoints. One example of this that has always stuck with me from a previous ECS class was how we’re taught that in Canada women got the right to vote in 1918, but that is a normative narrative or one-sided viewpoint because Indigenous women didn’t get the right to vote till the 60s. The truth behind our history must be examined fully from different perspectives. As mentioned in the reading, I would really like to promote discussions about our material through class and small group discussions where students can share their own thoughts and conclusions. I think this promotes student guided learning rather then the teacher giving notes and controlling what they should learn from a source. I really liked how on page nine the teacher used this thought process for students to think about the material: “Meriah asked the students to respond to the following questions: How did you feel while you were reading the poems? Were you able to relate to the experiences described? If so how? If not why not? The purpose of the questions was to get the students to think about their own identities and what they might have in common with others.” I think this would be a great way for students to start understanding how others experience the world around them differently. Race in material was never discussed in connection to the present or our own lives and experiences in my school. It’s an important thing to discuss to break through the normative narratives upheld in schools that don’t have a focus on multiculturalism, so they aren’t continually being upheld as adults outside of school as well. Change in education is the key to the change we need in our society.
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Hi Julie,
I think your approach to allowing space for multiple perspectives into the social studies classroom is awesome (and necessary!)
How do you think you can incorporated mainstream resources, with aspects that may be “missing” or “hidden” from history?
Dani
This is a really great idea! I particularly like how you mentioned how we need to examine historical points of view in ways that aren’t normative. It’s really important for us and students to understand that typical ways of knowing are often skewed greatly.
Hi Julie,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. You did a great job connecting it to the perspectives that you will be teaching from. This adds depth and is a great start to comparing your own teaching methods into developing students identity. I like how you ‘questioned’ the material. A lot of self growth comes from reflection of what is being taught, which you definitely have noticed. Do you feel like any adjustments need to be made to the curriculum to involve more culture and open conversation?
I really enjoyed reading your insightful response.
Amber Smith