M8: Reflection Assignment
Kristin C.
University of Kansas
C&T 807
October 11, 2016
Understanding My Upbringing & Experiences
First and foremost, this class has made me understand how my own upbringing and
experiences have impacted my personal assumptions regarding culture. In my first
reflection, I touched on the fact that my upbringing was based around the idea of
tolerance. However, I noticed through my further writings that I definitely hold some
reservations and assumptions when it comes to interacting with other cultures. I had
written about my fears of unintentionally disrespecting another culture because of my
own possible ignorance or naiveties. While I still try to be sensitive, I realized through
my writing that I had been holding back on doing and saying many nice things out of
this fear. That isnt fair to my students who need to hear positive comments.
Awareness of Microaggressions
In my second reflection, I recalled microaggressive tendencies that I had in my earlier
years as a middle school and high school student. Shamefully, Ive said and heard
things that Im not proud of out of youthful ignorance. This was something to recognize
and confront head-on in a truthful recollection as it is a strong way to experience real
growth.
Dysconscious Racism
I found the readings and reflection on dysconscious racism to be perhaps the most
enlightening of this courses topics. Dysconscious racism occurs even with people who
do not consider themselves to be racist in their thoughts, beliefs, or actions. Since
studying this type of racism, I have become more aware and thinking deeply about my
unintended and subliminal actions.
I have an incredibly diverse mix of students this year, including students who have
experienced immense trauma, and I find it especially important this year to be aware of
any subconscious biases or tendencies.
Diversity in General
Having gone from 4 students per class to 15 students per class, Im teaching more
diverse students now than I have in years past. Within my classes this year I have a
non-english speaker, a student that does not adhere to gender norms, a few students
who come from loving middle-class families, predominantly students who come from
low-income households, students earning their first class back from being solely in the
behavior school, many students from single-parent families, students from abusive
backgrounds, a couple of students who just came out of a homeless shelter, and just a
broad mix of personalities in general.
This class came at the perfect time. As my third year in the position, Im past the point
of learning the curriculum and just trying to get by, and can now focus so much more
on the other critical aspects of teaching.
As a result of this class, one of my major goals for this school year is to try to find a
better, more culturally appropriate source for weekly reading probes. As I have shared
in my earlier reflections, the probes we use are really geared toward white, middle-
class and upper middle-class students. Theyre also not age appropriate, in my
opinion. Topics like choosing a lawyer, paying your taxes, and selecting carpet
are not appropriate for middle school students. They have little or background
knowledge on these subjects and are therefore being set up to fail.
I appreciate that this class has opened my eyes to the ways I can improve teaching
and my classroom to better suit my racially, ethnically, culturally, and economically
diverse students.