My Manifesto


"I am a teacher who stands up for all of my students against the abstract -isms in our society, who is a supporter of Black Lives Matter to fight against systemic racism and a defender of civil rights.  I am a teacher who favors culturally responsive teaching and rejects the ENGLISH Only policy because every child brings funds of knowledge into the classroom.  I am a teacher who is full of energy and hope amidst the high demands of the district. I am a teacher who refuses to set low expectations for her students. I am a teacher who is proud to educate inner-city students. If I do not struggle to promote student growth, then I will no longer educate."

Comments

  1. Dr. BensonSeptember 7, 2020 at 6:55 AM

    Hi Renee,
    1. I really appreciate the way you shout out your support for BLM here in your manifesto. I'm really curious/wondering how this support of BLM manifests in your teaching.
    2. I share your rejection of English-only policy and also believe that it is crucial to draw on students' funds of knowledge in the classroom. What are some ways you incorporate student home language in your teaching?
    Thanks! Great manifesto, so clear and targeted.
    Dr. Benson

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  2. MadameDuffautSeptember 7, 2020 at 6:47 PM

    My support of BLM manifests in my teaching daily. I make sure to connect my students' lessons to their lives, communities and society every chance that I get so that they understand and learn about the inequities that exist in our country. As I teach , I provide historical references and consistently make cultural connections so that my students learn America's history and have knowledge about the struggles that affect their communities. Lastly and very important, I allow my students to have a voice in my classroom. I am not afraid or uncomfortable to talk about the topics that affect their daily lives. I also share my own true stories of how I grew up, my family and how I became the person that I am today to help them understand, know and believe that their lives do matter.

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  3. MadameDuffautSeptember 7, 2020 at 6:51 PM

    I incorporate student language in my teaching by using Spanish cognates to make connections with English words. I also use Spanish to explain/clarify topics or words that my students may not understand. However, since I am not fluent in Spanish, I sometimes end up relying on my students to add the missing words, but in the end, they are able to grasp the ideas better and be successful with their task.

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