Know Yourself as a Teacher

Know Yourself as a Teacher

 

Introduction:

Lisa Delpit states that, “When teachers are committed to teaching all students, and when they understand that through their teaching change can occur, then the chance for transformation is great.”  The key to this phrase is that through their teaching, change can occur; however, for successful teaching, you must understand who you are as a teacher.  You must understand that your discourse, culture, and the things you value play an influential role on your teaching style.   What you as a teacher may want for your students is probably different than what the parents want for their student.  For one to be an effective teacher, you must identify what you bring to the classroom and how that might affect your students. 

Why it’s Important

• ·         Current number of teachers from non-white groups threatens to fall below 10% (pg. 105).
• ·         There are hidden cultural rules and we need to see past surface behaviors to the meanings behind those actions.
• ·         Different cultural groups respond better to different instruction styles.  For example black students respond better to an authority teacher.  A teacher that acts as a “chum,” black students see that this adult has no authority (pg. 36). 
• ·         Different discourse styles have different values and when one tries to learn a new discourse there will be conflict. 
• ·         Those with power are frequently least aware of or least willing to acknowledge its existence.  Those with less power are often most aware of its existence.  (pg.26)

Practical Advice in the Classroom

• ·         Read Ruby Payne’s Framework for Understanding Poverty.  Learn the hidden rules in each class and take the hidden rules quiz.  As a teacher you need to identify the hidden rules that you have grown up with and how that affects your teaching. 
• ·         Talk with teachers from another culture than your own and discover the differences between your teaching styles. 
• ·         Know your students and what styles of teaching they respond best.  Practice those styles in the classroom and have a good balance between different teaching styles.