Thursday April 20 & Wednesday, April 26

Reading Ch. 4 “The Empty Desk in the Third Row: Experience of an African American Male Teacher” by Richard Simmons

This chapter had the group reflecting and discussing how both students and teachers balance their classroom selves and home selves. Also, as teachers we have to think about how we can model certain expectations and hold our students accountable.

Topics/Questions/Comments Included: 

• How can we mobiles diversity for learning in the classroom?
• How do we teach the hard topics that our students live?
• What are students learning from me and not someone else?
• Of the questions that Simmon’s presents in this chapter which of these questions do we feel are achievable to matter to us? (How do we stay authentic to ourselves?)
• It’s about creating an atmosphere where students can be themselves.

On meeting students for the first time:

• Write on cards: What do you wish your teacher knew about you?

On Respecting Students:

• We need to show and share respect.
• Have students hold themselves accountable: Janine to students: “You give yourself the grade.”