Kohn Reflection

     Alfie Kohn's What to Look for in a Classroom is a chart with guidelines on what to look for in a classroom. This chart was published in 1996, almost 30 years ago. I believe it gives good insight as to what to look for on a surface level, not everything that is in the "Possible reasons to worry" category is an actual reason to worry, they are just things to keep an eye out for. The furniture, on-the-wall-section, and the around-the-school section are ones that could be applied at most times in schools, but because a school doesn't have one of these things, it does not make the school less than any others. Although I do agree that if the teacher is the one who is being controlling and condescending, it is really alarming and needs to be taken seriously immediately. I would like to add that if a school has these things and are equipped with the right tools, frequently they have an easier time in the schools they are in. In the many different schools I have been in throughout my life, from attending sports events and other dances, I am looking at other schools and seeing what they have and what we have. Subconsciously, I am doing this, but Kohn's ideas are not far off from what the average person thinks when going to school. 

    In the video Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Geneva Gay states, "Culture can be grouped into two categories, visible culture and invisible culture." Or, like Gay stated, it can be split up into tangible and intangible, the tangible being the crafts, arts, music, and technology, and the intangible being the values, beliefs and feelings, opinions, perspectives, and assumptions. Teachers are expected to create links and connections to the beliefs and culture students understand and further come up with more examples and comparisons to deepen the student's understanding. They are supposed to be the "cultural translators" or the "cultural bridge builders." I believe some successful teachers can further help the students and build on this prior knowledge, but I know some teachers need help to stay culturally relevant, fair, and just in all situations.

    Both of these pieces were important and helped further the ideas of future educators. Still, until you are in a classroom teaching and in these situations for yourself, it is easy to say that you know exactly what to do. Still, when it comes to being in one, your ideas about the situation may go haywire. I think these frameworks are essential because education can be viewed through many different lenses, and knowing what will happen in these situations is almost impossible. Every student walking into your classroom will have a different background and way of learning. Our job as educators is to understand them, continue to help them grow as students, and prepare them for "the real world" as best we can.