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New Year…
New Decade…
This November….We will have an opportunity to vote in a very critical, presidential election… We can impact these detrimental changes since the election of Donald Trump…
One being…public education …There has been the ongoing process of weakening public education by both Republican and Democratic political influences since “No Child Left Behind” of the late nineties…and privatization…
However…. When President Trump chose an unqualified, Betsy Devos as the Secretary of Education….who is a strong proponent of charter schools…
Our children who have relied on our public schools have truly suffered….
Our public schools are being dismantled…
Due to those monies that would fund many of the necessary programs and resources helping children succeed in our public schools;They are now being funneled to private schools…
In addition, there is a critical teacher shortage due to poor teacher pay, and the many obstacles teachers deal with everyday…
Such as the rise of gun violence in today’s schools… Thus arming teachers as the answer to the extremely important need for gun control… and gun safety in our schools…
Now 2020 is finally here!!!…
We have this wonderful opportunity to all unite behind a strong presidential candidate who will advocate for our children; being that strong supporter for public schools…
It is my hope for our children that this election be the hope for our children…
#Vote4Children🇺🇸💙🍎
Our Chance to get it Right…Vote 2020
Choices for 2016…
Our class and school makeup, represent a “Rainbow of Diversity”…
We are fortunate to be part of a school district that is within a university community… Because of this population, many of our parents come from other countries to attend the University of Florida;
Our school characterizes a rich blending of cultures and ethnicity… We have had many children from such countries as : Asia, Central and South America, and Africa…
In addition, to such cultural diversity, many of our children come from biracial homes… I have come to the realization, because of this colorful “rainbow” of diversity; our children have a better understanding;
Moreover an appreciation of our similarities, and acceptance of our differences…
This time of the year,“Winter, a Season of Love and New Beginnings”, is the perfect time to facilitate and model through a variety of activities blended into the curriculum; Those important values of love, acceptance and an appreciation of our differences… My first graders, are so very willing to accept and appreciate our diversity…
What an opportunity this makes!…
Through my teaching experiences, I utilize so many creative activities through literature, poetry, music and the arts to help teach these essential values…We learn how we and other cultures celebrate this time of the year… We even take our children on a field trip to experience a ballet… the “Nutcracker”…Our children are dazzled by this experience…
My children write poetry as a winter project to share with their family utilizing recycled Holiday Cards …They write thank you letters to teachers and helpers at our school… We even put on a play to share with our book buddies…All showing our love and appreciation…
Through our creativity and the arts… Love and Acceptance of our differences is valued, appreciated, and accepted…
Related articles
South Africans Reflect On Mandela’s ‘Rainbow Nation’ (npr.org)
Over The Rainbow (beliefhope.wordpress.com)
“Season of Love and Acceptance of Cultural Diversity…”
We love the month of February…We have so much to look forward to besides the stressors and rigors of curriculum and testing....
With my planning and organization, I do find creative ways to allow time for celebrating Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day through creative writing, reading ,and art… Might even utilize math activities, as well...
The children wrote a Valentine’s Day poem to their family, with illustrations; decorated Valentine’s bags, and brought in cards for their classmates that were to be done by themselves….We had a Valentine Social sharing our love and exchanging Valentines….
The children loved learning about our Presidents; George Washington and Abraham Lincoln…We learned about the history of our Flag….
We will celebrate this patriotic unit with a culminating activity for our parents; a patriotic program that will include songs that we learned in our music class….All our first graders will share in this exciting performance, and our wonderful music teacher directing…
Teaching should really be about making learning fun and interesting…. It really is so much more than tests and collecting data….
February… a Busy Month…
I have always believed my role as teacher, would be such an influence on the many children I have taught…
Accepting this crucial role;
One being that positive role model, is the most critical responsibility; not which I have taken lightly…
Moreover, because I have taken on this responsibility, especially realizing in my later years; It has been of my opinion that I need to demonstrate my style through my actions; even with my appearance; those essential values that would hopefully teach my students how to balance their need to belong in being social;
To becoming that critical thinker; a person of integrity; one who who would respect and accept our differences…
I have believed to accomplish this; I have had to utilize my flair for drama, art, and my professionalism thus making our classroom warm, structured and a safe environment that fosters such values as: having a strong work ethic; practicing kindness within our classroom essential with our classmates and others around our school ; learning to be honest and speaking the truth; learning how to cooperate and work through conflicts with their words; and especially the understanding and acceptance of our differences…
Hopefully, the outcome for my students would be to learn and appreciate values that they will need to become active and productive adults…living a true life…
I feel the children of today who live in poverty, many of the children that I teach, due to circumstance have few positive role models to guide them with the choices they make ; Therefore, I have felt the need to be that strong influencer in their lives…Hopefully making that difference…
Janis Sexton...Teacher...Advocate 