How do we talk about issues that matter?

 When I go home for thanksgiving I know there are going to be some of my family members getting in heated discussions about "issues that matter." Everyone has an opinion and everyone wants to be heard and felt that there viewpoint is well understood. From this module the golden rule that stood out to me the most was, "what if these conversations are not actually difficult, but simply unpracticed?" From this golden rule I have come up with my own golden rule revolving around the concept of talking about issues that matter which is, "what if we seek understanding rather than seek being right?" I say this because I think many arguments stem from people just wanting to get the last word out, the final thing to say and then part ways, rather than seeking wisdom and trying to hear what the other person has to say. 

I believe having in depth conversations with someone and having ears that are listening and eyes that are seeking will cause one to begin to understand what true growth is. There are many issues out there that matter to some while it might not matter to others. That is why it is important for us to be aware of our actions and how we are interacting with them. As I have grown up, my dad and I would always repeat the saying to each other, "One day at a time." When things looked rough, when things were difficult, we would remind ourselves to take one day at a time. This simple reminder put me at ease and I think it should be an encouragement for all of us to take one day at a time building a foundation of allowing others to speak and be heard about important issues. This will begin to open the floodgates of conversations and allow hearts to be softened when it comes to others and how they might disagree. That is how we begin to grow as a society!

Kenzie Jones 

How Are Schools Integrated?

 Schools today are more segregated than many might think. I for one, learned a great deal about our education system and how schools have yet to earn the title of being fully "integrated" from this module.

When the question comes up if our schools are as segregated as they were in the past, my immediate response was, of course not. However, as I began to research, uncover and educate myself I began to realize we are actually in the same boat and its sinking. Though the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally prohibited racial discrimination, this doesn't mean we don't still see this take place day to day. 

Red lining separated whites neighborhoods from black and Latinos neighborhoods. Black and Latino families were not allowed loans, benefits and could not cross over to the white neighborhoods simply because of the color of their skin. Therefore, as one side grew and prospered, the other struggled and fought. This carries on into todays world and we still see the repercussions of it. 

In schools, we see teachers separate students for a "variety of reasons" and this causes questions to come up. Students have yet to become fully integrated into schools due the continued segregation, myths and constructs that have continued to circulate. In order for schools to become fully integrated, we must look past one another's differences and offer the same education opportunities for everyone. Every student deserves the respect and the time to be heard and seen in schools. They deserved to be seen and heard not only from the teachers and the school but also from their peers, which is why it is important for teachers to have a philosophy in class that is grounded upon respect and unity. Without this, success for every student will be missed.

-Kenzie Jones 

What rights should be protected for students and teachers?

 Students and teachers have rights in schools which is something they might not know! I know that after going through this module, there was a lot of information I learned about the rights I had as a student in school that I was just unaware of. I think that schools try and do lots of controlling of their students and the way things are run. I think many situations get swept under the rug, and young students and even teachers are told that its not a big deal and brainwashed into thinking that they were the ones in the wrong. In some situations students and teachers rise up and take a stand for their rights and we have seen that with the Tinker vs. Des Moines (1969), Bong Hits for Jesus and even Safford vs. Redding. People win and people lose but in the end it was a fight for rights and it has helped shape our education system. 

As I watched the videos from the module and read the readings, I've learned there are many rights that students and teachers have that should be protected. When we take a look at the Amendments, its a great way to lay the foundation for rights and what we have as citizens. 

Some rights that should remain protected for students and teachers are that they cannot be searched without reasonable suspicion and they should maintain religious rights. Freedom of speech was crossed in the case for "Bong Hits for Jesus" even though the student felt that he was just expressing himself. This was an example where the student was on school grounds and promoting drug use, which in the end resulted in losing the court case. 

Students and teachers are the core of the education system and its important that they know their rights. If we can all strive to make the education world a better place for everyone then I think we will be taking steps in the right direction. 

-Kenzie Jones 

How Can Instruction be Differentiated for Diverse Learners?

 As a future teacher and current college student, this question has popped up in my mind many times. I took SPED last semester and it was such an intentionally designed course by the professor. She did an outstanding job of showing us what we as future teachers need to understand when it comes to special education and what we will face on day one. 

All students are learners and they all absorb information in different ways. As a future teacher, I always need to look for the growth and willingness to learn in the students. When it comes to intelligence there multiple intelligences that can help identify strengths and weaknesses. I think once this is identified in a group of students, they can be paired up with students who differ in learning. This could offer the students a chance to learn from students who think differently than them and who have differing viewpoints. This allows the students to come together and share their knowledge but it also creates an environment of allowing others to be heard. 

Diverse learners are in every classroom and it is important for teachers all across the world to recognize this. Teachers should not have a specific and tight nit game plan where every student is the exact same therefore the lesson plan is the same for every student. All students do not absorb information the same so it is crucial that teachers are flexible and aware of their students so that everyone has the chance to reach their full potential! 

--Kenzie Jones

How Does Gender Affect The Teaching Profession?

All teachers, men and women, have the same goal which is to positively affect the lives of their students and help instill knowledge in them to help them grow as learners. 

This unit I have dove into the topic of gender and education and how it affects many lives. Women who have become teachers in the past were dealt some pretty difficult cards as they had set rules they had to follow that seem very wild now a days. The page that Professor Meritt attached about the 1915 rules for women teachers blew my mind. "You may not dress in bright colors." "You may not under no circumstances dye your hair." Some of those rules just seem bizarre and I can definitely see how gender affected women teachers in that sense. 

In the podcast that was provided in this unit, the speakers talk about gender and how their is a sense of control. I see this with these rules. We are telling others what they can and can not do. Who they can and can not be. Teachers work so hard in a classroom for the betterment of their students and then when they finally have some freedom it is stripped from them. This is a way that I see gender affecting the teaching profession back then because I would love to see the rules they have for the men. 

When we talk about teaching today I think of how the teachers in the classrooms today are majority of women. The pay for teachers is not very big, so I see a correlation with how gender might affect the teaching profession. 

All I know is that for me, I want to impact lives and help students grow and become the best versions of themselves. If I have to work hard everyday to do that, then I will. 

-Kenzie Jones 

What is the Purpose of Schools?

 School is something that everyone hears and has an opinion about. For some, it can make the hair stand up on the back of their neck, it can others excited about events and having something to do, it can also give people pimples from stress. Adults, teachers, parents and staff see the purpose of schooling as a way for children to be a part of a community of learners and for them to access their full potential. 

Is this it? Is that the whole purpose of schools? 

I believe that schools change the lives of so many people and there is so much effort that goes into that first day up until the bell rings for summer vacation. The purpose of school is to allow students the opportunity to develop their full potential as learners so that they are well equipped to go out into the world. Not only are the students' lives changed, but the staff and the parents' lives are changed as well. I am a teacher's kid, so I have heard some amazing stories from many teachers about how students have touched their hearts and help them continue to have a smile on their face. This helps teachers want to come into work and face another day. 

The pandemic really showed us what a world looks like without students in the classrooms. I believe that face to face learning is the best learning for most students. I believe the purpose of schools is to give students a sense of purpose, so that they can achieve greater things and go out and be motivated to do good in the world. 

Introductory Blog

 Why Teach?

I want to teach because I know that over the course of however many years I am given the opportunity, I will be able to get a glimpse into students lives. I will be able to hopefully share knowledge, love, and guidance. I believe that children are the future generation and it so important that we focus on what is being fed to them. They are our future doctors, firefighters, pastors, administrators, leaders, parents, teachers, etc. It is so important that we acknowledge how important school and community is for students because we've seen what a lack of that looks like with the pandemic.

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Is it a family tradition?

My father has been in the teaching and coaching profession for over 20 years and so has all of his siblings, including his twin brother. So I guess it's kind of in my blood to go in the profession! I am so excited to continue to grow and learn and I look forward to engaging with my co-learners!

Educational Aims

I would love to teach 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade. Over the summer I worked a daycare summer camp and I had a chance to be with kinder-4th grade. I got to see different age groups and which ones I seemed to enjoy more. I had really great experiences in 2nd-4th grade and I know those are very crucial years in elementary school. My second grade teacher, Mr. Durr (who I am still close to this day) was such a mentor in my life when my family and I were going through some rough patches. She would check in on me and ask how I was doing. She even pulled me to the side one day and she had bought me a journal for me to write down my feelings and anything that I wanted if I didn't want to talk. She was such a kind woman. I want to me like her with my future students!

About ME!

My name is Kenzie Jones and I am from Round Rock, Texas. I am a junior at Texas State University, studying elementary education. In my spare time I enjoy playing volleyball, watching movies and taking my little dog, Benny on walks! I'm super excited for this semester!