Pogue's Playground

      Talking about issues that are seen as controversial can be very difficult; it is uncomfortable and can be quite scary when you want to get your point across, but you do not want to hurt anyone in the process. Because of this, a lot of people tend to avoid these conversations. I think that the first step to talking about issues that matter is acknowledging the fact that the conversations are going to be uncomfortable, and that is okay. We all have opinions and beliefs that may not make sense to the next person, so when we engage in dialogue with one another, things will be said that we won't agree on. Knowing how to handle those differences, is the next important step when it comes to talking about issues that matter. Listening and respecting different viewpoints can be hard, but it is so vital to our growth as a person. When you make a conscious effort to simply listen to the other side, you might find yourself having a belief change.       In t...

What is worth learning?  I think that this question is such a prevalent one right now in the world of education. There is such a divide when it comes to a lot of things in the education field, but one that comes to mind during this time is the one that has been created due to differing opinions on the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT), in K-12. Critical Race Theory is an academic concept that basically says that racism goes beyond prejudice thoughts and is something that is embedded in the law. I have thought a lot about the argument surrounding the teaching of CRT and I think that there is already so much censorship in our school system, so banning CRT in K-12 schools would be adding more fuel to the fire.  There are many flaws associated with each type of curriculum, but this leads me to the problem with null curriculum, the curriculum where the experiences and stories of many are ignored, a lot of times, deliberately. This can be very damaging to the identities of many...

     When I think of integration happening in schools, the first thing that I'm inclined to think about is the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, decision of 1954. Although we are over sixty years removed from the decision that ended the race-based segregation of schools, we still see forms of segregation happening in schools today. The thought of schools still being segregated in 2021 seemed bizarre to me, until I began to think about my own experience in public school. I grew up going to school in a city that had a school district with nearly 50 schools in total. The school district has exactly 49 schools and they serve over 30,000 students of all different race, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. I witnessed the school district get away with segregation through the use of zoning to ensure that students of certain backgrounds went to certain schools. I watched friends of mine that lived in predominately white neighborhoods be zoned ...

             Educational philosophies can influence schooling because the philosophy that an educator uses in their classroom will dictate the way lessons go and the way students will react to them. The traditional educational philosophy that has been used for many years, is very teacher-centered. Students are taught to be obedient and listen to lectures that are oftentimes boring to them. This affects the way that a student learns because if they do not find the content interesting, they will most likely only use memorization techniques for assignments or tests instead of actually gaining knowledge.        I believe that the educational philosophy that a teacher uses can determine the way that a student feels about learning. If a teacher takes an approach that is more focused on constructivism, then a student that prefers a more lecture-based lesson may not find it as helpful as a student that enjoys problem-solving and critical th...

     I believe that one of the most important aspects of schooling is that you learn to respect and work with people of all different backgrounds. I am willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that each of my students regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. are educated and prepared to function in a culturally diverse society. I think that the first step in effectively educating each of my students is making sure that I am educated and well-versed on every topic that I bring forward. It is impossible for me to teach topics, especially those that are sensitive to certain groups of students, if I am uneducated on the topics myself. I certainly wish that some of my teachers from grade school would have taken the time to educate themselves on sensitive topics before engaging in conversations that played into stereotypes or "single stories."       While typing this blog, a story from fourth grade comes to mind. One day after school, I wa...

            Differentiation, in terms of education, is the changing of instruction to meet the needs of all students. Differentiation is imperative to the success of all students, but especially those with disabilities, as it ensures that they receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE). The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires that children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education. In order to ensure that a child receive a FAPE, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), is put in place to meet the child's unique needs.      I have always told people that I was a visual or spatial learner-- turns out that learning styles are a myth. I was very shocked to learn this because I hear teachers talk about learning styles all the time. There is no evidence that suggests that preferred learning styles help students. Even if learning styles were real or beneficial to students, it would be a disservice to students if we...