Mason Shearer

Learning CRT

Culturally Responsive Thinking (CRT) is a method of teaching that allow students to learn about their surroundings in an entertaining and creative way. When Paula Savikko came in to present projects for science classes, she expressed important detail in field trips, interactions, community participation, and group thinking.

Paula showed slides about field trips where she took her class to Sandy Beach on Douglas island. She divided her students into groups and suggested roles for each group that needed to be fulfilled. The students decided what each role they fit best and were granted the freedom to pick the place for their research to be developed.

This particular field trip allowed students to demonstrate the knowledge that they obtained from previous classes. Paula demonstrated how to use each tool that would be needed on the upcoming field trip.

While the students were demonstrating their knowledge they were able to emerge themselves in the surroundings of the place they live. Beyond that, the students had a free range of ability to think. Instead of having a single answer to a single question, all questions were open-ended with no wrong answer. This allowed each student to reflect and respond in their own way and understanding.

Side Note:

The math trail was also a very entertaining exercise and demonstration of CRT. There is a way to incorporate CRT into any subject.

Arctic Bows

While perusing through the different sections of SLAM for an artifact of interest, I didn’t have to search too hard. This museum is full of artifacts that range in various purposes from clothing to hunting to recreation which make it easy to find something designed for a fascinating purpose.

While in the Arctic section of SLAM, I came across a few bows. They caught my eye from across the room. I have a respect for older weaponry such as, cannons, knives, swords, lances, and in this case bows. Unfortunately, there was no information on what the bows were made of or the year of creation, but there was information on the use of bows by the Inupiaq, Yup’ik, and Siberian Yupik peoples.

These types of bows were used for hunting caribou, that travel in herds, while they were crossing rivers. The hides from the caribou provide the native people clothing, sleeping bags, tents, and boots.

http://museums.alaska.gov/asm/asmhome.html

The Restoration of a Language

Language is an important aspect of any oral cultures. Linda had an emotional fluctuation in her tone while disclosing her struggles with speaking her language. My grandfather and his two brothers turned their backs on the language because of the same struggle in boarding schools. Her story played my heartstrings like a harp as I realize how close her story is to mine. Her children have been learning the language and how to speak it over time.

From her story, I am more inspired to continue learning my native language so I can pass it on to my children. I do not hold any ill will for those that attended schools and had their native language quarantined. I only strengthen my resolve to continue pressing forward to learn my own culture and to eventually teach it inside of a classroom.

On a side note, I enjoyed how each speaker took time to speak in Tlingit before translating to English. I would like to do that inside of a classroom one day as well as willing to hear any that can speak “their” language. I just feel that there is a natural beauty in languages that I can’t completely comprehend. I realized that when I don’t know the language that is being spoken, I tend to pay closer attention and listen to the words that are going into my ears. I am beyond thankful that these three elders were willing to share their stories and their time. They each provided different ideas for me to think over.

The Beauty of Sitka

I am from a place where… – Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires

I’m from Sitka, Alaska where I remember taking a walk around Totem Park in the summer time. In this presentation I attempt to paint the senses that I experienced on one of those walks. I hope this captures a picture of the average summer day, especially for those that have been to Sitka or will be at some point in their lives.

By exploring HaikuDeck, I was able to create a short presentation by utilizing the search bar for a background picture. This feature allows the presenter to change the background to something deemed more effective that captures the meaning. In my teaching placement, since I will be teaching social studies, this program will be used for an assignment where students need an easy way to document their knowledge. Easier to learn than powerpoint, this is perfect when dealing with middle schoolers.