1)My understanding of culture and power have undoubtedly changed over the course of the past three weeks. I am undergoing an awakening of sorts, an awakening to some previously unnoticed deficiencies and/or outright injustices in how the ‘rules of the game’ impact people from cultures that are not aligned with those of the mainstream. I have also become aware of my own misconceptions, and prejudices that have been instilled in me. I acknowledge my responsibility to actively remedy these and to insist that others do the same. I understand that we are products of our environment, the sum of our experiences and the experiences of those which influence us. This is in total is culture. I have always known that words used by great speakers could be powerful, but I was not aware of the profound power of simple words from seemingly less influential people. I will need to be diligent, cautious, and caring in how I use my words with others as the can significant downstream effects.
2)Initially seven words came to mind and I’m not sure they were all on the wall but they were spoken several times over the course of the last few weeks. My list: Hope, Power, Advocate, Be’Ing, Appreciate, Love, Determination. Picking three:
Hope: To want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true (Merriam-Webster) simple definition.
I believe change is needed and I believe it is possible.
Determination: A quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult (Merriam-Webster)
I’m going to need this to help bring about that positive change to occur.
Be’Ing: The most important or basic part of a person’s mind or self. (Merriam-Webster) The act of being present in mind and spirit. (as I interpret it)
Will need to be present to help prepare children to make a better world.
3) I plan to do my best to include culturally relevant materials whenever possible. I can see the connections between the disciplines of earth science and the knowledge need to function outside of the classroom in the natural world. I will continue to actively educate myself so that I am better able to assist in other’s education. The strategies I will employ will include hands on activities using common and or familiar materials to better illustrate the objectives of the lessons at hand. Lessons I could put forth to meet cultural and state science standards would include discussions related to natural phenomena like volcanoes, glaciers, earthquakes, rock and mineral formation/ identification, streams/ groundwater, erosion, weather, seasons, evolution of life, ecosystems, fish, birds, mammals, and the list continues. We can tackle whatever time and tide allow.
