Module 1: Goals for This Course and Thoughts About Article

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, I want to:

1. Understand how I can strengthen my role as an instructional support for classroom teachers who have ESOL/ELL students. 
2. Learn new strategies to utilize in my media center/classroom for ESOL/ELL students
3. Have a better understanding of how to identify, assess, and evaluate an ESOL/ELL student on the classroom level to ensure my differentiation is effective

Article Reflection

As a Black woman, educator, and former Black child, it was wildly was refreshed to see an article speaking to the ways white educators can accidentally (or purposefully) infuse racism into the classroom as well as tangible ways to prevent it. I appreciated that the article honestly had things for any educator to receive, regardless of race. Though I was outside of the intended audience, having dealt and currently dealing with ESOL students who are outside of my culture/race (usually Hispanic), I was glad to read suggestions on how to not be culturally insensitive to any of my students. I think the tokenizing is a major key - I know I've tried to search for whatever I know about a country to ask a kid about their home to be met with glassy eyes. It illustrated an obvious, but important strategy...Don't try to relate with what YOU know. Actually talk to the student to learn what they know, like and relate to.

It would be like moving from Jax, Florida to Germany as a small child...and then your German teacher confidently questioning you about America, but only referencing Los Angeles, California. You'd have little to no idea what they're talking about and the conversation would be one-sided and hard to engage with at that time.