Re-Imagined Classroom

For my re-imagined classroom, I don't think I'd change anything about the resources that are available or how my classroom is laid out. If I have a class where there are multiple students who speak the same native language, I would have them sit together so that they can do group work in their native tongue. I would expect them to help each other and translate for each other as necessary so that I can understand what they are doing.

One of the biggest things that I wanted to change about my what I display on the walls is the display of a rainbow. I want my students to definitely know that this is a safe place for them, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender assigned at birth. I want my classroom to be a community that is safe. To do that, I will need to make sure that the norms and expectations that I have set up are as such.

That is complicated when it comes to students from other cultures, or who don't speak English very well. I think that discussing what it means to be respectful is important so that the students know what I am meaning when I ask them to be respectful. In the case of students with language barriers, I would highly consider having a conference with their parents and an interpreter so that we can all be on the same page. I will do my best to understand where they are coming from and be value-informed regarding their culture.

Assessment is difficult because I understand math through English. Nuances in English words give nuances to my mathematical understanding. As a teacher, I will have to make sure that I am speaking simply and working to not rely on those nuances in my language that I'm not familiar with in their language.