tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post4677896712599782923..comments2024-03-26T09:20:29.620-06:00Comments on TeacherDance: Slicing Can Be Loud!Linda Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-62792704245851728762014-09-24T19:02:11.486-06:002014-09-24T19:02:11.486-06:00You are so right to lay it all out. Something has ...You are so right to lay it all out. Something has to be done in this world of ours where people are killed for so little, where so many people are so disrespected. There is little respect or honouring of others' beliefs, culture in too many places around the world. We have to take a stand where we see injustice. Beverley Bairdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12973073253078139054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-53628839315312306892014-09-24T08:39:59.400-06:002014-09-24T08:39:59.400-06:00 Your tone as preachy? No. Concerned? Yes. People ... Your tone as preachy? No. Concerned? Yes. People have responded so well to you. Without anyone ever speaking up the world would be a horrible place. Using the brave ones (books and real life) as examples we can encourage more bravery to stand up for what is right. Terje https://www.blogger.com/profile/13569210226711674834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-46385444298874326802014-09-24T02:58:06.157-06:002014-09-24T02:58:06.157-06:00There is such a fine line between speaking up for ...There is such a fine line between speaking up for our beliefs and telling people how to think or act, but you haven't crossed into the preachy zone, Linda. Thank you for sharing your convictions and speaking up for what you believe in! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-20839193712392828382014-09-23T20:09:12.491-06:002014-09-23T20:09:12.491-06:00In the younger grades, we really encourage speakin...In the younger grades, we really encourage speaking up, but how scary when I'm faced to do so as an adult. There are things now I'm thinking of that I should be stepping out, doing more, but I'm not. Fearful. Thanks for the encouragement and thought tonight. Also, I always love looking and reading about titles I haven't considered before! So thought provoking! Kendrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05470220603745815384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-40894838037421358362014-09-23T19:44:47.172-06:002014-09-23T19:44:47.172-06:00I think it's great that you are questioning yo...I think it's great that you are questioning yourself -- I think it's dangerous when we don't do that, when we are so sure that we are right that we stop listening. <br />Nobody makes the right decision all the time, so we have to find ways to support making good decisions and forgive/rectify wrong ones as best we can. Tabathahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367572663591077922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-37201203310257075512014-09-23T19:25:17.464-06:002014-09-23T19:25:17.464-06:00Thank you everyone for your honest sharing, and th...Thank you everyone for your honest sharing, and the different ways that you approach the challenges, especially with students. It seems that it's complicated, because all of us are complicated, human beings after all. I wonder if we can become clear about the boundaries we're willing to keep strong, and to speak up about those, at the same time respecting others too. It's complicated!Linda Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14983144542632353870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-44882201836989700262014-09-23T19:12:47.977-06:002014-09-23T19:12:47.977-06:00I am glad you wrote about the important topic. It...I am glad you wrote about the important topic. It is critical that we acknowledge differing viewpoints and perspectives as part of our American heritage as well as part of our "honest and real" culture in schools. drferreriblogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08800953133789773280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-29065366639734910582014-09-23T18:42:06.516-06:002014-09-23T18:42:06.516-06:00I echo all who say that the tone didn't seem p...I echo all who say that the tone didn't seem preachy. I love how you trace the revolutionary ideas from civil rights to Syria and back home to classrooms. In my own classroom, I have a frank discussion with students at the year's start about bullying or harassment an what sorts of comments can seem hurtful or helpful. Speaking up or difussing situations in high school can be a bit tricky. Today I was in a new teacher's class and knew she was having difficulty with three raucous students, so I offered to take them back to my room and to work on the writing with them. Once they realized I wasn't "writing them up" or "sending them to the dean" we could settle into reading the text and outlining our argument. It's tricky though.Lee Ann Spillanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04650009312001849617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-26245950019527882532014-09-23T18:38:25.544-06:002014-09-23T18:38:25.544-06:00Linda, Yaqui Delgado was recommended to me last ye...Linda, Yaqui Delgado was recommended to me last year by our teen librarian. I'm putting it on my list. I also want to read Revolution, but first I need to read Countdown. I agree that it's so important for us to speak up when we see injustice. Teaching students (and ourselves) that it isn't always easy or comfortable is a first step. In the book The Liberation of Gabriel King, Gabriel finally realizes that courage is not the absence of fear, but moving ahead in the face of fear. Ramonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15929914252480696798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-70911632528725868902014-09-23T15:55:52.218-06:002014-09-23T15:55:52.218-06:00I didn't hear a preachy tone, either. I heard...I didn't hear a preachy tone, either. I heard conviction, which is admirable. Anytime my students talk to me about injustice, I encourage them to stand up for themselves. Honesty is always my policy, and I think kids are respected when they are honest. Margaret Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04434866104385187658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-28697643474646720592014-09-23T12:50:30.884-06:002014-09-23T12:50:30.884-06:00I think we all need to speak up when we see injust...I think we all need to speak up when we see injustice - often the only voices are the ones who need to be quiet, to think before they speak. It's a frustrating time we live in - everyone has a camera and no one sees. <br />PS. Just began Revolution - what a wonderful book!Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13626451110946889157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-32526245420261863622014-09-23T09:33:59.960-06:002014-09-23T09:33:59.960-06:00We all need to speak out. Things would remain the...We all need to speak out. Things would remain the same and change would not happen if we didn't. Sometimes it is hard, but as others have said, bravery is standing up for what you believe in even if we are afraid of what others may think or say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-58163481572193883182014-09-23T09:09:19.124-06:002014-09-23T09:09:19.124-06:00Like Michelle said, "Standing up even though ...Like Michelle said, "Standing up even though we are afraid is the definition of bravery!! " <br />On a related note, I feel like a lot of my 2012-2013 posts were kind of preachy (on RALH). I've tried to back away from that. It's a fine line though...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-4317311717201251852014-09-23T04:47:26.044-06:002014-09-23T04:47:26.044-06:00Yes, we need to keep speaking up. Not enough peop...Yes, we need to keep speaking up. Not enough people do in our country. It was so cool to watch the marchers on Sunday in NYC. No, I wasn't one, but I was there in my heart. Look what's happening when teachers and parents and kids speak up to end the insanity of THE TEST!<br /> I love the power of your voice. You don't bash us over the head, but you do write with power. Kids must LOVE you!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-64373639835980901242014-09-23T04:02:25.663-06:002014-09-23T04:02:25.663-06:00It's funny because until you said it, it never...It's funny because until you said it, it never occurred to me that this post was sounding preachy! Maybe because I look to you for so many book recommendations. I agree with Julieanne, I applaud your bravery for taking on this subject. Standing up even though we are afraid is the definition of bravery!! I hope by your example, and hopefully mine, others will stand up and stop the bullying, bad choices, etc. What can be harder is sometimes the bullies are the adults. That makes me feel helpless sometimes. Being strong and standing together and reading the books like Yaqui Delgado Wants To Kick Your Ass is a start. We can certainly do more together than we can alone!Michelle Haseltinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00616389589179983330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-90130710972747749472014-09-23T03:34:14.300-06:002014-09-23T03:34:14.300-06:00I'm not a teacher, but I have three small chil...I'm not a teacher, but I have three small children. I teach them to "keep their brain on" and always be thinking and wondering, questioning whether this person made the right choice. It gets tricky, of course, when that person is a grown up, not just a peer. Through books, we explore this subject and with my oldest we've begun to role play conversations with a girl who is at least bully-ish with her in class. I wish there was an easy answer, but there just isn't--I want to teach her that confrontation is part of life, and to strengthen her assertive muscles as she matures...Book Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10019696808857914040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-90522880736628308862014-09-23T02:21:21.510-06:002014-09-23T02:21:21.510-06:00I definitely hear what my husband calls a "te...I definitely hear what my husband calls a "teacher" voice in this, but that's good. I am often flabbergasted by people's lack of appreciation of how hard others fight for freedoms--and I don't just mean my 5th graders. Books are paramount in communicating the many oppressions and horrors in the world, sometimes subtly and other times not. War has been written and rewritten so many times. Peach on, my friend. Great SOL!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133483662697726016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319624163132382197.post-3306699971390953632014-09-22T23:38:21.568-06:002014-09-22T23:38:21.568-06:00Linda,
Yes, you, we need to speak up, just like we...Linda,<br />Yes, you, we need to speak up, just like we ask our students to do when the wrong thing is happening on the playground. The trouble is, speaking up isn't comfortable or safe. It is scary. We are afraid someone will say that we don't belong. That we will be alone. What is it that makes us speak out? A higher power? With the risk of sounding preachy, perhaps we do have to kind of get out of ourselves to see the bigger picture. I'm looking forward to the thoughts this post receives! Thank you for being brave and putting this out for discussion.<br />Julieannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08876141420632207823noreply@blogger.com