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"Better is Possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence. It takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all, it takes a willingness to try."  By: Atul Gawande. 

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"Better is Possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence. It takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all, it takes a willingness to try."  By: Atul Gawande. 

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To explain this strength...I believe all of us can testify to this by reflecting on the hard work we have put forth this spring, continue to throughout the summer months, and through the weeks to come. We have dilligence, ingenuity and a willingness to try new ways to meet the needs of all our students and families through this unchartered territory of this pandemic!

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"Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit." By: Jawaharlal Nehru

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"Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit." By: Jawaharlal Nehru

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To explain this growth...I believe we can all grow in culture by allowing our minds to see and our spirit to hear and feel. There are missed opportunities when we teach and listen to our students.

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"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." - Cesar Chavez

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"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." - Cesar Chavez

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"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." - Cesar Chavez

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"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." - Cesar Chavez

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Zaretta Hammond explains culture using the individualism/collectivism continuum. Teachers shouldn't be expected to understand the nuances of every single culture they come across. They simply need to understand that culture affects students' information processing, and a big part of that can be explained by the continuum. The United States is a highly individualistic society, but we are largely alone in that mindset. Other cultures that are more collectivist are focused more on group goals and long-term relationships. Understanding this continuum can help teachers reach and form relationships based on trust with students of all cultures.

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"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world." - Paulo Freire

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"Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world." - Paulo Freire

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Zaretta Hammond explains her "why" - she wants all children, no matter where they live, to have the opportunity to be the leaders of their own learning. We, as educators, are not just grooming the next generation of "us". We are preparing them for a world we haven't even seen yet. We are preparing them to be the leaders of their generation; a generation that will be inherently different and have completely different needs than our own. These young men and women will need to be able to "deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world." I strongly believe that the educators at Aldie Elementary have a strong grasp of this concept.

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"Children grow into the intellectual life around them." By:  Lev Vygotsky

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"Children grow into the intellectual life around them." By:  Lev Vygotsky

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I believe we all set the standards high for our students.  We need for them to believe they are capable of anything.  When we continue to build and push them to succeed, they will become more successful in every avenue.  We are showing the next generation how to believe in themselves.  We are having them ask questions and learn from one another.

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"Every person needs a place that is furnished with hope." By:  Maya Angelou

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"Every person needs a place that is furnished with hope." By:  Maya Angelou

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I believe we need to set up our classrooms as a warm and caring environment.  If we show that we care and are willing to try and understand each other, then we will have a chance to take risks and grow.  We all need a safe environment that shows that there is hope.  I believe when we know better, we will do better.   :-)

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"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." 

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"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." 

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Amy Lerch: From the time I was a very young child, I have always been fascinated with other people's cultures. I grew up as a Catholic in the deep south where almost everyone else was a Southern Baptist.  I was always curious about the beliefs and practices of other people. My parents were always very diligent about explaining what their beliefs were and also helping me gain an understanding of other people. I think it was their belief and respect for other cultures and their willingness to help me learn about others that encouraged me to always be open to others while standing strong with my own beliefs.

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The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. 

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The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. 

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Amy Lerch: Over the last several months, I have become more and more aware that saying I don't see color is not the way I should be viewing the world. I need to really work on understanding how to make my classroom a balance of collectivism and individualistic and making sure I consider the lenses through which my students view the world.

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"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."                       Marcel Proust

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"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."                       Marcel Proust

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Both personally and professionally, I think

the "voyage of discovery" refers to the journey,

roads or process of arriving at new destinations.

The journey is the objective and joy of arriving at new

destinations.

The "new landscapes" refer to the diverse destinations.

The "real voyage" refers to the process. I have not lived my life

with a concrete destination in mind, I have tried to enjoy the journey.

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This quote takes me out of my comfort zone. I think I grew up thinking of the logic of the

present system and conformity to it was the objective of education. Thinking of education as a method to prepare our students to deal critically and creatively with reality is a bigger challenge. I am not sure I have been prepared to stimulate

these responses in my students.

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"Every person needs a place that is furnished with hope."

I chose this quote as a personal strength because I try to create a classroom environment where every student feels welcome and
valued. I hope that my students feel safe to be themselves and to
take risks and to learn from each other.
Christina

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"When I dare to be powerful- to use my strength in the service of my vision, it becomes less and less whether I am afraid."

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"When I dare to be powerful- to use my strength in the service of my vision, it becomes less and less whether I am afraid."

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I chose this quote because I think many times we let fear get in the way of achieving a vision.
Christina

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The relationship starts by getting students to relax so they can begin to process info. 

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The relationship starts by getting students to relax so they can begin to process info. 

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I think this is fairly easy to do; however, this year will definitely present new challenges!

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It's not all about changing the culture of the classroom; it's recognizing the diversity and using it as a strength for learning.