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Cornell Notes
My Notes(Facts/Events/Quotes from the Text):
1. “Sometimes the best things for us aren't necessarily the things we want"(Farizan, 2013, P. 114).

2. "Isn't it wonderful that you live in Iran...Where the government recognizes your struggle?... Iran has the second-highest number of sexual reassignment surgeries, after Thailand" (Farizan, 2013, P. 142).

Summary of Notes:  What are the big ideas/themes?(1-2 Sentences):
1. When Sahar and Nasrin's mother were chatting as Nasrin was trying on wedding dresses, Nasrin's mother indirectly lets Sahar know that she is aware of their lesbian romance and that is why she is marrying her daughter off. This conversation possessed a multitude of tones because Nasrin's mother was expressing her disapproval of the girl's relationship but as a reader, one is unsure if the family disapproves due to their cultural beliefs surrounding sexuality or are forcing this marriage to avoid the potential persecution that would eventually befall Nasrin due to her sexuality.

2. This startling quote alerts readers to the fact that Iran enforces very strict laws surrounding sexuality norms. It was sad to read that the country mandates individuals to undego operations to become transexual rather than maintain their gender and participate in homosexual lifestyles, not only is this painful, but it impacts the identity of individuals and "fixes" people in the favor of tradition and culture who were never really broken.

2.
Questions, Concerns, Comments, Inferences:
I was concerned throughout the text for the social and physical welfare of the characters but those who are a part of the LGBTQ community in Iran. Not only could their  identity marginalize them but it could be fatal if the government were to find out. The underlying sentiment of not being able to love who desired and exist as you are made me reflect as I could envision this withdrawing all of the characters intrinsic motivation to do anything else with themselves. I was happy at the end when Sahar met another girl and continued through University, this at least left readers with a bit of hope.

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Read: Choice at least two articles on LGBTQ and create padlet post where you delve into the articles and how they affect/interact/influence your teaching (3 Paragraph minimum).

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Read: Choice at least two articles on LGBTQ and create padlet post where you delve into the articles and how they affect/interact/influence your teaching (3 Paragraph minimum).

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"Remaining "neutral' - or silent- in the face of discrimination always condones the oppressor...One purpose of educating children is to help them learn to question the status quo and become active participants in society rather than passive subjects." (Sieben & Wallowitz. 2009. P. 44.)

I couldn't agree more with this sentiment, teachers are entrusted with shaping the next generations' outlook on the world and impacting how students interact with and shape their communities. When we allow misbehavior to escalate at the expense of other students, we are actively participating in bullying. This is why I am vigilant at calling home when I hear verbal microaggressions surrounding any of my students. We are also introducing students to the world beyond what they perceive as normative. The authors summarized this idea in their conclusion when they stated: "Students look to their teachers as models for how to be in the world. The first step is to show them that we accept and embrace all genders and sexualities... we also must recognize and confront all artificial constructs that dehumanize." (Sieben & Wallowitz. 2009. P. 49.)

"Once students understand that many aspects of their lives are  socially constructed, they can begin to problematize taken for granted assumptions about race, class, gender and sexuality as well as other linguistic social constructs designed to maintain power structure."  (Sieben & Wallowitz. 2009. P. 45.) I agree with this sentiment and this is something I have practiced in the past with my students and will continue to do so. When I worked for a nonprofit within Boston Public Schools, I had my students sit in a U shape in order to give each other respect and eye contact when we held conversations surrounding socioeconomic issues.I also posed philosophical questions on the board such as "What parts of you would you lose or maintain if you were...
a different gender
a differeent age
born in a different city
and etc.

Students relished responding in their "Thought Journals" almost as much as I enjoyed reading them. I would try to preview the thought journal so that it would set the stage for informational discussions if we were reading news articles related to our community or literary discussions that confronted the same issues. I hope to extend this social justice practice to my own classrooms one day if I ever return to teaching ELA.

Inclusive Classrooms
for LGBTQ Students,  echoed many similar sentiments. I enjoyed the potential inclusions it offered teachers so that they could easily implement inclusive studies of LGBTQ stories within their curriculum. Of the activities they mentioned, I really enjoyed the prose comparisons of classic romance novels such as Romeo and Juliet juxtaposed to If you could be mine, a novel about Lesbian lovers from Tehran who cannot be together due to societies' social constructs, Dodge & Crutcher, (2015). This goes to show that two goals can be accomplished in one, teaching students to the standard, while enriching their lives by introducing atypical narratives than what they've traditionally been presented. If I ever teach literature once again, I'd be happy and intrigued to do this text comparison activity using LGBTQ texts and specifically this story.

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The Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian                  Prompt: Write a letter to a character or have a character write to another character within the text.

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The Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian                  Prompt: Write a letter to a character or have a character write to another character within the text.

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Dear Junior Spirit,

I enjoyed reading about you and your family and am happy that you triumphed over your circumstances, although you encountered a  surge of difficulties in doing so. Overall, I think that you're rather brave for successfully navigating through your dual environments of Rearden and The Rez.

I apologize for your many losses throughout the course of the Novel, The death of your beloved dog Oscar, provided foreshadowing surrounding the events which were take place in your novel. I can relate to your pain, when I was younger I too had sacrifice pets due to the fact that my family no longer had the time or resources to care for them any longer. It is unfortunate to be victimized by circumstance. This sentiment was echoed throughout the novel whether it was the lack of control you had over your appearance and health conditions, the lack of control you had over your local school system and lack of control control you had over your family's and close Freida addictions.

I know that you felt similarly about Mary's passing. Hypothetically, if you both grew up more affluently or were provided access to a wider array of opportunities than perhaps  Mary wouldn't have suffered such a demise. Mary's character made me reminiscent of many young women and childhood friend's I've encountered and grown apart from over the years. Mary had so much potential, that was some how also the center of her demise. She had more to offer the world than the Rez would let her own environment. This prompted her to leave and look for happiness and success in another arena. I'm not surprised that she ran off with a man in an attempt to escape from the Rez and the despondence associated with it.  I know many men and women who  have rushed to start families to combat loneliness, hopelessness feelings of worthlessness and other psychological and emotional symptoms of poverty.

Although you initially felt guilt, you did not "Kill" your sister and should not internalize survivor's guilt. It was comforting and evident towards the end that you realized that you could embrace yourself and belonged to more than two societies you were trying to assimilate into.

Throughout the novel I found you becoming more introspective. When you were visiting your family member's grave sites towards the end of the novel you mentioned , You Stated: I realized that, sure, I was a Spokane Indian. I belonged to that tribe. But I also belonged to the tribe of American immigrants. And to the tribe of basketball players. And to the tribe of bookworms. And the tribe of cartoonists. And the tribe of chronic masturbators. And the tribe of teenage boys. And the tribe of small-town kids. And the tribe of Pacific Northwesterners. And the tribe of tortilla chips-and-salsa lovers. And the tribe of poverty. And the tribe of funeral-goers. And the tribe of beloved sons. And the tribe of boys who really missed their best friends. It was a huge realization. And that's when I knew that I was going to be okay.

Thank you for  sharing your story.

Best,
Liz

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Explore the VTR routines that make most sense in your content area and choose one to share with me in your individual padlet. In the padlet just describe how and why you would use that particular VTR.

Out of all of the VTR's that are available in the slideshow, the one that piqued my interest and is most applicable to my content area are is Compass Point's strategy. I think that this tactic is the most applicable to my content area because it's purpose is to help students flesh out an idea, this is very applicable to my content area because I am a Math and Science ICT teacher, a meta-cognitive strategy such as this will assist students in breaking down new or complex ideas thus making them less intimidating and easier for students to unpack prior to attempting.

I really like how the Compass Points model  incorporates the four "coordinates" of

E = Excited

W = Worrisome

N = Need to Know

S = Stance or Suggestion for Moving Forward

This serves as a great self monitoring tool for students so that they can see a barometer on what they already know and are comfortable with and can track their progress overtime. It also assists them in conceptualizing and breaking down misconceptions until they are eliminated and they have mastered the content.

I will utilize this strategy in the future when teaching a new mathematical standard or concept to ensure that my students are self aware of their strengths in the topic and can pinpoint their misconceptions or discomfort and work towards overcoming it.

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How does your positionality bias your epistemology ?

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How does your positionality bias your epistemology ?

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This journal article introduced a handful of reasons as to why  it was important for individuals to realize what their positionality was and how it reflects their perception of the world and how they react to it. It is paramount  for teachers to live by this so they can make their students aware of their own stance on the world and encourage them to search between their perception and the objective reality. Teaching this ideology is invaluable as it furthers the diversity of thought within a group and acknowledges that varying opinions and stances are something  to be embraced and explored rather than ignored and challenged. "We must teach how to listen, that fundamental and overlooked skill" (Takacs, 2003, P. 31).

He goes on to comment that when people truly listen, they are listening to understand and learn. Everyone is an expert in life as life experience constitutes a fair amount of knowledge.(Takacs, 2003, P. 32). That is why it essential for listening to be a highly practiced skill in order to share one another's past and envision a utilitarian future for society once all positions are considered.

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INFORMAL TEXTUAL RESPONSE
Although a nonfiction book, the novel America was a very realistic story of a young boy who gets "lost" in the system. He is born to a drug addicted mother, rejected by his adoptive parents due to race and raised on and although has an older woman, Ms. Harper who is provides him with a home and family, he is sexually abused by her alcoholic brother.

The novel follows America as he bounces through a multitude of Foster Homes and Psychiatric wards. His education is impacted by his social circumstances. He ultimately grows into an under educated adult who murders his sex abuser.

I personally though the saddest instances were when America was grappling with his own responsibility and psyche surrounding his social circumstances. In order to survive, he had to adopt a veil of toughness, independence and resistance which coupled with the limited educational exposure and intervention he received, these character attributes impeded him from smoothly transitioning into adulthood. Although America proves to be very adaptable considering the instability of his home situation, he frequently struggles with being "bad" and what that means in relation to his character and survival.

A solemn truth is unveiled on page 10 in regards to the overpopulation of kids in the foster care system, and the poor allocation of resources which leads to many individuals being placed in a hospital or other government program when group homes or foster homes may be overpopulated.

"I should have gone to some group home...there's no beds left in any group homes and the only places left besides here is jail... or a state hospital" (Frank, 2002, P. 10).

Another instance in the book which can be looked at from a sociological standpoint is when it is revealed that America's mother began using drugs as early as her teens and gave birth to all six of her children by age 19. She documented a chart with her age, which children were born to her that year and what she was spending on drugs at the time (Frank, 2002, P. 110). She did not grow within a loving supportive environment and therefore could not pass that onto her children, let alone consider her future and family planning. This evidences that social problems will emanate unless the right support and intervention is provided to those who need it.