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Katie Robin Hawkins

My name was supposed to be Sarah. However, when your Father is from the mountains of Tennessee, Sarah turns into Say-Ruh. My mom thought the way he said the name was stupid so out went the name Sarah. My great-great grandmother was named Katie Lou Brown. I was named after her. It’s rare for someone to know have met their great-great grandmother. She was alive until I was nine. I’m the first woman on my mother’s side of the family to pass twenty and not already have a child, so that explains the closeness in generations. She was elderly when I knew her but everyone in my family says the same thing about her. “Katie Lou ain’t afraid of nothing”. She was quite the sassy, spunky, southern woman. I’ve never been fond of the name Katie. It’s a very common name. I almost never go anywhere where there’s not another Katie. Especially now. I recently got married and my sister-in-law’s name is Katie too. Having multiple Katie’s in a family is rather confusing. Not to mention very few people know how to spell my name correctly. K-a-t-y, C-a-t-y, etc. For a name so common, the spelling is not.

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My favorite physical characteristic is my eyes. I picked this physical trait because I have blue eyes like my dad when the rest of my family has dark brown eyes. My Dad and I are the only two people with blue eyes. My eyes set me apart and make me unique. Although, my blue eyes and blonde hair do make me stand out in family photo with a bunch of brown eyed brown haired people.

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My favorite characteristic about myself is being an opportunist. An opportunist is defined as a person who exploits circumstances to gain immediate advantage rather than being guided by consistent principles or plans. Whether it pertains to myself, friends, family, and especially my students, I believe that no matter circumstances, you can chose to do and be whatever you want in life. I believe in purpose and hope for all people. Pictured is one of my favorite quotes and a quote that pertains to my teaching philosophy.

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This is a locket from my great-great grandmother (the person I was named after). The locket has a "K" on the front and "Katie" is written on the back. This object represents the shared name with someone very dear to my heart who is no longer here.

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When I think of my "privilege" the first thing that came to mind was my car. This is a photo of my current car. While this isn't my first car (which I believe shows privilege itself- having a second car at 22), I got a car to drive when I turned 16. From a combination of my earned/saved money and help from my parents and grandparents, I bought my first car. At a young age of 16 I had the freedom a car can give you. Transportation to a job, to drive to friend's houses, and to school rather than taking the bus. Many people are very limited in their jobs, etc. due to lack of a car or transportation. I view my car as a huge privilege and for that I am very thankful.

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When I'm out and see someone with a designer purse I have preconceived notions about that person. For some reason, when I look at them, I think "they like to display they have money". I've never carried a designer purse. However, I did get one as a gift for Christmas from my step-grandmother last year. It has never left my closet or even the box. While I was thankful for the gift, because of this bias, I don't want people to think the same thing about me.

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My cultural discomfort comes from recently getting married and moving in with my husband. Before getting married, I had never lived on my own or never moved out of my parents house. My parents house was always busy with people or animals. My parents have three dogs and plus my my little brother. My husband travels a lot for work, so going from an environment that was very social and active to an environment where I am alone at least once a week has been a very different situation. I took this photo of our nest came to show an element of safety being in a new place and new situation.

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When I think about my cultural values I think of southern hospitality. Whenever anyone comes to my home, I always, always ask "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Can I get you something?" or "Please make yourself right at home!" right after they come in. I love making people feel welcome, comfortable, and at home when they are at my home. This cultural value was learned from my family, especially the women in my family. This is a photo of my husband with sweet tea and home made potato soup enjoying the southern hospitality ya'll.

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During an average week I participate in a variety of literacy practices. When I get home from work, field, or class I sit down and relax before starting homework by opening up social media (many times Facebook). I enjoy reading about friend's and family's day to day lives. I love watching Tasty videos, and reading all the hilarious memes Facebook has to offer. While I do participate in course readings, and children's literature to choose books for my class, social media would be the most common use in everyday life.

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This is a photo I took from one of my favorite books Where the Sidewalk Ends by: Shel Silverstien. (Also a dream of mine for all my students) My favorite literacy experience is children's literature. I love looking for and finding the perfect book to match a lesson so show my love of literacy with my students.

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Favorite Place to Read and Engage In Literacy

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Favorite Place to Read and Engage In Literacy

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My husband and I currently live in a one bedroom apartment. There's not a ton of space for a reading nook, but this little corner is my favorite. When I read or write papers, this armchair is my spot. I enjoy opening up the window and letting the sunshine come in as in reading or writing.

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Last semester we read the book Fish in a Tree by: Lynda Mullaly Hunt. This book really made a connection with me as an educator. This book tells the story of a young girl named Ally who struggles in school. This book showed me inside the mind of struggling students and pushed me to be a teacher for ALL students

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Struggles with Teaching Culturally Diverse Students

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Struggles with Teaching Culturally Diverse Students

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My biggest struggle with teaching culturally diverse students comes from one of my fears. I am a white female born and raised in Georgia. While working with many different diversities in Gwinnett I am afraid my students will see and and think that I am unrelatable, uncaring of their many different cultures, or a "typical white girl". I want my students to see me as someone who always wants to understand and know them as a person first before focusing on teaching content.

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Strength on Teaching Culturally Diverse Students

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Strength on Teaching Culturally Diverse Students

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My strength culturally and professionally on teaching culturally diverse students comes from the summer I taught English in a preschool in Chosica, Peru. From this expereince, I learned what it is like to live somewhere where no one speaks your language or looks like you. From this experience immersing myself in an unfamiliar culture, I feel as if I can be an advocate for my students within my classroom. This photo was taken outside the school with Connie, one of my precious students who loved to sing "head, shoulders, knees, and toes."

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This is my self-portrait from my recent wedding in March 2016. This is my favorite "selfie" or photo of myself. I'd like to think of myself as bright and happy as portrayed in this photo. I wore a flower crown on my wedding day rather than a traditional veil. My mom has joked with me my entire life by calling me her "flower child". I feel that does truly best describe me. As cliche as it sounds I believe all the best things in life are free and believe in kindness over everything.

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Katie
Passionate, determined, hospitable, kind
Daughter of Corrine
Lover of language, teaching, and Mexican food
Who feels excited, hopeful, and happy
Who fears failure, rejection, and loneliness
Who would like to see growth, happiness, and peace within all her students
Resident of Lawrenceville, Georgia
Hawkins

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Cultural Selfie Part Three- So What?

As I completed this project I had many different thoughts on literacy. Literacy is made up of many different components, it is much more than just actual reading and writing. There are cultural ideas that help make up literature as well. Through this project I also learned many different implications of knowledge for my future teaching career. While there were many positive outlooks to connecting to myself culturally, there are also very difficult aspects. For instance, looking at fears or struggles with teaching culturally diverse students, cultural discomfort, or cultural biases. While these concepts were difficult to think about and work through, looking at weaknesses will in turn benefit me as a future educator. Focusing on strengths and weaknesses of who I am culturally will impact my teaching by creating awareness. More specifically, after I analyzed my cultural bias towards people or groups of people who display expensive, materialistic items such as designer handbags. Being aware of this particular bias will help me be accepting and understanding people or situations I have a bias towards. As a future educator, it is essential to consider the identity of the teacher and their cultural background as a part of the teaching process. This includes the idea funds of knowledge a concept founded by Mohr. When a teacher understands and emphasizes culture in her classroom, her students and curriculum can connect as well. What a student (or teacher) brings to school knowing and their values, are their funds of knowledge. Being aware and sensitive to these ideas will benefit the classroom tremendously. As a teacher, pertaining to some of my funds of knowledge, I bring concepts such as respect, empathy, and opportunity. I bring knowledge of southern cultural ways, for example, southern hospitality as described in section two of this project. Further, understanding one’s own culture is essential in the recognition that students are not illiterate and fail at school due to deficits in their culture. As a teacher, you must believe and understand that students who come from different backgrounds than you or speak a different language than you, are not less capable of learning. In this class this semester we have discussed and studied many different aspects of literacy involving culture. We have focused on concepts such as what makes a book, etc. “good literacy”. My take away from the class, “good literacy” will fully depend on your class and the students that are in your class. Good literacy focuses on ideas and concepts that your own students have interests in, or can connect or relate to. I have also learned through the semester that literacy is not restricted to physical books, but can be music, plays, the things or words surrounding students, etc. This semester I have learned many different ideas and concepts to include in my own classroom. Concepts such as understanding yourself as culturally as a teacher, and understanding your student’s cultural backgrounds and funds of knowledge will promote equity and best serve students.