Sense of Identity

As reflective scholar-practitioners, teacher
candidates develop a Sense of Identity that
includes a critical self-awareness of who
they are as individuals, members, and
leaders in a multicultural society; the biases
that influence their behavior and how they
work with others; the power they exercise in
personal and professional settings; and the
privilege that shapes their own behavior
and their interactions with others. At the
same time, reflective scholar-practitioners
develop a critical understanding of each so
as to teach in ways that honor and respond
to the richness of individual identities and
the diversity of identities encountered in
learning environments.

MEES Standard 2: Student Learning,
Growth and Development

The teacher
understands how students learn, develop and
differ in their approaches to learning. The
teacher provides learning opportunities that
are adapted to diverse learners and support
the intellectual, social, and personal
development of all students.

"Structures and Me" Paper

Link to Paper

Description

The goal of this project was to ‘make the familiar, unfamiliar’ to analyze the cultural forces and history of someplace we call home. I took the city of Chicago's long battled history with the Southside of Chicago and the division between the North and South sides.

Alignment with Theme/MEES

This project dissected the relationship between privilege, race and socioeconomic status. I was required to think critically about my preconceived notions of privilege and oppression and how it affects a diverse society, especially in the classroom. Classrooms have students with a variety of different backgrounds and lived experiences and it is important for an educator to be aware of this.

Reflection

For me to be the best educator I can be and serve students I need to be aware of my own biases and judgements that may arise. By becoming aware of my own identities and what shapes my worldview I am better able to expose myself to a myriad of different perspectives that my students and colleagues will have.

Connection to Goals

First hand I know the importance of having an adult figure understand and acknowledge my worldview and allow the space for my perspective to be heard. As an educator, one of my goals is to create an environment and experience where all identities and all students are welcomed, acknowledged, and celebrated. To do this I have to continually do the work on my own time to educate myself on the different cultures and backgrounds of my students and remember my biases and judgments when they arise.