A passage from Boss’s “Build the Culture” that I think will raise challenges is creating shared norms. Boss writes, ” The goal of creating shared norms is to promote a classroom culture that values what each person brings while establishing common expectations for the group”(20-21, Boss). I think creating shared norms will be difficult. I question how I promote a classroom culture that brings each student to the table. I know that, unintentionally, I will neglect to honor and acknowledge all the students’ normalities and values. A passage from Parton that I will use to guide my introduction to schools such as Rockbridge County High School and Elementary school is on page twenty-eight. Parton writes, ” Having access to ideas and theories surrounding class and labor in my undergraduate and graduate programs has given me knowledge about place and class that I would never have access to…”(28, Parton). This passage will help me because I will acknowledge that I have a different background than most of the students in Rockbridge County. I have had the privilege of receiving a great education from schools in England, Las Vegas, and, currently, Virginia. I have had the privilege of moving around the world and making countless friends across the globe. I have never had to worry about where my next meal came from, or being domestically/ emotional abused, or if I was going to have a home to come back to at the end of the school day. I need to realize that the privileges that have been bestowed upon me in life can be reflected in how I introduce myself, how I interact with the students, and teach the students. In one of the most rural and poorest county’s in Virginia, I I think I need to introduce myself as an equal to the students who is understanding of the differences between us and as someone who wants to honor those differences. I need to engage students by creating classroom normalities to eliminate social and class lines so students can feel equal and heard. I want students to be able to express their differences, honor them, and then create a culture where everyone feels respected.
How Do I Relate?
