QUESTION:

Using your own educational experiences to date, how did you see teachers honouring different ways of knowing and doing in the classroom? In what ways did teachers build a sense of community in the classroom? In what ways can teachers build hospitable and invitational educational environments and relationships with all students? As you viewed Fatima’s lecture and read the article, what messages are relevant and important to you as a future educator?

 

ANSWER:

Teachers, Knowledge, Building Relationships: Invitation and Hospitality

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I have attended several schools throughout my educational experience, and in turn, there were several methods of honoring different ways of knowing. The most impactful way of honoring these ways of being, knowing and doing were the spaces where teachers made an honest attempt in caring about their students and how they were progressing in all aspects of their lives.  In creating invitation and hospitality, educators must understand the right to an education that is given to students. Teachers need to be acutely aware of the cultures and communities that they are a part of. That awareness allows teachers to honour the different perspectives that are held throughout a classroom. The classroom should be a place where all types of diversity is embraced, but this has to go deeper than just saying any culture, lifestyle, religion, ect. is acceptable, but rather, it is the job of an educator to understand the community they teach in, and further promote and accept the ways of doing that exist in the classroom.

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 From the moment students walk into a school to start pre-kindergarten or kindergarten they have opinions and unique personalities that should be nurtured and continue to grow through their entire educational experience. In developing critical thinking techniques, students are able to understand the skills they need and in turn develop into the best version of themselves to exist in the working world. My grade 4 teacher taught me a valuable discussion mindset, at the time, our classroom called it the “Can’t just say no rule” in which any point or idea that was disputed could not just be outright disregarded. This makes sure every viewpoint and idea can be heard, and the one that works best in a situation is used. 

The different ways of knowing and doing incorporated in the classroom allows for students to come up with thoughts from so many different perspectives, and furthers their understanding and curiosity about the world even further. As Fatima shares throughout her lecture Invitation & Hospitality, what is learned in the classroom and the environment are directly correlated. Students are the first priority within the classroom, and learning is a dynamic part of life and the classroom. Students and educators learn so much more when the classroom is a safe and intercultural place, this creates hospitality and an invitation into learning.