600 DB 8

docx

School

Touro College *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

600

Subject

Sociology

Date

Jan 9, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by BaronWolverine3875

Are democratic classrooms possible? Yes, I do believe that democratic classrooms are possible and I think as educators it’s our responsibility to facilitate this mentality in our classrooms. Research has shown that there has been a decrease in a democratic approach to education and an increase in concern for how students will perform on standardized tests (Koonce, 2020). In order to foster a democratic classroom, educators must create a curriculum that will engage students in real-life experiences that will “empower them to maintain such a way of life beyond school walls” (Koonce, 2020). Research has found one way to engage students in real-life topics and that was through incorporating young adult books into their curriculum (Koonce, 2020). I found it very interesting that using this method broadens students’ lens on the world, allowing them to be introduced to issues and topics and question the themes (Koonce, 2020). I remember when I was in middle school and my social studies teacher was teaching us about the women’s rights movement, she gave us article after textbook reading after journal entry to read about the women who paved the way. At the same time that I was learning about the women’s rights movement, there was a Dr. Pepper commercial that advertised “Dr. Pepper, Just for Men”. I felt so empowered by her class that I came to her with this commercial and expressed my outrage - I truly couldn’t understand how a soda could be advertised for one gender. She agreed the commercial didn’t make sense and helped me write an email to Snapple Group, we did not receive a response, but it did teach me to push for things when I feel it’s unjust. Teaching our students to think critically is important to the development of a participating member of society. When you introduce new ideas to your students, you are creating an environment where open conversations can happen. Another way of creating a democratic classroom is to incorporate positive behavior supports, where students are encouraged to engage in class activities/lessons through positive reinforcement (Democratic Classrooms, 2021). Marcos Torres discusses how control is something that is earned after the educator has built rapport and a sense of classroom community, and with that issues within the classroom decrease, and student success and participation will go up (Democratic Classrooms, 2021). Our current state of public education doesn’t foster a place where students are involved in their learning, and it’s not a place where students can learn from one another, this hinders their “growth of independent reasoning and problem-solving” (Cuban, 1993). With all of this research, it is our responsibility as educators to foster a democratic classroom culture. Questions: Was there a time in your life when a teacher helped foster critical thinking or democracy in your classroom? Do you think the geography of where schools are located plays a role in democratic classrooms?

Although assigning young adult books with a wide variety of themes sounds great, schools do still have grades to meet on standardized tests. How do you think you can engage students while still assigning books needed to pass these tests? References: Cuban, L. (1993). How Teachers Taught: Constancy and change in American Classrooms , 1890-1990. New York: Teachers College Press . Koonce, G. L. (Ed.) (2020). Are truly democratic classrooms possible? In taking sides: Clashing views on educational issues (20 th ). New York: McGraw Hill Learning for Justice. (2021). Democratic Classrooms. Retrieved from: https://www.learningforjustice.org/professional-development/democratic-classrooms

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Related Documents

CPSS 316 Paige Doyle's Week 4 Presentation.pptx

Week 2 CPSS 300 Paige Doyle .docx

Paige Doyles Week 4 Assessment CPSS 405.edited.docx

Family Law particpation .docx

Family Law Tut 2.docx

Review Test Submission_ A1 Online Test 1 – S-ENM101_.._ 06082023.pdf

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Pearson College Div

Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780393639407

Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum

Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company

The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...

Sociology

ISBN:9781305503076

Author:Earl R. Babbie

Publisher:Cengage Learning

Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...

Sociology

ISBN:9780134477596

Author:Saferstein, Richard

Publisher:PEARSON

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134205571

Author:James M. Henslin

Publisher:PEARSON

Society: The Basics (14th Edition)

Sociology

ISBN:9780134206325

Author:John J. Macionis

Publisher:PEARSON

SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS

Recommended textbooks for you

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Pearson College Div
Introduction to Sociology (Eleventh Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780393639407
Author:Deborah Carr, Anthony Giddens, Mitchell Duneier, Richard P. Appelbaum
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
The Basics of Social Research (MindTap Course Lis...
Sociology
ISBN:9781305503076
Author:Earl R. Babbie
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Scien...
Sociology
ISBN:9780134477596
Author:Saferstein, Richard
Publisher:PEARSON
Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (13th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134205571
Author:James M. Henslin
Publisher:PEARSON
Society: The Basics (14th Edition)
Sociology
ISBN:9780134206325
Author:John J. Macionis
Publisher:PEARSON