Rant: Confessions of a Canadian Muslim

I should be doing so many other things right now. However, as soon as I try to focus, I find my mind distracted by what’s going on around us. The recent events in the world are no longer just a matter of headlines, they have become personal. Just to put it into perspective for you, here are a few of the articles I have come across since the start of November…  

“Woman’s face smashed with beer mug for not speaking English”
http://tribune.com.pk/story/988594/muslim-womans-face-smashed-with-beer-mug-for-not-speaking-english-in-us/

“Muslim woman pushed by man into oncoming train”
http://tribune.com.pk/story/991322/man-pushes-muslim-woman-into-oncoming-underground-train-in-london/

“Muslim woman attacked outside her children’s school in Flemingdon Park”
http://www.citynews.ca/2015/11/16/muslim-woman-attacked-outside-childrens-school-flemingdon-park/

“People are angry after a Zara Employee in Paris Banned A Woman In A Hijab From a Store”
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/video-shows-a-zara-store-in-paris-stopping-a-woman-in-a-hija#.sgBLPZRxey
“ Peterborough Mosque fire deliberately set, say police”
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2015/11/15/peterborough-mosque-fire-under-investigation

If that doesn’t send chills down your back, I don’t know what would. Disgust, fear, shock – are just some of the many overwhelming emotions swirling around my head. Less than a month ago, we as Canadians were on an all-time high. We were full of hope when Trudeau was elected as the Prime Minister. All my sport fanatic friends and family members were extremely proud as the Blue Jays fought hard through the season and the music lovers were raving about Justin Bieber and Drake’s newest releases. But now – negativity and concern creeps into every conversation that I have.  I cannot wrap my mind around the incidents happening both within my local community and in the global community.

This morning, my very close non- Muslim friend frantically sent me a text because she had not heard from me or seen me for just a few days. Typically, we go days without communication but in light of the recent events, she had become worried for my safety. My close friends and I are beginning to make arrangements to ensure that we do not walk home or take buses alone because we are scared for our safety. Muslim girls which I personally know that have been wearing hijabs for years are starting to consider taking it off. This is not because they do not agree with what the hijab stands for, but it is because they feel unsafe. This is definitely not the Canada which I proudly stand for, this is an embarrassment.

My inner educator immediately began to think about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a theory which I am constantly exposed to throughout my education. For those of you who are not familiar with it, it suggests that people are motivated to achieve certain needs, and explains that you need to satisfy your lower level basic needs before progressing to the highest level of self- actualization. So how can we move forward to the highest level of self actualization when our basic needs like safety, are not being met?

As a result, I realized that I need to give myself a wakeup call and take on a proactive approach. Sitting here and pondering about the state of society will only leave me bitter. I genuinely believe that each and every one of us is capable of doing so much more. We all need to play on our strengths and find out what we can do to improve the current conditions. To be completely honest, although I am angry at the individuals committing the hate crimes, I’m more curious about what the root of their ignorance is. Is it the lack of education that they received at a young age? Is it the way which media is portraying the situation?

I do not support Muslim leaders condemning the incident, because Islam obviously has absolutely nothing to do with these attacks against humanity. However, that does not mean that I think we need to silence ourselves.  If you managed to read through my rant, I leave you with one last point which I hope will resonate with you. Rather than just rolling our eyes and getting angry that people think the actions of a few people represent Islam as whole, equip yourself about what Islam really stands for and correct their misconceptions. I kid you not, a two minute conversation is enough to educate someone on what Islam is really about. If we start small by speaking up to our friends, acquaintances, we can create a rippling effect of positivity and enlightenment. 

I conclude with one of my favourite quotes - "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

Homework: Causing more harm than good?

As I get closer to my goal of becoming a teacher, I find myself spending more time reflecting on which practices I want to adopt in my own teaching. One of the issues which I have been thinking about is homework. 

Homework has been a highly controversial topic for many years now, but recently it seems to be gaining much more attention. I decided that if I wanted to make an informed decision, it would be important to evaluate the topic from several different perspectives. 

 Retrieved from: http://mirry92.deviantart.com/art/Have-you-done-your-homework-172058454

According to the Toronto District School Board, homework is an important part of a child’s school experience. It allows them to take what they learned during the school day and extend that learning into the home. Additionally, it provides students with an opportunity to formulate good study habits from an early age, leading to further success. Homework is suggested to be a strong foundation for school- home partnerships since teachers, students and parents all have an active role in supporting homework. They also had a homework policy in place which really impressed me. In terms of timing, scheduling, and quantity of homework – the expectations are attached below: 

The expectations put in place by the TDSB convinced me that homework is not problematic if such careful considerations are made. However, when looking further I found some very strong arguments against it. Research has suggested that there is no benefit to homework at a primary level. What's even worse is that homework can actually be problematic for young children. Excessive amounts of homework can result in unneeded stress and pressure which can affect the student's physical and mental health (Bogdanovich, 2014). The unofficial rule for time spent on homework is to multiply the grade by 10- and that would determine how many minutes should be spent on homework. However, parents and children have claimed to spend much more time on homework. Another area of concern is that research has also failed to find any significant findings between homework and student achievement. Countries with minimal homework had more successful school systems than countries with a heavy work load (Bogdanovich, 2014).

Another concern was that homework interferes with a student's time to relax and spend time with their family. Homework can also be the barrier which prevents students from taking part in extracurricular or leisure activities which are proven to enhance the well-being of children. Further arguments include that most of the homework which is assigned is meaningless, and does not promote real learning. It also prevents students to all have an equal chance at success because students from upper and middle class homes have better resources to help them (Pilgrim, 2013).  

For anyone who is interested, here's a video clip which provides insight on a school which abolishes homework, and introduces daily reading instead! 

[Awakened Media]. (2012, Sept 12). Elementary school abolishes homework- good or bad idea?
[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3j6QeqrbXc. 

In light of this new knowledge, when teaching young children, I believe that the disadvantages of homework outweigh the benefits. However, instead of eliminating homework completely, I would utilise an alternative approach to accommodate the people who do support homework. I think that providing interactive activities related to the class material would be a great way to include parents who do use homework as a way to be engaged in the learning process. These activities could be optional so students do not undergo any stress.



After reading this, where do stand on this issue? Please share your thoughts below!

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References:

Bogdanovich, P. (2014, September 8). Homework or no homework? Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://dataworks-ed.com/homework-or-no-homework/

Homework. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from http://www.tdsb.on.ca/elementaryschool/getinvolved/homework.aspx

Homework: Harmful or Helpful? (2013, October 3). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from https://eduflow.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/homework-harmful-or-helpful/

Creating the Ideal Classroom Environment

What is motivation?

Motivation is defined as “the general desire or willingness for someone to do something" 

Now imagine if that something was learning...the possibilities in the classroom would be endless!

As educators, it is important to recognize that an unmotivated student will not learn effectively. Motivation directly affects the students' learning and behaviour. Ormrod (2014) explains that students strive when they set goals for themselves. Motivation is the factor which allows them to set these specific goals. It also leads to increased energy and effort, and the more motivated they are, the more enthusiastically they will pursue a particular task. Motivation also increases initiation and persistence in activities. When students start a task they want to do, they will be likely to stay on task. Lastly, motivation affects cognitive processes. Motivated learners make an effort to pay attention, and meaningfully understand the material (Ormrod, 2014).


Consequently, I believe that a key priority for every teacher should be to create an engaging environment which can inspire students. Not only is motivation rewarding for the students, but it is just as exciting for the teachers when the students are invested in their learning ("Motivating Students", n.d.).

Before I discuss ways to motivate students, I think it is important to recognize reasons why students may be unmotivated. However, be careful not to confuse a student who is having difficulty learning as being unmotivated. 

Reasons student may not be motivated include:

• Lack of interest in the subject
• getting distracted by external forces
• being unengaged by the teacher’s practices ("Motivating Students", n.d.)

The image below demonstrates the different ways a classroom environment can be modified to motivate students. 

A key point to remember is that every student will be motivated in one way or another! Teach.Com provides some great tips on how to get your students excited about learning. These tips include:

1. Encouraging Students:

Students really value a teacher's opinion. A little recognition can go a long way when a student feels valued and respected. 

2. Get your students involved

If students are given responsibilities, it provides them with a sense of accomplishment and makes them feel like active members of the learning process. 

3. Offer incentives

It is important to set expectations and encourage participation, but sometimes that is not enough. Rewards and incentives give students that extra push, and it can provide a sense of pride when the goal is accomplished. 

4. Get Creative 

As an educator, try to steer away from a singular teaching practice. Be flexible with your methods, and don't be afraid to bring in visual aids, games, and to enhance the teaching. 

5. Draw connections to real life  

Give the students a reason to believe that what they are learning is important. When you explain how the material applies to them, and how it can relate to their life, they will be much more attentive. ("Motivating Students", n.d.) 

Lastly, for those of you are interested in a few extra strategies to increase student engagement, I have attached a video clip with 7 great tips! 

[Reading Horizons]. (2014, January 3). 7 ways to increase student engagement in the classroom [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjADkTe5upA

References: 

Motivating Students. (n.d.). Teach.com. Retrieved October 5, 2015 from http://teach.com/what/ teachers-change-lives/teachers-motivate

Ormrod, J. (2014, April 30). How Motivation Affects Learning and Behavior. Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/motivation-affects-learning-behavior/

Strong, R., Silver, H., & Robinson, A. (1995). What do students want (and what really motivates them)?. Strengthening student engagement. 53 (1), 8-12. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/public ations/educational-leadership/sept95/vol53/num01/Strengthening-Student-Engagement@-What-Do-Students-Want.aspx

Holistic Curriculum

Imagine the possibility of an enriching educational experience which encompasses your body, mind, and spirit! Although it may sound a bit far-fetched, this model of teaching is actually practiced through the Holistic Curriculum. The Holistic Curriculum goes beyond the traditional scope of direct instruction where teachers deliver instruction, and students learn. This model reflects many of the practices of constructivism and works on the basic understanding that the student’s mind, heart, body and spirit should be engaged in daily learning (Drake et al., 2014).

I find that this method could be extremely effective because as I get closer to my goal of becoming a teacher, the more aware I become of how many flaws there are in the traditional classroom. Students are not being engaged, which is holding them back from reaching their maximum potential. School should be an environment which sparks their interest, not just a place they attend through obligation. What really appeals to be about holistic education is that it appeals to people intrinsically. By being directly engaged with their environment, students are able to find meaning and purpose (Miller, 2000). It instils a sense of “wonder” into students, which makes them want to learn.  Below, you can see staff and parents explaining their experience of being involved with a holistic model of education at Success Academy, in New York. 

[SuccessAcademies]. (2012, February 23). The Success Academy Approach to Teaching and Curriculum [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN-bjKTsLy8

The basis of this school curriculum really appealed to me, but I found it difficult to actually understand how this model of education would be practiced.  I then came across the website for Equinox School, which is a Toronto public school which utilises a holistic approach. The goal is to “promote the development of healthy, responsible, inquisitive, creative human beings” (Equinox Holistic Alternative School, 2015).  The school understands that community connections are crucial because the first experience of community that a child experiences is in the classroom, and it can extend to local and global communities. By providing community building programs, students are instilled with the skills to take social action.  These skills are taught through the social studies program (Equinox Holistic Alternative School, 2015). It amazes me that children as young as elementary school are equipped with skills that I never gained throughout my entire education. The science curriculum encompasses developing a strong connection to earth through activities like gardening and farming which exist through a collaboration with community farms and gardens within the community. These partnerships allow students to gain the same knowledge other students receive through a hands on approach while empowering them (Equinox Holistic Alternative School, 2015). Another key concept of this which appeals to me is teachers accommodating differences by refusing to label children. Something as simple as bringing out the strengths of a student within a child's spirit can lead to providing them with a strong foundation, and allowing them to embrace their uniqueness (Miller, 2000).  

Below, you can view a visual example of an educational framework which is  implemented in a school which models the holistic curriculum. This vision comes from a school in Singapore. 

Fuhua Primary School. (2012). FHPS NE Framework [Online Image]. Retrieved September 21, 2015 from http://fuhuapri.swiiit.com/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1152089

It reinforces that alternative schools still expect students to excel academically by creating life long learners. However, they go beyond that by equipping the students with the skills they need to be strong leaders, and gracious citizens. Overall, I think that educators need to get past the scepticism of how different this model is, and instead place an emphasis  on the advantages that arise from it, and include some of these practices in their own teaching. 

References

Drake, S., Kolohon, W., & Reid, J. (2014). Interweaving curriculum and classroom assessment: Engaging the 21st century learner (1st ed.). Don Mills, Ontario: Oxford University Press. 

Equinox Holistic Alternative School. (2015). Retrieved September 20, 2015. Retrieved from http://equinoxschool.ca/about/the-holistic-curriculum

Miller, R. (2000). ‘A brief introduction to holistic education’, the encyclopaedia of informal education. [http://infed.org/mobi/a-brief-introduction-to-holistic-education/. Retrieved: September 21, 2015.