Teach With April

 An Argument of Sleeter's The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies  By April Federico            Christine E. Sleeter’s article The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies explores how ethnic studies curricula impact students from kindergarten through higher education. Her core argument is simple but powerful: traditional “mainstream” curricula are heavily Euro-American centered, and that disconnect often contributes to academic disengagement among BIPOC students. In contrast, well-designed ethnic studies programs increase engagement, graduation rates, and even standardized test scores, especially for students of color.   As someone who cares deeply about academic equity, this article felt like a clear explanation of why schools are failing many students and what we can do differently, especially as future educators. Research shows students are aware when curricula ignore their histories and identities. For example, gifted Black m...

 Shifting The Paradigm | A Reflection on RIC's MAT Program, My Own Personal Teaching Philosophy, and Presidents' Day  By April Federico Shifting the Paradigm from Deficit Oriented Schools to Asset Based Models by Shannon Renkly and Katherine Bertoloni argues that schools need to move away from focusing on what students "lack" and focus more on actually working with students to achieve their truest potential. When educators operate from a deficit mindset, expectations can unintentionally be lowered, and interventions become reactive rather than proactive. This can negatively affect students’ confidence, identity, and engagement in learning. An asset-based model shifts this perspective by encouraging educators to intentionally identify and build upon student strengths. These strengths may include resilience, cultural knowledge, creativity, relationships, and personal interests. When schools recognize these assets, students are more likely to feel respected and capable, ...

 Jean Anyon: What "Counts" as Educational Policy? | Introducing CICERO  By April Federico Jean Anyon argues that macroeconomic and social policies significantly impacts urban student achievement, as poverty continues to reproduce and spread throughout cities. Anyon first identifies the problem of minimum wage, first established in 1938. As inflation continues to grow in the United States in the twenty-first century, it is appalling to me that the first ever minimum wage established by Congress was just a mere $3.05.  Nowadays, this would not even cover the cost of a small coffee at Dunkin' or Starbucks.  Her critique of the minimum wage back illustrates how economic policy failed (and fails) to keep the pace with the cost of inflation and the creeping costs of living. This is just only one factor that Anyon argues affects families and, by extension, the educational experiences of children.  Poverty continues to be a problem in the cognitive and academic develop...

What is Normal? "Questioning Customs" By Khan April Federico        One quote from the clip of "Class Dismissed" was "you're going to school to take your place." And by “place,” the narrator meant society. I remember when I was in eighth grade, the very first thing we talked about in Mrs. McConnell’s English class was about being an individual in society, and little did I know that would be an imperative topic for that whole year. That whole year I was persecuted by peers and teachers for being different. Teachers, especially my math teacher, told me, even when I was vigorously taking notes, came up to my desk and said “you need to put more effort into things, all you do is just sit there.” I was hoping she’d come to my desk to tell me I was doing a good job. But no.  This would be an example of Horace Mann’s “broken model” of the education system, as outlined by Khan. Mann’s model emphasized social cohesion and the creation of a “common citizen" ...