1. What role does school play in building students’ agency and identity?
I believe that both school and community have a strong role in building a student's identity. The positive behaviors that are encouraged or implemented at school are often behaviors that students might not get to experience. To expand, HSHMC has a student population which typically come from more impoverished areas within San Diego. As a result, some students experience a tougher home life, but when come to school they feel safe, loved and appreciated. Welcoming and loving language is always used throughout the school, which is the result of the choice words from the staff. We want the students to see that positive language can help foster a better identity and know that what they say is appreciated as well. We encourage student voice and want them to be able to express themselves to others in a positive way.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, HSHMC is a very “Welcoming” school. Teachers have various ways in which they make their students feel welcome and one is by using language. Throughout the school and in every classroom, CHOICE WORDS is hung on the walls to help remind both staff and students that HSHMC encourages the use of positive language. Through positive language, HSHMC can help the students feel value and self worth, creating a positive identity.
3. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
I believe that by modeling the use of appropriate language in my daily conversations with students, it would aid in the students recognizing a positive and well thought out conversation. I often worry that via texting, everything is now slang or short hand and would encourage that students to continue to expand their language skills. My goal is to not just eliminate the use of poor words, but for students to make a better choice, using a higher level of educated language both in conversation and in writing. Moreover, if I hear the use of negative or foul language, speak to the students and help them realize the affect of their language and offer a better alternative. I will never forget a story I read about Will Smith. When Smith was a 12 year old aspiring Rap Star, his grandma found his journal with all his rap lyrics, which contained foul language and racial slurs. Smith said that when asked, he didn't have an answer as to why he chose to use the language other than this is what he thinks was cool. Smiths Grandma explained to him that this is an uneducated choice and that he can still accomplish his goals and deliver his message with a better use of language. This is a story I always tell the students and I would like to make this more of an active platform in the school, as I think students can relate to this at HSHMC.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
The answer to this question was addressed in my previous answer. I would choose to model choice words and create a campaign revolving around the story of Will Smith to create awareness and accountability for students actions. I would challenge them to find an article or song with inappropriate language and rewrite it to make it more meaningful, using a higher level of educational language.
Furthermore, I would encourage all staff and students to model the appropriate behavior. By making a choice to model the behavior, I hope it would become a new habit.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1.I committed to Swear to not Swear
2. To lead by example and model the use of choice words
3. When I hear words that are not appropriate, speak to the student and help them come to an understanding of better language by offering suggestions.
4. Use more motivational words when speaking to students.
5. Encourage the use of Please and Thank you
I believe that both school and community have a strong role in building a student's identity. The positive behaviors that are encouraged or implemented at school are often behaviors that students might not get to experience. To expand, HSHMC has a student population which typically come from more impoverished areas within San Diego. As a result, some students experience a tougher home life, but when come to school they feel safe, loved and appreciated. Welcoming and loving language is always used throughout the school, which is the result of the choice words from the staff. We want the students to see that positive language can help foster a better identity and know that what they say is appreciated as well. We encourage student voice and want them to be able to express themselves to others in a positive way.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
As I mentioned in my previous blog post, HSHMC is a very “Welcoming” school. Teachers have various ways in which they make their students feel welcome and one is by using language. Throughout the school and in every classroom, CHOICE WORDS is hung on the walls to help remind both staff and students that HSHMC encourages the use of positive language. Through positive language, HSHMC can help the students feel value and self worth, creating a positive identity.
3. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
I believe that by modeling the use of appropriate language in my daily conversations with students, it would aid in the students recognizing a positive and well thought out conversation. I often worry that via texting, everything is now slang or short hand and would encourage that students to continue to expand their language skills. My goal is to not just eliminate the use of poor words, but for students to make a better choice, using a higher level of educated language both in conversation and in writing. Moreover, if I hear the use of negative or foul language, speak to the students and help them realize the affect of their language and offer a better alternative. I will never forget a story I read about Will Smith. When Smith was a 12 year old aspiring Rap Star, his grandma found his journal with all his rap lyrics, which contained foul language and racial slurs. Smith said that when asked, he didn't have an answer as to why he chose to use the language other than this is what he thinks was cool. Smiths Grandma explained to him that this is an uneducated choice and that he can still accomplish his goals and deliver his message with a better use of language. This is a story I always tell the students and I would like to make this more of an active platform in the school, as I think students can relate to this at HSHMC.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
The answer to this question was addressed in my previous answer. I would choose to model choice words and create a campaign revolving around the story of Will Smith to create awareness and accountability for students actions. I would challenge them to find an article or song with inappropriate language and rewrite it to make it more meaningful, using a higher level of educational language.
Furthermore, I would encourage all staff and students to model the appropriate behavior. By making a choice to model the behavior, I hope it would become a new habit.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1.I committed to Swear to not Swear
2. To lead by example and model the use of choice words
3. When I hear words that are not appropriate, speak to the student and help them come to an understanding of better language by offering suggestions.
4. Use more motivational words when speaking to students.
5. Encourage the use of Please and Thank you