MukbangersBall [she/her]

That all sounds so cool! I love that you’re incorporating multimodal writing (i.e. using video, audio, and visual modes of communicating). I think a problem-based project or social justice component would naturally fit VERY well into this structure and would be highly engaging for your students! That to me is where you’re project is leading. Kelly Gallagher is an author that would suit your teaching style really well (though he is for writing, specifically). With problem-based learning, you’re giving the kids a genre of topic (i.e. natural resources, plant science, animal science, etc), and then they look to see what problems they notice in their community. Then, they start to ask “why do those problems” exist, and they come up with solutions to them. This also wouldn’t be too outlandish to apply in a student teaching scenario. You can fit it in with the curriculum you’re using, but would just need to adapt the curriculum to be more community based, if that makes sense.

Problem-based learning is going to be AWESOME in this setting!

Oh! Cooperative learning strategies! Read Lave and Wenger. They talk about social learning systems that work on a novice-expert relationship system. Then, Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal development is a classic read for this stuff. I would also recommend the use of Spencer Kagan’s Cooperative Learning structures.

Basically, learning is a social activity and the context in which you’re teaching is a lot of traditional methods. By embracing cooperative learning, you’re going back to that social learning piece. But, when teaching that way, Behavior Management systems, consistency, and clear expectations is KEY. Otherwise, it’s a free-for-all; the kids think it’s social hour. I would also argue that traditional tests are bullshit, and you should utilize open book/note exams because part of reading comprehension is being able to remember where on the page you found something. I would also recommend trying to incorporate research-based reading, writing, and learning strategies. You can find lists on the internet, use the website “Reading Rockets,” or consult most teaching textbooks.

Some strategies to look into (grade level dependent):

• Social Justice projects
• Problem-based research or inquiry
• Play-based Learning
• Gamified Learning
• Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures
• Socratic Seminar
• Flipped classrooms

If you give me more specific examples of the types of activities/content you’re trying to work with, I can give you specific strategies. I am a reading specialist/curriculum instructor by trade. This is my jam haha

Of course! Especially joining an education program later in your school career, you miss out on a lot of theory stuff. What antiquated theories are you learning about currently?

Edit: I made a few typos!

Hey! I’m in a doctorate program for education.

Are you looking for theories to support your use of specific modes of assessment/grading practices or just umbrella theories on grading, rubrics, and assessments?

Overall, I think sociocultural theorists are going to be heavy hitters for you if your stance on assessment is that standardized is harmful to students. John Dewey and Christine Sleeter are awesome reads on assessment and standardization. I also agree with everyone else that Freire is great. Another couple of books I’d recommend are “Literacy with an Attitude” by Patrick J. Finn, “Multiplication is for White People” by Lisa Delpit, “Stories Matter” by Fox and Short (Free PDF download below), “Literacy and Power” by Hilary Janks, and “Funds of Knowledge” by Gonzalez, Moll, and Amanti. All of these texts talk about the way that culture influences learning, and one can utilize these theories, ideologies, and pedagogies to argue for or against specific assessments, rubrics, or grading systems. Overall, the lenses that these texts embrace is that American Education privileges the white, male, hetero, upper-class learning methods and life experiences, and by omitting those learning methods and experiences of others, you are negating an entire platform of learning that is relevant to the rest of the world: lived experiences (aka lived literacies, funds of knowledge, cultural literacies). Furthermore, you can use these texts to argue for critical literacy pedagogies, culturally responsive pedagogies, and multicultural curriculum, all of which support culturally and linguistically diverse students in their engagement and success with traditional and non-traditional forms of assessment and grading.

So.... to summarize... theories that are going to be important to you:

• Sociocultural theory (think Vygotsky, Marx, Dewey, Lave and Wenger, and Sonia Nieto)
• Culturally Responsive Pedagogies (Gloria Ladson-Billings, Lucy Calkins, Rudine Sims Bishop or Rudine Sims)
• Multicultural Education (James Banks)
• Critical Race Theory (Delgado and Stefancic wrote a great book)
• Funds of Knowledge (this is a book that you can just search for)

I hope this didn’t overwhelm you, and was actually helpful. I’d be happy to answer any questions that you might have too! I love shop talk haha.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234718213_Stories_Matter_The_Complexity_of_Cultural_Authenticity_in_Children's_Literature

I honestly don’t know. Technically vegetables and fungi are living creatures. So Veganism is confusing to me haha

Hey, girl! I love baking and cooking! Mise en place is the trick. It may take a while if you have challenging disorganization (which BMO and I do), and you might have a ton of stuff fall out of the cupboards at you, but getting mise en place (or everything you need for the task set out and in your workspace before beginning) is so helpful.

Then, I have a set cupboard for baking ingredients (anything that would actually go in the mixing bowl). When I start making more stuff at a time, like during the holidays, I get 15 gallon totes and put a clear garbage bag and fill it with flour or sugar. In the flour, put three bay leaves (they keep the meal worms and other bugs away).

In terms of supplies, I haven’t gotten my organization set yet. I try to keep all of my stuff in one place, but I haven’t gotten there yet. Currently, I’m planning to try and set up a wall of hanging materials, like measuring cups, cake levelers, metal spatulas, etc. As of right now, they’re spread all over my kitchen and it’s a pain in the ass.

I’d love to talk more, if you wanna DM or BMO! Either way, the only thing I can say is, don’t try to force a neurotaypical brain into a neurotypical organizational system. It’s debilitating and so discouraging. If you need to buy furniture or containers or bins to help, and that takes up all of your counter space, then that’s fine, so long as it makes sense to you!

Fuck yeah

Also, also: Sicilian Italian here. We’ve NEVER used wine in ours. I find that really interesting.

Your Italian grandma might come after you for sharing the family recipe. Also, traditional (according to my little, old, Italian grandma) is anise extract, though my favorites are lemon and chocolate.

🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

Mushrooms are a GREAT alternative to meat! They taste meaty and have a meatier texture while being vegan (I think?).