Reading and Discussion #7

Discussion #1:
 I will use the information found on page 219 of the textbook which touches on the increased use of media by children ages 8-18. It amazes me how much children use and are exposed to the media. On page 220, I will use the suggestion that critical media literacy should be of the literacy curriculum to be taught to all students. On page 222, the text states that, "Many teachers are still unclear about the import of integration and instruction (of media literacy)." I will be sure to include a direction to teachers to include media literacy in their curriculum in my PSA.

 Discussion #2:
 I read Critical Pedagogy and Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice, and I learned that being critical in our pedagogy is not a standard practice and involve the local culture and background knowledge of our students and the school environment to be effective. Teachers need to understand that the knowledge we teach and experiences we give to our students are not contained within the school grounds, but extend with the students into their neighborhoods and homes. As such, teachers need to understand that discussion and discourse between the teacher and students needs to occur so that the instructor can identify how the students relate to the media around them and their specific community. Further, I learned that education and teaching skills can and should never be mastered, so that we as educators can change with the times and our students to that we can forever grow in skill to meet the needs of our students in the ever changing culture and social structure we find ourselves in. I like critical pedagogy, in that it is an ever changing study of the culture and experience of our students and the practice of meeting the students on their level by using the knowledge of their social framework. Even though critical pedagogy is useful, I am afraid that some educators will dive too deep and become too critical and overstep their bounds into the students' cultures and experiences and loose their status among their pupils. I can see too much time and energy being spent on critical pedagogy and not enough on direct education and learning experiences.