"[T]eachers who play a role in transforming the academic plight of low-income students are not sympathetic in their orientation, but are instead empathetic, in that they understand the challenges that poverty poses for many students, but they do not become paralyzed by this understanding in their teaching orientation, and instead communicate to their students a firm belief in their ability to be successful." (p. 49)
Howard, T. C. 2010. Why Race and Culture Matter in Schools. New York: Teachers College Press.
Last fall I went to the Association for Middle Level Education in Portland. Dr. Stanley Trent from the University of Virginia gave a presentation dealing with self-efficacy and equity. One feature of the presentation was a contrast between teachers who one could say were sympathetic to teachers who were empathetic. The link below is a video that we watched showing a teacher with an empathetic orientation.
When you open the link, click on #24--Audrey, Year One.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series21.html#
Perhaps we can identify some of Audrey's statements and actions that make her empathetic rather than sympathetic, or perhaps we can question if she is empathetic?
Hi Angie,
ReplyDeleteI believe Audrey is empathetic. She sets high expectations for her students. I did not see her change the assignment because she felt sorry for students or alter the assignment in any way other than to let them choose topics they were interested in. I liked at the beginning when she said, "...I expect you to follow the directions." Also, she was not about telling the students the answer she was about asking questions, making them find the answers and telling her. She enjoyed challenging them, frustrating them, and making them find the answer and think for themselves. Throughout the whole video she was questioning, not telling answers. Audrey sees herself as a facilitator, she likes to tell her students, "I don't know, you tell me". She is about students finding resources as well as getting and giving information. I enjoyed her pep and think she was empathetic throughout.
I too enjoyed Audrey's empathetic teaching style, and the fact that she provides opportunities for ALL students to use higher level of thinking ("that do YOU think about the problem?"). Teachers who have high expectations for their students get also high results in learning outcomes. This is very important particularly with SES students who need guidance and structure even more than the "affluent" students who might have the extra support at home.
ReplyDelete