Sharing Teaching Materials and Experiences

[kirchmeiera]

In this forum we ask those who have taught courses on, or related to, Chiapas to share their materials and experiences. Both public and private school teachers, and university professors, are welcome and encouraged to participate. (I taught middle and secondary school for nine years, and college now. I learn from the instructional experiences of both groups).

In the process of exchanging information and experiences we hope to contribute to making our courses, and the learning experiences of our students even better. Please consider sharing your curricula, syllabuses, lesson plans, reading lists (textbooks, materials, other forms of supporting literature), and methods and techniques of instruction. For those who have taken courses and want to contribute, please discuss your experiences and forward any materials you have.

As an example, this past spring (2006) I taught a course titled, "The Contemporary Social History of Chiapas, Mexico". (As soon as  I figure out how to) I will include my syllabus, reading list, and brief examples of methods. (We were a small group, 12 in all, and so we mostly engaged in discussions of the readings, current events, etc.). I will discuss what I thought went well, what didn't, and what I will do if given the opportunity again. The class was offered in preparation for a trip  to Chiapas with Schools for Chiapas as our guide. Discussion is also open to the learning experiences of teachers and students who have participated in special trips to Chiapas. I will share my own experiences, and comments from students, from our trip in May.

[Pedrocafe]

We need to ask our web master Michael how we can go about sharing documents in this forum, because I would really like to see your course planning.  As an elementary school teacher I also hope to get some ideas from the many teachers who have developed primary school materials about the Mayan peoples and Chiapas.

[ZAP]

To attach a document to this forum, click the little arrow next to "Additional Options" when replying. There you'll see a place where you can Browse for a file on your computer and upload it when you make your post. That will add it to the forums as a document that others can download.

[Pedrocafe]

Here is an article that I wrote several years ago about Zapatista education. 

[pbaugh]

     Forum members ,I am an elementary teacher from Murfreesboro,TN and I am interested in teaching my Hispanic students about their roots.I have been teaching Hispanic students for the last 4 or 5 years and my numbers are steadily increasing.Since October is National Hispanic Month I have felt very positive about seeing TV comercials made by prominent Hispanics and I wanted to get some ideas about how to raise the conciousness of their heritage in my Hispanic students.I teach resource (SPED) k-6th grade.The Mexicans in our community are some of the hardest working and most talented people I have come to know.
      One day I was talking to one of my Hispanic students and I mentioned that He may some day become a famous Mexican artist.He gazed at me with a puzzled look and asked,"are there famous Mexicans"?His facial expression let me know he was serious.That face broke my heart.Since then I have made a point of letting him see as much art work and articles as he is able to understand about his people .I realize I cannot get into teaching the politics of Mexico but I can share its art and its amazing history.

[WINDBLOWER]

There are curriculms that will help you teach about the history of and contributions of the Hispanics, but as you know many times these sources do no include the contributions of the indigenous. 

When teaching my students, I find it difficult to find sources that will teach the truth, so therefore, I must combine what is in a book, stories I have heard from others, articles I have read, and personal experiences---finding my own truth---MY HISTORY--which encompasses all benefactors--- to teach about the contributions that make "us" what we are today. 

As you know the materials that "we" have available to us as educators may have small blurps of the contributions of women, African-Americans, and the first people--the indigenous, but not enough to expand on the contributions by all.

I am aware that this does not answer your question, but maybe the readers of this post will understand the seriousness and will overwhelming provide us with teaching tools to help make this a better world for all.





 

[Pedrocafe]

Dear pbaugh - Are you familiar with "The Story of Colors" by Sub commander Marcos.  It is a wonderful store about diversity that works well with all the students in your age groups.  I have used it with first grade to sixth grade classes.  It is printed by Cinco Puntos press and easy to order on Amazon or directly from Cinco Puntos (which has lots of great indigenous materials).  There are some problems with the translation into English which makes the text sound more sexual than it does in Spanish, but you can modify that as you read it...or just explain the difference if the children themselves are reading it.  This book comes directly from the Zapatistas and would allow you to share a little of their achievements.  I'd like to know how it works if you use the book...

[Faviana Hirsch-Dub]

 
Hi there Everyone,
Sorry it's been a little while since my last communication pero así es la vida a veces...
I wanted to attach the syllabus I used to teach a college level class on Zapatista autonomous ed last year. I had 34 students in my Chicana/o Studies class and it went really well. We did more than was on the syllabus but it might give others ideas.
Up to the moment, I haven't quite mastered doing the attachment. I will give it another try soon.
I wish I could have gone to Tijuana! It sounded amazing, from all resports.
Es todo por ahora.
un abrazo,
faviana
ps. the attach may work after all

[paige]

Hello, I have not been to Chiapas yet, but taught English as a Second Language in Ecuador and have been teaching ESL in San Diego for three years, mostly to Mexicans. I wanted to share my ESL lesson from last night, per Peter's suggestion.

I had the students (all from Mexico, adult beginners -- only about 4 or 5 in the class) read aloud the flyer on the upcoming Zapatista Harvest Festival, emphasizing new vocab. such as poetry, workshops, slow food, etc. We also read the summer newsletter about violence in Chiapas and went over vocab. Then we discussed their opinions about violence and poverty in Mexico and I told them about a fair trade event I went to recently.

I asked them to think of solutions to Mexico's problems and they were very discouraged so I told them to think of one positive thing they can each do for homework, and to read the San Diego Citybeat article on Tijuana border factories. Their English is quite limited, but I know this got them thinking.

[Karina]

Saludos! 

We offered the non-gmo corn seeds in my store in Oregon last spring.  We're a cooperatively owned fair trade shop and a big piece of what we do is education on the connections between economic and ecological sustainability.  The seeds were a hit.  One customer emailed us a photo of the corn stalks - apparently they often stopped traffic on her street - people were amazed at the size.  We're planning to get more this year and make a bigger Schools for Chiapas display. 

My other education outlets are teaching Spanish to preschoolers and contributing to my son's 1st grade bilingual class periodically.  Reading la Historia de Color is a great suggestion - I'll plan on that one.  With the little ones I'm starting with simple exposure to the language, culture, traditions.

One other bit of info.  I'm involved with a gradiuate program at Portland State University call Leadership for Ecology, Culture, and Learning (www.piiecl.pdx.edu).  One of the founding profesors, Pramod Parajuli, teaches a course I'm hoping to take soon on Gandhi, Zapata and Topics in New Agrarianism.

Nice to be here with you all!

[WINDBLOWER]

I downloaded the syllabus and it sounds interesting.  I hope you will post some of the "debriefing" sessions from your students and your thoughts.  It could possibly stir discussions from others.

[pbaugh]

Thanks ! Pedrocafe.I have ordered the book from Amazon.com and should be receiving it directly.I browsed through it and the pictures were colorful.Does the Schools for Chiapas have any colorful posters or other things I could post around in my classroom for my class and others to see ? I would return them when we were finished and would take great care of any thing sent for display.Pbaugh

[Pedrocafe]

Well...we are just about to launch an online store that will market our poster.  When that goes live take a look at the Schools for Chiapas poster.  Kid (and adults) love it.  It is where the artwork for this web site comes from.

[Pedrocafe]

Don't miss the "email postcard" created by Elon University students to describe their school building project in Chiapas - it is just beautiful.  You can access this video / slide show with voice over at the following web site:

http://org.elon.edu/pericleanscholars2008/postcard.htm

[b.manuel/otrahonolulu]

 
Hi there Everyone,
Sorry it's been a little while since my last communication pero así es la vida a veces...
I wanted to attach the syllabus I used to teach a college level class on Zapatista autonomous ed last year. I had 34 students in my Chicana/o Studies class and it went really well. We did more than was on the syllabus but it might give others ideas.
Up to the moment, I haven't quite mastered doing the attachment. I will give it another try soon.
I wish I could have gone to Tijuana! It sounded amazing, from all resports.
Es todo por ahora.
un abrazo,
faviana
ps. the attach may work after all



Thank you for sharing this, Faviana.  I'm sure your students benefited greatly.