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Advocacy
Advocacy
Introduction
Introduction
Advocacy refers to being able to speak up for what you or someone else need. Students need to know how to advocate for themselves and others. I strongly believe in developing my students holistically. I don't only want to focus on their academics but on building upon their strengths and empowering them with the understanding that they can and should use their voice. This school year, my focus has been to have a restorative community where all students can communicate their feelings and needs. During daily community circles, students can express how they feel about things and problem-solve with one another. Teaching self-advocacy is teaching a life skill that will remain with students long after they leave my classroom. It is evident when walking into my room that my students are self-advocates, but for my lesson, I wanted to expand on this.
Teaching advocacy teaches students to speak up for what they believe is right and stand up for others when they know something is wrong. I wanted my students to see themselves as agents of change. So after my lesson, I let my students decide on the action. I wanted it to be something in which they see an impact beyond themselves and see that they can make a difference for those around them no matter what they look like and how old they are.
Explicit Instruction on Advocacy
Explicit Instruction on Advocacy
As I only teach reading this year. I will use one of my reading blocks to teach advocacy explicitly. We will be watching a video on advocacy and reading the book Say Something by Peter Reynolds. This book shows students the importance of using their voices when they see injustices or want to help another person. Along with the text and video, complete an activity in which they will show how they will use their voices when they see injustices.
Lesson Implementation
Lesson Implementation
AdvocacyLesson_Perez_Jacqueline.docxThis is the advocacy lesson I implemented with my students.
We read Say Something by Peter Reynolds in which explained to students different ways they can say something and the importance of their voice.
In this video, you see the conversation that happened after the lesson was taught, leading to us taking action. To watch the video, please click this link or click on the screenshot of the video above.
Student Work
Student Work
After reviewing advocacy and explicitly using our voices to stand up for ourselves and others, students filled out this worksheet. These responses were impactful as they showed students how to think about the actions they will take when they see someone lonely, an injustice, or something beautiful. Students could then share their responses, which brought about more conversation. Students could even build on their ideas after receiving feedback from classmates. This is something that I plan to do every year in my room as it indeed shows if students understand what they can say when it is time to use their voice.
Taking Action: The Changemakers- Community Service
Taking Action: The Changemakers- Community Service
Advocacy Introduction
Advocacy Introduction
I was astonished by how many students wanted to think of a community service project to start our advocacy work. The same day of the lesson, we met with about 12 students from my three classes and the principal to discuss what they wanted to do. That same day we made an official school club called The Changemakers. Some of the activities we will be doing include a canned food drive, a toy drive, a coin drive, a lemonade stand, and selling bracelets. All of our activities aim to raise awareness and donate something to the organization we are raising awareness for. Since I wanted to make this something manageable for parents that involved consistent meetings after school, we met once a week during the lunch period to plan.
We introduced our club to the school in two different ways. First, we introduced the club through our video for the Houston Food Bank below. We also could present at our school assembly and continue to talk about the food bank and how we can all give to our community.
A picture after a few of the members of the changemakers and I presented for the school at our monthly school rally. Members had notecards to help them as they were nervous to complete their first big public speaking opportunity. During this talk students stated what our club is and why they wanted to be in a group like this. Students all expressed different ways they have to their school and community that month and how they plan to continue to give for the upcoming months and how other students can help. Some suggestions they have was donating to the canned food drive, helping students in class, and donating to other cause like an animal shelter. Many teachers and students were impressed as it was evident that student were really passionate about this club and seeing it be successful. Other adults in the building have asked on how they could support the club and given ideas as well. I am very excited for the upcoming events.
This document shares a few updates from the changemakers and our upcoming plans for this 2022-2023 school year. All ideas on this plan are student ideas I support with the planning to make what they want to happen to be successful.
Houston Food Bank- Food Drive
Houston Food Bank- Food Drive
Since Thanksgiving is the first holiday we saw coming up, we decided to honor the school's value of giving. The best thing to do would be to host a school food drive for the Houston Food Bank. We first had to decide how to get the whole school to donate.
We used this video to introduce the Houston Food Bank to the whole school so that students knew what the cans would go to.
Houston Food Bank. (2021). About Us- Houston Food Bank.
https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/about-us/
ChangeMakersBlurred.mp4The second video is three of my students explaining to the school what advocacy is, introducing The Changemakers and the canned food drive. This video is on youtube and was played in the morning for morning announcements in all classes at least once a week to remind students of the canned food drive. In the video, you can also see the boxes we were able to get from the Houston Food Bank so that grade levels could donate their canned food. My students went daily to check boxes and ensure all boxes were being taken care of and that no boxes were overflowing.
These were the flyers that were sent home to families.
Students were able to take complete control of this fundraiser. As a teacher, I did help with making flyers and recording videos for them, but what made this all a possibility was my students' voices. Students learned that their voices and actions bring about change through this food drive. They saw that they impacted many with their efforts in this food drive. What excites me most about this is that that is not just one action we will take. My students are motivated to continue making a difference and have learned that I am there to support them in whatever way. My goal through this group is that my students continue to want to make a change and serve their community.
Advocacy Section Conclusion & Reflection
Advocacy Section Conclusion & Reflection
The change in mindset this advocacy lesson had for my students was not something I did not expect. Students wanted to ignite change immediately, thinking about what they could do to help those around them. I am excited about what this lesson and conversation have led to. Students always come to me with ideas on what we can do in our community to improve it. This lesson has turned into something my students and I hope to carry with us for the rest of the school year and the rest of their lives. As a transformative teacher, the goal is to teach the whole child, and through this lesson, I helped students grow in academics, self-awareness, and awareness of the world around them.
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