R.Fong Interview#1withClassroomTeacher Female,AfricanAmerican,21YearsTeaching,3yearsatourschool About25minutesinLength Me:Myfirstquestionis,Whatwasyourthinkingprocessbehindteachingyourstudentsabout 9/11? Teacher:Um...ThefirstthingIthoughtaboutwasthefactthatitwassopertinenttopeoplewho liveinNewYork,andthatitissomethingthataffected(um)thefamilieshere,sodirectlyinso manyways,especiallyinthisareabecauseIknowthis,Iwasnthereduring9/11inChinatown teachinghere,butIknowjustfromwhatMrs.Woo[theprincipal]hassaidbeforeandthe picturesandstufflikethat,thattheschoolitselfwentthroughquiteabitoftrauma.Um...so...my thoughtwasalsothatthechildrenwerenotaliveduring9/11becausethisisprobablythefirst... mm...

oneofthefirstyears,maybethesecondyear,kidsthatactuallyhadntbeenbornwhen 9/11happened,somythoughtwashowtomakeitasrealaspossibletothem,giventhatthey werentaliveduringthattimeandalsoIwasntsurewhattheirfamilieshadorhadnotshared withthemaboutit,soIwastryingtothinkaboutthat.Iwasalsotryingtothinkaboutthedifferent waysoflearning.Overthesummer,Ihaddonesome,um,littlebitofworkwithGardners,um, uhmultipleintelligences.Ihaddonealittlereadingaboutthat,andsoIwasthinkingabouthowto addressthedifferentmodalitiesoflearningaswell,sothatwassomeofmythoughtprocess. Me:Wherewereyouon9/11? Teacher:IwasteachingontheUpperWestSide,asecondgradeclass. Me:Anddidyougothroughtheprocesswiththemwhentheycameback? Teacher:[Shakingheadslowly]Itwassofresh,[ashortchuckle]Itwas,itwassofresh,NO [anotherbrieflaugh],um.[pause] Me:Becausetheyweresoyoung,right? Teacher:Theywerereallyyoung.Imean,thewayourschoolhandledit,inretrospect,Ithink wasreallywise.Um,atthattimeItaughtsecondgrade,itwasaKindergartenthroughfifthgrade school,soatthetime,um,whenthingshappened,parentsbegantofranticallycalltheschool andyouknow,forthosekidsatthattimethathadphonesandstuff,theywerecheckingin,so littlebylittle,informationbegantotrickle.Ididntknowwhatwasgoingon,initially,Ihadnoidea whatwasgoingon.Um,wehadaschoolwheretheparentsdroppedofftheirchildren,um,tothe classrooms,atabout8:30,soofcourse,around8:40orso,um,thingsstartedtoheatupabit, so,um.AllIknewwastherewasalotof(pause)Imsorry,isthisgoingofftopic?[Ishookmy headnoandsaid,Goahead.]Therewasalotofbuzzinthehallway,butIwaslikeokay,Idont knowwhatsgoingonbutyouknow,mykidsIgottotakecareofmykids,so,um,wegotword

littlebylittle,um.Theyendedupmakingadecisionthatthefourthandfifthgradeswould,they wouldjustwatchthenews,Ithinkthefifthgrade,thefourthandfifthgrade,theywerejustasked becausetherewasnowayanyteachingwouldbegoingon.Ithinkthirdgrade,theyjusttold themtherehadbeenanaccidentdowntown,andthenfortheyoungerones,theydidntwantthe youngeronestofreakoutbecausealotofourparentsworkeddowntown,andwedidntknowif theydbecomingtopickthemup,sotheyoungerones,wedecidednottosayanythingto.So, littlebylittle,theparentswerecomingtopickupthekids,youknow,theyallleftwork,andpicked upthekidsandall,allIdidwasIjusthadfreetime[laughed]justhadfreetime,so,um,so thankfullyallmystudentswenthomewiththeirguardians,everyoneintheschoolwenthome withtheirguardians,um,yeah,sothatwasmyexperience. Me:Thanksforsharing.Thanks.Wasyourapproachinteachingthisyearsstudentsthesame asyouwouldteachanyotherhistoricalevent,ordidyouapproachitdifferently? Teacher:Itwasdifferent.Um,onebecauseeven,its,itsstillfreshinsomanypeoplesminds, andsocurrent,andanyonethekidseventhough...Eventhoughthekidswerentbornatthat time,theystillhadagoodamountofcontextbecausetheyknewitwasaterroristattack,they knew...mostofthemknewthatmostofthemknewthattheTwinTowershadbeendestroyed. Um,thatsaboutalltheyknew.TheydidntknowaboutthePentagon.TheyknewaboutOsama BinLadencausehedjustbeenkilled,what,middleoflastyear,Ithink?Um,buttheydidntknow anythingaboutterrorism,theydidntknowanythingaboutum,theflightthatwentdown,Ithink,in thefieldinPennsylvania,um,intryingtoavoidkillingotherpeople,so,soIthink,Ithink,forme. Two,myownpersonalconnectionwithitissostrong,itwasjusteasierformetodobecauseI hadalotmorepiecesthatImighthave,say,teachingtheMexicanRevolutionorteachingum, WorldWarII.Um,becausemyownpersonalconnectionswerereallystrong,especiallysinceI wasworkingwithkidsthatday. Me:Thanks.What,whatwasyour,howdidyouplan,likeoverthesummeryouweresayingyou readGarner,howdidyouplan,oruh,whatwasyour,uh,frameworkforthinkingaboutyour planning? Teacher:Yeah,itwasalotofstuffgoingonwiththat.Uh,[Getsupfromchairandturningback abouttoreachforshelf]letmeseeifIhavesomething,Imean,doyouwantanyhardstuffordid youwantitlater. Me:Oh,lateron,definitely!Yeah,thatdbegreat.Thanks! Teahcer:[sitsbackdown]Um,whatwasmyplanning?[LongPause,lookingup,totheside] Okay,um,[pause]Ilookedatthedifferentlearningstyles,thatI,thatIknewthekidstendto gravitatetowards,Ithoughtabouthowtojustmakeitreal.Ijusttriedtothinkhowtomakeitas realaspossible.Ialsothoughtabouthowcanwetakeitoutofthetypicalcontext.Ithought abouttheissueofperspectivebecauseperspectiveissomethingthatwecoverinfifthgradein termsofpersuasivewritingandthattypeofthing.So,whatIwantedtodowasplanitwitha

visualcomponent,um,sometypeofthereadingwouldbeeasy.Findingreadingforitwasnot hard.But,fromavisualcomponent,fromapersonalexperiencecomponent,fromthenews component,fromafactualcomponent.So,Iwaslookingatthedifferentwaysthatthekidsmight accessinformationandsoIplannedmyactivitiesaround9/11basedonthat. Me:Hmm...!Thankyou.Whatdoyouseeasyourrolewhenaddressingsensitivetopicsand eventsinyourclassroom? Teacher:Ithinkmyroleisfirsttoacknowledgethatitissensitive.Ithinkwehavetostartoffwith that.Um,wevecertainlyhadtodealwithissueslikebullyinganddealwithissuesofWe startedtalkingalittleaboutprejudiceandracism,aswell,inthatextremelysensitivetopic. Umm,andsoIthinkthefirstthingformetodoistorecognizeitissensitiveandwhy.AndIthink theotherthingistodiffusethethoughtsthatkidshaveaboutit,becausealotofthemhave certainthoughts,stereotypes,thatkindofthing.So,mythinkingaswellistoum,bringitoutin theopen,talkitthrough,andalsotogivethechildrenanopportunity,too.Someofthemfeel morecomfortabletalkinginawholegroup,somefeelmorecomfortabletalkingoneonone, someofthemfeltmorecomfortablewriting,soItrytogivethemopportunitiestoexpress whateverisgoingonandwhatevermodalitytheyaremostcomfortablewith. Me:Thankyou.WhenIwatched,uh,yourtwolessons,youuh,taughtaboutterrorismfirstand thenbullying.Didyoumeantotiethose,ordidthatjusthappen? Teacher:[Pause]Both!Um,weTerrorismwassimplybecausethatssomethingthatourworld isgoingtoexperienceprobablyfortherestoftheirlives.Thechildrenareveryfamiliarwiththe wordterrorism,soIwantedtodiffusethatwordabit,andsobecausethatisanissuethattheyll hearalotaboutinthenewsnow,whentheyregrowingup,Iwantedtotalkaboutthat. Interestinglyenough,thatverydaythatwetalkedaboutIalreadyplannedtodobullying,butthat daywedidhaveasituationdownstairsinthelunchroomthatmadethetieinevenmore complete,soIalreadyplannedontalkingaboutit,butbecauseofthattieinonthatparticularday inthelunchroom,itmadeitevenmoreum,relevantforthekids. Me:Anddoyoustillfollowupwiththesesubjectsorduringsocialstudies? Teacher:NotasmuchasIneedto,honestly,IdliketodomoreofitImeanweve,wevetalked alittlebitbutnotreally,um,becausefortunately,itreallyhasntcomeup.[loudlaughter] Me:Whichisgood,yeah. Teacher:Thebullyingparthasntcomeupmuch.Um,atallsincethen.So,whetherthatwas justthekidssortoftryingtoseehowfartheycouldgo,andpushtheenvelopeorwhat,Imnot sure,butitreallyhasntcomeupasmuchsincethen. Me:Didyoushareyourpersonalexperiencewhenyoutaughtit..of9/11withyourstudentsthis

year? Teacher:[RepeatingpartofthequestionasshewasthinkingaloudunderherbreathdidIshare it?Shakingheadslowly.]No,ImprettysureItoldthemItaughtsecondgradeintheclassroom. Um,Ihonestly[pause]Iprobablydid.Idontrememberspecifically.But,Inormallydo,soIm goingtosaythatIdid. Me:Howdidyouintroduceittothemuh,thesubjectof9/11? Teacher:Oh,um. Me:Becauseyoudidyoutaughtitforaweekandahalfright? Teacher:Yeah,Ijustopeneditup,whatdoyouknowabout9/11andhadthemdoafreewrite aboutitandthenwetalkedaboutit,whatthey,whattheyhadwrittendown,andIthinkalsoIthen askeduh,whatdotheyknow,likeaKWL,whatdidtheyknow,whatweretheycuriousabout. Me:Andyou,uh,hadmentionedinthesurveythatyouhadthemwriteletters.Didyouwant themtohavethiskindofprojecttodoaslikeanactionorsomethinglikethat? Teachers:Yeah,whathappenedwasthatactuallyconnectedtosomethingmychurchwas doing.Ourchurchhasa,um,wehaveum,uh,anorganizationcalledHOPE,HelpingOther PeopleEverywhereandum,wedodifferentserviceprojectsforthecommunityandbeyond,and so,oneoftheprojectsthisyearwastoencouragetheservicemen...about9/11.Um,welluh,not necessarilyabout9/11,buttoencouragethepeoplethatwerestillfightingforourfreedoms.So, um,whatIdidwasactuallyinconjunctionwiththatparticularproject,soourcongregationwas askedtowriteletters,um,andthenIaskedthepersonthatcoordinateditinourcongregation woulditbeokayifmykidsdidit.Then,IaskedMrs.Wooaswell,tomakesure,becauseIknow differentpeoplehavedifferentviewsaboutwar,andtheymightnotfeelgoodabouthavingtheir kidswrite...youknowthatkindofthing.Shesaid,shesaiditwasfine,soum,soIdidthatand basicallyweframedit.Iframeditas,okay,thesearethe,thisiswhathappenedon9/11,theres peoplestilloutnowtryingtomakesurethatterrorismisnotsomethingthatruns,rulesourlives andsowejustwanttothankthemforthat.So,Igavethem,wetalkedabitaboutitthenIgave themtheformatofintroducingthemselvesinaletter,talkingaboutwhattheythankedthemfor, andthenthelastparagraphwasaboutwishingthemwelltocomebacktotheirfamiliesandyou know,hopingthattheyllbeokay.Um,becauseIfeltlike,Ifeellikeourgenerationortheyounger generationisverydisconnectedwiththesacrificesthatpeoplemakeforthemandthewholeidea thatawarisgoingonsomewhereandthatpeoplearehurtingandandthatsawholeother perspectivethatIwantedthemtohaveaswell.So,wedidthatandthenIumgavethelettersto ourcoordinatorandthenum,mailedthemoff.So,Ididaskaboutongoingpenpalcommunication withthemum,andIthinkitsprettymuchuptotheservicemeniftheywanttodothat,buttheydo haveourinformationincasetheywanttotoreachout.

Me:Andhowdidthestudentsfeeluh,respondtothiskindofserviceproject? Teacher:Youknow,itwentwell,consideringtheirbackgroundwasnotthatstrong,Ithinkitwent well,um,yeahIwasveryproudofthemforthelettersthattheywroteandsentthemall. Me:Uh,lookingatnextyear,would,uh,willyouteachitagainand,uh,isthereanythingyou wouldchangeor Teacher:Ineedtoteachitagain.[laughter]Ineedtoteachitagainbecauseitssuchuhbigpart partoftheNewYorkfabric.Um,soIdefinitelywould.Intermsofwhattodo,um,Iwould probablywanttoaddabitmoreaboutthe,whateverthecurrentstateofthewarsrightnowfor freedom?Um,becausethatisone.ThewarinAfghanistan,um,thewarinIraq,issomething actuallythatwereabouttogetintoabitinoursocialstudiesunitthatscomingup.Um,thenext unitisWars,andso,likeIdidthislastyear.Ithinkthatswhatgavemetheidealastyear becauseIdid,wedidum,CivilWar,WorldWarTwo,Vietnam,andAfghanistan,andmyhighest groupdidAfghanistanbecausethatrequiresalotheavierthinkingandalotmoreresearchand so,um,sopartofwhatIwanttodointermsofafollowupismakingsurethatthatparticularwar isbeefedupabitintermsofthefactsandthattypeofthing.Um,andwiththatwarin Afghanistan,wevebeenreadingbooks,liketradebooks,thatgowiththat,sowiththatwar,the studentsinthatreadinggroupreadthebook.Theyreadfactualinformationaboutthatwarwhich startswith9/11andthenwespinoffintoum,thetreatmentofchildrenandsotheresabook calledTheBreadWinnerthatweread,wereadasabookclub,andum,thatbasicallytalks aboutayoungladywhocannolongergotoschool,cannolongerhaveaneducation,because theTalibanhastakenoverhervillage,andso,infollowingup,thiscomingyearandalsonext year,Iknow,Iforgottheyoungladysname,buttheresayoungwoman,whowasseverely injuredbecauseshewasayounggirltryingtofightforfreedomum,intheMiddleEast,andshe wasinthehospital.Imeanitwasawholebig...IknowyouknowwhoImtalkingabout[Inodin agreementandsay,Yes.]Butum,soIwanttobringthatinthisyearaswell.So,fornextyear, IthinkIwouldjustaddafewmorefactsaboutthatparticularwar,um,yeah,andhavethemdoa bitmoreworkintermsofthat. Me:Wasthisyearthefirstyearyouwentthisindepthaboutuh,teaching9/11withthestudents? Teacher:Yeah.Andpartofit,[chuckles]partofitwasmotivatedby,Iknowlastyearwehadthe um[clearsthroat]Thisyearslessonwasadirectresultoflastyearhavingthe9/11assembly. Wehada9/11assemblylastyearwherefourthandfifthgradeneededtowriteaboutwhat9/11 meanttothemandthattypeofthing,somymindwasalreadylike,wemaydothisagainthis year,andIwasIdidntIwantedtodoitmoreindepthbecauseIwantedthemtohavea bettergrounding,abetterunderstandingofwhattheywerewritingabout.Now,wedidntdothe assembly,butthatwasokay,becausewegotachancetoum,doalotofworkaroundatopic thatsstillveryverycrucial. Me:Oh,causelastyearwasthetenthanniversary,andsothatswhytheyhadthatassembly.

Teacher:Yeah,andIthoughttheyweregoingtodoiteveryyear,butthatsokaythatwedidnt, butthatsortofmademethinkthroughhowtodothis,becauseIwasexcitedtoopenupwiththat unitinsocialstudiesthisyear. Me:Thankyou.And,soforyourstudents,uh,afterteachingabout,them,whatareyouuh, hopingtheytakeawayfromthis,uh,learningexperience? Teachers:[takesadeepbreathandsigh,whispers,Letssee.]Theresalot.Um,Ithinkthe firstisjustaworkingdefinitionofterrorism.Um,Ithinkthesecondisamoredeeperconnection withthepersonalaspectsoflosswith9/11.Um,andIthinkjustbeingabletobemore empatheticinsituationsthatarechallenging.[LongPause]Imean,academicallyIknowthey knowthefacts,andthatsallwellandgood,butIthinkImlooking...Thechildrenareverygood atrecallingfacts...thestudents,thispopulationisverygoodatthat,um,butjusttotrulyconnect thosefactstoum,personalexperiences,andbeingabletoincorporatethatintotheirown understandings,Ithinkisimportant.[LongPause]Ithinkthatswhythebullyingpiecehelped bringitfullcirclebecauseinalotofways,Iwantthemtoseethatbullyingwasaformof terrorism,and,itis.So,theycouldthinkaboutthatwhentheychosetotakeadvantageof someoneinthatway. Me:Thankyou.[LongPause,andlookingatnotes]Ithinkweregood.Thankssomuch, Rachel.Isthereanythingelseyouwantedtoaddtoit,or Teacher:Um,IfIcouldhavegottensomeoneintospeakthatwaspartofthereliefeffort.Ido havesomeonethatIknowthatwasafirefighter,awomanfirefighterthatwasdowntherethat day.Um,andshenarrowlymissedbeingkilledbecauseher,hersquadwas,Ithinkitwas,I thinktheManhattansquadswentinfirst,andthentheBrooklynsquadswentin,theouter boroughs,andthen,whichevertowerwashitfirst,Ibelievethatwasthesecondtowertofall,if Imnotmistaken.Andso,shewasonthetruckthatwassupposedtogoin,andatthelast minute,shechangedassignmentswithsomeone.Andthepersonthatactually,shechanged assignmentswith,wasactuallyinthebuildingwhenitcollapsed.And,shehadalotofum,Im sureshesokaynow,butatthetime,alotofsurvivorguilt,alotoffear.Now,IdontknowifId inviteher,becauseIdontwanthertofeellikeImexploitingher.CausethatwasthethingIknow shefeltrightaftertheattacks,thatpeople,Ohyeah.Shefeltexploitedtoadegree,butIthinkifI weretoum,dothatthatwouldbeonething.Theotherthingwasoneofmyquestionswasfor thechildrenwas,Whatlessonswerelearnedasaresultof9/11?And,Imnotsure.One,and thatwas,andthosequestionswerespecificallydesignedsothatIcouldseewhatquestionsthey wouldchoose.IdidntassignthequestionbutIwantedtoseewhattheywouldchoose,andthey werespecificallytiered,sothatlikefromthebasictotheadvanced,sothatthebasicwaswritea paragraphandsummarizeit.Thatsyourbasiclevel.Andthenthemoreinferentiallevelwould beum,Whatweresomeofthelessonslearned?And,IthinkImightwanttodothatabitmore aswellasabitmorewithperspectiveintermsoftheviewpointofsomeoneintheTaliban.That wouldbetough,butIthink,andIsaythatuh,perspective,Ididuh.WhenIwasdoingWorldWar

IIlastyear,formyownresearch,Ireadabookcalled,TheBoyintheStripedPajamas,which wasanamazingbookaboutWorldWarIIbutitsfromtheperspectiveofaGermanchild,aNazi child,andhisperspectiveis,wellhedoesntknowthatanythingelseiswrong.Hehasnoidea. Thisisjustthewaylifeis.Andso,tocontrastthetwoperspectives,ofyouknow,akidinthe TalibanisWell,ofcourseAmericansare,youknow,um,versussomewhereherewho sufferedanddiedbecauseonecouldalsosaythesamethingforAmerica,whichis,wegohurt people,youknow?Thatsgettingalittlebittooheavyfor10yearolds,so[Bigburstoflaughter] Thats,thatsatheoreticaldiscussiontohavebyadults.But,Ithinkjustperspectiveandmaybe asurvivormighthelp. Me:OnthedaythattheycamebackafterHurricaneSandy,whatwasyourapproachlike...you know,becauseitwasthatsimilarkindoffeelingthatsomethingthathitshomesohard? Teacher:Yeah,Ithoughtaboutthat.Um,IthoughtaboutwhatMrs.WoosaidonFriday,Ilooked alittlebitatsomeofthequestionsthatwereonthewebsite,um,IknewIwantedthemtowrite.I knewIwantedthemtowritebecausewealreadyhadthatstructureinplaceofwritingfirstand thatkindofthing.So,whatIdidthatmorningwas,andIgotanotherideafromMs.Cancel[other 5thgradeteacher]aswellbecauseweweretalkingaboutitaswell,butthefirstthingIdidwas justhavethemwriteaboutthehurricane,andIdidntgivethemspecificthingstowrite.Ijust gavethemthingsthatcouldguidetheirthinkingwhichwasthingslikeum,somethoughtsto considerwere,Wereyou...didyouhavetogoelsewhere,um,didyouhavetohelpsomeone thathadtocometoyourhouse,didyouloseanypower...Youknow,thatkindofthing,soIgave themthings,sotheycouldjustwrite,theycouldusethoseprompts,buttheydidnthaveto,and soIhadthemwrite,andthenIhadthemsharewitheachother.Um,prettymuchthesamewayI normallydo.WhichIhadthem,um,readeachotherswork,andmakesomecomments,and thenIhadthemshareoutloud.Andthen,thatwaslikethefirstpersonalconnection.Then,after that,um,wedidavideoabouthurricanes,sothatweconnectedtowhatahurricane...a BrainPopvideo...aboutwhatahurricaneactuallyis.Itsacyclone,itsthis,itsatropicalstorm, itsadepression.AndthenIstopped,youknow,andthenwetalkedabouteachofthosesothat theycanhavetheemotionalpersonalconnectionandthenthescientificconnection,andthen, uh,forhomeworkthatevening,Itoldthemtowritedownwhattheyhadlearnedabouthurricanes. So,thatshowIapproachedthehurricanesituation. Me:Thanks.Good.Okay!Thankssomuch! Teacher:Okay.Yourewelcome.

Interpretation IbelieveIhaveaTONofrichdescriptionfromher!Lotstothinkandreflectabout,as mentionedincomments.Definitelyhaveacasestudy,now.IseehowmuchIneedtoworkon myownarticulationinmyquestions.Iwasveryfortunatetohaveateacherwhocouldarticulate

herthinkingandplanningsowell,andithasgivenmealottothinkaboutandreflecton.Ialready seehowsomeofmyreadingstieinwithherteachingandthinkingprocess.Theideaof teachersbeingabletoteachwithdifferentstances. Theteacherreallyseemstotakeintoconsiderationwhereherstudentsareatandwhere shewantstotakethem.Someofthecommentsthatshemadedemonstratethis.Forexample, whenshesaid,Ifeellikeourgenerationortheyoungergenerationisverydisconnectedwiththe sacrificesthatpeoplemakeforthemandthewholeideathatawarisgoingonsomewhereand thatpeoplearehurtingandthatsawholeotherperspectivethatIwantedthemtohaveaswell. Shealsomentionedafewtimesaboutdeepeningherstudentsunderstanding,soshesdefinitely awarethatteachinghistoryissomuchmorethanthememorizationoffactsanddetails. Someofmyreadingsseemtotyingintoherpedagogicalthinkingintermsseeingthe studentsasdemocraticcitizens,wheresheoftenmentionedhowshewantedherstudentsto seethingsfromotherperspectivesandhowshewantedthemtobeconnectedtotheworld aroundthem.AnotherthingthatIamseeingistheimportanceofactiveplanning,andIthinkone ofthethingsthatisoftennotmentionedisthatyoucannotplanforaclassinisolationwithout takingintoconsiderationtheneedsofyourstudents.Theteacherseemedtobeveryconscious aboutherstudentsandwhatshewantedthemtolearnfromherlessonson9/11. GradeA