Reflection

This activity allowed the students to focus on themselves, by self-reflecting and also by sharing out loud what makes them unique. Learning to appreciate who they are provided the students the foundation to be self-advocates because they are focusing on their differences in a positive manner. Collectively, they were able to come to the conclusion that "you should not judge a book by its' cover" and that "you should take the time to get to know people for who they are." Students were able to speak about issues surrounding individuality and cultural identity by using the discussion norms as a way to facilitate their conversations. In some instances, there were "teachable moments" when a comment was made that demonstrated biases and or stereotypes, I would pause and we would dissect these comments to the root which helped students learn how to teach others to communicate appropriately and openly. It also taught students to be self-reflective and take the time to think about where their ideas, beliefs, and biases are derived. Again, this was a foundational piece to the overall goal of building pride in cultural identity along with recognizing that all should be proud of who they are, including their cultural make-up.