Luisa Bravo

Language is our cultural tool - we use it to share experience and so to

collectively, jointly, make sense of it...Language is therefore not just a means
b which individuals can formulate ideas and communicate them, it is also a
means for people to think and learn together.

- Neil Mercer, The Guided Construction of Knowledge

Language Manifesto
As I transform into a social justice educator, I am becoming more aware of
the importance of language throughout this journey. Language comes
through many methodologies, including but not limited to body language,
drawings, gestures, and writing. Therefore, it is essential for me as an
educator to provide my students with outlets that embody a multitude of
various language archetypes. By doing so, I aim to interrupt the systematic
cycle of oppression and provide equitable access to education. I hope to be
conscious of the way language is used in my classroom by first getting to
know my students, their cultures, and their needs. Through day-to-day
conversation, I hope to gain understanding of the role language plays in their
lives so I can then reflect on my teaching methods and our the classroom
culture I will aim to provide.

MY PROMISE TO YOU

I promise to challenge you and support you so I can

create a safe and learning environment to enrich
your learning
I will provide a high challenge, high support environment (Gibbons
2015, p. 17) in the classroom by holding high standards. I believe you are
capable of higher-order thinking, and understanding and completing high-
challenging tasks. Simultaneously, I will scaffold you to provide the
individual support you need, such as explaining directions and concepts in
different ways, breaking down the question with you, providing you with a
source to develop your English vocabulary (EL), and anything else you may
need. Although sometimes it will be challenging, I hope to provide you with
the support you will need to succeed.

I promise to listen to you and encourage you to

learn how to listen to each other
I know we all have a lot to say. When you ask for my attention, I will give it--
when appropriate. Facing you and looking at you are some of the ways that I
will show you Im listening. In return, I hope you can show me your ways of
listening when we speak to each other. We will practice listening activities to
learn how to really listen. Such activities will include dyads--two way
listening, which well do during instruction. (Gibbons 2005, p.189).

I promise to validate the language and actions that

reflects your culture
Our cultures reflect different languages, mannerism, beliefs, and
more. I promise to get to know you through your culture. I will try my best to
incorporate your culture in the classroom through academic lessons,
presentations, activities, classroom behavior. Some examples to cultural
behavior includes, but is not limited to, shout outs, looking at me in the eye
when speaking, working with precise and relative time, and more. For
students who are learning English as a second language, I will try to use your
mother tongue (definitely in Spanish, and will try my best when its another
language) to introduce concepts in a way that you can understand better.
There will be time when I will allow you to use your home and native
language to present your work.

I promise to engage in dialogue and give you the

opportunity and time to think critically
As I teach, I will aim to engage in dialogue by asking open-ended questions,
encourage higher-order thinking, and encourage dialogue between all the
students in order for you to share your thoughts, ideas, and learn from each
other. You will be asked to think by yourself, with a partner, or a group,
reflect on your ideas, and share them. Unless absolutely needed, I will
refrain from practicing Question and Answer, which fails to provide an
opportunity for you to produce comprehensible output (IRE). (Gibbons 2005,
pg. 31).

I promise to provide you with different outlets that

will encourage you to explore various forms of
language
We all express ourselves in many different ways. We can communicate
through oral language, sign language, body language, writing, body
movements (such as dancing), drawing, tone, pitch, and more. You will be in
a classroom where we express ourselves. Some projects will have some sort
of rubric, but will be up to you to decide the method of presentation: you can
write a report, use drawings, acting, singing, spoken word, dancing, and any
form you can suggest.

I promise to provide you with different sources of

learning
We all learn differently and I want to make sure I provide you with different
ways of learning. This includes using visuals, videos, writing, audios,
songs, engaging activities, independent work, group work, etc. It is
important for you to have access to these tools to ensure you learn what is
being taught.

I promise to take the time to get to know you

There is one of me, and many of you. Although it may take some time, I will
take the time to get to know you individually. Greet each of you in the
morning, use work time to walk around to check on you and have small
conversation. Ask you about your day. Using tribal circles will also be used
for you to share about our lives and use that for me to follow up when
needed.

I promise to treat you as an individual and see you

for who you are
This will not be a classroom where you all try to out-do each other. We are a
community where each one of you has something unique to bring to the
table. You are not the same person as the student next to you. There is not
space for comparisons, unless they will be used as encouragement. If
someone else is doing better or worse than you, I will make sure you
understand that each of you are on different paths and on a different pace. I
will try to have one-on-ones throughout the semesters to meet with you and
go over your progress, talk about your strengths and your needs, so YOU can
succeed at your own pace.

I promise to believe in you

You are capable. You are smart. You are gifted. You will be your biggest
critique and I will be there every step to make sure you know how special
you are. Learning might be difficult, behavior may or may not be an issue.
Regardless, you have the ability to succeed in this classroom.

Students, I take the oath to be accountable for these promises in

order to . Although I am not perfect, self-reflection will be
essential for me to remind myself of the promises I have made to
you, as you are the priority in this classroom.

Love,
Ms. Bravo