I think the concepts in Adiche's TED talk are important for everyone to understand. This TED talk has been used to help spark discussions of what single stories people have used against us, what single stories we too have been guilty of believing, and to introduce or further a study of "othering." This can be connected to so many different readings, whether it be current events as we take a look at what narratives exist about certain groups today, or extending the study through a work of fiction. In recent years, a unit I've started with this TED talk has led students to discussions about the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the pandemic, or as a work of fiction, I like to offer up Nadine Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time." The story serves as an allegory for the Apartheid, but even without that context, it symbolically shows the dangers of trying to isolate ourselves from others.
I think the most important thing we can take away from this knowledge is the importance of getting to know a more complete story of the people we interact with, whether that be through things like understanding cultural norms, as we covered in our PD last week, or creating space for people and students to share things others might not have known. I love doing this through creative writing, or whole class poems, but also student presentations and whole class discussions. I would love to see this be a part of some larger school initiative or event! After talking about it at our fall superintendent's day I think it was clear that these conversations must take place in our community as a whole. As we learned from the video in part 1, having this knowledge of people's stories, or past, can help us be better in the present and in the future.
I think the most important thing we can take away from this knowledge is the importance of getting to know a more complete story of the people we interact with, whether that be through things like understanding cultural norms, as we covered in our PD last week, or creating space for people and students to share things others might not have known. I love doing this through creative writing, or whole class poems, but also student presentations and whole class discussions. I would love to see this be a part of some larger school initiative or event! After talking about it at our fall superintendent's day I think it was clear that these conversations must take place in our community as a whole. As we learned from the video in part 1, having this knowledge of people's stories, or past, can help us be better in the present and in the future.