- Now What?? As an educator, reflect on how Adichie's TED Talk might help our community, our school, and your classroom.
I have always taught my students and my own children the power of reading; that every book holds information and a chance to escape into a different world. When Chimamanda talks about her roommate having "a single story" about Africa, I thought about how many instances I have come across that are similar to her roommate. I see things on the news, or read things in the newspaper and form a judgement or opinion based on that "single story." I know this happens with our students as well. The more people, both adults and children, that I meet from different backgrounds, the more I learn about different cultures and backgrounds. When the news tells a story, they tell a single side of a story from the point of many, or sometimes even one person. It is important to know that your mindset matters- if you have the mindset that you are a lifelong learner and not to judge something off a single story, reading and exposing yourself to other cultures and backgrounds will help to inform you better to create more informed opinions.
2. This relates to the first video by having the common theme of being uninformed. As an adult, it is a rough transition from childhood (thinking you know everything), and realizing that you have so much to learn as an adult. I mentioned in my Part 1-reflection, that I didn't realize how much history there was in Buffalo until I had the opportunity to take a walking tour of Buffalo. I believe that we need to give our students more opportunities to see local things whether that's in person or virtual field trips.
