Circle Talk
Part A.
Principle of learning: Learning is embedded in memory, history and story
Learning can come from different ways memory, history, and story. When it comes to learning many people learn from stories, just like how ancestors of the first nation people tell their knowledge to the young. The knowledge that I acquired from my ancestors was the ability to have a good work ethic that has been passed down from my parents and grandma. My ancestors have shown me to work hard, and it will pay off. Example is that my grandma has been working the same job for 50 years. The talking circle allowed me to reflect on this, especially wanting to find the right job that I will do for 50 years. The ancestor that I appreciated in the talking circle was my dad who I don’t think I give enough amount of credit that he deserves. Why I look up to him is that he always has my back and pushes me to be my best. Also, he helped me through the time when I needed to learn the most. This was when I moved from French to English. Having a low phonological awareness is when I need to use my memory the most. During the talking circle today I and other students had to reach deeper in their memory from when we were younger and reflect who we were at the time, this allowed the stories to connect and remember our own stories. Also, talking with the class as a whole and now starting in EFP literary studies we get to learn from a different perspective and more about our history. This is how learning can come from memory, history, and story.
Part B
Prompt: how can this exercise build community?
By being in a circle the first nations believed that everyone is equal and has no hierarchy. Thus, being in a talking circle creates trust by letting yourself open to your classmates and relying on them to have no judgment. Also, talking circles causes communication where people get to voice their opinion. This can make good conversations or there can be disagreements. So, this makes the talking circle democratic. Involving the talking stick lets everyone have a voice and this helps with making the circle a safe place. By being in a circle you get to see everyone’s body language and faces, this can create connections among the classmates. Having circle talks and sharing more each time will make everyone feel more comfortable with their peers. By being in a circle you can make a community with the people that are involved.