Module 1: Socialization & Identity
Part 3: Considering your identity
The first module explored socialization and identity. This second module will help you consider your own identity. You can complete this activity on your own, but you may find it more beneficial to discuss your identity with someone.
Suggested Goals:
1. To explore various factors that contribute to personal identity.
2. To consider how your identity relates to teaching and to students in the classroom.
Suggested Goals:
1. To explore various factors that contribute to personal identity.
2. To consider how your identity relates to teaching and to students in the classroom.
&1: Identity
The first module explored socialization and the relationship to identity. This second module will provide opportunities to explore personal identities and group membership. To begin, there is a link to the Simply Psychology article on Social Identity Theory.
Read:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
Note: You can choose to complete this module on your own. However, it may be more beneficial to complete the activities and engage in discussion with someone about varied aspects of identities and differences in identities based on socialization and context.
To begin, consider some of your favorites. You can fill in the “Favorites Identity Wheel” included in the Google Classroom. As you fill in the wheel, consider how you might identify yourself based on your interests or favorites.
Activity:
Favorites Identity Wheel (in the resources or the link below)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AHxruFSJ5b4ilD5a1anx7ZkrD9SL1tXS/view?usp=sharing
Read:
https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
Note: You can choose to complete this module on your own. However, it may be more beneficial to complete the activities and engage in discussion with someone about varied aspects of identities and differences in identities based on socialization and context.
To begin, consider some of your favorites. You can fill in the “Favorites Identity Wheel” included in the Google Classroom. As you fill in the wheel, consider how you might identify yourself based on your interests or favorites.
Activity:
Favorites Identity Wheel (in the resources or the link below)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AHxruFSJ5b4ilD5a1anx7ZkrD9SL1tXS/view?usp=sharing
| favorites_identity_wheel_word.docx |
| favorites_identity_wheel.pdf |
Reflect:
The first activity looked at favorites. These favorites may help construct an identity, but they are primarily choices and surface level ideas. Socialization may play a role in our selection of favorites, but it can be easier to change than some other attributes. The “Favorites Identity Wheel” helped initiate thinking about identity, but the “Social Identity Wheel” will help push toward deeper thinking about identity. Take time to fill in the “Social Identity Wheel.” Fill in as many blocks as you wish and then consider the questions in the center of the wheel.
Activity:
Social Identity Wheel (in the resources or the link below)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHzUqnR1pv6yoChzuyKzLfK6etJNkZeW/view?usp=sharing
- How do your favorites help you to construct an identity?
- Can your favorites change over time? Could your identity change over time?
- How does context impact your favorites or how they contribute to your identity?
The first activity looked at favorites. These favorites may help construct an identity, but they are primarily choices and surface level ideas. Socialization may play a role in our selection of favorites, but it can be easier to change than some other attributes. The “Favorites Identity Wheel” helped initiate thinking about identity, but the “Social Identity Wheel” will help push toward deeper thinking about identity. Take time to fill in the “Social Identity Wheel.” Fill in as many blocks as you wish and then consider the questions in the center of the wheel.
Activity:
Social Identity Wheel (in the resources or the link below)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHzUqnR1pv6yoChzuyKzLfK6etJNkZeW/view?usp=sharing
| social_identity_wheel__1_.docx |
| social_identity_wheel.pdf |
Reflect:
Consider the following list of questions from the University of Michigan’s LSA Inclusive Teaching project (source - https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/sample-activities/1213/):
The modules will progress into racial identity, racism, and antiracism. It is helpful to understand your own identity and how it connects to the issues that will be explored in upcoming modules. Keep in mind how you see yourself and how you think your students might view your identity.
Reflect:
The next part will focus on identity as it relates to racial identity development.
Note - Resources adapted from: University of Michigan LSA Inclusive Teaching Project found at https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/sample-activities/1213/
Consider the following list of questions from the University of Michigan’s LSA Inclusive Teaching project (source - https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/sample-activities/1213/):
- What part of your identity do you think people first notice about you?
- What part of your identity are you most comfortable sharing with other people?
- What part of your identity are you least comfortable sharing with other people?
- What part of your identity are you most proud of?
- What part of your identity did you struggle the most with growing up?
- What part of your identity is the most important to you?
- What part of your identity is least important to you?
- What part of other people’s identities do you notice first?
- For what part of your identity do you feel you face oppression for most often?
- For what part of your identity do you feel you receive privilege for most often?
- For what part of your identity do you feel least comfortable with at your school?
- Which of your own identities you would like to learn more about?
- Which of your identities do you feel have the strongest effect on how you see yourself as a person?
- What part of your identity do you see having the most effect on your interactions with students?
- What part of students’ identities do you most often see affecting their interactions with you?
- What part of your identity do you see having the most effect on your interactions with co-workers/peers?
The modules will progress into racial identity, racism, and antiracism. It is helpful to understand your own identity and how it connects to the issues that will be explored in upcoming modules. Keep in mind how you see yourself and how you think your students might view your identity.
Reflect:
- What did you learn about the various factors that contribute to personal identity?
- How does your identity relate to teaching and to students in the classroom?
The next part will focus on identity as it relates to racial identity development.
Note - Resources adapted from: University of Michigan LSA Inclusive Teaching Project found at https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/sample-activities/1213/
