Review Of The Alternative By Galen Leonhardy

The Alternative and Reflections of Teacher Pedagogy

1.

In the first journal of Galen Leonhardy's The Alternative, Leonhardy expresses his classroom pedagogy and life changes at a new teaching job in Idaho. Principles Leonhardy uses in his classroom follow concepts from Paulo Friere's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, including concepts in line with knowledge is freedom. In the classroom, Leonhardy establishes a social community and a nonviolent atmosphere to create a safe and consistent learning environment for students with violent tendencies. Leonhardy keeps the interests of the students and parents in mind as a proposition comes forth to move the school's location. A focus on student success and a negotiability of class content are the differences

My drawing skills are very limited-stick figures are my finest drawings-so I was quite nervous. Mrs. Sharp said that we should not draw more than a few inches of our line within thirty seconds. Half way into the project, Mrs. Sharp looks at my drawing with disdain and yells. I don't remember her exact words, but they summed up to that I never listened to her directions, I was a miscreant, and that I needed to start over because I did the project wrong. I received the same feedback after all three of my following attempts. I felt disheartened and wondered how the rest of the semester could possibly

Sharp also had a very strong policy about talking. During a class lecture, I had forgotten my pencil in my locker. However, she was presenting a new unit today. I knew that if I wanted to pass the class, I needed to take notes. My friend Anna, a dark-haired girl who I played volleyball with, had a pencil pouch full of spare writing utensils. I whispered over to her asking for a pencil. The next thing I remember is Mrs. Sharp lecturing me for always talking and being a major disruption in her class. I couldn't fight back or even respond without digging myself a bigger hole, so I remained silent for the rest of