Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Roundtable
Presentation #1 Title
Extreme Standards: Incorporating Appalachian Studies in Rural Public Education in the Realm of Standardized Curricula
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
I will invite educators, administrators, and students to share in a round table discourse that ponders the question, “In what ways can public educators work within the expectations of common curriculum and standardized tests to include Appalachian Studies and continue to instill in the youth of Appalachia a sense of integrity and pride while proposing change to the conforms of government regulated curricula and tests.” This presentation interestingly parallels my 1990’s graduate school presentations at Appalachian Studies Conferences as the concept of Common Core curriculum and the Virginia Standards of Learning loomed during that decade. Students and educators then were gravely concerned about the standardization of students across the nation and equally concerned about the outcome for our students of Appalachia. So, the question relevant to the 2017 Appalachian Studies forum becomes, “How do we continue to instill in our students of Appalachia a sense of pride in their own heritage while the test scores have become so engrained into the educational system? I will ask questions such as this one while inviting audience participants to share ideas and practical lessons conducive to both ends – instilling a sense of pride while having continued success on the tests. The outcome for the audience will be two-fold. Session attendees will participate in the on-going debate of standardization of children in our region and will take with them practical strategies for incorporating Appalachian culture into stringent curriculum.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Deanna Bradberry
BS, MS, English, Radford University
National Board Certified Teacher of ELA
Adjunct and Dual Enrollment English Instructor, Wythe County Schools, VA and Wytheville Community College
Extreme Standards: Incorporating Appalachian Studies in Rural Public Education in the Realm of Standardized Curricula
I will invite educators, administrators, and students to share in a round table discourse that ponders the question, “In what ways can public educators work within the expectations of common curriculum and standardized tests to include Appalachian Studies and continue to instill in the youth of Appalachia a sense of integrity and pride while proposing change to the conforms of government regulated curricula and tests.” This presentation interestingly parallels my 1990’s graduate school presentations at Appalachian Studies Conferences as the concept of Common Core curriculum and the Virginia Standards of Learning loomed during that decade. Students and educators then were gravely concerned about the standardization of students across the nation and equally concerned about the outcome for our students of Appalachia. So, the question relevant to the 2017 Appalachian Studies forum becomes, “How do we continue to instill in our students of Appalachia a sense of pride in their own heritage while the test scores have become so engrained into the educational system? I will ask questions such as this one while inviting audience participants to share ideas and practical lessons conducive to both ends – instilling a sense of pride while having continued success on the tests. The outcome for the audience will be two-fold. Session attendees will participate in the on-going debate of standardization of children in our region and will take with them practical strategies for incorporating Appalachian culture into stringent curriculum.
