First, consider the context of your own schooling, in your family and in your community.
Describe your family’s own history with schooling in the United States — the educational legacy of your parents, grandparents, etc.
Describe your community context. What kind of community was your schooling situated in (i.e. urban, suburban, rural / social class and racial compositions / other demographic, historical or economic contexts as important)? Do online research to share historical and demographic information (racial, ethnic, social class, wealth, and other demographic characteristics) that will help you describe the context in rich detail.
Next, Describe your school(s). What schools/school districts did you attend for K-12 schooling? What characteristics, including rankings, can you describe about this school/district? How/can you connect that with community characteristics described above?
Next, discuss your experiences. Try to distinguish in what ways you experienced “education” and/versus “schooling.” What forms of knowledge production did you learn (Sensoy has & DiAngelo)? Name/explain 1-2 subjects, experiences, classes, teachers, or co-curricular involvements which made an impact on your identity, your thinking, and your ability to critical think about the world.
Finally, discuss how your past experiences shape your perspective on education and your positionality as a student today. How do your formative experiences and your current way of being a learner shape how you are today as a student? Was there anything missing? For those who will be teachers, how does your experience shape your intention to teach? For those who aren’t EDT majors, how does your experience shape your views of education as a citizen, future parent, or taxpayer? Draw on any class readings that have helped you formulate your reflection.