Teachers cultivate culture in classroom

By ALIYAH RAMIREZ Staff Writer

From an outside perspective, a student’s education has been defined by a single-letter grade and based on a multitude of assignments and tests. However, a grade does not measure the academic and personal learning teachers strive to incorporate in their classrooms.

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As Los Medanos College continues to embrace a diverse environment, the Institutional Development for Equity and Access (IDEA) Committee collaborated with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Student Life, and the Pedagogy Innovation Project (PIP), to put together a workshop addressing culturally relevant teaching practices. As many as 70 participants joined the digital workshop on Zoom Jan. 18 to learn through mini-presentations and breakout room feedback, and to hear voices from both students and staff on adapting teaching styles.

With each presentation, participants focused on answering two questions. How does this presentation promote culture and identity? How would this presentation make you feel valued in a learning space?

Professors who were given the opportunity to present addressed their individual teaching styles and introduced topics to create changes in education.

English professor Stacy Miller centered her presentation on the “pedagogy of care” where she evaluated the importance

Last semester LMC trialed a program with Groovy Gorditas to feed students on its Pittsburg campus. The college has decided to continue the program into the Spring semester.

Students this semester will be able to buy lunch from 11 a.m to 2 p.m every Tuesday this semester in a food truck program the school calls Tasty Tuesdays. It began Jan. 24 with Villas Tacos followed by Groovy Gorditas Jan. 31

However, with the food trucks only being on campus for three hours one day a week, students who come to class on other days have limited options for food on campus.

“The LMC Marketplace has been providing Panera boxed lunches every other Tuesday on campus that are free to LMC students,” said Archaga. She also added, “We are limited in what we can offer for prepared meals through the LMC Marketplace as we do not own an oven.”

While the food provided in the marketplace is microwavable, there is a lack of consistent options for students on the LMC Pittsburg campus.

“The cafeteria needs to be opened,” said LMC Bookstore worker Michele Long. “Students need a warm place to get warm food.” of care for teachers and students. As professors tailor their curriculum to help students in the classroom, Miller emphasized the necessity of making her courses better accessible for individual learning. Her courses follow an “ungrade” practice where grades are based on completion and effort; with reflections throughout See EQUITY, page 3

Most students who go into the bookstore are looking for food and snacks they can eat on campus with Long adding they are doing the best they can with what they are given.

Despite the food truck program being a success at the Pittsburg campus, Archaga said there is not a current plan to bring in more food trucks or to have them available other days of the week.