Staceyann Bailey is a Jamaican poet, performer, and educator who has taught at various institutions, including the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her teaching methods and approaches are deeply rooted in her experiences as a queer, black, immigrant woman and her passion for social justice. Bailey's pedagogy is centered around creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment that encourages students to explore their own identities, challenge dominant narratives, and develop their critical thinking skills.
Teaching Philosophy and Methods
Bailey’s teaching philosophy is informed by her background in performance poetry and her commitment to social justice. She believes that education should be a transformative and liberatory experience that empowers students to become active participants in their own learning and in the world around them. To achieve this, Bailey employs a range of teaching methods and approaches, including experiential learning, critical pedagogy, and restorative practices. These approaches prioritize student-centered learning, critical thinking, and community building, and are designed to create a safe and supportive learning environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, creativity, and personal growth.
Experiential Learning and Performance Poetry
Bailey’s use of experiential learning and performance poetry in her teaching is a key aspect of her approach. She believes that students learn best through direct experience and hands-on activities, and that performance poetry can be a powerful tool for exploring identity, social justice, and personal empowerment. In her classes, students are encouraged to write and perform their own poetry, using their voices and bodies to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This approach helps students develop their creative writing skills, build confidence in their self-expression, and cultivate a sense of community and solidarity with their peers.
| Teaching Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Experiential Learning | Hands-on activities and direct experience to promote learning and personal growth |
| Performance Poetry | Using poetry and performance to explore identity, social justice, and personal empowerment |
| Critical Pedagogy | Encouraging critical thinking and analysis of dominant narratives and power structures |
| Restorative Practices | Fostering a sense of community and responsibility through circle practices and restorative circles |
Critical Pedagogy and Social Justice
Bailey’s teaching is also deeply informed by critical pedagogy and a commitment to social justice. She believes that education should be a tool for challenging dominant narratives and power structures, and for promoting social justice and human rights. In her classes, students are encouraged to think critically about the world around them, to analyze and challenge dominant narratives, and to develop their own perspectives and voices. This approach helps students develop a deeper understanding of the complex social justice issues that shape our world, and to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to become active participants in creating positive change.
Some of the specific courses that Bailey has taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst include Introduction to Creative Writing, Performance Poetry and Social Justice, and Queer Studies and Literature. These courses are designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of creative writing, performance poetry, and queer studies, and to encourage them to think critically and creatively about the intersections between art, identity, and social justice.
What is the focus of Staceyann Bailey's teaching philosophy?
+Staceyann Bailey's teaching philosophy is focused on creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment that encourages students to explore their own identities, challenge dominant narratives, and develop their critical thinking skills. Her approach is centered around experiential learning, critical pedagogy, and restorative practices, and is designed to promote social justice, personal empowerment, and community building.
What types of courses has Staceyann Bailey taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst?
+Staceyann Bailey has taught a range of courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, including Introduction to Creative Writing, Performance Poetry and Social Justice, and Queer Studies and Literature. These courses are designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of creative writing, performance poetry, and queer studies, and to encourage them to think critically and creatively about the intersections between art, identity, and social justice.
In conclusion, Staceyann Bailey’s teaching methods and approaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are centered around creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment that encourages students to explore their own identities, challenge dominant narratives, and develop their critical thinking skills. Her use of experiential learning, performance poetry, critical pedagogy, and restorative practices provides students with a unique and transformative educational experience that promotes social justice, personal empowerment, and community building.
