Biography
My name is Chritopher Ervin, I teach Environmental science and Chemistry at Holbrook High School. My Tribal affiliation is not solidified with one tribe as I am a caucasian male, however, I am married to an Apache woman, and I teach Navajo and Hopi students currently enrolled in the Holbrook Unified School District. I joined INE and specifically Dine, because I wanted to expand my cultural awareness while learning to develop more of a healthy respect for the cultural learning and traditions that are associated with the students in my charge. I feel like if a teacher has a better understanding, and a respect for the cultural background of their students, they will be able to make the connections necessary for real learning in a classroom. Having knowledge of traditions and cultural background also allows your students an opportunity to respect the effort you put in to try to connect with them, and only enhances and helps to build trust needed in a classroom setting.