These were two extremely powerful and aggressive studies, tackling not only race and gender but also addressing the search for identity and acceptance in and out of school. Finding your voice and taking a stand on topics can be quite complicated if you do not feel your opinion will be valued. Annette Henry also points out in her study, the lack of material used in schools that directly relate to women, presenting the issue we have read about before- interest. Students often ask themselves, why should I care about this? or how does this apply to my life?
Henry utilized readings that she knew would appeal to the girls in her study, helping them connect and relate to their own lives. Through writing and encouragement they were able to gain confidence in order to “speak up and speak from their own experiences.” I think Henry provided a vital component for the girls when she helped them realize there isn’t a “right answer.” After all, everyone has their interpretations and can relate differently no matter how similar backgrounds or home life may be. These views are felt but only when they are voiced can the individual be validated, reassured, and feel acceptance. I think Henry provided a great example of helping students find their voice and self-value in the classroom by using real-life examples. Jeanine M. Staples also utilized specific and controversial material to peak the interest of students labeled as “disengaged” in order to help them learn to “re-author” or find their voice.
I see both of these studies as examples of the importance of looking at the whole student. Not just grouping them as boys, girls, black, white but rather noticing their home and in school strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Even at a young age children find they are valued and have a place at home but struggle to find that same significance in the classroom setting. Using more material based on their interests and providing extra time and additional avenues for them to express their feelings will be a good start.
On a very simple scale I have helped my kindergarten students begin to find/develop their voice through journals. After drawing/writing on a specific topic or free-write we would come to the carpet together and have a sharing time several times a week. During this time students were giving the opportunity to share their work with the class. It was an important exercise for building confidence, acceptance, and voice. As a participating audience member the students also had to develop respect and patience for the presenter. The discussions are some of my favorite times from this past year. Just think what we could learn from kids and they could learn from each other, if we all took turns and listened.
Ruth Ann Timmons
Comments (8)
Ruth Ann,
I think the sharing sessions in your classroom were indeed an important part of your day. Sometimes I think that the students who are listening actually gain the most from these types of sharing sessions. They do have to learn to be respectful of others' thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Only when the audience learns these skills can the presenter feel safe and comfortable and truly begin to find their own "voice".
Posted by Leslie Rothenberger | June 14, 2011 10:37 AM
Posted on June 14, 2011 10:37
I agree that we need to spend more time allowing our students to share. That time is not just playtime, as many might perceive it to be; rather, it is the time when they learn to be good listeners when peers are talking – a skill that they need to be taught, because it just does not happen naturally. They learn to look at the speaker, to ask questions, and to think about what they are hearing. I was excited this year to actually have students who would disagree with one another – we had to work on the right way to disagree without being ugly, but we really did have some lively discussions!
We do have to find out what they are interested in, and utilize that knowledge as we teach. We do need to find the extra time that it takes to talk with them and to really listen to what they are saying…and, maybe most importantly, to respond to them as people.
Posted by Marlee Wright | June 14, 2011 12:47 PM
Posted on June 14, 2011 12:47
RuthAnn,
I agree that journaling is the key to helping students find thier voice. A journal is the place that everyone can share thier thoughts. Its a safe place that only the student and teacher can share together or the student can make the choice to share with everyone. It is important for all children to feel heard and valued. Journals are also a way to form trust and bonds with students that may not other wise form.
Posted by Anonymous | June 14, 2011 2:46 PM
Posted on June 14, 2011 14:46
I love the fact that you are encouraging kindergarten students to have a voice and for others to respect those voices. Many of our students are not permitted to have a voice at home because it might be considered disrespectful. Learning to not only identify with others but to appreciate the opinions of others, helps build the community respect as stated in Staples' strategies for literacy engagements. If students were permitted to practice those skills at such an early age, this learned behavior could be used to develop the critical thinkers who excel in the classroom. It would also develop the communication skills needed both inside and outside the classroom.
Posted by Michelle Carlson | June 14, 2011 7:45 PM
Posted on June 14, 2011 19:45
I tried the samething in my first grade class this year with sharing after Writer's Workshop. Their stories and thoughts are very interesting. It is amazing how deep some of them think. They will surprise you at times. I think this is a great way for us to teach them that they do have a voice and it is important that they learn to share their voice with others. To teach them at an early age that what they say matters and someone is listening. The best way to encourage them to share is to allow them to write/talk about topics that interest them. The results will always be better if they have an interest in what they are saying/writing. I think the key to what you said was that we need to learn to listen to what they are saying, and not overlook or ignore their interests. It is more work on part of the teacher to find the interests of our students, but the results are well worth the work.
Posted by Karin Scott | June 14, 2011 8:12 PM
Posted on June 14, 2011 20:12
Ruth Ann,
Like everyone else, I love that you use journaling in your classroom and encourage the students to share their work with each other. It made me think about Danny and Zonnie from our previous articles. If Zonnie had been able to share her poetry with the whole class, she might have been able to teach her peers how poetry can be related to their everyday lives. If Danny had been given the opportunity to share his Halloween story with the class, he might have gained the respect he desired from his teacher and classmates. I'm sure your students are learning so much more about writing when listening to their classmates than they would if you were to just model your own writing.
Posted by Andrea Schlobohm | June 14, 2011 8:18 PM
Posted on June 14, 2011 20:18
I love that you have your Kindergarteners write in their journals and make sharing those pieces an important part of your day. It’s important to instill the trust and confidence to share ideas in students at a young age. It’s also crucial to let children know that what they are writing in those journals is important to us and to their peers as well. During student teaching in a third grade classroom, the teacher I was with used journal writing quite a bit, but never took advantage of the opportunity to allow the children to share what they had written with the class or with small groups. I think the children would have been much more engaged in their entries had they known they were writing for a purpose greater than a grade.
Posted by Kim Strzelecki | June 14, 2011 9:10 PM
Posted on June 14, 2011 21:10
Beautiful integration of the issues, Ruth Ann. Everyone wants to have a "place" -- to be heard, known, and to matter. Schools should be no different, as you put it. I enjoyed reading your ideas.
Posted by Dr. Jackson | June 16, 2011 10:58 AM
Posted on June 16, 2011 10:58