Literacy is a way that all students can express themselves. Reading allows students to go to different places and assume different identities. I believe that reading is very appealing to minority students because they can go to a place where they can be their self and don’t have to hide who they are. Literacy is a great resource when it comes to getting to know your students. By paying attention to the books they grab during Library or SSR time, you will learn your student’s interests. For example, the article mentioned that Daniel enjoyed reading books about American Indian heroes. A teacher should use these specific interests to help get students interested in the other content areas. The teacher could do an integrated unit about American Indian heroes. Not only will this interest Daniel, but it will also give the other students an opportunity to learn about Daniel’s culture.
Writing allows students to share their talents, feelings, and to tell you what is important to them without actually speaking to you. Daniel used his writings to talk about issues he was experiencing. One writing that particularly touched me was “Daniel’s Time at School.” It talked about his desire to be white (so that he could be popular and attractive), and about his need to be accepted for who he is. It is very sad that Daniel thought that the only way to be accepted by others was to be a ‘white boy.’ Daniel’s parents had taught him to be proud of his heritage and to accept everybody, so I assume that these thoughts and feelings were caused by ridicule from peers.
Zonnie’s language arts teacher required that they write in a journal, so she used poetry and her journal entries to express herself. Like Daniel, Zonnie used these journal entries to talk about issues that were affecting her such as racial discrimination and acceptance. What a great way to get to know your students! I don’t mean get to know their favorite color or how many siblings they have, but get to know their feelings, thoughts, and their values. When I get my own classroom, I hope to include time for students to write in journals as part of my daily schedule. If we expect them to tell us about their ‘secrets,’ then we should take the time to write a response. We don’t have to respond to every entry, but at least once a week would be ideal for me. For a student like Daniel or Zonnie, my response would include words of encouragement and praise just for being the person that they are. I don’t know if any of their teachers ever took the time to let them know how wonderful and brilliant they are, just as they are, but I bet it would have made a world of difference. Maybe they would have felt more accepted (at least by their teacher), more confident in who they are, and proud of their heritage. All of our students need to know that we love them, just as they are.
I mentioned that literacy is a great way for students to express themselves, but it is also a great way to teach acceptance of others. I believe that some children don’t realize they are being mean and not accepting others- they need to be taught how to treat others, love others, and accept others. The best way to teach this is by example. We need to be fair, accepting, and loving to others. In reality, are we going to like everybody that we meet? No, but we still need to accept and love them just as they are. Like Daniel’s father said, “There is only one race, the human race. There’s good and bad [in all of us].”
Lisa Beach
Comments (7)
I agree that literacy is a great way for students to express themselves. By immersing them in good literature we can expose them to issues such as honesty, trust, friendship, love, gender, race and other major topics of interest. It is very important that we expose our students to multicultral texts and materials. Our minority students would be able to share their experiences through these texts. I think it helps our minority students to read about their "people" and they can connect and feel like they have a story to tell.
Posted by Karin Scott | June 7, 2011 4:28 PM
Posted on June 7, 2011 16:28
I also agree that we as teachers need to take the time to respond to our students' journal entries. If we don't take the time to respond, how will they know that we have read them? And if they think we're not reading their entries, are they really going to continue to put their best effort into writing something that they don't thing matters? I remember in high school we had to write in a journal for an English class, and it was very well known that the teacher didn't read the entries, so after a while, everyone just started writing song lyrics, or the abc's or even the same word over and over again. To no one's surprise, we all got still got full credit for those entries and nothing educational was accomplished because by not reading them, the teacher had conveyed the message that it wasn't important.
Posted by Kim Strzelecki | June 8, 2011 11:18 PM
Posted on June 8, 2011 23:18
Lisa, I think using journal writing as a means to get to know your students is a great idea. In my classroom, my students write in reflection journals to write about concepts and skills they have learned on a particular day. I also invite them to share personal stories and feelings with me. It is amazing what they will tell you when they feel that you are truly "listening" to them. Journals are a great way to provide students with a "safe" way of sharing, especially with students like Daniel and Zonnie who were particularly private.
Posted by Holly Lawson | June 10, 2011 5:48 PM
Posted on June 10, 2011 17:48
Lisa, I liked your thoughts about the use of journals that gave Zonnie and Daniel an outlet for their feelings of rejection in their school community. It made me think of the book "Freedom Writers" which portrayed a large group of troubled students that did not perform in school when their home culture was not understood by the administration and teachers. When Erin Gruwell acknowledged her students frustrations and feelings of being misunderstood at school, they became motivated and engaged in their learning. She learned about their home culture and brought it into the classroom, through literature and events, regardless of how difficult and depressing it might have been. I realize she is an extraordinary teacher for dedicating her time and resources to her students, but I feel if we all exert a fraction of her enthusiasm and determination to help our students feel included and accepted at their school, they will give us the results we work so hard to help them achieve.
Posted by Michelle Carlson | June 10, 2011 5:54 PM
Posted on June 10, 2011 17:54
Lisa,
I like the point you make about responding to journal entries. I feel that if we ask students to write, we need to let them know that it is a worthwhile activity. If we don't respond or let them know that we have read what they write, then many of them may begin to feel as though it is not important. Fortunately, Zonnie didn't seem to mind that the teachers didn't respond to her journal entries, and she countinued to write for her own pleasure. She used the journal as a place to voice her own personal expriences with racism and prejudice. If the teachers had read these entries, they could have adressed her feelings and as you said, responded in a manner that would build self-esteem and allow her to see her own self-worth.
Posted by Leslie Rothenberger | June 10, 2011 6:53 PM
Posted on June 10, 2011 18:53
Lisa, I agree it is a shame that Daniel’s and Zonnie’s teachers did not take the time to truly get to know them as unique individuals. Journaling and poetry are excellent vehicles for allowing self expression. However, I too wonder how their teachers intended to use the information they learned about Daniel and Zonnie through such writings. From Noll’s research, it seemed most of their teachers knew very little about these kids true interest and potential. This example shows that it is not only important to grade student work/writings and give feedback but to use what you learned to make better connections and enhance the student’s experience in your classroom.
Posted by Ruth Ann Timmons | June 10, 2011 10:29 PM
Posted on June 10, 2011 22:29
Lisa,
Yours are wonderful insights into the power of expression -- be it through writing or reading choices. I also like your provocative point about using literacy not only as a means of expression but also of exploration -- of different cultures, to be specific. Literacy can truly open up children's worlds!
Posted by Dr. Jackson | June 13, 2011 9:15 AM
Posted on June 13, 2011 09:15