Jake was an interesting little fellow. I believe I have seen Jake before around my elementary school. As I read chapters 5 and 6 of Hicks book, Reading Lives, I couldn’t help but think about stereotypes, boys will be boys and the implications of the home school connection. First of all, Jakes father emulates the personality of many men from my school community. I admire the fact that they lift Jake up at home and talk about how “smart” he is and that he will be the owner of the family business. I think in their eyes that is what being successful entails. I know many contractors, builders, and electricians that never went to college but are doing just fine even in the midst of a recession. As an educator of course I realize that Jake needs to read at grade level and aspire to go to college. I want Jake to have the teachers that will foster his interest and necessity to be an active learner and provide instruction that heeds his active personality. It seemed to me that he could behave when he was highly engaged in instruction and while this takes energy, preparation and foresight to accomplish it is not an impossible task. I want Jake to be held accountable for his work and feel that he would respond positively to a teacher that understands and accepts his “blue-collar, masculinity identity.”(p.113). After all his second grade teacher figured out that he needed more movement and more choice in reading as he made great gains during that year. I feel this quote is the cornerstone for understanding the way children view circumstances they find themselves in, “the stories voiced about us, by those whom we most love and value, shape our identities in ways more powerful than even the most authoritative institutional systems of social regulation. It is up to us to us to find ways to help students negotiate the boundaries of race, class, ethnicity and gender.” (p.123). Classroom dialogue and forming relationships with students and community are extremely important to achieve this goal.
Karen S. Gold
Comments (3)
Karen,
As I read these chapters, I couldn't help but think about how successful Jake could have been if he had been provided with the opportunity. Jake was a very bright boy, and he seemed to enjoy learning. He worked very diligently on tasks which he thought particularly useful or interesting. I really believe that if his teacher had differentiated instruction to meet his interest and needs, he may not have thought school to be so "dumb." I also believe that students sometimes do better with concepts, skills, and assignments if they know that it is relevant and will be needed in the future. When I start a new skill or concept, I like to give my students examples of situatins or careers that require that skill or concept. I strongly believe that it makes them more receptive to learning.
Posted by Lisa Beach | June 28, 2011 8:13 PM
Posted on June 28, 2011 20:13
Karen, As I read these chapters too I could envision Jake walking around the halls of my school. I think you made a great point when you said the families definition of success may be different than ours. While I do not believe that every student are college bound and some of those hands on skills he is learning at home are important so is literacy and school. I think this is a case where the teacher and parents need to build a relationship and help support one another for his school to be successful. Your final statement is exactly correct "Classroom dialogue and forming relationships with students and community are extremely important to achieve this goal."
Posted by Kara S | June 29, 2011 5:59 PM
Posted on June 29, 2011 17:59
Karen,
I know, right! I see so many kids that remind me of Jake. I was also impressed by his parental support of Jake's learning. Usually, if a parent has dropped out, they don't hold education in high esteem, because they didn't get out of it what they needed. I was appreciative (and I know Jake will be one day) that his parents took an active interest in helping him learn and wanting the best for him in school. That is a huge factor in the success of children. Now, if only the teachers in Jake's story will get their acts together. He seems like a smart kid that would really succeed.
Posted by Carrie Brown | June 29, 2011 9:23 PM
Posted on June 29, 2011 21:23