Kohl made me think of a moment I had in high school. Moving from the Midwest to the South was not easy. I had issues fitting in with my peers, mostly due to the “language barrier”. But I was trying. I remember speaking with my favorite teacher, informally about something I had done. “Me and Jessie went to the beach.” He quickly corrected me. I remember being confused. I felt comfortable enough with him, and I thought he respected me. Why is he correcting me, when I am just trying to fit in? After that I was very hesitant about talking with him. I was always afraid I wasn't going to say the right thing. I even became quieter in class. He meant no harm but I couldn’t get past the fact that he didn’t understand me. In turn, I think about the damage I may be causing my students. I try everyday to give them the respect that they deserve, but I wonder if I am doing enough. I tell students that I am not understanding what they say when they answer me, and I tell them to explain it in another way. Is this hurting them?
This chapter also got me thinking about the way I use mannerisms and my own language when teaching. I will tell you that my first two years teaching were awful. And a lot of it has to do with the fact that students weren’t hearing me. And it wasn’t because they had the volume turned down. I wasn’t speaking to them I was speaking AT them. And with their behavior constantly annoying me, I am sure my tone was not great. I’m sure it was awful. Things have changed this year because I went into it with a positive attitude. I also told the students that I wanted our classroom community to be a family. And it truly is. Of course it didn’t start that way; we put a lot of effort into it. But the students are hearing me this year. They are listening. And I am speaking WITH them. I suppose over the summer I had a topsy-turvy experience. I thought long and hard about where I wanted to be in 5 years and where I had come from. I realized that teaching IS for me, and I needed to do some things to change who I was as a teacher to benefit the children.
The other two chapters also bring out many thoughts that I am having. For example, Smitherman motivates me. She makes me want to go out and do something about this issue of language in the classroom. And Wynne is even more inspiring with the reference to the 60s and the power of words. She questions the universities and the knowledge of its preservice teachers. I have no doubt that preservice teachers are not getting what they need. It is shocking to think that some universities are pumping out teachers who think that people who speak Ebonics are inferior. Maybe I am taking that to an extreme. But I do wish I had read this book when I was getting my BA. It seems so much more profound that anything I had read as an undergrad.
Sarah Feinman
Comments (5)
Sarah,
Thanks for reminding me of the difference between talking WITH children and talking AT them. As I reflect on my own teaching, I realize the "lightbulb" moments for my students often came when I was talking WITH them. So if I know that, why do I struggle in this area? I suppose it is because I lose sight of what is most important in my quest to cover material and fail to create a community.
When I finished my undergraduate degree, I was not ready to face these language/culture issues in my classroom either. While I may be "misunderstood" or deemed disingenuous, I plan to confront my peers with the issue, especially when I return to the classroom. I have already recommended the Delpit/Dowdy book to several other teachers. This is a first step for me.
Posted by Lisa Rasey | February 7, 2009 8:09 AM
Posted on February 7, 2009 08:09
Sarah,
I think that your response to your students to "Explain it another way" is encouraging. It tells them that you care enough to want to understand them. That's important. It would be easier to just move on. I don't think you are harming anyone.
I also agree with you that this book would be a valuable addition to any undergrad teaching program. It would also be a good book to use with staff development. I bet we'd have some lively discussions! I'm going to recommend it to my curriculum coordinator.
Posted by Jayne Thompson | February 7, 2009 9:36 AM
Posted on February 7, 2009 09:36
I completely agree that this book/class should be apart of ALL undergrad programs. Many of the issues in this book I had not thought about until now. When I look back I realize that I did not understand what the problem in my class really was. I think not understanding the language barriers and issues is why many young teachers fail. They are not prepared to deal with different languages and don't understand the importance of tone, attitude, presentation, etc. They think the students are not listening but really the teacher is not listening to the students. I have definitely been inspired by this book and have recommended it to my principal.
Posted by Amy Spade | February 7, 2009 8:23 PM
Posted on February 7, 2009 20:23
Your teacher lived out my greatest fear! I am a complete grammar queen, as previously noted. The effect his correction of your informal story had on you as a student provides great insight into a student's perspective. I diligently attempt to help students with their grammar and English each day without making them feel inferior. Your critique provided me with a good rule of thumb for the future. I will definitely remember to leave the "out of class" stories out of the Standard English lesson. Sometimes it really is okay to just let students speak and not worry about being critiqued for their language.
Posted by Brittany Guy | February 9, 2009 4:25 PM
Posted on February 9, 2009 16:25
Sarah,
I'm glad that you and others are finding yourselves becoming better at what you already do so well as a result of the readings. I applaud the way that you have opened yourself up, have dug deeply, and have shared those moments of change.
(Love the title of your post, too!).
I hope that perhaps you and a group of others could present a staff development on these issues, or even start a book club in your school where you all read this book together!
Posted by Alecia Jackson | February 15, 2009 10:53 AM
Posted on February 15, 2009 10:53