"Literacy learning is part of these histories, not something that children do as a cognitive task divorced from their lives" (pg. 37).
How many of us have stopped to think about each of our students as having a personal history? And, even more sobering, that not only do they each have a history, but WE are part of that history? As their teachers, we play such a huge role in shaping their literacy futures by being a part of their literacy pasts. I know we all realize how important the role of teacher truly is, but I had never thought of it as being involved in the students' literacy histories.
I, too, really related to the introduction about growing up in the Bible Belt. While it was not as rural as growing up in the mountains, I grew up in a suburb of Columbia, SC for the majority of my life. However, I did spend 6 years in Florida, and I'm thinking now, how much did those 6 years shape my literacy? I was out of the South, into an entirely new "culture" for someone who was in the formative stages of life (ages 5-10). When I think about the personal literacy histories, it is very interesting to me how we can never pinpoint exactly what it was in our histories that may have caused something. It's the collective that has shaped us. I can't say for sure that being away from my home state for 6 years definitely caused me to act this way, but the collective of events that happened from day 1 of my life to age 26 has shaped me in ways I cannot specify.
I really enjoyed reading the histories of both Janet Frame and bell hooks. I wish that I had the time and know-how to be able to listen to the histories of everyone I've ever met. One of the biggest things I've learned since I've started my master's program is just how much the early years of reading (or not reading) impacts the rest of a person's life. I'm really starting to believe that it may just be one of the biggest indicators of how someone acts and how they live the rest of their life. And once again, it hits me that as "literacy supervisors" in the schools, we have a daunting task ahead of us.
Christy Rivers
Comments (5)
Although I do believe that the early years are some of the most influential years for a person, obviously that is why I teach PreK, I also think we need to remember that people can learn to love reading later in life also. Personally, I did not start to love reading or value the importance of it until I was in college. Even then I read mostly childrens literature. It wasn't until after I graduated that I started to read for enjoyment.
Posted by Amy Spade | April 5, 2009 9:17 PM
Posted on April 5, 2009 21:17
Many teachers often do say that the reason for their chosen profession is because of the "difference they can make." However, I don't think that all who say this really think about the impact that they are making on their children's lives. I simply want to have a positive impact on a child's life--academically or personally. If I get them to love literature through historical adventures, then great! On the other hand, if I only teach them the importance of being a respectful, inquisitive, and worldly adult, then I will also be happy.
Posted by Heather Coe | April 5, 2009 11:14 PM
Posted on April 5, 2009 23:14
Christy, you make an excellent point. Many teachers do not realize that each and every child has a different history and that we indeed become part of that. We as teachers need to make a conscious effort to be a positive part in the history of a child. Like you say, each child is different and I think this book really gave us all insight into the power of the past.
Posted by Whitney Gilbert | April 6, 2009 9:13 PM
Posted on April 6, 2009 21:13
Christy,
The opening paragraph of your post is very similar to my overall reflection of the texts we have read this semester in this course. I haven't had the opportunity to have my own classroom yet, but with teachers we hear about the burn-out rates of some teachers. And I wonder how it would affect them if they took a class like this, or read the material we have read, as they are getting exhausted from being teachers. I have enjoyed reading this material because it has grounded me.
Posted by Elizabeth Griffin | April 6, 2009 10:00 PM
Posted on April 6, 2009 22:00
"It's the collective that shapes us." Yes! I couldn't agree more. So much research tries to isolate variables to show cause and effect, when studies like Hicks' really reveals how complex and intricate our histories are. I'm so glad that you made this point because it is so important to move away from simplistic thinking that can lead to stereotypes.
Posted by Alecia Jackson | April 8, 2009 10:15 PM
Posted on April 8, 2009 22:15