RES 5530: Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (Spring 2009)

It is funny that you mention wondering what Jake's parents are like. As I read I couldn't help but smile as they blow off things, that we often times worry about, with the notion that kids learn from their own mistakes (like getting hit upside the head by a bat). I work with mostly working class families and many of them, especially my dads, have this philosophy. That is how they learned and that is how they figure their children will learn. I was reading a book, for my children's literature class this week, that the main character Elijah reinforced this idea. Through a dramatic lesson Elijah's teacher was teaching them about respecting their elders and Elijah said he would remember the lesson but that nothing sticks like when it actually happens to you. About a week later Elijah disrespected an elder and was slapped across the face, so hard that he fell down. The elder was extremely upset and expressed why to Elijah. He talked about how now the lesson would stick with him because he had experienced an event that reinforced the lesson. I am not saying that we should beat our children or let them put their hands on a hot burner, but sometimes our kids do need to experience things first hand before they will truly remember it.

I, too, think NASCAR is pointless and boring. It further reinforces to me that we as female teachers have to work extra hard to reach boys. We tend to teach what we like and what interests us. I chose books and short stories that I like, and not always what strikes a chord with my students. You are right, if it takes NASCAR to reach a kid, then we have to do it.

Ashley Catlett

SuSu-
I would love to meet you and just chat. I think we see the same on a variety of topics. I read a great book two summers ago for my job called The Minds of Boys. WOW! It helped me to understand the importance of allowing boys the freedom to move about during their day. I try to create a classroom where we are "experiecing" what we are learning. The basal readers and worksheets have their place, in my room, it is a small one. I move us about in sitting in different areas, pairing with a mix of other children, working with playdoh to create an original noun, after the ideas presented in the book Frindle. Whatever I can do to transfer the knowledge I want to try. I am always looking for great ideas to extend a concept from a textbook. If NASCAR is the ticket, I will learn the drivers. I am trying to familiarize myself with baseball players right now so I can halfway begin a conversation tomorrow about the weekend games. I so agree with you--and my class tries at every opportunity to include my love of coffee and chocolate into their narrative tales. It is a sweet exchange of who we really are that builds success!

I think that NASCAR is only the beginning. We have to be willing to look for ways that our students could connect with their classroom world. We also have to respect the different individuals in our classroom and how what they know and what they have done can offer a beautiful chance for students to teach one another.

I have a student at the moment that likes to move around. When he comes to see me, we meet in my small cubicle to work. We dont have much space at all but he likes to move around - he needs to move around. However, he also likes working when he is there. Most of the time he is standing up or rocking his chair back and forth BUT he is working. I know that he can't rock his chair back and forth all day for fear of falling, but does it really matter if he sits or stands as he works? His teacher was upset with me because I tell him mom how well he does, while she tells her the opposite. I shared with her that I allow him to stand during our sessions if he wants and she was quite annoyed because she can't let him do that in class. My response was why, to which I didn't get an answer. I never want to overstep my boundaries with teachers but I really would love to know why we insist on students being completely silent and in their seats all day? I know I can't sit still myself and learning should be interacitve, engaging, exciting. Sitting quietly at a desk for 8 hours doesn't allow this to happen.

Susu,
I also do not have any interest in watching cars go in a circle. Until I moved to north Carolina, I really never realized how important racing was to people. I think about when I was younger. I loved New Kids on the Block. Teachers and family members would think my obsession was silly (and I now see it was!). But I loved those boy singers! And I thought it was ridiculous that they didn’t understand it. I try to keep that in mind when my students talk about Hannah Montana!

I too was encouraged by Jake's second grade year. Hicks has such important observational research in her book that I wish more elementary teachers in rural areas would read it. I think we all learn the important of relevance and connection but then let is slip as we get into the daily grind of teaching. This book is a positive reminder of relevant curriculum!