In this chapter Hick's talks about experiences she had as a child and how it has shaped who she is and the beginnings of her literary experiences. I also believe that our history does play a big part in who we are and aids in our literacy development. Hicks states, "Reading is a part of children's situated histories."
Hicks memories of how her church, Bible school, and songs about Jesus, brought back my own memories of my church and up bringing. I remember my parents reading from the Bible to me every night before they went to bed. I too learned songs about Jesus and memorized some verses from the Bible. I attended Bible school and went to church and Sunday School every week. I never really thought about how these experiences molded who I am and even how much they affected my literacy learning until I read Hicks childhood memories.
As I read more of these girlhood memories, it brought back even more of my own memories. I remember my mom brushing my hair and reading me books. I remember her taking me to the library for storytelling and afterwards we would check out books. I too played with Barbie dolls and used my imagination as I pretended they were real and role played situations I had experienced myself, seen or heard about in some sort of way. I have memories like Frame of writing poems as a child. I used to climb up the dogwood tree that was in our front yard and write in my diary and sometimes I wrote poems in it. Because they were personal, I never shared them like Frame did.
It is so true how much our parents play a role in our literacy learning. I remember going many different places with my parents. Each time I learned so much from the experience. In the memoir of Bell Hooks, she "writes of the strong feelings beteen a headstrong little girl and a mother struggling to meet the economic and emotional needs of her family." My relationship with my mother was one where we butted heads, but in the end I now realize how much she instilled values and morals that made me want to succeed. She pushed me to go to church every week, do my homework, say my blessing and prayers, be polite to others, and much more. She instilled a feeling in me that made me want to be a "good girl" so that I didn't disappoint her. These voices from our parents do become a part of our emerging identity and can help to create moods that influence our desires to read and write. The lessons I learned at home, I truely believe gave me the desire to want to learn to read and write. I was as Hicks would refer to a "good girl" in school and did my homework. Everything was on time and I always worked hard to do the best I could on it.
As I was reading the different memoirs in Hicks chapter, I began to think more about how race, sexuality, predjudice, ect., all are shaped from our childhood experiences. We do like reading books that have characters and experiences in them that are like ours since we can relate to the character. As educators we need to be mindful of the race, gender, ethnicity of our students and be certain that we have books and provide literary experiences that represent the differences in students that are in our classrooms.
This chapter really reinforced to me that the fantasies we imbark upon as children and how the things we did and read as children shaped who we are. I never really thought about how much our childhood experiences help us with becoming who we are. I can see how our histories can evoke different feelings and different relations that shape us as readers and writers. So my question is what are some things I can do in the classroom that ensure that I am providing experiences for my students that they can relate to? I do as the teacher did for Laurie, search for books and themes that will connect to their interests, but the challenge we have as educators is that there is a classroom full of unique individuals with many different learning styles and cultural experiences.
Linda Younts
Comments (41)
Linda, I can very much relate to your desire to have a diverse classroom library. About a month ago, we had a literacy expert come to our staff meeting at school to talk to us and share with us some of the newest children's literature available. He told our staff that a classroom library should have at least 1,000 to 2,000 books to truly give students a wide variety of literature to choose from. I, of course, was so disheartened to hear how many books I should have! Being a brand new teacher, I have been trying to stock up my shelves as best I can, but I still only have about 200 books in my classroom library. However, as I've been shopping for books to add to this collection, I have decided that quality is much more important to me than quantity. I would much rather have 500 really good, diverse books for my students to choose from, than to just fill my shelves with 2,000 books that mean nothing to me. I need to be able to recommend these books to my students and be able to truly show my enthusiasm when encouraging a student to read a particular text from my classroom library. ~Allison Reese
Posted by Allison Reese | June 10, 2007 2:24 PM
Posted on June 10, 2007 14:24
Hi Linda,
I too identified with the traditional (southern) "good girl" experiences described by Hicks. I read her experiences as reflective of the the social, religious, class, and even gender biases that shaped her literacy learning. I'm not sure that she was attempting to place a value upon her experiences but merely to say that they shaped her orientation towards learning, much like the "ghetto" experiences of many of my students gave shaped their view of learning. I'm realizing that it isn't up to me to determine the validity of those experiences for my students; I just need to be aware that those experiences are a real part of who and what my students are when they come to me. This concept ist seems harks back tothe ideas in THE SKIN WE SPEAK, that I (as an educator) must be careful not to assume that my students come with any predetermined set of expectations for learning.As a female, I really appreciated Hicks included the gender bias in her discussion!
Betsy Baldwin
Posted by Betsy Baldwin | June 10, 2007 3:38 PM
Posted on June 10, 2007 15:38
Linda,
I was raised like you. I am a southern "good girl." My experiences growing up also gave me a narrow view of the world. I have always been naive to the ways others live. I didn't realize this until I became a teacher. I struggle, like you, with creating a classroom that is rich in diverse literacy. I have to remind myself to fill my classroom library with books that have other experiences other than mine. I want my students to see themselves not only in the illustrations, but in the words and the stories shared within the walls of my classroom. I think all teachers struggle with this, regardless of where they grew up, their race, etc. It's part of the human experience. We only know what we "know." We have to force ourselves out of our own little box that contains our life experiences and corner of the world.
Posted by Jeanna McIntyre | June 10, 2007 7:31 PM
Posted on June 10, 2007 19:31
I loved your application of making sure we as teachers have the right materials in our classroom for all our students, not just the ones that we can identify with. As a result of your observations I feel the need to check my classroom collection to be sure I have a good variety for all my students. Thanks.
Posted by Sara Joyce | June 10, 2007 9:25 PM
Posted on June 10, 2007 21:25
Linda,
I agree that it is not always easy accomodating to the individual interests of every child in my class. However, after reading the books we've read for this course, I realize how important this is in order to make learning interesting and meaningful for our kids. Something I plan to do this summer is to gather and organize resources I can use next school year that will help me do a better job of learning about student interests, and use this knowledge to build stronger student/teacher relationships and connect the curriculum with students' interests.
Vickie Howell
Posted by Vickie Howell | June 10, 2007 10:51 PM
Posted on June 10, 2007 22:51
Linda,
As I read your post, the thought came up in my mind, so what do we do for the children who don't have these experiences as we have? If our learning is so influenced by what goes on at home, how are we to ensure that if a child doesn't have those experiences at home, that they get them at school? If students don't have a "mother" relationship with an adult at home teaching them core values, how do we ensure they received them? Or is that our job? As you said the lessons you learned at home gave you the desire to read and learn. I honestly feel that many of our students are struggling because they don't have lessons being taught at home to help them value learning and reading.
Posted by Sarah McMillan | June 11, 2007 1:59 PM
Posted on June 11, 2007 13:59
Linda,
Your post shows that you are becoming even more aware of the very complex histories that children bring to the classroom. It is not as simple, as you allude to, as children coming to school with experiences that support literacy or not. There are so many other things that intersect with a literacy history, such as race, class, and gender, that also effect learning. I think your final question is a key one; Hicks speaks to this hybridity in her final chapter.
Posted by Prof. Alecia Jackson | June 11, 2007 10:23 PM
Posted on June 11, 2007 22:23
Linda,
After reading this chapter, we can see how much our situated histories play such an important role in reading. I had similiar experiences of church like you did. We read the bible and had devotions each night before we went to bed. We had a devotion book called "Little Visits with God."
I also believe that what we learn at home and the encouragement and motivation that we receive from our parents gives us a desire to want to learn to read and write. Could this be why some of the students in my classroom do not have this desire? They may not see reading important in the home.
You mentioned that we need to be mindful of race, gender and ethnicity of our students. At a workshop that I went to, the presenter was talking about some excellent books that they would be using in their county. When she showed the books, there were African-American students in them. She said that their county's population consisted of many African-American students. I thought they did very well in choosing these books. Also, I've heard people speak on how teacher's books in the classroom are geared toward girls. I took a look at the books in my classroom this year and that is so true. I have tried to choose more books that boys will be interested in. It may take a while to get a variety of books that I am pleased with in my classroom but that will be a goal that I will continue to work toward.
Posted by Dawn Thomas | June 11, 2007 10:53 PM
Posted on June 11, 2007 22:53
You have mentioned very interesting details ! ps decent web site .
Posted by golf swing | April 3, 2011 10:50 AM
Posted on April 3, 2011 10:50
i totally agree too, this was great.
Posted by Manistee Fishing Charter | April 7, 2011 11:49 AM
Posted on April 7, 2011 11:49
fishing is fun, but really...you blog rocks
Posted by Manistee Fishing Charter | April 9, 2011 1:22 PM
Posted on April 9, 2011 13:22
i liked it also!
Posted by cash in transit insurance | April 10, 2011 8:32 PM
Posted on April 10, 2011 20:32
i really like your blog posts.
Posted by secret formula system | April 11, 2011 2:52 PM
Posted on April 11, 2011 14:52
yea! great job.
Posted by ways to lose arm fat | April 11, 2011 3:53 PM
Posted on April 11, 2011 15:53
Using seed money to get money, free money for free is a blessing, but it's not a miracle... it's a spiritual law, but it's not a prayer... it's your right, but you need to exercise it to make it work! Seed money derives future effects from present-day causes, and embodies the timeless & universal 'Law of Tenfold Return' – plant a seed and give what you can, and earn ten times that amount when you reap what you sow!
Posted by get money | April 11, 2011 4:45 PM
Posted on April 11, 2011 16:45
While I was looking for a Tinnitus treatment that really works Tinnitus Miracle was the only one that really worked for me. The Tinnitus Miracle for me started after I had gone through years or trying different things that never worked.
Posted by tinnitus miracle | April 11, 2011 7:12 PM
Posted on April 11, 2011 19:12
Utilizzate la voce per dettare e modificare praticamente qualsiasi applicazione per Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook Express e Internet Explorer & Mac Questo rivoluzionario prodotto di facile uso comprende tutto il necessario per essere immediatamente operativi, incluso un auricolare di alta qualita.
Posted by Dragon Naturally Speaking | April 12, 2011 1:57 PM
Posted on April 12, 2011 13:57
Get Free live TV. Tired of paying for Cable? how about Satellite? Well you don't have to any longer! Put an end to your monthly bill. Get 3,500 World Channels for a one time fee of $49.95. Never again will you pay for cable or satellite!! Watch the events you want, in your own language. Watch Free Live TV on your computer.
Posted by free tv on pc | April 14, 2011 5:11 PM
Posted on April 14, 2011 17:11
this has to be one of your best posts!
Posted by Sales Coach | April 18, 2011 1:34 AM
Posted on April 18, 2011 01:34
your blog is like poetry!
Posted by houston asthma | April 18, 2011 2:34 AM
Posted on April 18, 2011 02:34
i loved your post too.
Posted by Fosamax Side Effects | April 18, 2011 1:59 PM
Posted on April 18, 2011 13:59
I also really liked it.
Posted by how to get rid of bed bugs | April 18, 2011 3:53 PM
Posted on April 18, 2011 15:53
i usually dont comment, but i wanted to say thanks for this!
Posted by LED FloodLight Manufacturer | April 19, 2011 2:19 PM
Posted on April 19, 2011 14:19
adding my appreciation!
Posted by hypnosis weight loss london | April 19, 2011 3:01 PM
Posted on April 19, 2011 15:01
thank you thank you THANK YOU!
Posted by discount cruises | April 19, 2011 5:11 PM
Posted on April 19, 2011 17:11
Tienes un gran blog!
Posted by Universidad Autonoma Madrid | April 19, 2011 7:11 PM
Posted on April 19, 2011 19:11
haha, nice one
Posted by windows cheap | April 20, 2011 6:09 PM
Posted on April 20, 2011 18:09
http://www.yourothersite.com
Posted by wordpress tutor | April 21, 2011 2:41 AM
Posted on April 21, 2011 02:41
im looking for even more!
Posted by Security Liability Insurance | April 22, 2011 1:04 AM
Posted on April 22, 2011 01:04
Rent beautiful holiday house or rent vacation apartment home or advertise your holiday home for free at no charge on best Romania website. Inchiriaza o superba vila pentru vacanta sau cauta cazare regim hotelier in apartamente garsoniere case sau vile fara taxe suplimentare sau costuri aditionale.
Posted by inchirieri apartamente | April 22, 2011 12:48 PM
Posted on April 22, 2011 12:48
This is very helpful info. I think this was a very nice post. Thanks for the great content. I will take this into consideration.
Posted by Term paper | April 24, 2011 12:23 AM
Posted on April 24, 2011 00:23
I am totally agree with you that there are now several computer programs to detect plagiarism, but it is a subject that is still in its early stages and some in draft undeveloped. my question is that how can we stop plagiarism?
Posted by Term paper | April 24, 2011 12:23 AM
Posted on April 24, 2011 00:23
I really appreciate this amazing post that you have provided here but I can't buy this home because I have already a lots of homes but I will recommend to my colleagues to buy this. home.
Posted by Term papers | April 24, 2011 12:26 AM
Posted on April 24, 2011 00:26
Valuable information and excellent design you got here! I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time into the stuff you post!!I must say that overall I am really impressed with this blog.
Posted by Custom term papers | April 24, 2011 1:29 AM
Posted on April 24, 2011 01:29
If your clothes are giving you the sense of looking good and they are fit properly then the purpose of wearing the best things has fulfilled. In the same situation if we talk about fashion boots, they should have been comfortable. You should feel good and they will give you the sense of something new and being in fashion.
Posted by Custom made term papers | April 24, 2011 1:45 PM
Posted on April 24, 2011 13:45
I was just studying your site it is very well written ..... i just love snow boarding and any game in snow.. thanks your site gives me confidence to go top on the hill again... don't make us late keep it coming ....
Posted by Research paper | April 24, 2011 1:46 PM
Posted on April 24, 2011 13:46
I agrred to give you praise in my wishes and God may Bless you from his Kindness.I like your Stuff.
Posted by Research papers | April 24, 2011 1:46 PM
Posted on April 24, 2011 13:46
I just want to tell you that your comments much more then any one and How can I read and make it more decent.
Posted by Term papers | April 24, 2011 1:49 PM
Posted on April 24, 2011 13:49
Good post….thanks for sharing.. very useful for me i will bookmark this for my future needed. thanks for a great source.
Posted by Custom made term papers | April 24, 2011 1:49 PM
Posted on April 24, 2011 13:49
That fruity Eve would have been a great evening and every single of her was eating an Apple to copy her style
Posted by Term papers | April 24, 2011 1:55 PM
Posted on April 24, 2011 13:55
Very good put up, I actually love this website, keep on it.
Posted by Poker Tour | April 25, 2011 2:28 PM
Posted on April 25, 2011 14:28