Lisa Outland-
I learned so much from this chapter. I was surprised to see the connection between the home literacy world and the school literacy world being explained so explicitly. Jake truly learned his values concerning literacy at home. What he saw a use for he didn’t have a problem learning. But, if he couldn’t find the everyday practicality in school work, then it was a waste of time. This made so much sense to me and was the missing piece to the puzzle I sometimes have concerning my male students. It also shocked me that his home was full of literature and opportunities for reading, yet this didn’t really carry over to his school world. I think this was mainly because of the attitudes he encountered in each world. His family, especially his grandmother, praised his reading abilities and other abilities. He was so smart. Yet in school, he was a typical kindergartner, then a first and second grader who was struggling. Jake’s story gave me insight concerning some of the boys I have taught in the past, one presently, and many that will come in the future. I realize now I have to find a way to tap into their interests as often as I can to help them succeed. But, this is true with any student. Yes, this will take a lot of hard work and extra planning, but we teach for the children, we owe it to them to do what is needed to help them towards success. I knew boys were different from girls, but it was not until I read Jake’s chapter that I became more aware of how their minds work, where school is concerned. Both children wanted to please their teachers to some degree, but Laurie was all about creating a fantasy world based on the future in her family. Jake also created a fantasy world, but it was based more on past events that he changed so he became the star of the fantasy. But, more importantly, their whole attitude towards school was simply different. Jake seemed a little more standoffish about learning as a whole. Laurie appeared very eager, even with all of her learning differences. Jake is typical of many of the boys I see in kindergarten. If he can touch it and manipulate it, then it has meaning and worth to him. I just wonder how can we bridge the gap between kindergarten and first grade a little better so that the two school worlds aren’t so different. Another interesting two different worlds issue that kept replaying through my head was the part of Jake’s mother wanting him to get a college degree and his father walking through the room mentioning he didn’t need a degree. In school, it has been my experience that we try to plant the seed of more education in our children’s heads. With Jake, it seemed that his mother and school were on the same page with education while his father was on another. How conflicting for a small child. How many children do we teach that also lives through this type of conflict and how can we get them to understand that you have to look at both worlds, not one or the other, or which ever one seems easier?
Comments (6)
Lisa,
Isn't it amazing how boys and girls are so different? This chapter helped me see some things about boys that was helpful. I believe some of my boys have been like Jake in that they need to see a use for something in order to learn about it. I took a class at my church recently and we discussed males and respect for example. Males are different from females because that is their number one need; whereas, females may not need or value respect as much as males do. After learning that I tried to be aware of respect and boys in my classroom. I guess my point is that we have to look at gender when we teach because boys and girls need different things and they may learn differently.
It also surprised me how Jake's home was full of literature but yet he struggled in school. When I read that I thought about the research out there that says it makes a difference when a child is read to at home before entering kindergarten. Like you said, maybe it was because of the attitudes he encountered in each world.
Posted by Dawn Thomas | June 16, 2007 11:32 PM
Posted on June 16, 2007 23:32
Lisa,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Your post was an eye-opener as you distinguished the two literacies. You distinctively said, the home literacy and the school literacy, which Jake valued his home literacy more. This kind of knowledge will truly make a difference in school knowing how he learn best, what are his interests, and having the knowledge of his mother's and father's expectation and knowing which one were more important to Jake at this time in his life. This would have made a difference in Jake's literacy practical experiences and being successful in school would truly make a difference if the two were connected.
At the beginning of the school year, we ask the parents to fill out so many forms and one I utilize is, “Tell me About Your Child”. We should not take these forms for granted. This could be the vehicle that may provide valuable information to connect our student's home literacy into the school’s literacy in meeting the goals and objectives of the curriculum.
Posted by Shirley Mathis | June 18, 2007 8:45 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 20:45
I agree that finding the interests for the boys is very beneficial. I know that girls need to be thought of too but boys seem to be the trouble spot for this area. Most of the girls tend to want to be "good girls" in the classrooms and the boys just want to like what they are doing. I would like to think that I take this into consideration because I often try to pick one book for the girls and one for the guys during the year. "A Day No Pigs Would Die" for instance is one that most of the boys in the class really enjoy and the girls not so much.
We often do interests surveys at the beginning of the year to help us chose the books we are going to use that semester and this helps a lot. I reccomend that to anyone in any grade level because it can be very useful.
Posted by Kristen Billings | June 18, 2007 10:41 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 22:41
Lisa,
I was not as shocked about the learning differences between boys and girls because I just finished reading a book about this very issue. It is called Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. It is on the subject of how boys are wired differently than girls because they have a different purpose and journey. At first, when reading this book, I thought… “This author is really extreme and I am not sure that I agree.” --This was “before” I started noticing some of these same qualities that the author mentioned in his book displayed in my husband. I was astonished by the things that I began noticing in my husband’s actions and how they correlated with this book. I recommend reading it. It definitely gave me insight into a boy’s world and core beliefs/ideas. From this reading, I understand why my husband and I have different opinions in some areas.
Written by Heather Holland
Posted by Heather Holland | June 19, 2007 8:54 PM
Posted on June 19, 2007 20:54
Lisa, I completely and whole heartedly agree with your thoughts on showing children the many different options the future may hold. Educators are so quick to expect every student to need to go to college or receive some sort of higher education degree, when this may not necessarily be the case. It is important to realize that a four year degree is not meant for everyone. Some people thrive in this environment, while others work better at a two year institute, or others who jump straight into the work force. Our society cannot function without a variety of peoples who have a variety of experiences, whether educational (in a classroom) or just life. I think it is very important to represent all the options in a classroom. I am a fifth grade teacher and do not have much experience with kindergarten and first grade, but I think it is great the way some of you teach about a wide variety of jobs, from nurses and doctors to plumbers and waitresses. Students need to understand that there is a place that they fit into in our society that they can choose based on their talents and passions and all these different occupations perform unique duties. ~Allison Reese
Posted by Allison Reese | June 19, 2007 9:27 PM
Posted on June 19, 2007 21:27
Your concern about integrating all of a child's worlds is right on point. So often I see ideas about "the whole child" that are individualized yes, but almost *too* focused on the individual whole child without really paying attention to the whole world of the whole child. Not sure if that makes sense or not...
Alecia
Posted by Alecia | June 19, 2007 9:32 PM
Posted on June 19, 2007 21:32