OK… SO I definitely have a few questions about the chapter, hoping someone can help me understand chapter two a little bit better. Or I might gain more insight/confusion once I read other blogs, but not until after writing this, so I do not confuse myself more. Dr. Jackson’s podcast did help me get through the first few pages in chapter two, but with being a first grade teacher for so long, using simple terms to get instruction across, the complicated usage of some terminology got me messed up reading these chapters. Question 1: When they keep referring to independent “mastery”, what are they actually implying? Does it mean, for example, when a child is reading/comprehending above a first grade level at the end of first grade, I would say she has “mastered” first grade reading, or is their different meaning behind what people would refer to as “mastery”. Question 2: I was slightly confused on the “mother/daughter language transcripts section (p. 26-27). Is Hicks saying here that she thinks that portraying middle class mothers as “sensitive” to the educational needs of her daughter is a bad thing? Instead you should portray them as what? I know I was raised middle class and I would say my mom was sensitive to me and my sibling’s educational needs. I know for sure that not all mothers looked at it that way, but then what can we do as educators to fit/address every students need. Maybe I just read/reread it wrong. Question 3: Before I started reading the rest of the book and realize I had taken critical literacy the wrong way. Is critical literacy education a good thing to Hicks or something that needs to be altered? HELP!!!
One thing that caught my attention was Walkerdine’s transcript from Schoolgirl Fictions, showing an example of the shifting of powers, and the way those preschool boys talked to the girl and talked back to the teacher, without the teacher correcting this type of behavior. I know it is not discussed how the teacher handled it, but I would have not let it go on to the length that it went to. I guess that goes to show you the difference in upbringings/culture.
What did catch my attention was the fact that non-fictional storytelling was still expressed and seemed very important to the people in Trackton (and Roadville). It once again had me thinking about The Lost Boys of Sudan and the importance storytelling has on communities. In this case, Trackton’s Black communities were trying to maintain their traditions/identity. I agree that this language is important to convey in a classroom and to keep students engaged in all areas of the curriculum.
Hoping for some clarifications!
Thanks,
Barbara Terauds
Comments (3)
My definiiton of mastery matches yours, you are competent at the expected level for the grade /time you are focused on. My understanding of the mother daughter thing, was every mother teachers her children what is expected of them in various circumstances. Certain mothers can move their chilren from doing as their told/saying what is expected, just because they were told, to being verbally articulate reasoners within what ever context they may find themselves. This can empower a child and motivate them to accomplish more than expected by others in their environments.
Posted by Grandma Cunningham | June 22, 2009 8:39 PM
Posted on June 22, 2009 20:39
Barbara, sister, good to see you on here. Wow. What a wealth of inquiry you bring! I had the same kinds of comprehension difficulties you had and then some, I'm sure. I believe the focus on the "independent mastery" deal is the word "independent." What Hick is trying to convey is that no one can construct "masterful" meaning ALONE. It's only in a "community" (meaning at least two) of engaged participants that we can construct masterful meaning. I'm not sure that this is correct, but it's what I'm thinking so far... As far as the "critical literacy education" thing, I think Hicks is implying that this is a GOOD thing. We must look "critically" at the literacy history of our students in order to effectly educate them as their discourse meets ours--I think she referred to this meeting as "hybrid."
Posted by erin farringtonf | June 23, 2009 12:35 AM
Posted on June 23, 2009 00:35
I'm going to say that Grandma and Erin have it right!! Did this help, Barbara?
Posted by Alecia Jackson | June 23, 2009 9:29 PM
Posted on June 23, 2009 21:29