I found chapter five to be very interesting story on Jake and how his home life was so different from his school life. I could relate to Jake wanting to emulate his father. However, there had been books in the home since Jake was little. He was read to daily and he had books to read that were on his level and books that pertained to his interest. However, in school he struggled with reading. In my opinion his parents were blinded by the fact of his gift to recall almost anything he had been told or anything that he had heard that they assumed that he could read the books. I believe that when parents overly brag on a child for their success then it puts lots of extra stress on the child. If your parents are bragging on you for being able to read are you going to go to them and tell them that you need help. In my teaching career, I have found that if a parent struggled with a specific subject or task in school then it is acceptable for their child to perform poorly. As educators I know that we all feel that there are no excuses for not putting for the their full effort. Teachers always have hope for every child and their learning ability. We never want to settle for less but we always want the most for our students. This reminded me of a child that I had my first year of teaching. He was struggling with reading and when I called the parents in for a conference to discuss the problem they honestly thought or felt that their child could read. I had to pull out his reading book and get him to read for them. The child was later tested and labeled as LD. As parents we do not want to hear that our child/children have a learning problem, but we must be there to help our children in every way that we can. As I read chapter five I have truly been able to see how the power of choice for a student can be powerful. I do give my students choices of assignments and writing topics, but after reading this next year I want to have even more choices for my students. The more a student is interested the more that he/she will learn. As I read chapter six I could not help but to think how we as educators could cause our students to lose/disregard their history that gave shape and meaning to their lives. By reading this book and the articles in this course, I have learned that language and history had a lot to do with how children react and learn in the school environment. As teachers I feel that we must try to build on the student’s home life and to not work against it. As teachers we need to take the time and effort to lean about each of our students and to try to relate to them on a level that they are use to.
Misty Mistretta
Comments (5)
You are so right, parents look at the positive or negative and not what's missing in a child's education. It is natural to make excuses for a loved ones shortfalls. However this is again where we are supposed to have the "professionalism" to talk to the parent and show them how "we" can help the child progress. Lets face it, where did the child learn their discourse, we are working with the whole picture of a child's world. This takes time and patience, which I admit sometimes are short. The last chapter was difficult at time to understand, but after rereading, I agree the "norm" must change, many of us have already changed the look of our literacy block of time. More trade books, more personal input from our students, it has made a big difference in the outcomes.
Posted by Grandma Cunningham | June 26, 2009 11:11 AM
Posted on June 26, 2009 11:11
Misty:
I agree that there are parents out there who are in denial about their child’s ability to learn and/or achieve. I applaud you for conferencing with your parent and showing them first hand of their child’s deficits. But the good news was, the child was tested, he’s LD, and now the student can get the additional assistance they need in order to level the playing ground for them. The power of choice in the classroom is powerful, I. too, agree that I’ll do more this year with giving my students choices, when it comes to literacy. In fact I came across a fabulous interest survey I can’t wait to administer to my class, at the beginning of the year, then again around 3rd nine weeks.
Posted by Toni Wheeler | June 27, 2009 11:26 AM
Posted on June 27, 2009 11:26
Misty,
You hit the nail on the head with your point regarding the bragging. I totally agree. I brag to and about my own boys, however I speak the truth to them also. I am an honest teacher and tell my parents the truth. I tell my students the truth as well.
Posted by Loren Van De Griek | June 29, 2009 7:44 AM
Posted on June 29, 2009 07:44
I totally agre with what you said about bragging! Parents don't often realize what their high expectations can do to a kid. The last thing children want to do is be a disappointment. It is so frustrating for me to see and I often have to tell parents to lighten up.
Posted by Kelly Beckley | June 29, 2009 8:53 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 20:53
Misty, you made a point that I also made in my critique. If the child can recall facts but not read the text himself, you have put a burden on him to “manufacture” reading and to cover up the fact that he can’t do it. I am frustrated when I am asked to accomplish something for which I lack the skills to be successful. However, being an adult I know I am better off to ask for help than to think the problem will go away if I ignore it. Children aren’t aware of that and the ramifications of denial.
Posted by Janet Gross | June 29, 2009 11:12 PM
Posted on June 29, 2009 23:12