As this course comes to an end, I think about all the information and research that was presented. At first, some of the articles were difficult to understand because I was not too familiar on how research was conducted and what it meant. I've already taken my research class, but it had been a whole year already. This was a good reminder and refresher on how important research can be.
I chose the quote by Michel Foucault reading: There are times in life when the question of knowing if one can think differently than one thinks, and perceive differently than one sees, is absolutely necessary if one is to go on looking and reflecting at all.
I chose this because I think this pretty much sums up the whole class. All presented to us made us think outside our box, and consider all that was presented. Everyone has the capability to think differently if one chooses, but that doesn't mean that thinking differently will necessarily change someone's point of view. But if you choose to take the information, apply it, and want to change what you are doing, that will take some reflection on your own part in order to see and move forward with the change. In teaching, I think that is a great quote for all to read, because that is what teachers do all the time! Reflect on what has been taught and change things according to the pros and cons! That takes a different point of view, along with self-reflection.
When looking back at the Dowdy, Delpit and Obama assignment, I really looked closely at how that related to me in my teaching world in comparison to my personal world. Learning what code switching was and how I moved down here into another dialect, I had to code switch to understand what was being said. Code switching is something that all teachers see in their students. It’s that new language they learn at school that shapes their educational future. Students learn how grammar and their language from their home life switches or blends when going to school. I know I am in favor of all my kids speaking with proper grammar and English skills, but now knowing where they start in their home life will give me a better understanding of how to teach them without loosing their cultural background of language.
Looking at the Noll article and learning how Daniel and Zonnie were treated because of their Native American culture was an upsetting piece to read and comprehend. I related to these in the way that if I had a chance to teach in a Native American community, I would make time and go to their homes to learn more about their culture, and I am sincere about that! I really have a problem with teachers who know they are role models and the spirit so to speak in a child’s educational career, and don’t see the individuality, but only the wrong, and leave that scar that never goes away. Actions of these teachers made me look at myself and see how much of my students’ lives I really know about. Teaching Kindergarten for the first time next year, switching from third grade will allow me to make home visits to meet the families and see where each child is coming from. I am excited to see how I will use that information in my classroom.
I really saw a different perspective when reading the Henry and Staples piece. I saw these afterschool programs that were allowing students with lower literacy skills to use this time to use media and different tools that weren’t used in the classroom to learn! I read this and this excited me. I would love to be involved in a program like this. Sometimes at the elementary level I feel like these years do develop their self-esteem and self-image in an early way of who they are. That carries into the middle school, which develops even more, forcing them to take what they’ve learned and apply it to new situations, and then even further when entering the high school. But reading this, made me want to be a part of a different stage in children’s lives. I have been involved in elementary for only 6 years, but see there is so much more I could do. I was a coach for middle school once, and felt that need fulfilled because I was also a mediator for those girls. I look at my current situation and have to see how I can fix what I’m doing at this stage of their lives and see what kind of a change I can do now. Always remembering how these kids were treated by their teachers will remind me, before I speak or act. It also allowed me to understand what a voice these kids do have, and how it was suffocated by their cultural expectations. It was shocking to me to see the expectation put on black girls. What they were supposed to be like and appear like to teachers. I took that statement and drilled that into my mind. I will not ever expect black girls or any other race per say to be seen as invisible learners and only looked upon for social responsibilities. I know I do not do that now, but sometimes reminding my self that others have done that will make me more aware of it and know that I will not do that to any student.
Looking at those three pieces specifically really showed me how important knowing that I can think differently and see things differently, because I sure did! Relating these to my personal and professional life influences how I think and how I reflect on myself and my life. I know for next year I will be constantly be reminded of these three specific articles that allowed me to reflect how I am in my classroom. What key issues have I looked at seriously in myself, are voice, cultural background, and code switching. These are major points in my literacy teaching that I think have influenced me and made me reflect on the most. I have learned so many aspects of race, class and gender that I have seen how it impacts students in their literacy learning. These issues are so important to each child, and I know in the past that I have overlooked. But as the quote says, ....."perceive differently than one sees, is absolutely necessary if one is to go on looking and reflecting at all." I have definitely perceived things differently throughout these readings, and have taken that and reflected on what I have done, and how I will use it in the future. Thank you for opening up my eyes to some new aspects in literacy that will benefit my future students!
Abby Boughton