After reading and pondering over the material, I kept going back to the whole idea of class and the relationship it has literacy. As an adult, I have gone through this idea of shifting discourses. I am not teaching anymore since it's summer, and so I'm in "summer mode." This is a whole different discourse than "school mode." I really think I have a "home mode" or discourse, along with a "social mode" or discourse. It's an ever shifting environment, and as an adult, I know where and when each discourse is appropriate.
I often fly because I am originally from WI, and my family is all over the world. I always think about the discourse that I see and hear when I'm in the airport. You automatically know who's "first class." It's amazing to listen to their language. I can't say that I see a wide mixture of race in first class area on a plane, but I do know that there is a specific discourse going on. Then there is the rest of us, who all share a common bond, coach seating. Most people are on cell phones talking with family, not business, listening to IPods, reading magazines, or taking care of their kids. The distinct discourse is much more apparent after reading this.
Thinking of my students and really understanding where they come from sure helps understand their progression in their literacy. I see students that have learned their home and school discourse, then I see many who are not made to learn the school discourse. There is a wide mixture of families of all race and class that do not teach their kids the correct discourse for home or school. I know we as educators need to stress to our students a grammatically correct, respectful, and loving discourse. It's always a struggle because there are so many families that see their way of parenting the correct way. Uneducated parents who don't work are the hardest parents to reach. These students come to school knowing they are poor, knowing they are not smart (even though some are), and understand that school is work, although they might not want to.
I really liked the part about critical literacy. I really think using all the different texts out there really get students to think about the text and develop language that is missing in their discourse. Teachers are there to help the students analyze the text, and I agree. I need to allow my students to interpret and learn more by me helping, not dictating.
Abby Boughton
Comments (5)
Abby,
I agree that students don't know the difference in the home discourse and that of school. I don't know if that is something that could be taught, though. I think that is something they have to mainly learn through experience. That is why I do not envy those of you out there who are Kindergarten teachers! I admire you, but not envy! Kindergarten is such a transitional year for children, because for many of them it is their first experience in a school environment, and it is their first experience with learning the school discourse. By first grade when I get them, Kindergarten teachers have already done a wonderful job of "breaking them in", so to speak.That makes it much easier for me because students already have a pretty good grasp of what is/isn't acceptable at school. They have already started to learn the discourse.
Posted by Marcia Smith | June 21, 2010 11:12 PM
Posted on June 21, 2010 23:12
Abby-
You make a valid point concerning different discourses that we follow in life. I think our students do as well. Some may have multiple roles at home that they do not use in the classroom. Others may have a discourse for one parent as opposed to another.
It is amazing that human nature drives us to change our tone of voice, our gestures and our reactions based on a certain situation that we might be put in.
Renee Hennings June 22 2010
Posted by Renee Hennings | June 22, 2010 11:19 AM
Posted on June 22, 2010 11:19
I also agree that many children do not know how to distinguish between their home and school discourses. I think that in the fast paced society that we live, many parents look to the teacher to educate their child on how to act when at school (including teaching them manners). I don't think that teaching students the difference in the way they act at home compared to school is difficult but something that really should be a combined effort of the teacher and parents. I have always to my students that school is their job and they have to act a certain way when at work. Having your students think about what would happen to their parents at work if they acted a certain way could help to put their school discourse into a different light from their home discourse.
Posted by Erin Whisnant | June 22, 2010 6:45 PM
Posted on June 22, 2010 18:45
I never thought about the home/school discourse before. You are correct. Many students aren't taught the importance of the school discourse. Sometimes I have heard some students, 2nd graders, say how they are going to just quit when they get 16. A prime example of a family that isn't stressing the importance of school. So, how do we reach these students that have already come in with this type of attitude?
Posted by Odessa Scales | June 22, 2010 9:33 PM
Posted on June 22, 2010 21:33
I think one of the most important things in helping our students is respect. Respect for their family discourse (even when it is different from our own). Rather than dismissing the child's family, because they don't seem to value what we do, we have to look at why they might feel that way. In respecting the family experience and not making the child feel like that is wrong, we have more of an opportunity to help them shift to a different discourse if needed.
Posted by Christy Laws | June 22, 2010 11:09 PM
Posted on June 22, 2010 23:09