It’s awesome being a boy post
It is wonderful when research utilizes the truths, identities, and lives of its subjects. I have read a thousand or more research texts and none have touched me like the stories of Laurie from last reading and Jake from this one, both of whom struggle as blue collar kids in a world dominated and taught for the upper middle class.
Jake’s sense that all work had to make sense and had to have some achievable goal, in order to be not “stupid” is truly resonant of the discourses I hear from my teenage, middle class boys in my writing classes. Also, his sense of action within all walks of life, really represent what it means to be a boy; always doing something so that we can do something else. My wife yells at me all of the time because, just as soon as I finish one project on our home, the next weekend I am working on a new one. When Jake is asked to draw a picture for the fictional tale of Fireman Dale and says “of course not,” with a frankness that only small children have, I nearly fell into the floor laughing.
Jake is every teenage boy I have ever taught.
When I first started teaching writing, my principal told me that the one thing he wanted most from me was not high test scores, but to see the “young men” in my classes learn to write because all of the teachers that he currently had were unable to reach them, and as a male teacher it would be my job to bridge that gap. Well, let’s just say that my first semester of teaching was terrible.
I tried everything to get these boys to write about their feelings, their past, and most of all I tried to get them to write cause and effect essays as their ability to pass the writing test would lead to my own successes and job protection. It was disastrous, which was actually the best thing that ever happened to me.
I was so overwhelmed with discipline issues and a real realization that these boys would never write an essay that I finally stopped trying to teach them to write for the writing test and started teaching them to write for themselves; my logic being that if I could not force them to pass the writing test, I could at least teach them to write.
First, I developed project style writings, having the students, who like Jake, LOVED VIDEO GAMES; make a videogame of their own. They took large sheets of poster board and created elaborate story boards for their games supported by magnificent drawings and magazine clippings. Then they asked if we could film a commercial for the video games by acting their story boards out, so I took them outside and we built “sets” from large pieces of cardboard and things that they brought from home. They revised and revised and revised their storyboards until they were comfortable with other people seeing them. Then we filmed and it was the funniest, best films I have ever seen. One group decided to make a fishing game and filmed themselves fishing at a pond while a serial killer tried to kill them. I was amazing.
Then we took the skills learned from the project and applied that to the writing test essay style papers. I had a record number of students pass the writing test from our school and we even got AYP and school of distinction because of it. This was an inner city school with gang issues, race issues, and issues of all other sorts, let alone the fact that all of my children are on free or reduced lunch. It was amazing and since then, for kids like Jake, I take them under my wing and we do “action” to learn reading and writing skills.
I also want to take a step back and discuss how Jake created his identity as a self learner, role modeled by a father that said “he’ll learn for himself.”He wanted to be just like his father in every way, he wanted to be successful by his family’s definition of success, and truthfully, why shouldn’t he be considered successful by his own measurement? Why do we spend so much time and effort trying to force children to meet our standards of success instead of their own? Obviously, kids need to know how to read, write, add, and subtract, as well as learn to be lifelong learners, so that we as a society will prosper, but at the same time, it makes no sense what so ever to try to dictate that success to children. Let them learn their way. Let them own their education.
One of my students, like Jake, wants to be his father. He wants to work on cars for the rest of his life, and he is very good at it. Why then do we consider him becoming a mechanic, a profession that blows my too literate mind, a bad thing? He can become rich from his work, he can support his family, and he can be happy of his own accord by doing what he loves, and as someone who loves what he does, I can honestly say that that is just as valuable if not more so than a four year degree. As a high school teacher, I see teachers tell juniors and seniors that they should want more for their lives, but in reality, they will have more if they follow their hearts.
Finally, I would like to add to the importance of finding authorial self as a writer. Jake and my students could and often do, benefit from being able to narrate the events and proposed events of their lives. I too use a writer’s notebook to develop this in my children. They get their notebooks at the beginning of the semester and immediately ask, what do I HAVE to do with this? And my response is always the same, write whatever you want. The only restrictions I place on it is that they, somehow, fill a certain amount of pages every week in a way that shows that they own it and they own their writing. I had a student, a bad one at that, that filled her notebook with everything from dog hair to leaves. She even had dirt in it (Given, so does mine that I display for them and write with them). Everything in it told a story that was unique and beautiful in every way, and she proudly takes it with her every where she goes.
William Byland
Comments (7)
I love the way you write with such enthusiasm about teaching young men to write. I also love how you changed your approach to teaching writing once you saw that it wasn't effective for your students at that particular time. I have seen teachers who will keep teaching something the way they always have, just because it is what is comfortable for them. I don't understand how they think that is an effective practice. It is a challenge to adapt your teaching based on students' needs, but so worth your time.
-Elizabeth Norwood
Posted by Elizabeth Norwood | June 25, 2010 2:01 PM
Posted on June 25, 2010 14:01
I ams ure teaching writing to teenage boys is no easy task. The manners in which you bring it to life for them is amazing! They simply needed to see the relavance of writing in their own life. Using the video games was a perfect match. I hear teachers complain all the time about some new fad all the sudents are really in to. I usally ask how they could use that as a motivator for school. They usually ignore me and go back to pushing their agenda and thoughts on the students.
I too agree there is no harm in a child saying they want to follow a family members working class career path. We are public schools, yet I don't always think the system realizes we serve the public. Which means not everyone is the same nor is it our job to produce cookie cutter students.
Michael Lemke
Posted by Michael Lemke | June 26, 2010 10:08 AM
Posted on June 26, 2010 10:08
I loved your post. My favorite subject to teach is writing. Like you, especially in the beginning, I had a difficult time getting my male students to participate with any sort of enthuaism. Then I started choosing topics by asking my husband for advice (fourth grade focuses on imaginative and personal narratives). He helped me to come up with some really creative topics like drinking potions that turned you into a pet, outdoor adventure, and several others. My boys really got on board. Each day I would read several that were exceptionally well written and I made sure to select at least two or three that were males. All my males were soon outpreforming my females. Writing seems to be an outlet that they could delve into without being judged. It was a way to help link their creative side to their school discourse. I love writing and am so thankful that students have a positive male writing role model like you!
Amy Reep
Posted by Amy Reep | June 26, 2010 2:16 PM
Posted on June 26, 2010 14:16
William,
I think one important fact we have learned from reading this book is that all learning needs to have a purpose. When your students did writing with their video games an interest was sparked. Your students found purpose in the activity because they made a commercial to go along with it. Students should not feel the work they are doing is pointless, a reason for learning should certainly be established. I don't think college is for everyone. If you want to be a trash collector when you grow up, you should be given that opportunity. I think as long as our students grow up to make a living and are happy with their lives, that should be all we ask for. I had a first grader this past year who said, "Mrs. Brackett, do we have to go to college?" I told this student no. That college was for some people, but not for all. As teachers, we need to give our students purpose for what we teach so they will be ready for life in the future.
~Jamie Brackett
Posted by Jamie Brackett | June 27, 2010 1:23 AM
Posted on June 27, 2010 01:23
I have also had some Jakes in my classroom. Yes, they are the type of kid/student that wants to know the reasons and necessity for every given assignment. In fact, they will not even start to work on it until they have verified its importance and if it also appears interesting to them. If there is no importance to it or it is not interesting to them then you can forget it. These types of children will not work on assignments that serve no purpose. You can forget about busy work. They know better than that.
How impressive that you decided to quit teaching your male students to write for the test and to instead write for themselves. That shows true compassion and caring that you have for your students. It also shows a way that you reached out to your students and their needs.
How wonderful that you used video games to reach out to your students. That’s neat how serious they took the commercials that they wanted to video them and even brought in materials from home. It is always rewarding as a teacher to see your students excited about an assignment. I couldn’t imagine how proud you must have been when they wanted to video their story boards and even started preparing for their commercials by bringing in materials from home.
Wow, that is amazing that you school earned School of Distinction and that your class made AYP. I too am teaching in the same county you teach in. I live within its city limits so I know what types of students you work with. I am amazed to hear your success story. You should be extremely proud of yourself. Doing action to learn reading and writing skills is important in all grades. I am so glad you use it and it works so well.
You made a good point. I hadn’t thought about this before: why do we spend so much time and effort on trying to force children to meet our standards of success instead of their own. This is something a lot of parents and teachers should consider when working with children or any aged student.
Posted by Maria Blevins | June 27, 2010 6:51 PM
Posted on June 27, 2010 18:51
I really believe that all of our students (regardless of age, gender, or background) really just want someone to hear their voice. We all want that to some degree. We want to know that what we think, feel, and are interested in is important and "okay" in some way. It certainly sounds like you give students a chance to have their own voice in your classroom. It is amazing the successes that come when this happens!
Posted by Christy Laws | June 29, 2010 12:19 AM
Posted on June 29, 2010 00:19
Way to go not giving up on your students. It is hard to find teachers that will stray from the norm in order to get the results. I have often wondered how to reach the young boys in my 2nd grade class similar to Jake that aren't very excited about writing. I like your idea of putting "action" into writing. It gives them a sense of purpose. I also felt that we should encourage students to follow their hearts in what they want to do. I have chosen a profession I love to do and it is my passion. Why shouldn't my students have the same? Thanks for the great reminder!
Posted by Odessa Scales | June 29, 2010 3:45 PM
Posted on June 29, 2010 15:45