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.
Michel Foucault
I chose this quote because I feel that this one really demonstrates my learning in this class. I had to think differently about the article we read and the chapter from the Hicks book. They changed how I looked at different cultures, my teaching practices and working class children. This class has been all about reading and reflecting so this quote really fits with my learning in this class. The reading in this class made me reflect on a personal and professional level.
When I read this quote it makes me think of how as teachers we have to be flexible and willing to change. Teachers are constantly having to change their way of instruction, teaching techniques, curriculum standards and what is expected of them. You have to be willing to look at things differently and step outside the box. You have to be a learner yourself and want to change yourself to better meet the needs of your students. I also think it is saying you should not be judgmental or negative toward people who different from you. You should embrace differences and reflect on them. If you are not willing to embrace and accept differences then what is the point?
Some of the articles that really made me reflect were the Delpit and Dowdy articles. They examined how people talk and are affected by how they speak. I really reflected on my students and parents and how they speak. I teach in a very rural county and a lot of my students and parents have very country accents. I do not want my students to be viewed as unintelligent because of the way they talk. I know first impressions make a big impact and by reflecting on this and the articles I have read I am going to make a conscious effort to help my students understand the different kinds of talk and when we should use them.
Another article that had an impact on me was the Henry article about helping students find their voice in the classroom. This article really moved me and made me reflect on my students, especially my shy little girls and my child of different ethnic background. All students need a voice and an outlet for their voice. I really liked some of the ways the article tried to help children have a voice at school through positive reinforcement, community respect, individual freedom, acceptance of language variations, text value and cooperative authority. I really think doing these things would help students become more involved in their classroom and feel more comfortable letting their voice be heard. I think teachers need to get to know their students and really embrace what their students bring to the table. I also found it interesting in the article how they were saying that the school should have some setting that resembles spaces that the students see after school. I think this article really blends nicely with the book by Hicks. We need to bridge the gap between the world of school and the world of after school.
The parts of this class that really made an impact on me were the chapters on Jake and Laura. This made me really reflect on my teaching practices because I have students that come from working class families. The chapter on Jake really made me think about a couple of students I had this past year. One little boy who came from a working class family really acted out and struggled with having to stay in his seat. The only time he was really happy was at center time. Now I look at him differently after reading the chapter on Jake. He saw a discourse from his home life to school. At times, it was hard for me to relate to him and understand the way he acted. I must admit that if I had him again I would try to make his two worlds more closely align. I at times thought “Well he is just being a boy,” but now I see that his home life and school life were so different.
I also found it interesting that so many teachers struggle with getting students, especially boys, to like writing and want to write. I struggle with this every year and it was helpful to read other people’s blogs and posts to see what things they are trying and share things that I have tried. I think I may try Writer’s Workshop and see if it would help kids like Jake who need the freedom to write about things they know about such as Nascar, family and trips. I do give my students some choice but maybe not often enough. Maybe this would help build a bridge from their home life and school life. This is a time where I am definitely thinking differently.
The material in the class has been interesting and insightful. This class has really made me reflect on some of my teaching practices and has made me consider doing some things differently next school year. Reflection is a good thing and should be done from time to time. I am perceiving gender, race and class differently thanks to this class.
Ashley Caldwell