After reading the other articles on race, gender, and class, I was very excited to start Deborah Hicks' book, Reading Lives. I have found the other articles extremely interesting and I have enjoyed thinking about how each of these topics have related to literacy research. This changed while I was reading Chapter 1 of Hicks' book, but my excitement returned after listening to Dr. Jackson's podcast.
I found Chapter 1 to be very difficult to follow and comprehend. Besides understanding the fact that Hicks was going to conduct her research on poor and working-class White families, I didn't comprehend much from this chapter. I even re-read this chapter several times, but again, didn't acquire much information.
After reading this chapter, I listened to Dr. Jackson's podcast (THANK YOU!) and finally started putting the pieces together. Completely understanding Hicks' definition of the word "discourse" helped tremendously. I also really liked the way "cultural literacy" was explained. I have never thought of literacy being learned culturally. Hearing this makes me understand why storytelling was so important to the Sudanese "Lost Boys." This was where there literacy learning first took place- in a cultural setting, not in a school setting.
I also liked the explanation of "hybrid discourses." I feel this could describe all of us at one time or another- even our students when they come to school. It also made me think of Delpit's article, "No Kinda Sense." In this article, she talks about how she has to change when she's aroiund her friends- from Standard English to African American English.
I'm excited about reading the rest of Hicks' research about Jake and Laurie. Because of where I grew up and where I live now, I feel that this research will remind me of studens I went to school with, as well as students I teach today. Marsha Warren
Comments (4)
Marsha I compeltely understand what you were saying about never thinking of literacy as being cultural. I guess when I thought of story telling that had someone asked me I would have said that yes it was cultural but I never realized how much effect a culture could have on literacy overall. It was funny that after reading the two chapters as confusing as they were at times, the other articles that we had read previously began to make more sense to me. Everything is starting to click and I am beginning to understand more and more about literacy and race, gender, and class due truly play a huge role in it.
Posted by Katie Templeton | June 21, 2010 10:12 PM
Posted on June 21, 2010 22:12
Marsha,
I agree with you about how we are finally able to make clearer connections between all of the material we have been studying thusfar over the summer. I also think that we will be able to make more sense of knowledge we had prior to this course. Are you familiar with Ruby Payne's Framework for Understanding Poverty? It goes heavily into generational and situational poverty which I think is going to tie right into what Hicks has researched.
Posted by Nikki Leggins | June 21, 2010 11:45 PM
Posted on June 21, 2010 23:45
Marsha- I understand exactly what you are saying. The research we have been reading has been eye opening. Even though Hicks was not a relaxing, easy read, it is good stuff. Thank goodness for podcasting! I think it is important that we understand how culture plays into learning. There have been many times I have conferenced with parents and when they left I thought to myself, "Now, I understand why the kids are like they are." I find myself torn when I think about kidds being hybrids. I don't want to completely change anyone but at the same time I think change is going to come through education. Learning is so powerful.
Posted by Carol Sherrill | June 22, 2010 8:47 AM
Posted on June 22, 2010 08:47
In my mind "hybrid discourses" became synonomous with "code switching." I, like Meredith, started thinking about all the places I have to talk in a certain way. I speak differently in school (ASU), at work teaching, at church, at the grocery store, at home with my husband differently than with my kids. We need to be accepting of our children and their diversity, but, from experience, know that they will also learn the hybrid discourses they need to get through life.
Posted by christy findley | June 22, 2010 9:20 PM
Posted on June 22, 2010 21:20