As I read about Jake I thought of a boy from my own class in respects to writing. He often wanted to tell me stories more than write them on paper. He was a great math student, but did not like to read or write. He loved to work on the farm with his father and knew all about it. So, many times he would come in first thing in the morning with a story to tell. As in most classrooms the morning is a very hectic time, so I would often say Trace put it in your journal. He would let out the most terrible sigh and I would have to say I know, but I can’t talk right at this minute. More often than not, he wouldn’t even write about it in his journal he would write something totally different.
How can we tap into a child’s interest for writing? I have often struggled with this concept. Even when my student could choose his own writing topic he still hated it, unlike Jake. It was very laborious for him. He seemed to get better as the year went along, but not much. I did however open up a thirst for reading in him, but he still seemed to give his parents trouble at home when it came time to read. Why do children change so drastically from school to home? I guess it is what was stated many times in the book; students want to be “good” while they are at school, because that is the expectation.
As I was reading chapter six one statement caught my attention on p. 152. “This is not just the learning of new pedagogies----genre instruction, whole language, guided reading, skill-and-drill----or even the learning of new information about dialects, cultural practices, and injustices. Rather, change also has to entail a moral shift a willingness to open oneself up to the possibility of seeing those who differ from us.” As educators we constantly have to change according to everything that the school system demands of us and some times we loose sight of the students. No matter how many times they change the curriculum we have to still teach those children the best way to reach them. We can’t forget where they came from and what they went through at home. We can’t say I am not going to teach Johnny because he “acts out” in class. We have to embrace each and every student and see past their differences to reach their hearts.
Odessa Scales
Comments (2)
Odessa,
I know what you mean about having to tell a student not right now. In the long run it really affects them and they no longer want to tell you period. One thing that I did was get a couple of tape recorders. When they want to tell me a story right then and I'm not available they record it. Also, this is great with writing too. They tell in the recorder, then you type it out, and could later have them practice writing it; or they may want to add more to it.
"Why do children change so drastically from school to home? I guess it is what was stated many times in the book; students want to be “good” while they are at school, because that is the expectation." You know I think a lot of this has to do with their comfort zone as well. Although Jake did act out many times at home, remember how many times his mother praised him for how "literate" he was. She was the encourager for him! She allowed him to be Jake.
"We have to embrace each and every student and see past their differences to reach their hearts." This is so true! Yes the state is always changing something making it even more difficult to for a community of learners, but we must press on and go above and beyond. I too know that is easier said than done.
Posted by Candace Barnes | June 29, 2010 12:08 AM
Posted on June 29, 2010 00:08
Odessa,
I did the same thing as you. I had a few students that would always come to me first thing in the morning with stories to tell and a million questions to ask. Because I was so busy with meetings and paperwork and trying to gather papers and supplies for the day, I often told the students to tell me at lunch or recess. Sometimes they did, but often I think they felt rejected in some way. Next year things will still be busy, but my goal is to remember that I am there for the students. Thanks for your reminder.
Laura Corbello
Posted by Laura Corbello | June 29, 2010 7:16 PM
Posted on June 29, 2010 19:16