RES 5535: Race, Class, and Gender in Literacy Research (summer 2010)

Noll did an amazing job presenting the research she found in an easy to read and follow way. She grabbed my attention, and I was able to read and take from her findings a lot of valuable information. As I went through the paper, I kept being drawn back to the different ways people learn, being reminded that not one person learns everything like someone else. In the case of most people in the world, they learn through the use of movement, music, chants, rhymes, etc. Noll presented to the reader that American Indians learn things when their interests are involved. Throughout the article the miscommunication between Zonnie and Daniel and their battle with the outside world really hit home with some behaviors I see in the school. These two children struggled to find a place in the world, because they weren’t real sure how to make sense of it. For both Zonnie and Daniel there life was two-fold, friends and family.
When reading about Daniel and his life growing up, my heart just melted. I was overjoyed by the family structure he belonged to, and I only wish many of my students had the same support from their families that Daniel had from his. A father who tells his son to fight for what he believes in after he’s tried everything to stop someone from bullying him and supports his son despite his faults, is a true father who believe everyone should be treated the same way. The solid support Daniel was given gave him the foundation he needed to be a good man. Children all over the world need this foundation to build upon to better themselves and their lives. Daniel’s parents were proactive and supported his education. He knew he had to do well in school, but he didn’t have to be perfect. He was able to express his inner feelings through his writing; a process many people do through journaling. This way of escape, I believe helped Daniel to become a better person and fight against the rage he had in a non-violent way.
In school Daniel felt like he was not part of a family. He was often picked on and a loner. Many children growing up feel this way, and as a teacher we need to try and help everyone feel like they are important and belong. When he began reading his actions were like all other beginning readers, taking it one step at a time, building upon knowledge as he progressed through the pages of books. This process brought him to his safe zone in writing and he was able to survive in school. Many children I teach can’t wait to leave home and come to school where they feel loved and safe, but for Daniel, he left school at school, because for him school was not enjoyable, but a chore, and home was a safe and happy place. Daniel kept his two discourses separate and enabled him to be happy.
Zonnie on the other hand had a good home life, not as solid as Daniels, but her parents still supported her and the decisions she made throughout life. Zonnie used writing as a way of escaping her life. Through music, lyrics and poetry, Zonnie wrote down her thoughts and feelings in poetic form. Writing on her own without being told what to write was a joy for Zonnie, but when it came to being told what to read, what to write and what to do she hated it. Zonnie wanted choice in her life and when she was given the opportunity to choose, she made sure to write. Zonnie and Daniel excelled when they were given the choice of what to write and read. They may have not been the best writers or readesr when it came to something they didn’t want to do, but when they had their choice, they took their work to another level. Like the two of them, children in the classroom need choice. The more choice they have and input they are able to give with each assignment the better they perform, because they take ownership over their work.
Noll spoke of how Zonnie was conscientious, and she could always be counted on to do her assignments and readings. I see this in strong structured and family oriented homes; stable homes where education is respected, unlike homes where children have little support and love.
Daniel and Zonnie both grew up in loving families and were read to as children. They both had a knack for music and used their talents to build their self esteem and belonging in the community. Their joy and ideas came from music and these same joys for Zonnie and Daniel outside of their home life were also social breakages at school. Since others didn’t understand why they weren’t “social butterflies” they were picked on and treated differently. Life isn’t fair, and it’s especially not fair for children growing up with different ethnicities. It would be nice for every child to having a happy loving home, with guidance and support, but we all know that is far and few between these days. I just hope that the love we have as teachers can help one child feel a sense of belonging and love, and maybe help that child fulfill their dreams.

Meredith Bromley