This article tells of three young men, from the Sudan, who lost their parents due to a civil war. Storytelling was important when these young men lived in the Sudan. The older generations would pass down traditional stories to the young people about their culture. When these boys became orphaned, they eventually moved to the United States where traditional storytelling (as their elders had told them) didn’t seem to fit in. These young men realized that in order to keep their culture alive, they had to tell stories about the Sudan. These young men realized their stories needed to be transformed from an oral to a written form.
This study shows how literacy changes with time. Stories about a culture used to be oral and in the mind. These boys realized they had to share their stories with the rest of the world through print so their culture would not be lost when they were no longer around. The stories the Lost Boys tell inform people about their culture and help educate the world about the struggles their people have faced.
As teachers, we need to give all our students time to write and talk about what is important to them. Teachers should allow students of the minority (and all students) the opportunity to talk and write about their culture, family, lives, and beliefs. We should help students realize that what they say is important and what they write can help educate others. Teachers should encourage students to write for a purpose by submitting their writings to school newspapers, local newspapers, magazines, etc. Students should not be forced to talk or write about their culture, but should be allowed to if they desire.
~Jamie Brackett
Comments (6)
Students do need time time share what is important to them through verbal and written expression. I agree students should be given time to write about the things they hold important. Students should not be forced to talk about their culture but they should be given outlets if they would like to. They could help other people who are or have gone through similar situations. I also think that teachers should share some of their stories with their students. If everyone is sharing then the students may feel more comfortable.
Posted by Ashley Caldwell | June 15, 2010 5:54 PM
Posted on June 15, 2010 17:54
I think literacy has changed over time. Many years ago stories were told orally maybe because there were not materials to record the story on. It may have also been that many people could not read or write, but they could tell a story. Later as more people went to school stories were recorded. Now that we have computers and technology at our fingertips will oral storytelling continue to die out. It seems that we have moved farther and farther away from oral traditions.
Posted by Michelle Moffitt | June 15, 2010 8:19 PM
Posted on June 15, 2010 20:19
I agree that students should be given the opportunity to write about what interests them. I also agree that they shouldn't be forced to write about their culture if they choose not to. I know this assignment has been given time and time again...but I think asking students to interview older people in their family and/or community is a fantastic idea. It brings generations together and some youngsters get the opportunity to hear stories from times long ago.
Posted by jennifer wagoner | June 16, 2010 7:28 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 19:28
Dear Jamie,
It is important that we give our students time to discuss their lives and have them write about them. I always feel when we give them a topic like family to write about they always seem to write better because they feel more connected to the topic and are able to write more freely and descriptively about it. All of this makes me relate to the other readings as well. I believe one common theme for all of them is that you need to make every effort to get to know your students and allow them to get to know you and each other. I think we can help create a better classroom environment once we know where we all "come from" and things we have gone through.
I agree that it's important for our students to be able to write for a purpose as well. They should have authentic opportunities to write and possibly even have their work published like you said. It would even be interesting to see if you could have them listen to a story told by a family member and then retell it. Perhaps they could even make it into a book and illustrate it to keep. They may even discover their family had endured a hardship at one time and had to persevere through it.
Reshawna Greene
Posted by Reshawna Greene | June 16, 2010 7:33 PM
Posted on June 16, 2010 19:33
Jamie-
I think you are right when you say that students need time to express their culture backgrounds, beliefs and ideas. I believe it is important to make sure children know that they are unique and special, no matter their background.
As for the three Lost Boys of Sudan, they have obviously been taught and have understood the importance of preserving and sharing one's past history, culture and ideas. To have lost everything that they have, and to remember the ideas from their culture and start over again in a new place is amazing.
I believe that we need to make sure to convey to our students to really cherish memories of family, friends and beliefs. You never know what you really have until it is gone.
Renee Hennings June 17, 2010
Posted by Renee Hennings | June 17, 2010 8:34 AM
Posted on June 17, 2010 08:34
Jamie,
I think the best way to allow the students to express themselves-their ideas, values, cultures, beliefs-is by implementing a memoir study. Teachers and students can read and explore a variety of mentor texts from different authors. Teachers can encourage the students to mimic simple memoirs if they are struggling writers. For example, I've used When I Was Young in the Mountains as a mentor text. Students used the book's sentence stems in order to write a simple memoir of their own. They began the sentences with When I Was Young in Winston-Salem... (or Mexico, for most of the students). If the students are more advanced, they can use the mentor texts for ideas about organization and structure and then proceed by writing their stories. Once students have written their memoirs, they can share with classmates or other students and teachers in the school.
Posted by Laura Corbello | June 18, 2010 12:47 PM
Posted on June 18, 2010 12:47