When I was reading this article I was surprised that in the introduction it was said that sometimes instead of embracing an Indian child's background and culture, remedial classes are prescribed. On one hand I think this is outrageous- since when does having a different cultural background automatically make you less intelligent? On the other hand, I realized that I do sometimes automatically assume that my ELL children will have a hard time reading. Although, not because of their culture, but for language reasons. However, it made me realize that I do have a stereotype in my head about this.
I think that throughout the article the main idea that stuck with me was that, as teachers, we really have to find what our children are interested in and capitalize on that. Some children are automatically going to do well, regardless of the quality of instruction they receive and regardless of the bond they do or do not feel with their teacher. However, some children need for us to go that extra mile and find out what they are interested in, to feel as if we truly care about them and their education.
I also thought it was interesting that when Daniel talked about not fitting in with his peers he talked as if "white" characteristics were much more desirable than his own. I guess that every person looks at another at some point and thinks, "I wish I had her hair," or "I wish I had his eye color," but I had just never thought about a person wishing away their own characteristics in order to have those of another ethnicity. In looking back now though, I don't know why this had never occurred to me, people seem to always want what they don't have. I just think that people should be proud of their cultural background and hold fast to that. I do know though that peer pressure can be immense, especially during middle and high school, and that once Daniel is grown he will, more than likely, come to truly appreciate the things he once wished he could change about himself.
In the story about Zonnie I was excited that she had found a teacher with whom she could share her talents. I love it when I am able to form that type of bond with a student! It is one of the things that makes being a teacher so fantastic. I have several students that repeatedly come back to visit me and talk with me although I taught them 8, 9, 10 years ago and it brings me a lot of joy. I thought that it was sad though that the teacher with whom it seems Zonnie feel a bond, didn't truly know her and her interests, although she did seem to have an overall positive opinion about her.
This article made me think about how important it is to take an active interest in my students, to value them for who they are and where they come from, and to try to do my best to teach them things that are relevant to their lives. It takes more work and creativity, but the payoff is tremendous.
-Elizabeth Norwood
Comments (3)
I have only been teaching six years but still love seeing my former students from my first few years. They come back because they have younger siblings now in third grade or something like that. What a great reassurance that I made a difference! Something each year that I always hope for and try to do is form some kind of bond with them so that they will always take with them what I have taught them. Of course that is all teachers' hope. I still have a boy from two years ago who comes and shows me his deer hunting pictures because I shared my first deer hunting story with him. Even though he is all rough and tough and grown up and doesn't need his third grade teacher anymore, just that small bit of information from him makes my day. Can I say I have invested that much in all my students? The bigger issue is finding out more about their backgrounds and focusing on the positives. Helping students overcome the daily ridicule and racism is going to be the biggest issue I think of our future. With so many changes in our world, kids are still looking for that cultural safety at school, and sometimes I look at our school and ask myself if that's what we are providing for them.
Posted by Abby Boughton | June 10, 2010 8:27 PM
Posted on June 10, 2010 20:27
Elizabeth-
I whole-heartedly agree with your opinion on the involvement of teachers in students’ lives. This year for an end of the year project, I challenged my students to think about their favorite teachers and their favorite parts about school. Majority of the time I got stories about field trips, times when parents threw big parties or a time that a special teacher pulled them aside and let them know that they could make a difference.
I had a child just yesterday write a poem about his fifth grade experience. He created an acrostic that was written for “Respect”. I felt touched when I read that he wrote the following sentence for the letter “s”…”She never told me I can’t”. This comes from a retained child who is bigger, mouthier, and more disruptive and has been known as such a handful for all teachers that he had in the past. When I read through his acrostic, I realized that what he had experienced in the years past were teachers who just let him fall through the cracks. I worked very hard this year to keep him on his toes and to make him think before he acted. It was nice to know that this hard work paid off, and he really took to heart that I truly cared. It’s those times that matter.
It’s those little things that children remember. It’s those extra few minutes that you spend with one child who doesn’t quite “get” that EOG question, or can’t seem to remember the formula for the area of a triangle. It’s the relationships that you build with your students from August 25th until forever. That involvement is what counts.
Renee Hennings June 10, 2010
Posted by Renee Hennings | June 10, 2010 8:30 PM
Posted on June 10, 2010 20:30
I think it is human to have stereotypes. I think it is important to not let what ever stereotypes you may have influence your teaching or how you perceive a child. I have caught myself stereotying a child and later finding out I was really wrong about them. I strongly agree with your last paragraph in that we do need to take a special interest in our students lives. Our students will respect us more and do more for us if they think we care about them.
Posted by Michelle Moffitt | June 10, 2010 9:28 PM
Posted on June 10, 2010 21:28