There are times in life when the question of knowing if one can think differently than one thinks, and perceive differently than one sees is absolutely necessary if one is to go on looking and reflecting at all.
Michel Foucault
I don't think I knew what I was getting into when I signed up for this class. I had no idea that my way of thinking would be so altered. When we began reading the text, I admit that I felt a little lost. The language was so foriegn to me. But in retrospect, I think that made me more empathetic for the subject matter. It leveled the playing field and allowed me to feel how these children sometimes feel in the classroom.
I also feel, as Erin Whisnant said, that when I get to a place where I don't think I can learn something new, do something better, or need to reflect then I need to have my sanity checked. Through all aspects of life, reflection and learning are necessities.
When Hicks said, "Schooling in the primary grades should ideally become a set of opportunities for children to experience new identities connected with textual practices," it made me think that children also need opportunities to reflect on their learning experiences. One way for them to do this is to talk about what they read and write. To talk to their peers and their teacher about the content and about what it means to them. They need lots of opportunity to explore on their own terms like Jake needed. Through many varied opportunities of learning all students can be successful in school.
I grew up in a working class family. I understood and perceived much of what Hicks was describing in an experiential way. I could empathize with Hicks and the way she described her mother and her "being a good girl" at school. I think so many of our students are hiding what they are dealing with at home by being "good" in school. The wallflowers, so to speak, are the ones I worry about the most. They don't express what they want or need; they don't want to be seen. I was one of those.
I agree with Hicks when she says that working class children are viewed negatively without cultural sensitivity. None of us would tell or let be told a racist joke within our classroom and probably our presence. But we so often let jokes about rednecks go by. I think this book has changed my view of that. I want be able to listen to those jokes or TV comments without thinking about Jake and Laurie and having a different oppinion of how they make people feel.
As we read the articles, each of them left me with the sense of respecting students and their cultures. The Noll article described how Daniel and Zonnie wanted to be able to combine their school life and the culture. Daniel also reminded me of Jake. He wanted to do activities that made sense for him and not "useless" homework and projects. If he could find some ways to do his schoolwork in a way that seemed purposeful, he could be successful in school. The Lost Boys found a way to alter their cultural storytelling into a form that could be useful to themselves and their homeland. As teachers, we need to find ways to help students bridge these gaps and help them be more successful in school. Staples in particular seemed to find a way to help her students bridge the gap. By using relevant movies and books, she was able to get students to feel their activities were purposeful. She also gave them decision making powers that allowed them to feel in control.
Overall, I think I became more familiar with this way of thinking and percieving and I was able to reflect and comment with knowledge in my post and comments. I know my way of thinking has been changed.
Christy Findley