This article was touching and very interesting. I appreciate how Perry explained why she chose the three young Sudanese boys, and not girls. I think Perry paid her dues to the community at large and the three boys in order to compile this research. I find it uplifting how these young orphaned boys found their way to the U.S. without a family, a support system as we know it…they just had themselves…and they relied on each other and their ability to tell and/or retell stories. I like the idea of how they rebuilt their lives through storytelling. I think of some students in my classroom whom have had difficult lives. Of course their hardships can’t compare with the three Sudanese boys, but they’ve had hardships nonetheless. I wonder if I were to share pieces of this research, of course I would have to do a lot of paraphrasing and summarizing, with my fifth graders would they/or could they try to grasp the depth of what these youth experienced yet still came through like pure gold. I guess I would try to relate to my students that even though you may come from poverty; have no parents; see death and people dying all around you; moving from place to place; and not know where you’re going; or where your next meal will come from, and all the other obstacles the three Sudanese boys endured…that through it all, storytelling, building and rebuilding who they are is how they became the success they are today. Maybe after sharing this research, I would have students who would be more willing to reflect in writing after they’ve read a book, but before they take an AR test. Maybe some students would be willing to try to attempt to write more of a narrative piece when given a prompt instead of only five to eight sentences. Who knows, maybe a students will be inspired by these Sudanese boys and during our poetry unit; their inspiration will come through in an I Poem. I don’t know, but truly this work and their accomplishments are worth being shared with others, and just like how I was moved, maybe it will move some of my students.
This is truly what literacy is all about!
Toni Wheeler
Comments (5)
HI Toni,
Here are some other great books you could use instead of having to paraphrase the research. Reading one of these or parts of these might make a greater impact. I know I love to hear it from the real person much more than a textbook or research article. I might have had a love for history earlier on if teacher's had taken this approach.
Alek: My Life from Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel
The Journey of the Lost Boys
Lost Boy No More: A True Story Of Survival And Salvation (Paperback)
Hope this helps.
Posted by Tamera Wilson | June 19, 2009 10:53 AM
Posted on June 19, 2009 10:53
You thoughts followed mine exactly. We, adults and young boys and girls in America, take so...much for granted. I definitely want to share their experiences with my students and how they overcame obstacles in their lives. I have many students in my school as well, who have had to overcome obstacles, but it is so hard to show boys in girls in America that they can overcome their obstacles. Honestly, our boys and girls have it made compared to what boys and girls in some other countries endure. I think it is important we share these boys' experiences with our studnets.
Posted by Heather Houston | June 19, 2009 12:53 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 12:53
Toni,
I love your idea of trying to help other students understand/connect with others whom have led difficult lives. You could use the same idea that Henry used with her African Caribbean girls and have them listen to stories of The Lost Boys and have them write narratives about their own life, struggles, or accomplishments (but I would try to encourage them to write about their struggles). I would even model about something I struggled with in my life. It could help them feel less vulnerable and allowed them to connect with the fact that we all have struggles that we can get through. This would be a great literacy and culture lesson.
Barbara Terauds
Posted by Barbara Terauds | June 19, 2009 3:35 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 15:35
Toni,
I appreciate your idea of sharing the Lost Boys story with your students. I get to teach 7th grade social studies, so this is part of my overarching curriculum. However, there are all kinds of similar human interest stories that students find fascinating. I’ve found that it is often easier for us to open up about our own painful life stories when looking through the lens of another. So, for your students who may have been unhappily relocated or who’ve had adults removed from their lives, they could make connections with the Lost Boys.
Do you teach small children? I know a few of the topics my middle schoolers have gotten really involved in are HIV/AIDs, conflict diamonds, child soldiers, etc. I realize some of these are way too heavy for early elementary kids, but there are all kinds of resources available to teach about them.
Good luck!
Posted by Ruth Johnson | June 19, 2009 3:55 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 15:55
I didn't really think about how to relate this to my children in school; I teach kindergarten so this obviously would be way over thier ability to understand or connect with. However, as kindergarteners they can relate to problems other kids have in their lives; if somebody crashes their bike and comes in all skinned up, all the kids want to share their stories about the time it happened to them. They especially get excited if I tell a story about a time it happened to me as a kid, and if I can show a scar that earns me bonus points!! I think that older children could definitely relate to the trials of these young boys in the same way; it could give them a model of how extreme difficulties can be overcome with faith and endurance. Barbara had a great suggestion of having them share afterwards about hardships they are facing and then to write about it. Very good suggestions!!
Lorie Hedrick
Posted by Lorie_Hedrick | June 19, 2009 5:31 PM
Posted on June 19, 2009 17:31