"Acceptance of children's choice of language fosters the formation of a child's sense of self as an able learner and problem-solver" (Gallego & Hollingsworth, 176).
I love this quote because it forced me to think in new ways about language. Connecting the articles to the text book, one of the major themes was that teachers should not take away student's individualism by taking away their right to use their own language. For example, the articles expressed the idea that African American students who speak Ebonics should be allowed to do so in the classroom. Before reading these articles I personally believed that Ebonics should not be used in the classrooms. I felt as though it would hinder learning. After reading, however, I see how taking this from your students could actually hurt them.
I also enjoyed reading about the field trips that the students took in Gallego and Hollingsworth. Teachers decided to take their students to a car dealership and a local radio station to show them how multiple literacies are needed for each location. At the car dealership, children learned what information they could get from reading a car sticker, and also how computers were necessary in every day business. This stood out to me because I would have never thought that taking my students to a car dealership would benefit them in any way. Seeing how literacy was being used in real life helped to validate the student's learning. Now I recognize that there are plenty of different locations that could foster students learning about literacy.
2 comments:
Hi Erica. How did you come across the book? I am a current student at SDSU (working on my MA in literacy and reading) and a full time teacher (10 years). I have taken a few classes from Gallego. She is a wealth of knowledge and I would be happy to discuss any information or questions you have!
I also fell in love with that quote. Like yourself, I felt that Ebonics shouldn't be used in the classroom. I think it has a time and a place, like all forms of language. We have to teach our students what that time and place is. Even though we as teachers have to foster their home languages, we also have to make sure that students learn how to function in everyday society. Speaking in Ebonics, unfortunately, will not get them very far in a job interview. Nor would talking like you are talking to a friend on instant messenger.
Like everything in life, there is a time and a place for certain language. I feel like my job as a teacher is to use this idea and foster learning within the classroom to enable them to bring it out in society.
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