Why Can't She Remember That?

       "Why Can't She Remember That" by Terry Meier talks about the importance of beginning to read to a child at a young age. As the child gets older it is important for the child to not only continue to read, but to be able to comprehend what they read and explain it in their own words and make real world connections. Meier states that "children lean to use language in culturally specific ways". She preformed a study that compared low income African American children and middle class European American children and found out that depending on a child's cultural beliefs and background the story they tell will differ from what their culture views as an effective story. The African American child was involved in four times as many interactions that required extensive story telling and talked more than the European American child. This could be due to where the child grew up, its possible that the parents could not afford to buy numerous children's books, so instead they made up extravagant stories, and since this is all that the child knows, they follow by telling made up stories. The European American child's parents are able to afford books, so that child knows the stories that are being read to them every night. I don't think that either of these ways is wrong, it just depends on who you are and how your culture does things.
       Once a child get's to preschool or kindergarten story time is something that happens very often in the classroom. "Many youngsters develop the impression that books are not about them, their families, or communities, but rather about 'the other'"; it is important for teachers to choose books that the children can relate to. For example, if the class is mostly filled with children who speak Spanish, the teacher should incorporate books that have some Spanish vocabulary in it so they realize that it is directly relating to them. It is also very important if a child wants a book to be re-read to them because "each time children return to a text they listen to it with deepened awareness, perhaps noticing new elements in the story, putting together pieces of a pattern that eluded them the first or second time they listened". If a child hears a story more than once they are able to catch new aspects of the story that they may not have before and make more connections. A child will also be more engaged in the book if they are able to make real world connections. This can be something so very simple, but if they have seen or heard of it in a real world situation, they will be more likely to be interested in it. Reading books is something very important to do at any age, but with small children in particular because they start to learn vocabulary, how to make connections and sound out words. Many children who were read to at home are more likely to succeed in school, here are some statistics that support that: http://www.nea.org/grants/facts-about-childrens-literacy.html

An Indian Father's Plea

       I think the article “An Indian Father’s Plea” by Robert Lake, is very interesting. My elementary school was not diverse at all; it was a Catholic school where we had to wear uniforms. Therefore everyone looked and dressed the same, allowing no room to express yourself, your background, or your culture. This article in a way reminds me of that, in this elementary school it seems as if there is no room for the little boy, Wind-Wolf, to express himself and his culture. He is classified as a “slow learner” when in reality he is very knowledgeable, but not about the type of things that are taught in our school systems today. He knows many different Indian languages, has experienced many different types of healing ceremonies and has been taught different types of religion. These are things that are important for people of the Indian culture to be aware of, while it is necessary to learn the standard math, reading, writing, and science that is taught is school, it is also important to allow students to stay true to their culture. It is eye-opening that the little boy, Wind-Wolf, wants to cut his hair to fit in with the other children, and no longer wants to be a part of the ceremonies because he doesn’t want the other children at school to “judge him”.

        The way the teacher views Wind-Wolf is upsetting; the teacher tries to find a different way to say his name because he doesn’t find Wind-Wolf appropriate. Every child is different and has different interests regardless of where they come from. Instead of the teacher making Wind-Wolf feel bad about himself that he does not know all the basic things the other children know, he should try and incorporate the things Wind-Wolf does know, to make him feel like he does fit in and is smart. For example in the article it stated that he knows a lot about birds, the teacher could take this into consideration during a science class and have Wind-Wolf help explain the different kinds of birds. I feel that a teacher should be aware of this and know that diversity is such a large aspect of our society. It is very common that a child will have a different background or different beliefs and it is the teacher’s responsibility to make sure the child is comfortable in a classroom environment because they may have never experienced anything like it before. There are many resources and tips online that can help teachers if they feel like they are having trouble creating an equal learning opportunity for the students. Here is an example of an online resource, it gives eight examples of how a teacher can create a lesson plan that allows for diversity: http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/activities/choosing.html

Amazing Grace

        The reading Amazing Grace by Jonothan Kozol, was very eye-opening to me, I never usually think about how others go about their daily lives. I don’t think of the struggles other people are faced with or horrors that they may see in their neighborhoods. The area of Mott Haven, where St. Ann’s elementary school and church are located, is a very dangerous area in New York. This website gives the crime rates in Mott Haven today, which are still very high; murder, robbery and assault risks are above average in this area. http://www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/NY/Bronx/Mott-Haven-Demographics.html.

        There were three quotes in particular that stuck out to me. The first one was on page three of the text, it stated “at the elementary school that serves the neighborhood across the avenue, only seven of 800 children do not qualify for free school lunches. Five of those seven, says the principal, get reduce-price lunches, because they are classified as only ‘poor’ not ‘destitute’”. I went to a Catholic Elementary school, and I do not think that anyone qualified for free or reduced school lunches, so the fact that only two out of 800 children have to fully pay for their lunch is extremely surprising. The next quote that I found unsettling was that “nearly 4,000 heroin injectors, many of whom are HIV-infected live here. Virtually every child at St. Ann’s knows someone, a relative or a neighbor, who had died of AIDS.” It is awful for not only a child, but for anyone to be surrounded by so much drug usage, and to see many people in their community contract and die from AIDS due to unclean needles and injectors. The children in this neighborhood have to deal with a vast amount of death, which is something that no child should have to experience at such a young age. A mother states to Kozol “the truth is, you get used to the offense. There’s trashy things all over. Then there’s all the trucks that come though stinking up the air, heading for the Hunts Point Market. Drivers get their drugs and their prostitutes”. Many of the parents and community members of the St. Ann’s region are used to the horrifying things that occur in their neighborhood. I’m sure they wish for better lives for their families as well as themselves, but at the moment they have to make the best of the situation they are faced with. It amazes me that these children have to live in such an area where they are not always safe with running water, and food on the table; the little boy that shows Kozol around the city seems so friendly, knowing mostly everyone that he comes into contact with. The horrifying things that the children in this area have to experience and see, don't seem to lessen their spirits.

About Me

Hi, my name is Tory Kavanagh and I'm a freshmen at RIC. I'm studying to be an Elementary Education major with a concentration in Special Ed. I work at a dance studio and I am also a camp counselor, these two jobs have influenced me to want to become a teacher. In my free time I like to watch Netflix, hang out with my friends and dance. I'm from South Kingstown which is right by the water, I love going to the beach which is where I spend most of my time in the summer. I'm excited to be part of the Education Program here at RIC, so I gain the proper experience and understanding of what is needed to become an educator.