Literacy with an Attitude

    The book Literacy with an Attitude by Patrick J. Finn immediately caught my attention. This quote, in general, is important to me. "Teachers who see themselves as allies of their working-class students can help their students see that literacy and school knowledge could be potent weapons in their struggle for a better deal by connecting school knowledge with the reality of working-class students' lives." As discussed in class and in my previous blog posts, I have said how important it is to have a strong relationship with your students when developing their trust. I liked this quote because it emphasizes that it brings you and your students closer together, creating a community and showing them this trust by helping these students have different perceptions of school. By viewing yourself as better than your students, you will come off as arrogant, which causes a hierarchy in the classroom, which further creates a toxic environment. Literacy tools are essential for the student's growth in all aspects of life. A personal experience I had was in elementary school. I went to a private Catholic school in Pawtucket, where I was not given the proper tools to succeed in my literacy journey, but my parents were never alerted that I was struggling. I ended up transferring out of that school due to the fact that my parents weren't happy with the education I was receiving. I then went to a public school down the street, and they picked up on the issue right away. I was immediately put in extra help for reading and writing. The problem was corrected relatively quickly, but looking back at the situation, I realize how different these two teachers handled the situation. I am not saying that I can remember everything, but I do remember having a much more pleasant caring experience at the public school than the catholic school, in my opinion. 

    By making an effort to recognize each student's background and the experiences they bring to the classroom and the lesson, we can create a more inclusive and effective learning environment. You can not be "friends" with your students, but you can build that trust and respect with them to create that relationship within the classroom. I think if you get to know your students and make the learning experience special and memorable, it is more meaningful to the students, and they would much rather have an understanding teacher rather than a mean, passive-aggressive one. I also like to think that by adding your own personal real-world experiences with past educational or real-life experiences, it is easier for your students to trust you with their personal experiences. 

Comments

  1. Ms. Moreau's Literacy BlogOctober 20, 2024 at 7:19 PM

    Recognizing each student's background and experiences is a HUGE part for building trust and creating an inclusive learning environment. Teachers can and should make lessons more meaningful to their lives which will make their education so much better and rememberable.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michelina IronsOctober 20, 2024 at 9:20 PM

    Hi Jordan, your personal experience is a real eye opener in this situation! Private schools may be seen as the "better" schools, but in some situations like yours, this is not true.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CatherineOctober 22, 2024 at 1:49 PM

    I love how you took direct quotes from the book! I also agree with your statement about how you can't be friends with your students but you can get them to trust you and have a healthy bond with them. I also enjoyed learning about your experience in a private school! Great job!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Olivia HarrisOctober 22, 2024 at 2:47 PM

    I really like how you pointed out the importance of teachers creating a community within the classroom and not perpetuating a classroom hierarchy. Building a sense of respect and trust can give the students a more positive learning experience that motivates them to do their best.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AlanaOctober 22, 2024 at 8:09 PM

    I love the quote you added and how you related it to your own experiences. It really is so important for teachers to put in the effort to really know their students and meet them where they are at.

    ReplyDelete
  6. JoanmarieOctober 25, 2024 at 6:11 PM

    I love how you connect the text to your own experiences and how you explained the importance of having a positive relationship with students.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nicole NunesOctober 27, 2024 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Jordan! I enjoyed reading your reflection this week. Something that really caught my eye was the picture that you used at the end of your blog. I think that this is an excellent visual that links to Finn's writing. It truly displays how some people get a push in life to really help them, with the bigger person displaying "society", while there are others who are struggling to get to the same level without any help.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Olivia TetreaultDecember 10, 2024 at 1:49 PM

    I loved being able to see how you connected with Finns points :)

    ReplyDelete

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