In this class we read a lot of papers related to how reading and writing is taught in schools. Since this is a required class for a School of Education program, that makes sense obviously. I think these readings had the greatest impact on me. I’ve mentioned before how learning American Standard English was a struggle for me, and I found these readings eye-opening (also they made me feel better and a little less at fault about struggling). I realize that schools sometimes are unable to accommodate the needs of all children. However, as mentioned in a couple of articles, the way reading and writing is taught in schools should change. If we want all students to achieve a certain amount of literacy, we should try to change how it is taught because whatever methods schools are currently using, are not working as well as hoped. I think another way of having students attain a particular amount of literacy is to lower the bar that is set by society to define who is literate. But this forces us to ask “what is literacy” which we all know is a highly debatable topic (recall the first and last class). How can we achieve universal literacy? Is the goal realistic enough to be achievable?
I know a lot of you want to be teachers in the future. What do you think about how literacy is taught in schools? How were you taught to read and write in schools? How do you think this class or the readings in this class have influenced how you may teach in the future? Have they actually changed anything about how you planned on teaching?
I struggle with the questions you’re asking, in how I will teach reading and writing, because I’m a product of the best case scenario of literacy education–strong sponsors at home, strong sponsors at school, overabundance of resources all the way. I don’t really know what it’s like to struggle with reading and writing. I had a few stumbling blocks, but I also had the support to work through them.
I worry about what I will be able to do for students that don’t have the same background as I do. Certainly I can empathize with their struggle, but that doesn’t mean I fully understand it or what they require as individuals to succeed. It does seem like it will be a different issue with each student who struggles. Some of these students may come from other countries and need to learn English completely, some might come from low-income backgrounds and lack the resources at home to reinforce or practice the skills I teach.
Maybe I won’t have to worry as much, as I plan to teach high school and won’t be involved in the initial teaching of reading and writing, but what can I do for students who come to my classes with a decade worth of inadequate skills or education? How will their prior experience and relation to my subject affect their motivation and willingness to learn more when they’ve encountered so much difficulty?
I feel high school is the last point to reach students, it’s critical to engage them and orient them for success beyond your class, and to me, literacy is a necessary quality for a fulfilling life. Whether someone goes into the humanities or not post high school doesn’t matter as much to me, I care first about the student’s ability to use reading and writing to their purposes before I consider my own preferences and the values I place on these skills.
Of course, I want my students to do well in my classes, but not everyone will get an A and leave my room loving Shakespeare. But! I want them all to leave me with the ability to understand and communicate effectively, a set of skills that’s augmented and exemplified in one’s ability to read and write.