Quote: "Classrooms are spaces which can be infused with our students' identities... Identities play a foundational role in our students literacy development. (Pahl 112)"
Comment: Each student has an individual identity. It is our job as teachers to help students figure out and explore their identities and then help them to find a way to express them. As mentioned above, it is these identities that play a foundational role in a students literacy development. Students find ways to express their identities through their language. They may either develop and express their identity through their language of writing or through the language they use to speak about it. As a teacher, we need to give the students a chance to develop their identities. This can be done by allowing them to explore different subject areas they are interested in and then write or talk about those topics. By exploring the different subjects they are interested in, they begin to learn more about themselves and what they like. The classroom should be a space where these identities can be explored and developed. By allowing these identities to be explored, students are going to be give a chance to truly develop their literacy skills.
Questions: What are some ways that a teacher can get to know each of their students different identities?
I believe that each teacher needs to make an effort to get to know students on a personal level. If the teacher does not know their student, they will not recognize the students identity. In this chapter of Pahl, there was an activity example given that could be very beneficial to students. The teacher gave each student a project where they first answered questions about themselves, questions about their family, background, hobbies, etc. Then each student brought to class a paper bag filled with different objects that represent their identities. An activity such as this, allows each student to be special as they teach the class about themselves. It is also beneficial to ELL students because they have physical items to supplement their emerging vocabulary. Teachers who take time and effort to create projects like this will get to know their students' identities and help their students properly share their identities.
ReplyDelete