On our first day of class, Dr. Vasquez asked us to define critical literacy... I wish I could recall exactly what I wrote to see how it contrasts with my ideas as I've journeyed through this class through reading, blogging, and podcasting (listening to and creating). It certainly hasn't been a traditional class, but I think the format has allowed our class to explore and define critical literacy in our own way since we all teach different subjects, grade levels, students, classes, and schools.
I remember the first time a teacher ever used the word "critical" in refering to how we should learn and think in school. It was my senior year in high school in AP English. My teacher had us focus on reading text as "critical thinkers" and we were supposed to read between the lines and develop meaning from the Grapes of Wrath, 1984, Bonfire of the Vanities, etc... It was all about finding symbolism and metaphors in literature.
I remember when we had to present in front of the class that some of us did it as a forum, some used drawings, some did traditional book reports and essays, and then there was a student who did an interpretive dance. I really thought this teacher was absolutely crazy because we hardly ever just sat in class and read and wrote papers like my other previous English classes. After reading many assigned books, we were finally given the chance to pick a book on our own and read it. I couldn't remember the last time I was given a choice on a book to read for school since elementary school when I would pick Hardy boy mysteries in 5th grade to do reports on.
Reading wasn't one of my favorite things to do and I hadn't read a book on my own since the 5th grade. I was lost in what to pick and we had to pick a novel to compare and contrast to 1984. I stayed after school one day to ask my teacher for help in choosing. Without hesitation, my teacher told me to go the local bookstore (because I wouldn't find it at the school library) and to see if I would like A Clockwork Orange.
I won't get into details about the book, but what amazes me to this day was how my teacher had analyzed the way I processed what we read in class, how she was able to understand what I would be interested in reading, and how she could suggest a book that most public school teachers wouldn't even dare to mention around students! I can't say that I didn't still think she was crazy after suggesting this book to me, but I did respect that she was living the ideas of thinking critically by doing so with her students. She knew that I would find the book relevant to some of the ideas that I had expressed in class and that I would find the book interesting.
I hope that I can think more critically about my students and make connections and impacts on them the way that my crazy AP English teacher did for me.
-MF EDOOMCATOR
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5 comments:
It seems like your teacher was already on the critical literacy track. From what I read you have a much greater appreciation for her now than you did back then, especially being a teacher yourself. Amazing you were able to read books that are more likely to be band now in public schools. It's a shame with all of the great books out there, many are struggling to stay on the library shelves. I even heard the Harry Potter series was banned in some schools for its use of witchcraft. Crazy! Finally kids are excited to pick up books instead of watch the movie and they can't even check it out from their school library. I hope your English teacher is still teaching so she continue to foster her students critical reading skills.
MF, your story certainly speaks to the notion of why we, in education, need to think about the kind of texts we make available for our students. Being provided access to alternate texts clearly made a huge difference for you that continues to impact your teaching today!
Nowadays, just about anyone can attempt to take books off a shelf and ban ban ban. This can happen at the classroom, school, or district wide level. However, most people assume if it's banned in one place that it's banned in all places.
Another very thoughtful and thought inspiring post MF!!!
Thanks
vivian
Reading your post made me think back to when I was in school. I can't remember a time in high school when I was given the freedom to choose a text of my own. What a great experience it must have been for you to have that opportunity. So often when I think of my high school classes, i think of having to learn facts or concepts. It was rare that I had the chance to do more critical thinking, which I wish I could have done more of throughout school.
It's interesting how the "crazy" teachers are most often the ones who know what they are doing.
I really like how you can compare your own experiences to critical literacy perspectives and recognize how your crazy teacher really was incorperating all of these great ideas that you did not recognize at the time.
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