Blog Post One

In "Aria: A Memoir of Bilingual Childhood," Richard Rodriguez shares his experiences growing up bilingual and his views on bilingual education. He strongly believes that students should focus on learning English because it can lead to success, but he also describes how this focus caused him to lose closeness with his family. Rodriguez talks about his journey from speaking Spanish at home to using English in school, which made him feel more confident academically but less connected to his family. He writes, "I became... the confident student, academically successful. But, diminished, in my family's eyes." This struggle is common for many bilingual students, who often feel torn between their cultural roots and the pressure to fit into an English-speaking world. While I appreciate Rodriguez's perspective, I think he overlooks the benefits of being bilingual. Personally, being bilingual has opened many doors for me, especially in my career. I’ve heard from many ...

  In "Literacy with an Attitude," Patrick Finn explores how students from working-class backgrounds face educational inequalities due to societal structures. He argues that the way literacy is taught varies greatly by social class, which keeps class divisions intact. On the other hand, Amani Shalaby’s "Troublemakers" focuses on how students, especially African American kids, are often labeled as "troublemakers," leading to harsh punishments that hold them back instead of helping them grow. Shalaby points out that these negative labels can seriously affect students' self-esteem and development. She believes that many behaviors seen as problematic are actually responses to a lack of support and understanding. Instead of punishing these students, Shalaby calls for teaching methods that recognize their challenges and nurture their potential. Finn takes a different approach, highlighting how working-class students often learn basic literacy that prepares th...

In "What to Look for in a Classroom," Alfie Kohn talks about what makes a good learning environment. He believes that active learning, a sense of community, critical thinking, and motivation from within (not just grades) are key to helping students learn well. However, some people feel Kohn's views are too broad and don't fit every student or school. For example, Kohn is against displaying trophies and awards because he thinks they create competition. However, the author argues that these trophies can actually boost school pride and celebrate team achievements. Similarly, Kohn raises concerns about reward systems, like sticker charts, suggesting they might make some students feel left out. However, the author believes rewards can motivate younger students. The main point is that education should be flexible to meet the needs of different students. Just as Kohn’s ideas focus on learning through social interaction, it’s important to recognize that every student is uniqu...

  In  Troublemakers , Carla Shalaby tells the stories of four students from different backgrounds and their experiences in school. She challenges the idea that low-income families don’t care about education, showing that many dedicated parents, especially mothers, work hard to support their children despite facing difficulties. For instance, Marcus, a student with a noticeable disability, receives strong support from his mother, who follows teachers’ advice to help him succeed.  Shalaby starts the book by discussing important questions about education, emphasizing that teachers should care about their students as real people. Many students who struggle are labeled as "troublemakers," but this often happens because their learning needs don’t match the strict school system. Teachers are often overwhelmed with large classes and may not be able to help every student, which can lead to some kids falling through the cracks.  She also talks about how schools handle student ...

The readings "The Silenced Dialogue" by Lisa Delpit and "The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies" by Christine E. Sleeter, along with the video "Precious Knowledge," highlight how important it is to have inclusive education that reflects students' diverse backgrounds. They argue that when schools recognize and include different cultures in their lessons, students become more engaged, successful, and confident. Delpit discusses how teachers hold power over students and stresses the need for educators to be aware of their own privileges to create a fair learning environment. Sleeter shares stories of students in Tucson who became interested in school through ethnic studies classes, which helped them connect with their culture and real-world issues. The film "Precious Knowledge" shows how removing these programs can harm minority students by denying them representation. Both Delpit and Sleeter highlight that education often focuses on wh...