"...children who experience other people in their lives reading and writing for many different reasons in the years before they begin school are better equipped conceptually to make sense of--to learn from--the beginning reading and writing instruction in their schools."
I chose this quote because I strongly agree with it. I have also found in my own personal experience that when children are read to at a young age and when parents teach word recognition and spelling in the child's toddler stage that they tend to have an easier time in the first stages of schooling. It is easier for them to adjust in the public school setting.
1. What is literacy knowledge? Give examples of both print and non-print literacy knowledge.
Literacy knowledge refers to the concepts children acquire while in their preschool years.
Print knowledge is the understanding that letters have sounds which can be associated with them and that there is some relationship between the letters seen and the letters heard.
Non-print knowledge is when a child writes what he/she thinks is a particular word, but cannot tell you what it is they wrote.
2. How do stereotypes interfere with literacy instruction?
Many teachers think that a child's or an adult's socio-economic status have everything to do with their literacy and life style. If teachers continue to think this way then it could seriously alter the child's classroom behavior and activity.
3. How do schools and teachers contribute to poor literacy instruction in schools?
Most schools offer a special reading class to help aid those students who seem to be falling behind the learning curve. This is were I find the inclusion principle to be of no use. If a student can not keep up with a classroom full of "regular" minds then he/she has no business being mixed in there. Why should the other students be held back because of one (or more) students?
4. What is the relationship between language, social class, and the denial of educational opportunity?
I think that a lot of people that live in West Virginia or the Appalachian region do not believe it is important to have a high level of education. Most of these people will work the family farm, work in the coal mines, and take over the family business. They have been around these jobs since they were kids and this style of living is all they know and the parents put a strong emphasis on this style and place it on a higher pedestal than a formal education.
5. What are some misconceptions about the relationship between language and literacy?
6. What can schools and teachers do to improve literacy instruction?
Teachers can give special attention to certain students who may need it without taking time away from the rest of the class. You can also talk to your principle or board office and inquire about having a teachers aid to help out.
7. How do you feel about use of the term "Proper English"?
It doesn't bother me. I'm not too sure why some would be offended by this term. I think that some might think or envision someone speaking with a British accent (Queen's English). If you look at the classifications of "Proper English", speaking in the vernacular is to be employed. This would mean avoiding larger words that some may not know. This could help to avoid embarrassment or the feeling of being superior.
PART 2:
"Industrialists and others, however, blamed the people for their own poverty, and this myth continues because it is entertaining to the Americans beyond the mountains."
I was born and raised in West Virginia and have heard these "stories" all of my life. While some or most of these "stories" may be for entertainment purposes, I find that a lot of the stereotypes are accurate. People that I have met from the "backwoods" of WV live up to the hype. They do not speak well nor do the carry themselves as an adult should. Having said that, I have also met some West Virginians that are very well civilized and "modern". I don't consider myself to be better than anyone else, but I must admit that the West Virginia myths and stereotypes do humor me quite a bit.
Cited:
(2009). West virginia hillbilly white trash: Johnny knoxville’s “the wild and wonderful whites of west virginia”. (2009). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2009/11/west-virginia-hillbilly-white-trash-johnny-knoxvilles-the-wild-and-wonderful-whites-of-west-virginia/
Purcell Gates, V. (2002). As soon as she opened her mouth. In L. Delpit & J.K Dowdy (Eds.), In The skin that we speak: An anthology of essays on language culture and power. (Print: Anthology)
O'Brian, J. (2003, May 10). Tall tales of appalachia. The new york times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/10/opinion/tall-tales-of-appalachia.html?src=pm
I chose this quote because I strongly agree with it. I have also found in my own personal experience that when children are read to at a young age and when parents teach word recognition and spelling in the child's toddler stage that they tend to have an easier time in the first stages of schooling. It is easier for them to adjust in the public school setting.
1. What is literacy knowledge? Give examples of both print and non-print literacy knowledge.
Literacy knowledge refers to the concepts children acquire while in their preschool years.
Print knowledge is the understanding that letters have sounds which can be associated with them and that there is some relationship between the letters seen and the letters heard.
Non-print knowledge is when a child writes what he/she thinks is a particular word, but cannot tell you what it is they wrote.
2. How do stereotypes interfere with literacy instruction?
Many teachers think that a child's or an adult's socio-economic status have everything to do with their literacy and life style. If teachers continue to think this way then it could seriously alter the child's classroom behavior and activity.
3. How do schools and teachers contribute to poor literacy instruction in schools?
Most schools offer a special reading class to help aid those students who seem to be falling behind the learning curve. This is were I find the inclusion principle to be of no use. If a student can not keep up with a classroom full of "regular" minds then he/she has no business being mixed in there. Why should the other students be held back because of one (or more) students?
4. What is the relationship between language, social class, and the denial of educational opportunity?
I think that a lot of people that live in West Virginia or the Appalachian region do not believe it is important to have a high level of education. Most of these people will work the family farm, work in the coal mines, and take over the family business. They have been around these jobs since they were kids and this style of living is all they know and the parents put a strong emphasis on this style and place it on a higher pedestal than a formal education.
5. What are some misconceptions about the relationship between language and literacy?
6. What can schools and teachers do to improve literacy instruction?
Teachers can give special attention to certain students who may need it without taking time away from the rest of the class. You can also talk to your principle or board office and inquire about having a teachers aid to help out.
7. How do you feel about use of the term "Proper English"?
It doesn't bother me. I'm not too sure why some would be offended by this term. I think that some might think or envision someone speaking with a British accent (Queen's English). If you look at the classifications of "Proper English", speaking in the vernacular is to be employed. This would mean avoiding larger words that some may not know. This could help to avoid embarrassment or the feeling of being superior.
PART 2:
"Industrialists and others, however, blamed the people for their own poverty, and this myth continues because it is entertaining to the Americans beyond the mountains."
I was born and raised in West Virginia and have heard these "stories" all of my life. While some or most of these "stories" may be for entertainment purposes, I find that a lot of the stereotypes are accurate. People that I have met from the "backwoods" of WV live up to the hype. They do not speak well nor do the carry themselves as an adult should. Having said that, I have also met some West Virginians that are very well civilized and "modern". I don't consider myself to be better than anyone else, but I must admit that the West Virginia myths and stereotypes do humor me quite a bit.
(2009). West virginia hillbilly white trash: Johnny knoxville’s “the wild and wonderful whites of west virginia”. (2009). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://deathby1000papercuts.com/2009/11/west-virginia-hillbilly-white-trash-johnny-knoxvilles-the-wild-and-wonderful-whites-of-west-virginia/
Purcell Gates, V. (2002). As soon as she opened her mouth. In L. Delpit & J.K Dowdy (Eds.), In The skin that we speak: An anthology of essays on language culture and power. (Print: Anthology)
O'Brian, J. (2003, May 10). Tall tales of appalachia. The new york times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/10/opinion/tall-tales-of-appalachia.html?src=pm
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