Quote:
" I had to ask what the school was doing about this. How were they dealing with the experiential difference so that his learning could proceed? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not only were they failing to address this experiential difference...they were also seemingly unconcerned about his failure to learn. How could this be?....I knew that teachers, specialists, and administrators would have created quite a big fuss if any middle-class child finished first grade knowing how to read only one word. Parents would be called and consulted, assuming they hadn't already been haunting the school corridors, testing would have been recommended and carried out, the instruction and teaching would have been questioned and examined, and elaborate educational plans drawn up to re mediate this issue would have been drawn up."

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There were a lot of things that bothered me in the assigned passage. I come from a low income family my mother and father never finished college, so this was important to me while unlike my Donny’s parents my parents are literate and encouraged me, they had no idea the question to ask a teacher or school system to help them. I have also had the pleasure of tutoring and most of the children come from low income families. They far from unaware or unable to learn and it sickens me that these children get pushed aside.
My experience and my siblings’ was different from most low income families. My great aunt, like my grandma, is a retired English teacher I was surround by book and read to by the time I was an infant. I never struggled in school until third grade when I had a teacher who refused to change and didn’t mind that I was failing. I was eventually, in the fourth grade, put in a catch up class because of my grades and they pointed out there was no reason for it because I was reading above grade level after the summer and once again had all A’s. The fact that I scored well on the Standford 9, the equivalitant of today’s WESTEST, in third grade, the school completely ignored my grades.My mom was concerned but I think that parents who don’t know what questions to ask accepts when the teacher says that your child is lazy, incapable and needs more help. I also saw my friends with parent who didn’t care like Donny’s mother they thought that there’s child’s education was not important. They believe that their child’s life skills would be learned at home. Regardless of the parents attitudes, a teacher responsibility is to find a way to help them value education and reading.
My sister on the other hand was another story the education system failed her she tested above the level to receive any help and my mother had the school test her over and but she test right above the level everytime until high school. If she had recieved help or not been passed along although she was not at grade level in every test before then she most likely would’ve been able to to much better in high school. The fact that he was unable to complete what was asked of him at that level is unsettling, too many children are just pass along barely making it through like this.
Children especially low income children that struggle need to know they have more options than to follow in the parents footsteps. Chrildren can sense when you have gave up on them I find I see this in tutoring. The children tell me some of the remarks their teacher make and once have heard this for awhile they believe that is what they are. I think my mom and aunt made that very apparent to me and I attribute my success in school to them and teachers who pushed me and let me know they were watching and cared.
Top Colleges, Don't look for low income
Not surprising but interesting since they should be losing money for their stereotypes.


Questions:
What is literacy knowledge? Give examples of both print and non print literacy knowledge.
How do stereotypes interfere with literacy instruction?
It's hard almost impossible to change someone's beliefs. Stereotype are almost like a handicap, they are hard to overcome, as someone who believes them and someone who has to rise above them. If someone believes you can't do something to prove them wrong to often you have to do better then others. If they believe you're lazy as a student that's the hardest to overcome because often they are unwilling to help which leads to you giving up.
How do schools and teachers contribute to poor literacy instruction in school?
Often schools are more about looking good so they let student pass that need more help but fail to give that help, instead focusing on "smarter students"
What is the relationship between language, social class, and the denial of educational opportunity?
The belief that education is an equalizer is unfair. Just like people find art different and music. People are different is these simple things have to different for people education does too.
What are some misconceptions about the relationship between language and literacy?
Just because someone speaks a different language doesn't mean they aren't literate. I had the hardest time last semester trying not lower my lessons for an ELL but instead find a way to help them learn and test them on the same level I was assessing other student, not the same way.
What can schools and teachers do to improve literacy instruction?
Find different ways. For example I read a book in less than a week if I wasn't interested or it was like a textbook, I doubt I would have ever finished. Teacher have to find more ways to reach students find things they like and are interested in.
How do you feel about use of the term "Proper English"?
I don't think anyone uses the English language properly. I think it make you seem educated and it's important to learn certain rules but there are geniuses that are never going to speak "Proper English"

Quote
"In the 1870's, there was no ''Appalachia.'' At that time, this mountainous stretch of the country from West Virginia to northern Georgia was one of the most prosperous agricultural areas in America."

Reactions
I never thought of my self as a hillbilly or mountain folk until leaving the state. I thought everyone was like me and the people I was around. I visited Ohio ever year and got along with the kids there and honestly didn't notice that it was much flatter other than I liked riding my bike there much better. When I was about thirteen I was allowed to explore a little more and met different people there first questions for me were: Are you near Richmond? Do you live on a farm? Do you come here to buy shoes? and my favorite which I still get "Are the only black people?". I find it amusing that the land was prosperous until the area was stripped and rob of it's resources.
Hillbilly news
I think these are silly but a serious stereotype problem that relates to both