Week 13: Language, Race, and Critical Conversations in a Primary-Grade Writers’ Workshop
By: Christian Dorsey
Have you ever been told to speak proper grammar? No? Well, I have. All throughout my life, since I've been in the education system I've been told to speak proper grammar because obviously the way I talked wasn't good enough.
That's why when I read Paul Hartman's and Emily Machado's article on Language, Race, and Critical Conversations in a Primary-Grade I was astounded that the basis of their research was to encourage 2nd grade students to step out of the frame of mind that only Dominant American English (DAE) was acceptable in the school setting but to embrace African American Language (AAL).
Paul Hartman is a 2nd grade teacher who teaches in a working class neighborhood in Chicago. A remark was made from one of his students during a discussion he was holding. It was over a piece of poetry that lead his class onto a journey of discovery of the dynamics language and race. The student simply recognized the language the poet was using was similar to the type of language he and his mom used so he stated that the poet was black. Some students agreed and others didn't. Instead of Paul stopping the conversation from getting out of hand, he encouraged it and challenged the students thinking. They dissected the poet's name, his tone of voice, his word choices, etc. In the end, after the discussion Paul asked the students if any of them talked like the poet did in the poem and they all piped up and responded with yes. He told them that they could write poems like that and the students were in disbelief. They couldn't belief that a teacher was telling them to write how they talked in everyday conversation.
Further on in the article, the authors went on to show data of the students work and how the students work became more authentic and personable when they were able to write how they wanted to.
This poem was written by a one of Paul's students. She stated that even though she is white she recognized that AAL was spoken by her granddad who lives in Nebraska. Hartman and Machado mentioned how AAL is not only spoken by black people but how it crosses over into other cultures and has become the norm for them. This student, Sarah, shared that writing in a language or a dialect other than DAE was a way to express one’s identity.
In the end, the authors concluded how beneficial it is for teachers to allow their students to use their entire arsenal of language repertories, whether it be AAL, Spanish, Urdu, etc. Also, that teachers should make it a point to use diverse texts within the classroom setting. You can find texts that are critical that aren't using DAE and your students will still be able to engage in meaning conversations and gain understanding. Lastly, they wanted to challenge educators to not shy away from conversations about race in the classroom. Your students are not too young, when you allow these conversations to happen you're actually helping your students to grow into becoming critical thinkers.
This is a short video of a 3 year old reciting Countee Cullen's, "Hey, Black Child" poem.
Questions:
1. Why do you think in times past speaking "proper grammar" was pushed so hard in the education system? Is it still as prevalent in today's society?
2. When you are speaking or writing are you more drawn to use Dominant American English or African American Language? Why is that?
3. Do you agree with the student Sarah when she states that writing in a language or a dialect other than DAE is a way to express one’s identity? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it is important to teach or allow our students to write in AAL or any other variation of language other than DAE?
5. How can we as future educators incorporate our students diverse language repertoires into our classroom?
In my opinion, proper grammar has always been pushed because of the role of education to make those who don't speak DAE to conform to this idea of the superior dominant culture way of life. I don't know if "proper grammar" is still pushed as much as it always has in the past, but as far as different languages being used in schools, I think this is still very much frowned upon. Students aren't being allowed to speak their native tongue; teachers aren't allowing students to use their linguistic resources as tools in the classroom. So yes, it's very important to allow children to incorporate whatever language variation they come with and build on it.
ReplyDeleteDora, I agree that most teachers don't recognize the value of allowing their students to use their everyday language in the classroom. I have been in several classrooms where students were talking to each other in Spanish. The students were more relaxed and they were able to help each other out with things they didn't understand.
DeleteI remember those teachers in elementary school where you always had to speak to them in proper grammar. When you ask a question they would even fix how you say it in front of the class. It was constantly pushed, and they thought that this would help us out in the future. Teachers would do this thinking it would improve our language skills. Now in schools I am not sure how much they push proper grammar on their students. I bet proper grammar is still as important in writing, but i hope that they are letting their students express themselves and use the grammar they are used to when talking.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, Language, Race, and Critical Conversations in a Primary-Grade Writers’ Workshop by Paul Hartman and Emily Machado they speak on how teachers don't have to use Dominant American English when trying to engage students in critical language analysis, teachers can actually use resources that the students relate to and value. Like Paul Hartman did in his 2nd grade class during their poetry unit. Instead of using someone like Shakespeare he used Hip Hop Speaks to Children: A Celebration of Poetry With a Beat edited by Nikki Giovanni.
DeleteTo answer question #1, I think in times past speaking “proper grammar” was pushed so hard in the education system because according to Language, Race, and Critical Conversations in a Primary-Grade Writer’s Workshop “AAL is often positioned as “poor grammar” and that young AAL speakers may face linguicism, or “discrimination and oppression based on one’s language” (p.303).” Looking at that definition of AAL, I believe that when the education system pushed “proper grammar” they wanted students to be viewed as the norm. Meaning the education system had a set of rules, and their students had to follow them even if it meant stripping away their roots into the African American community as well as their “blackness”.
ReplyDeleteDesiree I appreciate your response because I didn't realize this before. By not allowing students to speak their everyday language in the classroom whether it be AAL or Spanish and by pushing DAE on everyone they truly were trying to take away a part of us. The message they were sending is that who we are is not good enough to be in this society, so they had to try and conform us. I think as future educators we need to work to reverse this negative message within schools and encourage our students to embrace who they are and where they come from.
DeleteI think teachers should definitely allow their students to be able to speak what ever languages they need to to feel comfortable, safe, and be able to learn more. I do think though that if teachers are going to be doing that, they do need to explain to the students that they might be able to do that in their classroom but in other places they will be asked to speak proper English. They will be asked to speak proper English because society has created this expectation for 'normal' people to speak 'good' English, so when someone speaks 'broken' English they think that are not educated or they think that they are less because of how they speak. Which is not true because it is just because of their culture, they are just as educated as everyone else but because of their culture and how they were raised they speak a little different, but society finds that wrong.
ReplyDeleteAriana I like the point you brought up where you said that if teachers are going to allow students to speak their everyday language within their classroom that they have a responsibility to inform their students that not everyone encourages this and that they will be judged because of it. It is not fair but unfortunately that's the society we live in and our students should be well equipped to deal with it.
DeleteI think teachers push "proper grammar" because all of the standardized tests are using "proper grammar". I agree with Sarah on writing in a language or a dialect other than DAE is a way to express one's identity. A persons language is a direct link to someones culture and I think it is important to allow students to use the language that they are most comfortable with expressing. With that being said, I think it's important to still teach the "proper grammar" because of the exams students have to take.
ReplyDeleteSamantha I respect your viewpoint on "proper grammar". You're right that because standardized tests use DAE that our students should know it too because they're the ones who have to take them. On the other hand though, teachers can still use critical text that is relatable to their students and they still will gain the ability to critically analyze any text. For example, Paul Hartman used the poem "My Name Is Jorge on Both Sides of the River" by Jane Medina within his 2nd grade classroom.
DeleteI think it is important to allow students to talk in any dialect they feel most comfortable because it allows them to be themselves inside the classroom. However, I think it is also important to teach proper grammar because when students take standardized tests that's what they are going to be tested over, and you want to set them up for success. I think allowing them to use different dialects within the classroom also helps teach acceptance of others and that there's not only one right way to do things.
ReplyDeleteI agree that allowing students to use different dialects within your classroom can help teach acceptance among your students. I want my students to feel safe and welcomed within my classroom. That is why I fully support this and will educate myself on my students identities so that the material that I put in front of them actually applies to them.
DeleteI totally agree! I think letting them speak how they want is appropriate and you should let them so that they are comfortable. I also think that it is still important to teach standard english because that is what everyone in society expects out of the students. It is basically mandatory during job interviews, and also standardized tests.
DeleteTo answer question number three, I do agree with Sarah saying writing in a language or dialect other than DAE is a way to express ones self. When students are forced to write in DAE then what the student wants to express will not come across the same way. When it comes to language, I know Spanish has a lot of words and phrases that do not directly translate into english so meaning can really be taken away. When it comes to dialect, its like the same as English to Spanish. There are slang words that can translate but it will cause those words to lose power and meaning.
ReplyDelete- Deja Shelton
DeleteDeja you're right when you say that not all Spanish words translate into English and vice versa. As future educators we should recognize this and not be against our students using their everyday language within their writing. When somebody can take something and make it into their own, it makes it even more special and personable.
DeleteTo answer question five, I think it is very important that teachers let students speak the languages they are most comfortable with. Letting the students do this, lets them feel more comfortable in the classroom, and with their teachers.
ReplyDeleteI want my future students to feel comfortable and safe within my classroom and if allowing them to speak their everyday language is what it is going to take to help achieve that then I'm all for it.
DeleteIn relation to your experience, instead of being told to talk properly, I have always been told I am very proper. I served at a restaurant a year ago where the guests that came in were mainly old white people. This is because I worked in a predominately white area on the south side of greenwood, Indiana. I would serve the guests and they would be very surprised as to how polite I would greet and serve them. I have been asked numerous times if I attended Carmel or Center Grove schools mainly because those are predominately white school that were highly funded. To me, this was annoying as well and to me, those people were ignorant because no. I didn’t go to those schools and yes... black people are capable of using proper grammar.
ReplyDeleteI want to answer your question, How can we as future educators incorporate our students diverse language repertoires into our classroom? I think it's important to let students speak their language in the classroom if its going to help them further understand the lesson that you're teaching. We can get books that have the students specific language and then the English one as well so they can follow along if they get confused. Also using facilities provided from your school, like a translator to help the student understand better. This reminds me of a time when I was helping a teacher out at a school and one of the girls started speaking Spanish to her friend because she was confused. And the teacher told her not to speak it in class and that they can only speak English in the classroom. That really made me annoyed and mad because I knew the little girl would have understood the lesson better if the teacher would have let her friend help. So, I think it's important to allow that in class because of how helpful it is for them.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Alina. I believe that educators should allow students to use their second language in the classroom. Sometimes all it takes is for someone to translate it to them in their second language for them to understand. I rather have the students ask for help in what ever they feel comfortable asking then not ask for help and still be lost. I also agree that we can get books that have students specific language and then the English one as well so they can follow along if they get confused. I remember when I was little I would love to get Spanish books although I couldn't read Spanish. I would like to compare my English book to my Spanish book to figure out what was going on with the help of my English book. This was how I started to learn how to read Spanish too.
DeleteTo answer question three, "3. Do you agree with the student Sarah when she states that writing in a language or a dialect other than DAE is a way to express one’s identity? Why or why not?", yes I do agree with Sarah. It is very important to allow our students to write in a language or a dialect other that DAE so that they are allowed to express their identity. I feel like as teachers, if we didn't do this then we would be taking away their identities and cultures.
ReplyDeleteI agree that standard english has been pushed a lot in schools because that's what it always expected. I think that if you push it so much in your classroom, then it is taking away some students identities. To answer "4. Do you think it is important to teach or allow our students to write in AAL or any other variation of language other than DAE?", I think it is very important. I think that it is important to have the students identities in the classroom, and to make them feel comfortable. If they feel as if their whole identity isn't welcome in your classroom, then they will not feel welcome and may also shut down and not want to work. I feel that it can be detrimental if you do not let them express themselves.
ReplyDeleteI think allowing students to be them selves in speaking terms should be excepted. I wouldn’t correct how someone speaks. I would correct sentence structure and words that are being said incorrectly. I would encourage students to speak to me as if they were at home as long as they’re being respectful. I also think it would be good to have an assignment where students are fully allowed to use whatever dialect they do at home and write a story or poem. Then I would want them to do the expected standard dialect in the same story or poem and have them compare. I think this would show students that both are acceptable but they are all different.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your second question, "When you are speaking or writing are you more drawn to use Dominant American English or African American Language? Why is that?" I usually write in the English language more than the African American language. I think for most of my life I've been taught that certain words were considered to be slang or just invalid to the English dictionary. There's been a long stigma against black people using jargon language as equated to bad grammar. But the truth is that back in the 17 and 1800s the upper class used plenty of words like "I wont, I shan't and I aint" all the time. It was just until till the lower class started to use it that the words fell out its style and it was deemed "bad English". Honestly I still use it because its the standard to get a good paying job and not fall under the category as "uneducated". It shows that you know how to articulate yourself well enough to hold a conversation. Code-switching is something that everyone who is non-white people has to do at some point in their lives. Its sad, hypocritical and unfair.
ReplyDeleteProper grammar was pushed so hard because that how people think you need to talk to succeed. They think that if you don't use proper grammar, than you are uneducated and dumb. Proper grammar was also pushed so so children can read books better and be able to pronounce the different words that are in said books. People think it's the smart was to learn but if you are struggling learning proper grammar than something has to change. If someone talks a different way and is struggling learning with proper grammar than they need to be taught how they know. How they talk needs to be incorporated into the class so they know that it's okay to learn that way.
ReplyDeleteI think that speaking "proper grammar" was pushed so hard in education because it was what the majority wanted (meaning white people). I am more drawn to Dominant American English because that is how I was taught to write. I was taught that it was the "right" way to write. I do believe that writing in another way other than DAE is a way to express identity because not everyone talks with "proper English". I think it's important to allow students to write things how they feel, but to also know how to write this way too since it shows a deep understanding of the English language and is how many things are still written today.
ReplyDelete