“A Puerto Rican teacher and scholar said that ‘Many youngsters develop the impression that books are not about them, their families, or communities, but rather always about the ‘other’” (p. 6). I have always been an avid reader, especially when I was younger. I do definitely see the importance of children being able to relate their lives to something in the book. When I felt that readings or subjects in school were unimportant to me or that I would never be of importance in my life- I hardly could pay attention to it. When children can make connections between things it proves that they are cognitively developing.
“In school, we play a question game when we talk about books…even if the question is silly, when you know the answer, raise your hand, because that’s how we play the game” (p.7). Looking back on my elementary school days, I now wonder if the people that didn’t raise their hands thought this way. I don’t think it ever occurred to me, but again- I was raised differently. I was always read to and asked questions as the book went along.
“These requests for rereading are significant, because each time children return to a text they listen to it with deepened awareness, perhaps noticing new elements in the story, putting together pieces of a pattern that eluded them the first or second time they listened, or coming up with different questions about some aspect of the book” (p.9) It is amazing what children can make out of books. This deepened awareness can include morals within the stories, relation to life situations, imaginative ideas and many other wonderful things. I can’t even explain how important I think it is that children have a passion for books. It truly does have an effect not only on your education but your life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h5BeUBs7j4&list=QL
I truely believe it is important for children to feel a connection to what they are reading. If they are never reading stories they can connect with or with people like them then they could feel different and as if something were wrong with them because subconsiously they are learning that the white race is the only one worth reading about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you and Vanessa said. Making connections is important and the education system has a huge disconnect between different cultures and their curriculum which automatically blocks out a large number of the populaiton from wanting to learn.
ReplyDeleteI find it very important that students relate their lives in books. When they see a connection in a book that captures them, it is easier for the student to understand and analyze the material. It is very good to make daily connections and to connect them with other cultures. When you connect, you learn more about other cultures, and you start learning more about yourself.
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