Web Blog VII

Pamela Daher
3-27-07
ED 350
Professor Shutkin

Web Blog VII

From reading Dr. Lisa Delpit article, I found that it would be extremely useful for my research project for many reasons. In the article it had a section which, stated The Cultural Clash Between Students and School, which explains that how the style of teaching can insult and cause problems with students from different culture. I thought it was important that Dr. Delpit stated how these different three groups of teachers interact and use language with their student. In my research project, I am focusing on how teachers should understand their students’ backgrounds and getting to know how to communicate with their students by body language, oral language, and tone of voice. I think this article relates to my topic and shows how all of these relate to how important it is to research the students’ culture. I like how this article describes the African-American culture to help teachers have a better understanding of their culture and how they should present themselves to their students. In the article Dr. Lisa Delpit stated, “If teachers are to teach effectively, recognition of the importance of student perception of teacher intent is critical (Delpit, 239). I thought this quote was significant because Dr. Lisa Delpit states how important it is for teachers to recognize how students view them and that has to do a lot by the way teachers teach and interact with their students. I think the best way for teachers to know how to interact and to teach effectively is by understanding their students’ culture.

Web Blog VI

Pamela Daher
3-12-07
Professor Shutkin
ED 350

Web Blog VI
I believe achievement, cultural competence, and sociopolitical consciousness were all thoroughly discussed in Crossing Over to Canaan. In the section why students don’t achieve I believe the most accurate hypotheses was the third one, which stated, “…Working-class and poor students know other like them who do not achieve in school or did not persist yet are materially successful” (Ladson-Billings, 59). I thought this one was most accurate because I do believe that in today society is a consumer-driven culture where nice cars, fancy clothes, and jewelry show off success and young students are seduced by this material gain, and believe to gain these materials they should focus on sports or other activities and push their education to the side (59). From the definitions of achievement I believe that the teacher being knowledgeable and skillful is extremely important because then the teacher has the ability to teach the students and to keep them focus and interested in the subject this will help the students achieve the goal of the lesson. The aspect of culture is a complex concept because it is hard for teacher to understand the different cultures and to incorporate everyone in the classroom. I feel that it is the teacher responsibility for learning and understanding the cultures because it shows the students that they recognize their culture and how it affects their lives. For the sociopolitical aspect, I do believe that the teacher has a major role in society because “of their commitment to social justice and the public good, they are compelled to integrate their social commitment into the academic skills and knowledge of the curriculum (121). As a future teacher, I believe that teacher teaches their students to become successful and to be good citizens and to help to improve their community, which has impact in their society.