Classroom Cultures

The article by Hilary Janks asked a probing question that resonated with me throughout the reading. In the “Access” section of her article, Janks asks, “How does one provide access to dominant forms, while at the same time valuing and promoting the diverse languages and literacies of our students and in the broader society?”

This question made me think about the importance of encouraging students to use their primary discourses in the classroom. This type of activity permits students to learn from one another in more ways than they realize. Additionally, this type of freedom in the classroom can help the teacher learn more about his/her students and how they learn best.

As I read this article, I tried to think of ways I can incorporate the culture of my students into my classroom, while still instilling in them the concepts of our readings and the importance of proper grammar. Because I teach English, I feel I have a great deal of flexibility in this area. One activity that I used with my students, which incorporated some of their primary discourse, centered on the tone, mood and voice of a story we were reading.

In order to introduce the characters into a classroom discussion, I posted two charts on the chalkboard. The first chart, titled, “MY VOICE” displayed three columns: At home, at school, with friends. This chart demonstrated to the students the number of ways they communicate with others depending on who they are talking to and the subject being discussed. The second chart contained a list of characters and their voices in different settings in the text.

I tried to incorporate my students’ thoughts and actions into the text by using their chart as an example. This also provided students the opportunity to share with one another how they communicate at home; and I had a better understanding of what some of their slang meant, which was beneficial for me!

I feel that Janks made a great point in her article about the use of dominant languages and discourse. I feel that by coming up with creative ideas that give students a chance to share their cultures and thoughts with each other and their teachers, a more positive learning environment will be demonstrated.