I am a business teacher for thirteen years and a head of department for much less than that at a mixed secondary school in the port of spain area. For me teaching is a challenging but rewarding endeavour.
Male underachievement worries me and I witness every day the struggles that my students face in mastering the textbook and the content matter. I wanted to be able to make a difference, if you will an informed attack against the problem. I have a passion for reading and I want to unlock that untapped potential in my students: reading and writing is for life not just school.
As a future reading specialist I want to be a literacy warrior and I believe web 2.0 tools can be valuable in motivating our adolescents to read and write in meaningful and relevant ways. I am willing to share and collaborate with my colleagues and all those concerned about the state of literacy in our schools and our society...so to borrow a popular/current phrase let's waka waka together-it's time for literacy action!
Well said. There is so much passion in your words that I wish every teacher shared. I share your thoughts especially regarding the male students now that my school is once again a co-ed school I am witnessing this imbalance. But the change has to start with every teacher. Hopefully we will be the catalyst that starts the fire.
ReplyDeletethanx lyn for the support
ReplyDeletegender and literacy has to be considered-- what more evidence do we need that our boys are not faring well in the classroom as it is currently configured?
we are not meeting their literacy needs and they are acting out and underperforming--a clear cry for attention.
Brain based research has shown that boys' brains are wired differently than girls and therefore they do learn differently. Why are we as educators still following a one-size fit all literacy instruction approach that while not favouring our girls but clearly harms our boys?
My goal is to reach everyone so that they can enjoy the lifelong benefits of reading and writing but i aim to fight for boys. Not until there is equality in literacy attainment and results should we throw in the towel!
Stace
ReplyDeleteYou have hit the jackpot with your blog. I believe it is the most interactive of the 90 that were set up on that June evening.
Two things drew me to this post:
1. The name literacy warrior - how purposeful. It speaks of a ruthless nature to achieve what you set your mind to and in this case it is to radically change the way in which reading is taught and processed amongst our youths, particularly, our boys.
2. The boys - they also tug at my heart strings. There are a number of our colleagues who also expressed a concern for our boys, perhaps we can get together and lobby this new government for a proper implementation of these single sex schools. We know not enough thought went into the move to make these schools ready for our boys.
thanks a million kathine, i am glad you enjoyed my posts and yes we need to get together and safeguard the academic success of the young males out there if not for the very least for our daughters who may not have eligible father and husband options in the near future.
ReplyDeleteLiteracy Action is one of the measures that can help to stem the crime and hopelessness of the disenfranchised urban male
thanks again for your support and the enthusiasm it is infectious