I am from coffee cup reading fortune tellers, belly dancers, from Vogue and National Geographic.
I am from the land of the holiest and the devout, the land of perpetual turmoil, political unrest and eternal dysfunction.
I am from the darkest, bitter sediment, the Turkish coffee grind that lingers on the pallet.
I am from homemade ‘everything’, a long line of strong will and loyalty, from Janette, Sayid and Zarik.
I am from endless strength and limitless ‘spun’ energy.
From ... ‘here’s Johnny!’ upon arrival at any destination to ‘...no money, no funny’ and ‘...even if I am not watching you, know that God is’.
I am from deep catholic roots with a contradictive penchant for Rock n Roll, Heavy Metal, Alternative and Grunge.
I was born in Canada and my Palestinian heritage is worn on my sleeve as is my heart. I am from falafel to humus and everything Arab in between.
From my Mother singing in her thick Arab accent during the Christmas holiday season while cooking “...Chreeesmas is coming the goose (is) getting fat, please put a penny in the old man (’s) hat. If you have (n’t) not got a penny a ha'penny will do, if you have (n’t) not got a ha'penny, God (b) pless you!” Questioning all along ...what the hell is a ‘ha'penny’ anyway? From me singing at 4 years of age Rod Stewarts `Do you think I`m sexy?’
I am from churches, mosques and temples and exotic rugged terrain from the garden of Gethsemane to Mount Sinai. I am from housing goats and donkeys as pets from picking fresh pomegranates and prickly pears for breakfast, all the while watching the sunrise in all its glory.
From the silver screen, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Carey Grant, Gene Kelly, Rock Hudson, Marilyn Dietrich, Jean Harlow, James Stewart, Betty Davis, Doris Day and all the rest of the great silver screen legends. From John Lennon and his lengthy prolific legacy of inspirational words – if we could just ‘imagine’.
FYI: ha’penny - Halfpenny (British pre-decimal coin)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Making the Connections - Teaching Critical Literacy
When discussing how to teach literacy among professionals with in the vocation of education, the common tone of empirical authority on the subject matter always seems to be the driving force of the discussion. In my experience many teachers feel that they 'know/possess' the answer to what critical literacy 'is', and how to definitely go about teaching 'it'. Not to discredit any teachers but I really believe that critical literacy and all its forms are constantly changing. There is no empirical or finite definition for what it actually 'is', and essentially, it is constantly evolving in order to adapt to the environment in which it strives to exist. It is unanimous that teachers realize they have a responsibility to teaching literacy and all it entails. However, most execute their own course of action when attempting to go about doing so. "Promoting critical literacy is the educator's first calling.' (Lankshear, 1989, p.181) Although it is important and essential for teachers to have autonomy when teaching literacy, this can lead to many aspects of critical literacy being overlooked and/ or entirely dismissed.
Literacy is not only about the mechanics; it is about making these simple mechanics relative and applicable to all aspects of one's life. The sensitive balance between comprehension and making connections is often not the goal when attempting to achieve literacy among students. Teaching students how to make these connections between literacy and relativity is parallel; so that, literacy becomes as essential to the individual as breathing is to survival.
When critical literacy is made relative, it allows the individual to become sensitive to their own social surroundings. It opens up doors and introduces new worlds to the student. The interest ignites a spark that will always allow the individual to constantly be examining and thinking about the 'known' and how the 'unknown' connects to it all.
As I discussed this topic with my mother who was never given a formal education, I realized what a disservice is done when an individual is not taught the importance of how critical literacy can be such an invaluable tool in a person's life. My mother discussed how she felt 'cheated' due to all the missed opportunity in her youth, as she was not formally taught how to read and make what she read relative. It was only until she came to Canada that she taught herself to read, in order to survive. This tool became invaluable to her when her life took an unexpected turn, in which she found herself a single mother of five young girls with no employment. She quickly learned how to make her skills relative in order to survive; from reading grocery flyers to scout food sales to feed her family, to finding employment. The point being, it is not sufficient to simply teach children to read, 'in order to get by' but rather even more essential, they be taught critical literacy as a very powerful tool when it is utilised to broaden one's horizon. If a child can be taught how unlimited this concept is - literacy has the ability to open up many avenues.
Literacy is not only about the mechanics; it is about making these simple mechanics relative and applicable to all aspects of one's life. The sensitive balance between comprehension and making connections is often not the goal when attempting to achieve literacy among students. Teaching students how to make these connections between literacy and relativity is parallel; so that, literacy becomes as essential to the individual as breathing is to survival.
When critical literacy is made relative, it allows the individual to become sensitive to their own social surroundings. It opens up doors and introduces new worlds to the student. The interest ignites a spark that will always allow the individual to constantly be examining and thinking about the 'known' and how the 'unknown' connects to it all.
As I discussed this topic with my mother who was never given a formal education, I realized what a disservice is done when an individual is not taught the importance of how critical literacy can be such an invaluable tool in a person's life. My mother discussed how she felt 'cheated' due to all the missed opportunity in her youth, as she was not formally taught how to read and make what she read relative. It was only until she came to Canada that she taught herself to read, in order to survive. This tool became invaluable to her when her life took an unexpected turn, in which she found herself a single mother of five young girls with no employment. She quickly learned how to make her skills relative in order to survive; from reading grocery flyers to scout food sales to feed her family, to finding employment. The point being, it is not sufficient to simply teach children to read, 'in order to get by' but rather even more essential, they be taught critical literacy as a very powerful tool when it is utilised to broaden one's horizon. If a child can be taught how unlimited this concept is - literacy has the ability to open up many avenues.
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