Double Journal Entry #10

Chapter 3: Language and Identity At Home

What are the features of the forms of language that are spoken in a home environment that align with academic varieties of language?

Some features of the forms of language that are spoken in a home environment that align with academic varieties of language include: oral story telling, vocabulary and structure learned through read-alouds by parents or other adults, and/or the use of video games and the complex thinking involved in navigating the structures involved.

What are the features of Leona's specialized form of language?

Leona's specialized form of language comes in the form of poetry. Her experiences have a consistent rhythm with her culture, and specific poetic features used by Leona are as follows: parallel structures, syntax patterns, and stanzas.
 

Why is Leona's specialized form of language not accepted in school?

Leona's specialized form of language was not accepted at school because it was misunderstood. Many perceived Leona as someone who has been rambling and mumbling, rather than as someone of different culture. Because of this and the school's approach to reading as instructional, Leona was expected to use academic varieties of language.

Explain the contradiction between the research conducted by Snow et al. (1998) and the recommendations made by Snow et al. (1998).

The contradiction between the research  and recommendations by Snow is that the research showed that impoverished children tend to fall behind despite initial reading levels. As a result, an instructional approach to reading (focusing on reading as skill) is recommended. If this is so, the contradiction is that these students who will likely fall behind are expected to flourish and excel in an environment that does support their needs.

What other factors besides early skills training will make or break good readers?

Racism, cultural bias, and stereotyping all have a negative impact on a student's ability to learn to read. As was previously discussed, learning to read is a cultural process, and by only accepting one culture, those students who are considered diverse will not have the support they need to excel. The factor of whether or not students feel like they are a valued part of the social structure of the school also has a huge impact on mastering academic forms of language. (Gee, 37)

Why do some children fail to identify with, or find alienating, the "ways with words" taught in school?
Students struggle to identify with the academic "ways with words" taught in school because it does not support the language varieties used at home.

Gee, J. (2004). Situated language of learning: a critique of traditional schooling. New York: Routledge.