tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9367921.post2057206552818008728..comments2024-03-12T11:58:30.386-06:00Comments on La Bloga: Guest Columnist: Jean Gillis. A Valentine for Jimmy Santiago Baca.Contributing Bloguistas:http://www.blogger.com/profile/13054190814722049711noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9367921.post-79899131862269200232009-12-03T12:58:17.723-07:002009-12-03T12:58:17.723-07:00Jimmy Santiago Baca is perfect Jean!
Open up those...Jimmy Santiago Baca is perfect Jean!<br />Open up those minds! You never know who might be hiding in there.don quixotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07482906521627114480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9367921.post-44997720331465178702009-12-01T18:06:44.928-07:002009-12-01T18:06:44.928-07:00You are an inspiration Jean. I hope to see more of...You are an inspiration Jean. I hope to see more of your columns on La Bloga.Viva Liz Vega!https://www.blogger.com/profile/00718448582983682956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9367921.post-19604097060652563652009-12-01T09:47:31.239-07:002009-12-01T09:47:31.239-07:00Thanks for your article Jean. This past summer I t...Thanks for your article Jean. This past summer I taught an English class to 10th and 11th graders who were from various South Los Angeles high schools. I had carefully selected a series of texts that I thought would be accessible to their reading levels and that would also speak to them on issues of race and class. I soon discovered, though, that the students weren't reading at home. It was impossible for us to do our class activities (based on the reading), so I began to use class time to read. We all took turns reading aloud and although it meant tossing out my original syllabus, it gave me great insight into their actual reading strengths and weaknesses. The interesting thing was that the students (even the ones who repeatedly tripped over words and struggled) actually liked reading aloud. We learned vocabulary as we went and discussed specific scenes for comprehension. For so many of the students, our class time was the only reading time they had. And like you commented, it was evident that they did not have a "reading culture" at home, so we began to create a "reading culture" in our class. It wasn't what the class was originally supposed to be, but one creates as one goes and in the teacher's world the students' needs always rule. Best wishes on your teaching and gracias!Olga Garcia Echeverriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16630876968641044138noreply@blogger.com