[reading between the lines]

 

For months now we have been teaching personal narrative to 4th grade students, encouraging them to explore their communities and culture. It has been a challenge and a process - simply put, a lot of coaxing the story out is required for them to dig deeper. On top of that, there have been issues with logistics of the class as well. Some of the main challenges have revolved around issues of trying to get students to write with more complexity. Like, yes, I'm glad that you love ice cream, but why is this story significant? What is it about that day in the park that is compelling you to choose this specific story? All these issues seem to come back to the purpose of writing and the audience we write for. It has been a slow process, but there have been moments that made me think about my own work and research in new ways.

 

Today, a student shared that her mother owned a salon in Harlem and described the clients that frequented her mother's shop. 'This is the story!' I thought excitedly. How could I have missed this? The story was rich, with all the elements required of a great narrative. How could this story, so rich with culture and community, have fell through the cracks? Also, as instructors, how do we assist students in discovering those stories - the stories that tell their lives and yet go unmentioned?

 

Tomorrow, I will be teaching the final writing workshop in a 6-part series for high school students. It has been an inspiring workshop, an amazing opportunity to meet with talented young people who are writing the word and the world, as Freire would say. And then, off to Seoul, Korea for a week!