Sherita L. Wilson SPED 561

1. Sherita L. WilsonSPED 561 Book Report November 8, 2006

2. Summary • Other’s People Children by Lisa Delpit (1995) expresses the experience of minority students in the American school system. Delpit addresses the purpose of education, the role of the teacher, and literacy.

3. Personal Thought • Delpit steps up and addresses the concerns of many educators in regards to the racial barriers in a very positive way. She shares concerns that many have but are afraid to speak about in fear of how others will view them.

4. Reaction • “How can such complete communication blocks exist when both parties truly believe they have the same aims?” (Delpit, 1995) This question brings forth an issue that I believe we should not have in society and especially not in education. All individuals regardless of race or gender should be able to communicate and come to a compromise on topics that will provide all parties the best experience possible.

5. Reaction Continued • The fact that many teachers feel that there is a hidden language between them and their students creates tension in the classroom environment and impacts learning.

6. Connection to Education • Though Delpit mainly addressed the concerns in regards to ethnicity, there are also concerns in regards to reaching students that have disabilities. Creating a classroom environment that promotes everyone being a member of the family helps increase motivation and academic achievement.

7. Teachers • Teachers must first value students as individuals for the literacies and cultural differences they bring to the classroom. Take those differences to adopt teaching methods and assessment tools that best work for the students.

8. Students • Student have to become empowered by believing that they can succeed. Students have to be active participants in the “culture of power” realizing that there are perspective outside of their own that needs to be acknowledge to be productive members of society.

9. Applications • Delpit feels like students need to be taught skills first before fluency. Lerner (2006) states that it is important for students to have basic academic skills to improve the student’s abilities in reading and mathematics.

10. Applications continued.. • Teachers must implement strategies that does not conflict dialect with reading instruction. • Take selections from a multicultural book and have students to compare and contrast the similarities and differences to their culture.

11. Activity • Culture Day • Allow students to present aspect of their culture. Have students to bring in examples for display or a family member to share. Students will be able to learn from others and engage in intellectual discussion. • Teachers can then allow students to write a reflection on what they learned from each other and how they will use the knowledge to improve their lives.

12. References • Delpit, L. (1995). Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom. New York: New Press. • Lerner, J.W. (2006). Learning Disabilities: Theories, Diagnosis, and Teaching Strategies (10th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.