The Hate You Give- Part 2

This was an incredible book. I have already recommended it to many people!

Although I have never personally experienced many of the issues, I was able to deeply connect with the characters. Reading this has helped me to understand the Black Lives Movement in a deeper way. I think this book would be a great tool to use in the classroom as it would allow students who have not experienced racism to understand. On the other hand, this book also gives those who have experienced racism towards themselves to feel like they have a voice and support.

Starr and Maya bring up a powerful discussion point on page 252. When the two friends are discussing Hailey saying hurtful comments Starr reflects wondering, "That's the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us." I see this happening often among teenagers at my school. They think that they can say racial comments for a plethora of reasons: they perceive it as a joke, celebrities do it, they are friends with a person of the race, they are a person of the race. It happens so much in the media and social networks that people think that it is okay to do. However, the comments are hurtful and inappropriate. Reading about Starr and Maya discovering that they need to use their voice to stand up against Hailey was powerful for me to read as an adult. It allowed me to reflect on my own perception of jokes. The use of this book in the classroom would allow students to do the same while focusing on the characters rather than themselves or friends.

In correlation with the previous discussion point, Starr makes a powerful decision on page 433 that would also be a great discussion tool in the classroom. Starr decides that she no longer needs Hailey in her life and it is time to separate from her. This is a crucial lesson for teens to learn; however, it is also one that many unfortunately do not learn. Young people need to know that it is okay to distance yourself from someone that is toxic to your happiness and wellbeing. Many people go through life thinking that they have to be friends with someone because of their history, but Starr shows us that it is okay to move on from a person. She is a wise young woman with the support of her mother.

Angie Thomas dedicated this book, "to every kid in Georgetown and in all "the Gardens" of the world: your voices matter, your dreams matter, your lives matter. Be rose that grows in the concrete." (Acknowledgements). I really loved this statement. It reminded me of the book, The Help, where the nanny tells the young girl, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." Young people need to hear words of encouragement such as these examples. They need to know that at least one adult thinks that their dreams matter. So many students have an uphill battle, and I hope to help them be a rose that grows in the concrete.

Great book! I think we should have read this last since no other book will top it, but hopefully I am wrong about that! I am looking forward to Angie Thomas's next publication!

The Hate You Give

This book is a page turner! And, I do not often get overly invested in a book. I ended up spending my whole Sunday afternoon on the couch.... cleaning, exercise, shoveling, shopping, and cooking all got postponed!

In the past few years, I have definitely become much more aware of my white privilege and how that affects my life. This book really caused me to reflect on how I would never experience the issues and struggles Starr must face solely due to our different skin colors. I do not worry that an officer will shoot me when I get pulled over. Once, when I was in high school, my mom and I were driving to see my Aunt in Great Falls. My mom got pulled over for speeding. It was only a few above the speed limit and it was going down a hill. The officer said he was just checking since it was Fourth of July weekend and wanted us to stay safe. He let us go on our way. This was before my awareness of issues such as this and how my skin color affects interactions such as this. I was talking to my mom when we drove off about it and she said something to the affect of, we had a nice car, we were buckled up, the dog was in a kennel, etc. I never really got her point at the time. Now, I realize that she is aware that the interaction could have gone much different for someone else.

Starr has the blessing of a caring and supportive family. My favorite quote of the whole book so far is in reference to Momma's feelings for Seven. "When he is around none of that matters. She loves him more than she hates Iesha." (Page 131) Wow! If all adults could put their feelings and drama aside, children would be so much better off. Instead, we so often see our students being used as pawns in a game between parents and other family members. It is heart breaking! Momma's attitude toward Seven is my favorite part of this book. How easily she could hate this child and let it tear him and his father a part. Rather, he is a member of the family and never thought of as different. He has the same moral expectations. I hope Seven can go on to be successful and help the movement.

When Starr and Chris get into their argument and Starr says, "You're white, I'm black. You're rich, I'm not." I found myself thinking of the TV show FRIENDS. There is an episode where Joey, Rachel, and Phoebe have an issue with the other three because they always want to go spend money. The others don't think it is a big deal. However, to the poor ones it is a big deal. Sometimes I feel this way with my family. They always want to go celebrate or do activities and it really kills my bank account! However, they just brush off my concerns because to them money is not a concern. This is as close as my white privilege self can understand what Starr is going through. To her, the race and financial topics are a huge concern. Rather than addressing them, Chris brushes them off like they do not matter. This does not fix the problem. Rather, it makes Starr feel like there is more of a rift between them.

Daddy brings up schools on page 169 saying that, "the schools in our neighborhoods don't prepare us well enough." This caused me cry a bit (not the first time for this book either!). I was just complaining to a fellow teacher I feel like I am failing my students. I get so worried for them to graduate and leave our building. This is also not an exciting time for my students. They do not have plans for college or careers like my friends and I did. They do not have a condo that their parents own to live in like we had. Heck, their parents probably will kick them out of the home soon. They need so much more support. I just do not know how to do more!

I can't wait to read the second half, but I forced myself to stop since I already had so much to talk about for this book. Also, I would have stayed up half the night to finish is and really off set my week!

Highway of Tears

Watching the Highway of Tears documentary was pretty tough for me. I had never heard the statistic of native women being harmed or going missing compared to white women. I have definitely realized how much White Privilege I hold in the last few years. I grew up with educated parents and an in tack family unit. After my recent years working in the SPED school system, I came to know how lucky I am to have had such a stable upbringing.

One key aspect that resonated with me after reflecting on the documentary is how the media and police officials broadcast the women as worthless. They say they were alcoholics, homeless, or got around too much. Given our society's current climate, the public is then more likely say the women deserved it, or it was their fault. This is insane! Why would anyone ever think that treating another human so poorly is deserved regardless the circumstance. I have left establishments after a few too many drinks in my younger years, and thankfully had good friends and family to get me home safely. If something would have happened to me one of those nights, would that be how the media portrayed me? Probably not given my skin color and economic background. But, really what is the difference?

The hardest part of watching the film for me was thinking about my niece as one of these young girls. She has her father's last name, which is a traditional native american name. Also, she "looks native." She will have so many different experiences than I did given these factors. If something tragic such as what is happening on the Highway of Tears happened to her, I would be at a loss. And, to think this could happen just because of her skin color or name. I was thinking, would the media portray her as deserving it, or would the police and media come together to support the family and find her just because some of her family is white, well educated, and economically stable.

These women are someone's niece. They all deserve to be fought for and protected. The response from the police and media is disgusting. Why do we accept that some people deserve horrible outcomes or unequal treatment than others? However, we see it all the time.

My co teacher and I recently read SPEAK with our English students. We teach mostly boys, with only a few girls throughout the day. Our para asked us why we choose that book as she thought is was intended for a female audience. I feel very strongly that we need to teach our boys the appropriate way to treat women and the affects their behavior has on a women's development. No one deserves to be hurt, stolen or murdered no matter their appearance.

After class, I met my husband for dinner. He texted me that parking was horrible and to go park by his vehicle in the parking garage. However, he was already at the table. I found his truck and parked beside him, so we would be together on the way out. I was so nervous to walk alone to the restaurant, especially from the parking garage. I would have been nervous regardless, but was extra on edge after the movie. I texted him that I was leaving my car and pretty much ran to the street. I walked closely behind some men until I got to the restaurant. However, I was thinking, "Why do I think these men will protect me and not be the ones to hurt me? Is it because they are older white males? Would I be this comfortable if they were a different skin tone? Or would I be nervous to be close to them and looking for someone else to be near? They seem comfortable that I am near them. Would they be this comfortable if I was a different skin tone?" These are all things my husband did not have to worry about when walking to the restaurant due to our difference in gender.

Readicide- Part B- Post 2

Summer break. An easy read. Laying in the sun. My favorite time to experience the "Reading Flow." Well, I experienced the "Reading Flow" during the second half of this book. Unfortunately, I was not on the beach this week. I take my nephew to his Jujitsu practice after school. Ten kids, in a large gym, practicing a form of organized fighting. I decided I needed to increase my time management, so I pulled out the Gallagher text for the hour. I am cruising along, once again very interested in Gallagher's writing, and I am interrupted by a constant smacking sound on the mat. It had been going on long enough, that I figured I needed to look up. It was my nephew, trying to get my attention because obviously I need to watch him the entire hour. Sorry little man, I was in the flow!

Okay, so you all know I am a Gallagher groupie. However, he really made me reflect this week on how much I can improve upon my English lessons. I do not let my students experience the flow for themselves! Why not?! We read an average of ten pages together, and then they have a curriculum guide activity. What a boring way to read! I guess I have always done this because I feel that they need me to help them understand what is going on in the book. Gallagher allowed me to realize that they have no idea what is going on because we stop and pick it a part every time it is getting interesting! My students are taking several weeks to read a novel. I have created readicide in my classroom.

I struggle on a daily basis to get my teenagers to do something. Anything really. Just take an interest kids! They do not like reading, they will not SSR, and reading on their spare time is definitely not in the cards. Even in my English class, students put forth the minimal effort and do not seem  to have interest in making themselves better. However, I do agree when Gallagher expresses, "teenagers, like all people, are willing to work hard when they recognize that their efforts will bring them something valuable" (76). I can relate to this both personally and professionally. I will put in the work, if the outcome is of interest to me. Why don't my students want to work hard on their English lesson? Well, because answering comprehension questions every ten pages is not a desirable outcome. If I was to frame a book well, that interests students, and then allow them to relate the book to their own lives through discussion and reflection, I'll get more buy in.

So, I will try SSR again. Only because Gallagher has not steered me wrong yet! However, I plan to implement the one-pages. If my students do not have a final expectation for the book, they will not read. I hope that once SSR is in place for awhile, students will begin to read for the enjoyment of it, but only time will tell!

Readicide Post 1

I think it is safe to say that Kelly Gallagher is my professional soulmate. I loved his book, Write This Way. Only two chapters into this text, and I know that Readicide is another treasure to be scribbled in, sticky noted, and kept at an arm's distance. Before I begin to dive into the last three chapters, I need to develop a symbol for the term, "my kids!" because it is everywhere in this book.

Mr. Gallagher and I were really jiving for the first ten pages. I was nodding along and even jotting down a note or two. Then, he brought out the show stopper. Robert Marzano. Normally I am not a huge fan of the district flying in a PIR day speaker, but Mike Ruyle from the Marzano group the last two years has not disappointed.  Our PLCs are centered around The New Art and Science of Learning.  Not that I was hesitant to jump on board the Kelly Gallagher band wagon, but when I read that my buddy Marzano was coming too, I had no doubt I was in love.

I am the ACT accommodations coordinator for my school. With this, I also do any alt testing. Do you know that as soon as a student takes the alt, it is recoded as a failure for the school no matter how they perform on the alt? And, it that doesn't rattle your feathers, it takes an average of four hours to give the alt. Four hours of my student's education to automatically fail. For students who take the ACT with accommodations, they try for an hour maybe, but then it is shut down city. I'd place my money on another failing mark for the school. Why?! Why, does all this time and energy (and money) go into what I can tell you before my students even take the test? They are going to fail. This test does the student no good. Okay, we can all agree: testing=bad, teaching=good. I agree Mr. Gallagher.

Now, I don't want to admit this because Mr. Gallagher might break up with me, but I do not have my students SSR. Worse than that, I do not allow books to leave my classroom. I know! Teacher fail. However, I need every moment I can get. My students do not SSR when given the time. They do not care if I read, if it is a grade, or if it is the most interesting book of their life. they are off task and I end up mad. There goes the classroom vibe for the day! I also buy most of my classroom books with my own money. If those babies leave, they are not coming back! Help me. I know this is wrong.

Finally, I must address background knowledge. Oh how that can make or break a student. My students have such limited background knowledge. I did something like AoW last year. Why did I stop? Probably because I got sidetracked with testing students for four hours a day. Thanks to the Kelly Gallagher website, it is coming back kids!