Double Journal Entry #10

Double Entry Journal #10
Chapter 3: Language and Identity At Home

1. What are the features of the forms of language that are spoken in a home environment that align with academic varieties of language? Children can take on the role of speaking like an adult when telling literary stories, children's use of explicit language, and adults reading to children. 

2. What are the features of Leona's specialized form of language? Leona uses parallel lines in her story, she broke down her story into stanzas, she uses her vernacular in the wording of the story (she wrote it exactly how she would say it.) This is most likely a product of her home life or "social group: according to the author.

3. Why is Leona's specialized form of language not accepted in school? Leona's story was broken down in a way that it made it almost poetic instead of story like. She used her vernacular in the story/poem which is almost discouraged in the school setting. She write in the manner that she speaks and hear things which gives her and 'uneducated sound.' But I am sure this is not the case. 

4. Explain the contradiction between the research conducted by Snow et al. (1998) and the recommendations made by Snow et al. (1998). Snow contradicts himself by stating that the "Black/White gaps" was closing from the 60's until the 80's. But the research showed that the children who were part of the lower or poverty level achieved lower.

5. What other factors besides early skills training will make or break good readers? Belonging to the group is a big factor that can make or break good readers. One of the students in my classroom does not feel like he belongs with the other students and he does not try to read or want to try. He only cares about making the other students like him and he shy's from reading and writing.

6. Why do some children fail to identify with, or find alienating, the "ways with words" taught in school? Students find this alienating because they are not accustomed to this way of words in the home. Some students feel low when they do not know what the teachers are saying to them. The feel alienated and disengaged from the group.