Delpit Chapters

            I really liked the idea of “demanding success” from students. In high school, I had a teacher that did not allow students to fail tests. If a student failed, they would retake the test. I plan on implementing that same concept in my classroom. Students can only achieve the goals the instructor sets for them. Therefore, educators should set high goals and believe students can achieve those goals. Thus, the “no fail” policy may create this environment. Another way to create this environment would be to ensure that each student is participating. Letting students pass through semesters without voicing their opinion in class discussions is not okay. Teachers should make sure everyone is participating. If students feel like the instructor wants to hear what they have to say, the student will be more engaged.

            Furthermore, I appreciated the idea of relating content to the students’ cultural backgrounds. I found that this concept was related to the concept of third space. Students’ lives at home and school should not be entirely separated. Students can write essays about personal experiences or complete creative projects that incorporate their own interests. For example, a student could create a soundtrack for a novel with appropriate music they are interested in.

            I thought that the mention of dialects was also interesting. Students should not be forced to only read and write formally in the classroom. A fun way to experiment with this concept in an English classroom would be the practice writing for different audience. Students could use their own dialect for informal audiences, but also practice formal writing for formal audiences.