Unlearning The Myths That Bind Us- Christensen Chapter 2

We all have those awkward years. The big framed glasses, the teeth that stick out a little too far than they should, the awful hair do's combined with straight leg jeans that seemed like a good idea at the time. Mix that in with denim headbands and a case of overwhelming shyness and you have a good view of the little girl that sat in the front row throughout much of her early education. Have a hunch at who I may be speaking of? Hmmm...

One quote that I absolutely loved from this chapter was in regard to the praise poems that Christensen often uses in her classrooms. Christensen remarks, "As I try to equip students to 'unlearn the myths that bind them' in history, literature, and popular culture, I find it necessary to balance the critical stance we strive for in class with times of laughter, and playfulness. I want to create more opportunities for joy.” In today’s society there are so many stereotypes specifically regarding the way in which a man and woman should act, how they should look, and everything in between. Growing up I definitely was someone that felt a lot of pressure to fit in because I didn’t fit into the cookie cutter image of what I felt I needed to be. I didn’t realize the way the media had an influence on the image I created for myself, and likewise the way I compared myself to others to fit in. In elementary and middle school I was just plain awkward, and it didn’t help that my glasses were ridiculously large, and that I was in desperate need of braces to say the least. From an early age I had a bit of an individualist approach, I would wear clothes that didn’t match,funky printed hats, or things that were a bit out of the norm for those that I surrounded myself with. However, once I became more aware of what others thought of me, I became self conscious and began to conform to the way I felt others wanted me to be. As with most individuals in grades 7-12 you grow a lot in your own skin, and sometimes you follow the crowd because, hey it’s the easy solution.

I realize that this may sound like another long winded, but I swear I have a point J I feel that throughout my education (not that it was bad by any means) but I lacked the encouragement from my teachers as is demonstrated through Christensen’s style of teaching, and activities. I thought that the idea of the praise poem was an excellent way for students to be proud of who they are, whether it be a personal attribute or something in their life that has some signifance. With poetry being a challenging concept for students to get excited about, I think that this type of assignment would at least receive only minor moans and groans. Throughout these chapters we have been reading, there is a great desire to build a community within the classroom. I feel that these type of assignments like the “I am From” poem in chapter 1, and the “Praise Poem” in chapter 2 are excellent tools to help students look to themselves to find inspiration for writing. Likewise, by sharing these poems together, helps break down barriers and create an environment of joy and laughter.

Christensen explains that if she wants her students to imagine a more just society, that it is something that needs to be demonstrated in the classroom in terms of what is good and what is bad. I like the idea of creating a classroom that can be a safe haven from the dictating messages of the media in terms of image and lifestyle. While it is our job as teachers to teach material, our role goes far beyond grading papers and creating lesson plans. Self confidence can go a long way, and if we can help develop a sense of comfort, and self esteem through writing, and sharing, why not jump at such an opportunity? I know that while I learned a long the way to be proud of who I am, and what I stand for, it would have been encouraging during my adolescence to have class time and homework that would help praise…me.