DW3b

I found an essay called “Five Easy Pieces: Steps Toward Integrating AAVE into the Classroom”. A white teacher, Jessica Whitney, who is trying to understand the African American Vernacular English (AAVE) controversy, wrote this essay. She believes that students should no longer be punished for the use of their home language in the classroom, yet she still has hard time determining AAVE’s place in the classroom.

Whitney describes five steps that can help teachers work with students who have linguistic differences in classrooms. The first step she discusses is called “Teacher, Educate Thyself”, which explains that teachers need to understand AAVE such as that AAVE is not slang or improper grammar or that ninety percent of African Americans speak using AAVE features at some point or another. Teachers who are uneducated on the topic are more likely to think that AAVE speakers are slower and less able than Standard English speaking students. Step two is called “Incorporating Multiculturalism into the Classroom”, which states is important in order for reforming schools to support equality and pluralism. Multiculturalism can provide students with a better view of Western cultures and allow voices that have been ignored be heard and appreciated. “Create a Learning Environment Rich in Oral Language” is the title of the third step. Students strong in oral language are also stronger in reading and writing. This step argues that when readings are read aloud it helps students put language in context and recognize the differences between Standard English and their home language. Whitney also provides many examples of activities that teachers can enact to provide oral language in classrooms. Step four is “Encourage and Demonstrate Code-Switching in the Classroom”. This step demonstrates that teachers should provide discussion with students about the appropriateness of different linguistic styles, which studies prove makes it less likely for students to use features of AAVE in their writing works. Teachers must also provide students with opportunities to use what they have learned. And finally step 5 which is called “Allow Students to Write like Writers”, which emphasizes that students need to be taught how to write to different audiences. When students know their audience is helps them come up with strategies for their writing. Whitney also explains that these five steps can help students feel comfortable in their classrooms, which can help them flourish. Students are allowed to express themselves openly without fear of being criticized.

This journal seems to argue that incorporating African American Vernacular English into the classroom is a very good way to help students progress. The journal clearly states that allowing home language into the classroom can benefit many students. When students are encouraged to engage in learning and then told how they express themselves is wrong without any explanation then students begin to care less about their work and put forth less effort. The author of this journal did some very good research and used her own personal experiences to provide information about AAVE in composition studies.