The Benefits of Perspective #engaginglitminds
A writing tip was shared with me: begin with a story.
As I read the chapter entitled “Dialogue: Engaging Others’ Perspectives”, there was an obvious story that came to mind. It is our story--our individual and collective story of what is playing out in our country today in regard to racism.
There is so much heartache for so many reasons right now and I do not think there is any more timely topic than hearing the perspectives of others.
I am not going to share the story. I do not have to. You are living it. We are living it.
So, how do we go about tackling such an issue in the classroom? I am not referring specifically to racism, but to the issue that can help solve it. The issue that would push our thinking, that even educators struggle with. The issue is hearing the perspectives of others.
This can happen in the literacy classroom. It did in Laurie’s classroom, which was a group of first and second graders. It started with a book and was followed with what the authors term as dialogic thinking. A dialogic classroom is one in which “community members routinely explore problems with openness to different perspectives, producing increasingly complex understandings and solving increasingly complex problems.” It includes students being able to verbalize or share in writing their thinking with the help of stems such as “At first, I was thinking….And now, I am thinking…”.
Laurie read A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech and Harry Bliss. In this book, the principal was proposing to extend school to the summer and holidays, but for good reason….because the students were learning so much. He wanted to help them learn more.
What followed the next few days is key. Laurie facilitated the students in going deeper in their thinking, to go beyond their initial feelings, to listen, to problem-solve, to advocate, to put themselves in the shoes of someone they initially disagreed with.
You see, the first day, the students initially took the perspective of Tillie, a student in the book. They related with her the most and their initial feelings were of frustration and anger towards the principal. The students took part in journal writing where they reflected on their thinking. This made me think of the research on writing--that it is a process that forces us to slow down our thinking and reflect. It makes me wonder if we do enough of this in school.
The next day she expanded perspectives by requiring them to take on a perspective of either the principal, teachers or remain with the perspective of a student. She reread the book and asked them to think about it through the lens of their assigned person. This is when students really began to listen to the other perspectives...when they started to extend grace to the principal they were so frustrated with. And, they began to problem solve.
By getting children to consider other perspectives, she hoped to uncover and challenge the notion that people and issues are simply good or bad. She hoped that listening to perspectives helps them understand the issue more deeply.
Once again, the students reflected in their journals.
It was then when students were able to begin problem solving. It was then that they had courage to address the issue. They quit thinking only with emotion. They extended grace and understood the issue at such a deep level.
The Benefits of Perspective
It allows one to see bias in their own thinking.
One is less likely to stereotype.
It expands the quality of the conversation.
One becomes more interested in the conversation.
Self regulation is built.
Modes of communication are built.
There's an increased chance that the problem will be solved peacefully.
I am certain we all could agree that a little more of the seven benefits listed above could help heal our world.
If we can facilitate these in our children, they can help make the world a better place now and when they leave our K-12 system.
There are many reflections I am having, but one keeps coming to mind the most. Are we, as educators and as a human race, truly seeing all perspectives?
Tonight, I listened to a Zoom conversation hosted by an education association. There were vital voices that were invited to be a part of the conversation. But I also saw one perspective. Only one. I did not see a diverse group. I saw a group of people that all agreed. I did not hear a conversation where people were learning from one another, but instead telling others what to think and do.
We can do better.
And, it can start in our classrooms. Of course, as adults and leaders in our society, it should go beyond that, but if we can start in our classrooms and facilitate this in our kids, perhaps we ourselves will be pushed to begin considering all perspectives, those that are aligned with our beliefs and those that are not.
We must do better.
This post is part of our 2020 Summer Book Study. Find all previous posts and more information here. Also, we will discuss Engaging Literate Minds every Wednesday at 4:30 P.M.at the newsletter. Sign up below – it’s free!