I understand that this is a true story, so it is very likely that a conversation such as the one we saw in the movie actually happened. I love the clip and everything that happened, it is no doubt that talk and communication were needed in that classroom. In fact, talk and communication are needed in every classroom. I just have two questions: How would this look in an elementary school classroom? and Where do you draw the line?
I understand the second question depends on the classroom situation, so I think I may just leave that one out in the open until I become more familiar with my own class. However, I do wonder if conversations like the one from the clip in the movie are possible in an elementary classroom. Unfortunately, there is no doubt that students have plenty of deep troubles that they need to deal with in their own lives, but is it appropriate to discuss any of these things in the classroom? I feel like elementary school talks would be FABULOUS for discussing what we've been learning, but would it be possible to use impromptu conversations such as the one in the Freedom Writers to enhance the learning in my classroom?
I think children have interesting and different insights into the world, but would it be better to have these conversations in a notebook instead of during class time? Maybe that would be a good place to start...have the children start a response journal and then see what they have to say.
I know, I sort of veered away from the subject of instruction. But, as we saw in Freedom Writers, learning isn't always about academic knowledge. Also, there is always academic knowledge to be learned in every day conversation.
I think I've just answered my own questions; however, feel free to add more "talk" to this post. =)
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