Considering the Community

1. My group and I chose to go to Pete's Coney Island, Kroger, and L.A. Cafe. We chose the Coney Island because we learned that they support local sports teams and schools and frequently allow children to do fundraisers there. L.A. Cafe we knew was owned by the parents of students at our school. Finally, we chose Kroger because we thought it would be a common place students and their parents would go.

2. I expected to see the restaurants fairly empty because we were visiting on a Tuesday between breakfast and lunch. In the grocery store I expected to see either elderly people or perhaps stay at home moms. I expected each establishment to have a pretty laid back, calm atmosphere because of the time of day.

3. I think an outsider would see the same things I saw, and in a way I consider myself an outsider because I am not from that community. Kroger reminded me of any other grocery store and no one gave us a second glance as we were taking pictures. L.A. Cafe is a nice, cozy cafe with a more homey feeling. Pete's Coney Island reminded me of any other Coney Island except that their wall decorations were pictures of local people/things from the surrounding communities.

4. The coney island will require the ability to read the menu/prices or at least be able to orally describe what you want to the waitress. In addition, if there are specials or anything similar, you will have to be able to read those or understand them from the waitress. While reading, writing, and oral communication are all interrelated, I feel in this setting, you do not need to know them all in order to communicate.

5. Thus far, the only technology we have used in my classroom is a document camera. I feel technology is much more prevalent in the community than it has been in my classroom. We do reading and writing workshop every morning which corresponds directly to what students will see in their community. I expect there to be a fair amount of cultural literacy in the community--vegetarian options on a menu, different sections in the grocery store for different cultures of food, etc. This will help broaden students' understanding of different cultures and ideas, something that is not always addressed in the classroom.

EDIT:
1. I noticed that everyone seemed to be very friendly at each of the locations we went to. They were more than willing to answer our questions and tell us about the community. They made me feel right at home. I also noticed that the people I saw out were the kind of people I expected to see. Older people at the grocery store, businesspeople at the restaurants, and all three places were pretty empty because of the time of day.
2. I was surprised at how nice the Kroger was, it looked very modern and newly renovated inside with a buffet lunch bar and sleek architecture inside. I was also surprised to find out how involved the restaurants are within the community. L.A. Cafe has local artist's displayed throughout the restaurant and Pete's Coney Island is consistently engaged in local fundraisers.
3. This community experience has helped me to learn that I am student teaching in a very involved community. It seems that everyone tries to give back in some way. One student told me he and his mom resell household items at the flea market. I also learned that parents carpool a lot, not only to help out each other, but to help with the environment.
4. This experience will help me in my teaching because I have learned about who my students are and where they come from, allowing me to gear lessons toward their everyday lives. By creating meaningful lessons, they will be move engaged and involved because they can relate to what I am teaching.
5. I do have some stereotypes about my students and why certain ones do not do their reading homework or why they don't pay attention in class or have the ability but choose not to apply themselves. After reading the Compton-Lilly article and exploring the community, I need to remember that, "...despite socioeconomic, racial, and linguistic differences, families are engaged in meaningful and purposeful activities" (449). I have to remember not to judge or base anything on preconceived notions and just approach the literacy instruction with an open mind.