Disequilibrium when it relates to beliefs and perspectives that are extremely personal and invested into is a difficult process to undergo. I remember one time during my undergraduate studies at UM-D, a professor challenged my own beliefs and perspectives on gender issues. It was difficult totally accept the perspective being presented, but through what this articles calls, “trying on” new perspectives, I was able to temporarily suspend my own biases about the world and understand a different point of view. Since then, my opinions and viewpoints on gender have change dramatically. In my homogenous people group comments are made that I immediately recognize as inconsistent with the knowledge base I acquired during my stint in the professor’s care. Overall, trying on new perspectives for me didn’t totally change my beliefs, but rather enriched them and allowed me to see from other points of interest. How can this be valuable in the middle school education level?
I was very impressed with the narrative told of how the high school teacher used several powerful strategies to help students engage in trying on new perspectives. One technique that I found most helpful and plan to implement is the letter writing. Students in this article were given a powerful opportunity to consider the motivations and past experiences that created a human condition for one person. During our reading of “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton, I am going to practice this strategy. Overall, the practical techniques of how to help students experience multicultural texts along with the reasonable expectations for subtle changes, even if they are momentarily, provide another resource to help students become critical readers.
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