I may be the outlier in class when it comes to the book Ways with Words. This book is in the top three that I've read for this program/degree in the last three years. When I finished it, I told my husband that it may have been the best. I promptly called my mom, who is an early childhood literacy specialist, and told her she's got to read it - I am taking it to her this weekend. I think that it is so powerful, that it ought to be required reading for anyone even thinking about teaching in a public school - especially an elementary school. The best thing, I think, is Heath's stance. So much of what we read on literacy and language acquisition is elitist and overly academic, and seems to point fingers and criticize cultures and habits. There was none of this type of attitude in the book, and it was amazingly refreshing.

Speaking of my mom, we were talking the other morning and she was talking about a family of one of her pre-k students. The family is from Iran, and my mom engaged the mother in an insightful conversation about race and religion and childrearing. She commented that at one point, the mother began to cry, and thanked her for the conversation. My mom stated that she was very complimentary to the mother on how she treats her children. It puzzled my mom, and she and I talked about the power of a genuine question - the curiosity that is concerned for others - a way to talk to know and understand, without pointing fingers or acting superior. It reminded me of this class, and the reading we've done here.