Running head: DREAM KEEPERS Hallam 1

Literary Reflection: The Dream Keepers

Courtney Hallam

Coastal Carolina University

Professor Susan Foley

EDUC 215

Section HQ3

December 1, 2019
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Introduction

In my EDUC 215: Schools and Diversity class I was instructed to read the novel, The

Dream Keepers. It was written by Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings and it focuses on teachers from all

different backgrounds. One characteristic that all teachers share in this book would be that they

love and value their students. They all have different techniques that they use in their classroom

to help ensure that their students are all as successful as possible. This assignment describes

strategies used by the teachers that participated in the author’s study, the teachers themselves,

and ways that my teacher made a connection with me.

Classroom Strategies

Teachers around the world utilize different ideas and strategies to help their students

learn in their classrooms. In The Dream Keepers, one strategy mentioned is cooperative learning

(p. 65). This has been implemented in many classrooms as a response to ability-group tracking.

This can be seen when students are collaborating to learn and helping each other to learn. When

students come together to learn the material rather than separate themselves, they are able to see

the information from many viewpoints. This allows them to learn the material in different ways

and can help them understand what they have been taught.

Therefore, this is important to use in the classroom as it forces students to take

responsibility for their education. They must work together which enhances their ability to

receive and provide constructive criticism. This skill will aid them in the future when they are in

their later stages of schooling, in college, or even when they have a career. It will allow them to

remain accountable for their education, which will set them up for a successful future.

Also, culturally relevant teaching was an idea mentioned in The Dream Keepers (p. 82).

This is when teachers support and praise their students. It allows students to feel honored and
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boosts their self-worth. Rather than just telling the student that they did a great job on something,

the teacher will say that the entire class is proud of them. They also make sure to include that

they feel like they have great members in their classroom family. This allows students to feel

valued and like they really do matter to not just their teacher but to all of their peers.

For that reason, this will be important in making them want to go to school. Students that

enjoy going to school and do not feel forced to go, choose to learn longer and get more out of

their studies. They go on to college or a vocational school to pursue something that they are

passionate about. When students feel like their classmates and teacher are proud of them, it

makes them strive to achieve more.

Furthermore, an idea from The Dream Keepers is to always dress appropriately and

professionally (p. 39). In low-income schools, the students judge their teachers rather harshly

based on personal appearance. They do not respect teachers that wear baggy clothes, old shoes,

or have messy hair. They want to see their female teachers wearing shiny high-heels or flats,

colorful blouses, skirts, dress pants, or dresses, and they want their teachers to have beautiful

shiny hair. The students do not want to see their male teachers in sneakers, sweats, jeans, or t-

shirts. They want their male teachers to wear dress shoes, dress pants, and collared shirts. They

want their teachers to look professional and like they actually care to be there for the day.

From this, it can be deduced that students in low-income schools that wear uniforms want

to see their teachers dress up. This is extremely important for any school. If a teacher wears a

casual outfit it will appear as if they did not care enough to dress up. When teachers dress up it

shows students that they care about them, their school, and their education. Students want to see

their teachers put effort into their appearance as it allows them to see that they are proud of the

work that they do every day.

Successful Teachers

Initially, The Dream Keepers mentions several teachers that were part of a study

conducted by the author, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings (p. 49). One of the teachers included was

Gertrude Winston, who taught for forty years after completing normal school. She first began

teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Michigan before joining the Peace Corps. In West Africa,

Winston met black people for the first time. After teaching here, she moved to Southern

California to teach in urban schools, before teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area for her final

years as a teacher. Winston claims to have learned quite a bit from teaching both African and

African American children. She believes that she gave students as much as they gave her.

Winston’s classroom is painted brightly with cubbies for students’ work. She prepares

various folders for her students to keep themselves organized. Her students sit at large tables,

instead of desks. Therefore, she has more room in her classroom compared to the other teachers

in her school. Winston’s room allows people that walk in to feel the love that she has for her

students. Her room is one that screams “success.” She believes that she has never met a student

that was incapable of being successful. Winston is so successful because she looks for the good

in all of her students and she treats them as if they can accomplish anything that they set their

minds to.

Another great teacher mentioned was Elizabeth Harris (p. 50). She is an older African

American woman that has lived in the same community for over two decades. She is a very

active member in the Pentecostal congregation of her community. People treat Harris with the

utmost respect. Students are very careful when it comes to their use of choice language around or

to her. According to the author, Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings, Harris uses a teaching style that is

described as being reflective and spiritual (p.51). Harris does not view any of her students as
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failures, she sees all of them as children of God. She believes that God does not make failures, so

her students are wonderful in their own way. This belief allows Harris to teach all of her students

in a way that makes them feel loved and special. This is a great way to teach as her students

probably enjoy going to school and being in her classroom.

Harris’s classroom is very calm and peaceful. She begins each day with a song, and she

begins her instruction with a question. Harris allows each student to respond with their goal for

the day and makes sure to comment that she believes that they can accomplish it. She always

encourages her students to do their best. At the end of the day, Harris asks her students if they

were able to meet their goals. Each student can then explain the steps they took to accomplish

their goals and how they feel about doing so. If they did not meet their goal, they describe why

not and what they could have done differently. Harris always takes time to tell her students how

great they all are. This teaching strategy allows students to get involved in the classroom and to

feel like they are heard. This helps encourage students to participate in discussions.

One member of the study was a relatively new teacher in her district and her name is

Margaret Rossi. She used to be a Catholic nun that taught in an urban school district and then at a

white suburban private school (p. 53). She believes that she is a “hard” teacher that follows all

rules and enforces them at all times. She is not one to bend rules and she actually enjoys that

students talk about her behind her back. Rossi disliked teaching at the private school because the

students learned the material, but they had no parental involvement when it came to their

education.

Rossi enjoys teaching African American children as they never act like anyone but

themselves. They also tell people everything exactly as it with no fluff. She learned this by

comparing the students that she taught in the white private school and the African American
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students that she teaches. Instead of seeing their frankness as a problem, Rossi views it as a

strength. Rossi believes her students’ identities and how they interact with their community is

very important. She teaches students to connect their lives to events that they learn about. Being

able to make personal connections to current events is a very important skill. The way that Rossi

teaches her students this skill allows them to put themselves in others’ shoes and view the world

from different perspectives. This will definitely help students navigate the world and live a

successful life.

Patricia Hilliard is an older African American woman that began teaching later in life.

She took some time to raise her family first and then she attended her local state university. Upon

graduating, she secured the job of a long-term substitute teacher. She taught in African American

private schools in urban areas (p. 56). Hilliard loves school and learning, which explains why she

regularly participates in in-service courses and workshops. She is very involved in statewide

curriculum committees and university-funded projects on pedagogy which allows her to ensure

that African Americans are being treated equitably in all aspects of their education. Hilliard was

so effective as a substitute that she was eventually offered a teaching contract.

Hilliard likes to find out what her students are bringing to the table when it comes to the

knowledge that they have gained. She does this by communicating with parents about how they

have been able to educate their children. She then discusses her students’ interests with them and

finds out what topics/subjects they have mastered. Hilliard holds a great amount of respect for

her students’ life experiences. Instead of acting like the students are only there to hear her teach,

she listens to and learns from her students. This allows her to make revisions to the curriculum

and find the best ways to teach her students. Hilliard is such a great teacher and so effective

because she recognizes the value and worth of each of her students. She respects them, cares for
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them, and loves them. This allows them to be themselves and try their best every day without

fear of judgment.

Connections in the Classroom

In high school, I had a very difficult time during my junior year. I lost my grandmother

four days before Thanksgiving and I lost my great-grandfather four days before Christmas. I was

extremely close to both of them and completely devastated. This made completing my

homework and assignments difficult. I had one teacher for Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus named

Tara Richards. She was the best teacher that I have ever had, and I was lucky enough to be in

two of her classes throughout the last two years of high school.

She gave me time to complete my work and always invited me to come to her classroom

for extra help. I visited her classroom almost daily during lunch and occasionally after school.

She would always help me with my homework and she always kept my mind off of losing my

grandparents. She told me about her personal life, where she taught before coming to my school

that year, and she always made sure that I knew she would be there for me. She always respected

me, held me accountable for my work, and she really did love her students. She did not just care

about my math grade immensely, but she cared about my wellbeing in and out of the classroom.

From Mrs. Richards, I can take the idea that every student can be successful no matter

what and implement that into my classroom. I can show every student respect, care, and love.

When they step into my classroom, I want them to know that they are important, they are seen,

and they are always wanted. They will be loved, and I will think about them inside and outside of

the classroom. I will do everything in my power to ensure that they learn what I am teaching, and

I will be open to trying methods that they use to learn. Having connections with students is so

important in the classroom, and I definitely learned this from my teacher.

Conclusion

From The Dream Keepers, I was able to realize that all students really are capable of

learning anything. Teachers can reach any child as long as they show them respect and raise their

self-worth. This book allows me to learn many strategies that I cannot wait to utilize in my own

classroom someday. I want to be the teacher that students feel comfortable talking to and I want

to have the classroom that all students feel comfortable to be themselves in. This study found

teachers that really do love their jobs and helped me realize that the education field is where I

truly belong.