In my opinion, there are many different reasons. First off, I think it is something educational for students to reflect on, but also have fun with. There were many laughs during the presentations in class.
It lets students focus on what they have achieved, what books they have read, and what has been important to them over the years.
I believe it is crucial for teachers to get to know each student personally. This is another way for him or her to do so. It bring out the personality in students.
And... it also lets students connect with one another. Some may have enjoyed reading the same book or loved the same children's television series. There are many reasons bonds and the class community can be strengthened though the process of these presentations.
I was able to gain something for the experience I was not expecting. I learned about some of the students I am in class with. "They are different from me because.... ( I am able to fill in the blank) and we are similar because...." This helped me appreciate the diversity in my classroom.
Family influence was a major factor in the presentations as well. It is important to understand why that is. Much of what a person is exposed to is a direct effect of family values, concerns, and religious beliefs.
It is also important for students to be able to reflect on how the media they have previously viewed has changed them. Books such as Native Son, Ishmael, and A Long Way Gone have greatly impacted my life. I cherish the news ways of thinking I endured by reading and using the text in comparison with my own life.
In the future, I do plan to use this activity in my classroom. I feel it is important in an English class, where many different viewpoints are being discussed on a daily basis because it allows students to understand where one another are coming from. The following questions can be answered after the presentations.
- What types of media have students been exposed to?
- How do the students feel about the media they have grown up with?
- Why is someone's views they way they are? What are they shaped by?
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