Tammy A. Schwartz, an assistant professor in Teacher Education at Miami University in Ohio, and Kevin A. Schneider, an integrated language arts graduate student, have co-written the compelling feature article in the February 2005 issue of AdLIT's In Perspective. "'Where You from?' Using a Sense of Place to Celebrate Our Students and the Language Arts" invites readers into a sense of place, into the cultural identity of the foothills of the Appalachians, and into the eloquence of Schwartz's introductory poem, "Where You from?" The authors reflect and sift through their memories of rural and urban places, sharing with teachers and educators their experience about these "places." Eventually moving from their reflections into a base of solid writing and reading research, the authors conclude with a focus on "Adolescents, Language, Identity, and Place." An annotated bibliography includes fiction and picture books focusing on a sense of place. This short piece provides concrete ways for teachers to see and to teach the importance and significance of a writer's voice, sense of self, and authentic cultural identity. (author/ebm)
Ohio English Language Arts Standards (2001)
Reading Applications: Literary Text Standard
Explain and analyze how the context of setting and the author's choice of point of view impact a literary text.
Critique an author's style.
Writing Applications Standard
Write responses to literature that extend beyond the summary and support references to the text, other works, other authors or to personal knowledge.
Compose reflective writings that balance reflections by using specific personal experiences to draw conclusions about life.