Writing and relationships

9. Literate practices are embedded in complicated social relationships...

My grandfather had only a 6th grade education and couldn't read or write. He learned what he needed to know for his woodworking and for his oil delivery job, but besides that, my grandmother has always taken care of everything. My grandfather, who now is suffering from late stage dimentia, never really had close relationships. He kept everyone at a distance. He never really talked much. Now looking back, I think he was insecure with himself and worried about being judged. And, although I have often wondered if his lack of literacy contributed to his lack of close relationships, I have never really thought about the basic connection between literate practices and social relationships.

As I am writing this, I am listening to my four year-old daughter and her friend of the same age as they are creating books together. "What do you really like?," my daughter asks her friend, "mermaids or pirates?" They are creating books for each other with pictures of mermaids and pirates by drawing pictures and writing letters that in their minds tell stories. And, so the connection between words and social relationships begin. Before I know it, these two girls will be sending text messages and emails to each other!

Anyway, as I think of the lack of relationships my grandfather had in his lifetime, I cannot help but think of our students. We need to give our kids the gift of literacy - and the gift of being able to write. And since #2 says, "People learn to write by writing," we have to get those kids writing! The disadvantages facing students who do not have the tool of writing are tremendous. But, on the other hand, we have the opportunity to give them that advantage and that confidence and that chance to form/build upon social relationships.