Dialogue - what is it?

While reading chapter 3 and 4 I found myself becoming very reflective and slightly judgmental of myself and my teaching practices. On page 88 Freire states "Hence, dialogue cannot occur between those who want to name the world and those who do not wish this naming—between those who deny others the right to speak their word and those whose right to speak has been denied them." Talking, speaking, standing up for yourself, are all things that I admire about people. I am a big believer in using word of mouth to express how you are feeling, it is difficult to understand someone or something without speaking with them or at least listening to them. I have noticed that I by far always have the loudest class on the hallway - most classrooms are full of students sitting quietly in their seats working on independent work whereas my students are constantly communicating with one another. I sometimes struggle with this because I wonder if I am doing the right thing or just simply not in control of my class but then I realize that I am providing my students an opportunity to speak with one another. They are often times discussing articles they have read, math problems they are stumped on, or communicating their feelings to one another. They are discussing the world around them. All of these things I think are extremely important and who am I as a teacher to prohibit such things from occurring in my classroom where I want students to educate each other and communicate with each other?

One thing I have found myself doing lately in an attempt to feel as though I have some control in my classroom is trying to silence students when confusion comes up about a problem. With the CRCT quickly approaching and because of all of the snow days I am behind in my curriculum and stressing over trying to make sure I at least expose them to everything. This has caused us to go much fast through our standards than previously and has definitely caused me to have less time to go in depth with each standard. I realize that when students begin to say "I don't get it" my first reaction is to say ok sit and listen but as I read Freire I realize that maybe I should be the one listening to them. Freire states on page 90 "Only dialogue, which requires critical thinking, is also capable of generating critical thinking. Without dialogue there is no communication, and without communication there can be no true education. Education which is able to resolve the contradiction between teacher and student takes place in a situation in which both address their act of cognition to the object by which they are mediated." I try to focus on the why and when I ask students their answers I have them explain to me how they came up with that answer and how they know they are right. I hope that this helps to improve their critical thinking skills. One concern I have though is that critical thinking is not being taught across the board and therefor it makes it very challenging for our students to think critically about something because they are just so used to having the answers told to them (much like I have recently been doing during this stressful time.) I realize that in order for my students to educate themselves they must think critically and I must listen. I often times tell my students that I do not know everything and that they do, I feel as though this helps them realize that learning doesn't mean sitting there listening to everything the teacher tells you all day, it means taking ownership over your thoughts and problems and making something out of them.

As I think about cultural action and reflect on my community both within the school and within the classroom I think about Freire's quote on page 133 "When cultural action, as a totalized and totalizing process, approaches an entire community and not merely its leaders, the opposite process occurs. Either the former leaders grow along with everyone else, or they are replaced by new leaders who emerge as a result of the new social consciousness of the community." Growth in communities is a tricky thing, especially when people are trying to oppressor others or are even unknowingly being oppressors. When I think about my school and the education system I realize that there are a lot of things that are not passed down information wise from the top to those who are "at the bottom." I would like to think that it is not because they are trying to be oppressors but it does create for a tense, frustrated culture at the school. Teachers often times feel as though they are left out of the loop or being forced to do things without an understanding of why behind it. I realize that I need to be careful of this same type of thing in my classroom with my students as well. They need to understand the why and they need to be kept in the loop so things make sense to them and to keep the culture one that is open and positive among everyone.