Chapter 1: Knowing Students Well

Reading through chapter one in Fires in the Bathroom one particular passage caught my attention. One student wrote "Just because I live in Harlem doesn't mean my brother sells drugs, I like in a crack-abandoned building, or I'm on welfare. Someone I know comes to my apartment and says, "Wow, I didn't know you lived in a place like this," because the house is clean." - Alexis (6)
This student makes a very valid point about teachers and stereotypes; though its not easy to ask questions about the student's background, it is also completely unfair to assume or categorize. She is simply stating that the stereotypes are not necessarily true and she would like to be considered as her own person rather than grouped with those who are completely unlike her and her family.
This point is incredibly valuable. It caught me off guard because I wasn't expecting a quotation so blunt and straight forward, but it is a fact that teachers need to be reminded of. I need to develop the skills of getting to know my students in a fashion that is not intruding on them personally, but gives me the chance to understand the student and the actions of him/her. I feel like this will benefit my learning of strategies for getting to know my students.