What does your bread say about you?

Part of what makes me a great teacher is that I can relate to my kids. (I'm not afraid to say I'm a great teacher... I'm not about that life. Take THAT Danielson framework.)

When we start talking about social class in Short Fiction, I show a video about how social class affects EVERYTHING we do. There's a segment in the video in which a lady donning a fur coat rips open a package of Sara Lee Honey Wheat bread (you know, the good stuff!) and declares it's trash- she mushes it up in her hands and drops it on the floor. The video goes on to say that even worse than this is white bread (you know, the bad stuff!) that only the poorest of poor eat. Then they go on to show a lower class lady scoffing at spinach- because who eats rabbit food? Iceburg all the way!!!

This video is usually the biggest eye opener for my kids. "But I eat white bread*" "And I love Iceburg" - I hear ya guys. I didn't know this was a statement of social class, either. I didn't realize that my white bread cheese and pickle sandwich was telling you I could never afford a Lunchable. I didn't realize it mattered.

Now I'm about to start The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. I LOVE teaching this book and I LOVE having the chance to talk to my kids about my high school experiences. It's true, I really love Sherman Alexie and I'll take any chance I can get to teach his work in my classes. Mostly, I love being able to talk to my kids about things we can all relate to: parents who could have been something, pets who shouldn't have had to die, friends who should have made it, and holding on to hope because it's all we've got.

So maybe all we can afford to bring "home" is the white bread*... but at least we've got a family to bring it to :)

* I learned a very important term from a student my first year teaching. That disgusting bread on the ends of the loaf that is used to simply keep moisture in all the other bread and that everyone avoids using is called "Booty Bread"- an appropriate name I think all people should adopt into their families

*Yes, I realize Aaron bakes all of our bread-- a delicious money saving strategy that means the girls will never have to know the pains of being judged by the color of their bread.