The biggest lesson I got from reading "Skills and other dilemmas of a progressive black educator" was the ways in which Lisa Delpit discussed teaching with so many colleagues.  No matter who we are we are all coming from one background, one perspective on things and in order to be able to successfully teach students who are coming to our classrooms from all different backgrounds it is essential to discuss issues and strategies with a diversity of colleagues as well.  I have considered the conundrum she is in before, as part of me wants to be the kind of teacher she was in her first year and "throw out all the desks" and encourage creative thinking within my classroom.  At the same time this total divergence from traditional education could hold students back from practice in traditional schooling since it is those primary skills and abilities students need as they move on to higher and higher education.  I think finding a balance between the two styles of teaching is the difficulty Delpit and all teachers face.

With the second reading I liked how self reflective Delpit was, making the focus of education on teacher's actions and not students'.  One quote that really resonated with me from this reading was: "we
have to realize the difference between teaching and merely allowing children to display what they have already learned at home."  I liked her focus on getting to know the students so that teachers can create positive classroom environments and be able to use the information they have about students to mold instruction to exactly what the students need.

-Olivia