WHAT?
There are many different kinds of group differences in the classroom. Some of the main ones discussed in Chapter 4 include: culture and ethnic diversity, gender differences, risk factors associated with poverty, and students at risk. I really enjoyed reading this chapter and learning about the many different factors that will influence a students success in the classroom.
The topic I found most interesting in this chapter was culture and ethnic diversity. The book lists several factors that teachers need to be aware of with cultural differences. Some of the factors listed include: talking versus remaining silent, eye contact, personal space, questions, waiting versus interrupting, wait time, public versus private performance, views about teasing, cooperation versus competition, family relationships and expectations, conception of time and worldviews.
As I've been able to witness students in the classroom, I've come to understand that culture does play a huge factor in the students and their behavior. It's important to understand each culture and what their customs, habits, and traditions are.
SO WHAT?
Once teachers understand the importance of group differences in the classroom, they will be able to help their students adjust to the classroom better. It's important to consider the different factors that will help the students to be successful. Since multi-cultural classrooms are prevalent in every school, it's important for educators to know what factors will influence their students and what their family backgrounds are like.
Teachers also need to know how gender will play a role in the classroom and what things they can do in order to help all of their students to be successful.We need to be careful not to stereotype our students into a category or group and make sure that we really take the time to get to know our students and what we can do to help them succeed.
NOW WHAT?
Now that I have learned more about the different types of group differences that will be in my classroom, I need to be able to find ways to use this knowledge so that I can help the students succeed. As a teacher, there are so many responsibilities that are placed upon me. In addition to providing the educational needs of my students, I will also need to be able to provide for their emotional and physical needs. Being aware of the differences listed in this chapter will aid me in this quest as I strive to meet all the needs of my students.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Final Learning Log
WHAT?
After reviewing "Your Emerging Theory/Philosophy of Teaching and Learning", I have determined that I tend to lean more to the Cognitivism theory of personal learning.
Some of the characteristics of this theory include:
* Best learning occurs when students discover answers for questions and problems themselves rather than having the answers told to them.
* True learning requires the active creation of knowledge structures.
* It is important to help students organize their thinking by teaching them general concepts before they learn more specific information.
* Meaningful learning occurs when students mentally create knowledge structures by combining new ideas with their prior knowledge.
* Students learn best when they are actively involved in solving problems tasks or completing tasks that lead to the creation of knowledge structures.
* Learning requires the mental processing of information, in other words the acquisition, organization, and storage of knowledge.
* Students can learn through teacher presentation as long as the content is organized so as to help students mentally process, organize, and store the new information.
I learn best by experiencing something rather than by someone telling me something. Anytime that I can actively become involved in the learning process, I am better able to apply the knowledge gained. I have seen this same principle in students that I have worked with. I am a very organized person. My brain is always trying to organize my life. I believe that I learn best when my brain takes the information given and organizes it into a category or something that I can relate to and experience personally.
SO WHAT?
Believing the theories listed above, I feel that it's important to give students an opportunity for hands-on learning experiences. I need to find a way to make it personal for them and give them a reason to want to gain the knowledge being presented.
Since I would like to teach kindergarten, most of the learning experiences that I will provide as an educator will be more hands-on and practical. As I help the students have experiences that they can build upon and gain a personal connection to, they will be able to internalize the information and knowledge being presented.
NOW WHAT?
Now that I have identified my theory on learning, I need to learn what types of experiences I need to provide for my students in order to help them gain the knowledge being presented. I realize that there are many aspects of learning and that each student learns differently from each other. However, as a whole, students will gain more from the experience as they are able to personally experience it.
I would like to learn more about the different types methods to help my students learn best. I am still new to the teaching field and have a lot of information to learn to feel comfortable with my own class. My weakness will become my strength as I continue with this program and gain the experiences needed to help me become a great teacher.
I'm grateful for the information I've learned in my psychology class and feel that I'll be a better teacher because of the valuable information that I've learned. The one thing that really stuck out in my mind is that each student is different and that as teachers we need to help them be successful and have the experiences necessary for them to succeed.
After reviewing "Your Emerging Theory/Philosophy of Teaching and Learning", I have determined that I tend to lean more to the Cognitivism theory of personal learning.
Some of the characteristics of this theory include:
* Best learning occurs when students discover answers for questions and problems themselves rather than having the answers told to them.
* True learning requires the active creation of knowledge structures.
* It is important to help students organize their thinking by teaching them general concepts before they learn more specific information.
* Meaningful learning occurs when students mentally create knowledge structures by combining new ideas with their prior knowledge.
* Students learn best when they are actively involved in solving problems tasks or completing tasks that lead to the creation of knowledge structures.
* Learning requires the mental processing of information, in other words the acquisition, organization, and storage of knowledge.
* Students can learn through teacher presentation as long as the content is organized so as to help students mentally process, organize, and store the new information.
I learn best by experiencing something rather than by someone telling me something. Anytime that I can actively become involved in the learning process, I am better able to apply the knowledge gained. I have seen this same principle in students that I have worked with. I am a very organized person. My brain is always trying to organize my life. I believe that I learn best when my brain takes the information given and organizes it into a category or something that I can relate to and experience personally.
SO WHAT?
Believing the theories listed above, I feel that it's important to give students an opportunity for hands-on learning experiences. I need to find a way to make it personal for them and give them a reason to want to gain the knowledge being presented.
Since I would like to teach kindergarten, most of the learning experiences that I will provide as an educator will be more hands-on and practical. As I help the students have experiences that they can build upon and gain a personal connection to, they will be able to internalize the information and knowledge being presented.
NOW WHAT?
Now that I have identified my theory on learning, I need to learn what types of experiences I need to provide for my students in order to help them gain the knowledge being presented. I realize that there are many aspects of learning and that each student learns differently from each other. However, as a whole, students will gain more from the experience as they are able to personally experience it.
I would like to learn more about the different types methods to help my students learn best. I am still new to the teaching field and have a lot of information to learn to feel comfortable with my own class. My weakness will become my strength as I continue with this program and gain the experiences needed to help me become a great teacher.
I'm grateful for the information I've learned in my psychology class and feel that I'll be a better teacher because of the valuable information that I've learned. The one thing that really stuck out in my mind is that each student is different and that as teachers we need to help them be successful and have the experiences necessary for them to succeed.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Chapter 5 - Individual Differences and Special Educational Needs
WHAT?
This chapter is one of the most interesting and important chapters that teachers need to understand in order to help their students be successful in the classroom. We need to understand that each student has individual differences in their cognitive abilities, personalities, physical skills and so on. The book defines intelligence as "the ability to apply prior knowledge and experiences flexibly to accomplish challenging new tasks."
The book identifies several different perspectives on intelligence. One of the theories that stands out the most to me is Gardner's Multiple Intelligences: He identifies eight distinctly different abilities, or multiple intelligences, that are relatively independent of one another.
The book also discusses the importance of nature vs. nurture and the role that each of these factors play in a persons intelligence. Psychologists have determined that it is probably impossible to separate the effects of heredity and environment. Nature and nurture both interact to influence a child's cognitive development.
My favorite section of the chapter lists several different learning abilities/disabilities and the common characteristics and adapting instruction for educators to know how to identify these abilities/disabilities and how to adapt their instruction to meet these students' needs.
SO WHAT?
As a potential educator, I need to learn more about the different abilities/disabilities listed and how to work with these students that may be in my classroom. I also need to understand how to help the other students in my classroom learn how to help these students. Because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the U.S. legislation has granted educational rights from birth until age 21 for people with cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities. With this act, these student are integrated into the "traditional" classroom and should be given a fair and non-discriminatory evaluation and be able to attend school in the least restrictive environment.
NOW WHAT?
I wish that we spend more than two class periods on the information in chapter 4 & chapter 5. What a valuable resource these chapters are. I believe that as educators, we need to be very familiar with the information available for students with individual differences. We need to know what the characteristics of these abilities/disabilities are and what adaptations need to be made in the classroom to help these students be successful.
This chapter is one of the most interesting and important chapters that teachers need to understand in order to help their students be successful in the classroom. We need to understand that each student has individual differences in their cognitive abilities, personalities, physical skills and so on. The book defines intelligence as "the ability to apply prior knowledge and experiences flexibly to accomplish challenging new tasks."
The book identifies several different perspectives on intelligence. One of the theories that stands out the most to me is Gardner's Multiple Intelligences: He identifies eight distinctly different abilities, or multiple intelligences, that are relatively independent of one another.
The book also discusses the importance of nature vs. nurture and the role that each of these factors play in a persons intelligence. Psychologists have determined that it is probably impossible to separate the effects of heredity and environment. Nature and nurture both interact to influence a child's cognitive development.
My favorite section of the chapter lists several different learning abilities/disabilities and the common characteristics and adapting instruction for educators to know how to identify these abilities/disabilities and how to adapt their instruction to meet these students' needs.
SO WHAT?
As a potential educator, I need to learn more about the different abilities/disabilities listed and how to work with these students that may be in my classroom. I also need to understand how to help the other students in my classroom learn how to help these students. Because of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the U.S. legislation has granted educational rights from birth until age 21 for people with cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities. With this act, these student are integrated into the "traditional" classroom and should be given a fair and non-discriminatory evaluation and be able to attend school in the least restrictive environment.
NOW WHAT?
I wish that we spend more than two class periods on the information in chapter 4 & chapter 5. What a valuable resource these chapters are. I believe that as educators, we need to be very familiar with the information available for students with individual differences. We need to know what the characteristics of these abilities/disabilities are and what adaptations need to be made in the classroom to help these students be successful.
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