Double Journal Entry #8

Situated Language and Learning: A critique of traditional schooling

Introduction

 

 

1. The main challenege being addressed in this book is "how to get all children- rich and poor- to be successful in school, but to ensure also that all children -rich and poor- are able to learn, think, and act in new ways fit for our new high-tech global world" (James Paul Gee, 2004).

 

2. I think what the author means by "ways with words" is that each subject area has it's own special set of language and symbols. Thus, making it more difficult to like language in the first place. Each subject has their own "ways with words".

 

3. The core arguement of this book is that "people learn new ways with words, in or out of school, only when they find the worlds to which these words apply compelling" (James Paul Gee, 2004). This means that a person must be interest in the content of the place where the language is useful.

 

4. I have worked in some type of food industry since I was 15 years old. While working there I have picked up my own "way with words" that only applies to that particular resteraunt. My friends that don't work with me are often confused when I say things to them that only my coworkers would understand. For example, when talking to a cook behind the line, you would say "Inside, I need.." and you relay the information. When they have understood what you said their response is "Heard,..." They repeat what you said back. If I were to use this language at home it would not make sense to anyone else but me.

 

5. People learn their "ways with words" best when they can tie those words to an experience or situation. It makes it easier to comprehend the words when there is a connection between the word and an experience/memory.

 

6. In order for people to be successful in the 21st century people "must become 'shape-shifting portfolio people'; that is, people who gain many diverse experiences that they can then use to transform and adapt themselves for fast-changing circumstances throughout their lives" (James Paul Gee, 2004).

 

7. I do believe that he is right. Language that you would learn in the classroom is not the ONLY language students will need to be successful. The more 'tools' they have on their toolbelt the better. I highly believe that students need to adapt to this changing world in order to be successful. 



Student Interviews

Excelling student:

I interviewed a female second grader from my class. She is known to be a very good student. She told me that she enjoys school. She believes herself to be a good student and she tries to get her work done on time. When outside of school, she loves to play hide-n-seek, tag, and she plays with her brothers. She states that she is friends with Amelia and Jocelyn and they love to play together especially at birthday parties. Her good memory of school is when she recieved a "caught being good" card, and she does not recall any bad memories. Her favorite teacher was her Kindergarten teacher because she smells good, and she is very nice. Her ideal teacher is one that gives her extra play time, listens to her, and is supportive. The one thing she wished her teacher knew is that she loves school and would love to do more fun math activities.

My observations of this students supports my beliefs of her being a high performance student. She is always first to raise her hand, and rarely gets in trouble. She is always one of the first to turn in her work and usually gets all the answers correct. She is a very sweet girl with a big heart. I have also observed her interacting with students on the playground. At one point when we were leaving one of her "friends" hit her arm instead of giving her a hug goodbye. She became very upset and started to cry. I took her aside and spoke with her and she said she was upset because she gives everyone else hugs but her. After getting her to calm down, she was perfectly fine and content. I have also heard that she is adopted and that her brother is in the gifted program. I believe that she is feeling the pressure at home, as she has thrown some of the papers that she did not get a perfect score on in the trash can. When asked about it she stated that she didn't want to take it home. My theory is that she is feeling the pressure of her brother and is trying to be perfect, but sometimes doesn't meet those expectations.

Struggling student:

I interviewed a male second grader from my class. He is known to be a student who is slower with doing his work, and fails to complete homework/school work on time. When asked if he enjoys school he did say yes. He thinks of himself as a good student. When outside of school he likes to play on the swings, video games, and plays football. His classmates describe him as a good friend. He is friends with a student named Andrew and they like to talk and hang out on the playground. His favorite memory is his first day of second grade because they played many fun games and he met new people. He does not recall and bad memories. He says a good teacher is one who gets them up and moving more, is nice, listens to him, and does fun stuff all the time. He wishes his teacher knew his favorite video game is Little Big Planet.

Double Journal Entry #6

     The 'dominant paradigm' that is showing signs of wear is the traditional model of the teacher using a textbook as the primary source of knowledge for students. In a world that is gowing rapidly, in the technology sector, education was falling short. This is due to the lack of growth that was occuring in the education sector of the world.
     Project Based Learning is more beneficial to student learning than traditional approaches because "students who engage in this approach benefit from gains in factual learning that are equivalent or superior to those of students who engage in traditional forms of instruction (Thomas, 2000)." Students "developed a more flexible, useful kind of mathematical knowledge that engaged them in "exploration and thought" (Boaler, 1997, p. 63)."The article also states that students in the "multimedia program earned higher scores than the comparison group on content mastery, sensitivity to audience, and coherent design. They performed equally well on standardized test scores of basic skills (Penuel, Means, & Simkins, 2000)."
     Another form of learning that is more beneficial to students is Problem Based Learning. This type of learning is focused on reasoning and resources to solve a specific problem. Students usually work in smaller groups to investigate realistic problems, their solutions, and strategies to acommplish the solution. "This approach has been found to be better, though, in supporting flexible problem solving, application of knowledge, and hypothesis generation (for a meta-analysis, see Dochy, Segers, Van den Bossche, & Gijbels, 2003). Also,"students who participated in problem-based experiences are better able to generate accurate hypotheses and coherent explanations (Hmelo, 1998b; Schmidt et al., 1996) and to support their claims with well-reasoned arguments (Stepien et al., 1993). They also experience larger gains in conceptual understanding in science (Williams, Hemstreet, Liu, & Smith, 1998).
     Learning by design is another strategy that doesnt conform to traditional teaching tactics. In this strategy learners design something that reflects the knowledge they have learned. Students make several drafts, create prototypes, develop plans for through storyboards, and set up constraints. Fortus and colleagues (2004) "found that both higher- and lower-achieving students showed strong evidence of progress in learning the targeted science concepts, and that students were able to apply key concepts in their design work". Hmelo, Holton, and Kolodner (2000) "found that the design project led to better learning outcomes than the traditional approach to instruction".
     These strategies are different in many ways. For instance, in problem base learning students investigate real world problems by working in smaller groups whereas, in learning by design students create a product that has been perfected through many drafts and storyboards. Learning by design is best fit for topics in science and technology. Project base learning is best fit for mathematic topics.
         In my opinion, the most important benefit these types of learning have is the fact that students are actively involved in their learning. They benefit from doing hands-on projects rather than worksheets. They can use their knowledge to help gain a deeper understanding of the concept. Lastly, the students are taking charge of their learning and the teacher is only their for guidence. When students play and active role in their learning then they are benefitting greatly.

Double Journal Entry #5

"Teachers must know not only their subject matter, but their students as well. To do this successfully, they must accept the risk and vulnerability of openness to what their students suggest, and what they might not know themselves as teachers."

 

I chose this quote because I strongly believe in getting to know your students and using them to learn things that you may not know. Not only should I know my subject matter but I should spend the time getting to know my students. This will let the students know that I respect them and in return, they will respect me. If I am open to listening to what they have to say then when I speak they will be open to what I have to say. In the classroom, the students and the teachers should be learning.



1. What is reverent listening and how can it support Reverent listening?
Reverent Listening is the "recognition of the need for aid and sustenance by others and the good of human relationship and communion". This supports culturally responsive teaching because it allows students to feel comfortable and respected. The students respect the teacher just as much as the teacher respects them. The teacher is passionate about what they are teaching thereby making their students passionate about what they are learning. All of which make the possession of power equal for both students and teachers.

2. Give an example from your own schooling experience of what this quote means: "Reverent Listening is not to be confused with humiliation and domination by others who for us to listen,and even less so, with the kind of incompetence that wants to be told what to do" 
To be honest i'm not really sure I understand the quote. I get that you are supposed to listen to people and not use what they say to humiliate or show dominance over someone but I can't give an experience because I'm not sure that I understand fully what it means.

3. what is meant by a "laundry list" of value ethics? Give examples from your own schooling then explain how this approach to character education can be NON-culturally responsive.
I believe this means teachers decide what values and ethics are most important to them and use it in that order. Some teachers may value reading as more important like my 3rd grade teacher and another teacher my value math as more important like my 5th grade teacher. In both cases the subject they were more passionate about was the subject they focused on.

4.Have you ever had a teacher that at one time or another exhibited traits of reverent teacher? What did they do? How did they make you feel?
My fifth grade teacher was proabably the best teacher I have ever had. She was definetly a reverent listener. She would always listen to us and here what we had to say. She respected us just as we respected her. She learned many things right alongside of us and was always eager to learn new things. If a student said something that seemed a little off she would never disregaurd what they said she would write it on the board and research it later. Shoe would use that as a lesson not only for her, but for us too. Three of us were taking the same dance class and we were excited about our dance recital coming up. Our teacher showed up with roses for each one of us and watched the entire program. I felt like she actually cared about me and what was going on in my life. For that reason I will probably never forget her.

5.What factors contribute to a "toxic" school culture?
One factor that contributes to a toxic school culture is being blinded buy something that you want so badly (like good test scores of standardize tests). If the teacher is soley concentrating on making sure she goes over exactly what is on the standardized test and neglects the needs of the students then the classroom/school becomes toxic. When the listening stops the school culture becomes toxic because they fail to explore other ideas. k

6. Find a quote to incorporate in your philosophy of education and explain how it fits or changes your philosophy of education.

"Wise and provident leaders realize that all knowledge is incomplete and listen to others. A reverent leader is not arrogant because she knows she cannot know everything about every situation, but must rely on followers to provide ideas, ideals, and, sometimes, leadership, through which all can learn about a situation and provide solutions to problems."

I chose this quote to incorporate in my philosophy of education because it is something that I agree strongly with. I, myself do not know everything and I believe my students can teach me so much more than I know now. The way I learn is by listening to others and hearing what they have to say. Their input can help me see something that maybe I can't see. Everyone has different view points and we see everything differently. I can learn so much more if I shut my mouth and just listen. This quote fits perfectly into my beliefs and although listening is something I need to improve on, it is also something I think will help me and my students.

7. Reverence Activity
Reverence Pennies

This idea was such a great idea. Anytime you catch your students being reverent, you write their name on a penny. When they get a penny, the student puts the penny in his/her jar. At the end of the month or marking period the student can use the pennies to buy stuff in the school store. Pennies may also be taken away when the student isn't being reverent. You could even have the students give the teacher pennies when they think the teacher is being reverent to reineforce the mutal respect for each other.

Rud, A.G. & Garrison, J. (2010). Reverence and Listening in Teaching and Leading. Teacher College Record 112 (11) 2777-2792.

Double Journal Entry #4

While reading this article, I have learned many things. One thing I learned is that students who have differences in their dialect often have difficulties on standardized testing. I also learned that "code-switching" plays an impotant role in the classroom. It is the ability to use their home language interchangably with the 'proper' language. I have also learned that the more you bring the child's own dialect into the classroom the more they feel comfortable. When a students feel more comfortable in the classroom then they are more likely to succeed.

This article shows culturally responsive teaching by building meaningful bridges between home and school as well as acknowledging the legitimacy of the cultural heritages as worthy content to be taught in the formal curriculum. It build meaningful bridges between home and school because with 'code-switching' students are using their own language as well as what is classified as 'proper' english. Therefore students are able to switch between the two when the situation calls for it (in the case of standardize testing). It acknowledges the legitimacy of cultural heritages as worthy content to be taught in the formal curriculumn because it is allowing students to learn more about their own language as well as what is classified as proper.

I can remember in middle school we had a foreign exchange student in our class for about 3 months. During this time the teacher took in upon herself to make the student feel as home. She did this by allowing the student to relate concepts and ideas to his homeland (Italy). We also learned some Italian while he was here. She incorperated his cultural into ours which allowed him to feel more comfortable and welcome.

Where i'm from video

I am from poem

I am From...

I am from the sandy beaches of the “Sunshine state” to the historical battles of the “Keystone state”.

I am from living with mom during the week to staying with dad on the weekends.

I am from "quit tapping your tap shoes on the kitchen floor", and the sounds of cheers echoing during friday night lights

I am from the Irish Higgins family and the English Pilson family, from potatoes and bread being a part of every meal

From a loving mother who has literally given everything to her kids

From a father who has provided enough life lessons to last a lifetime

I am from four protective older brothers who have taught me to fight for everything I want in life, and an intelligent half-sister whose future is looking bright.

I am from a strong Christian background that has guided my life in a positive direction

I am from ranch dressing fights during Thanksgiving dinner, buying and selling toys with monopoly money in the living room, and scrapbooking all the memories to prove it.

I am from 2 beautiful nieces, and 2 handsome nephews whose laughter and imaginations light up a room instantly.

From a sister in law who has become a real sister, who has given advice and listened to my side of every story, and who has shared the same birthday with me for the past 15 years.

From a grandmother who has never failed to sing “happy birthday” to her grandchildren every year, to a grandfather that is greatly missed.

I am from family pictures that cover every inch of the house, from a shrine of the fallen but not forgotten hero of our family, and where being proud to be an American is the golden rule.

I am from a family that has had many ups and downs, bumps and bruises along the way but has never seized to amaze me with our unconditional love for each other underneath it all.