After our first class, I found the debate we had about whether communication is learned or innate very interesting! We touched on that topic in SED 104, but we had to learn who was responsible for each theory, not which one we agreed with. I hadn't really thought about it until Wednesday. I look forward to going into that topic more in depth.
On another note, I have worked with both types of teachers that Mrs. White discussed. My children have also had both types of teachers, so I completely understood what she meant. I certainly want to be the type of teacher that cares whether or not my students LEARN and I hope to be the type of teacher who is willing to change my ways of instruction in order to make sure that happens. Has anyone heard of Ron Clark? He is known as "America's Educator". There was a movie made about him also. He was a guest speaker for a professional development seminar I attended a couple of years back. He has started his own school "The Ron Clark Academy". The website is: http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/ Everyone who aspires to be an educator should read his story. He will inspire you beyond belief. He did me. I wanted to share that with you guys. Hope everyone has a great 3 day weekend!
6 comments:
I wanted to add to your post because I was also inspired by the debate we had. That is a very interesting topic: when does language truly start and is it learned? taught? or innate? MY personal belief at this point is that it is a mix of all three. Children obviously learn a lot from watching other family members or friends. However, some of it has to be innate does it not?
It will certainly be an interesting class. I hope everyone will take some time to read in the text, on Blackboard or other places what extremely educated men like Chomsky, Vygotsky, Skinner or even Piaget and others believed after years of research!!!
Mrs. White
How do you think the theories you have studied will impact how you help children who struggle with language issues in your classroom? Will they impact how you help children learn vocabulary? Why or why not? You may want to answer this now or wait.
The theories that we are studying will impact the way we see the children who sturggle with language issues. If we trust the theory that says that language is learned, then we can see that the child struggling with language simply did not have good examples or family or friends to learn from. The issue is an external one. Therefore, we must encourage his family to be a better lesson and when that fails, be the lesson for the child. However, if we believe that language is innate, then couldn't we explain language problems by saying that the issue is internal?
I feel another debate coming tomorrow in class. I think it makes class more interesting when we discuss and all have different points of view.
Debates and lively discussions can help people learn! When people disagree, agreeing to disagree professionally and respectfully is always the key!
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