Double Entry Journal #4

Citations:

McMullan Dawn. (2007, December). Troubled teens or learning diffferent. Retrieved from http://www.parentingteensonline.com/issue/article/name/December_2007/title/Teens_and_Learning_Differences

Parents as partners. (2003). Retrieved from http://www.creedses.vbschools.com/Parents.htm

Bolima Donna. (n.d.). Contexts for understanding: Educational learning theories. Retrieved from https://online.fairmontstate.edu/webct/urw/lc15057011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

Double Entry Journal #3

I found this article very interesting, because I feel that this kind of thinking and reasoning can be used for many issues in school.  The article discussed how in order to teach students about Standard English, we should approach it in their own language or dialect.  What I mean is that, if a student does not know Standard English, then how are they going to learn when you are teaching them using what they do not know.  In order for them to understand we must use what they know to teach them.  Also they need to be allowed to use their own dialect without being taught that it is wrong or incorrect.  That is their culture and way of life and what right does a teacher have to tell them that they are wrong.  Instead of teaching those that it is wrong, we should teach them that there are other ways and that they must know these ways because that is how they will be tested, and that it is okay to use both.  In this article they refer to this as “Code Switch”.  We should be expanding on their own language as well as teaching them Standard English, by doing this it will help increase their confidence, because they are learning, but at the same time they are not being told that what they already know is incorrect. 

I do not remember any specific examples about my schooling experiences where I saw this occur. I have stated before that my family as well as my husbands family is very old fashioned.  (My husbands more so than mine)  His family uses a different dialect and I have caught him using it from time to time.  I would correct him for it because I thought that was the best way, and now I am not so sure.  His family uses phrases such as “He weren’t going to go”.  I know that this is incorrect, but to them it is just normal communication.  The thing is, when I was in one of my education classes at Fairmont State, I was shocked when one of the professors stated almost this same example.  It was said that this would not be accepted and that if we were speaking like this then we basically should not be in college.  I of course never mentioned that I had family members that spoke like this, because I was shocked that this professor has ran in to this before. (W hich means that it is not only my family)  I have never looked down on my family and was a little irritated when the professor made this statement.  I wanted to state that my sister-in-law speaks like this and graduated from Fairmont State a few years ago with bachelors in psychology.  She made it through and she did just fine. 

I think that this article and inclusive practices is very similar, almost the same.  You must include these different dialects into teaching in order to accommodate every student which is what has to be done with inclusive practices. 

Culturally Responsive Teaching

As soon as she opened her mouth:

Quote:

“And when we do this, we play God, conferring or denying educational opportunity to individual, socioculturally different, children.”

Why this quote:

I think that this is more of a statement then a quote, but I really like how it is stated.  I think that some teachers forget just how much (for lack of a better word) “power” they have over their students.  Children look up to adults especially their parents and their teachers because they come in contact with them every day.  Teacher’s attitudes towards their students will help to shape the way students learn and look at themselves.  So if teachers refuse to show all their students the same respect and strive to teach them all, then they are basically playing “God” and leading children’s lives down paths that more then likely they were not meant to go.  By denying them their education, they are crippling them for life.   

I found this article about a teacher who was sucked into the stereotyping only to realize that maybe she was wrong.  It is a good article that forces us to ask our selves if we have ever stereotyped.   

Article on stereotyping

Questions:

1.  Literacy knowledge is knowing or understanding that reading and writing coincide with communicating.  Reading is an example of print literacy and verbal communication is an example on non print literacy knowledge.

2. If you have a stereotype about something, it may enable you from giving instructions in the best way. 

3. When a child comes to a school they should be given every opportunity to learn and prosper.  By teachers not varying their instructions and trying to have all students learn in the same manner, they may be preventing other students from learning.  Not all students learn the same or in the same way and if the teacher truly wants to reach all students that they need to try and accommodate them all, and help each students reach their full potential. 

4. When teachers (or any role model) take into account a child’s (or adults) language or social status and use it in a negative way, such as saying they will never learn to read, it is a denial of educational opportunity. By taking different social cultures and looking down on them and not adjusting instruction to meet their needs is denying them a proper education.

5. That just because a person speaks a different language, that they are incapable of being literate.

6. They can stop looking at and listening to stereotypes and try to help and accommodate all students.  Teachers have the power to shape students lives.  They look up to teachers and want them to like them.  If a teacher treats a child poorly and cast them aside with the notion that they are incapable of learning, then that child may never have a chance to succeed in life.  No teacher or person should be able to determine that for anyone, and yet unfortunately they do. 

7. Proper English to me is a term used back in the day when people were expected to talk and act a certain way.  Today life and people are different.  We have changed (well most of us) and need to accept that what might be proper English to me, may be different for someone else.  And what right do I have to ask someone to conform to my idea of “Proper English”?

Tall Tales of Appalachia:

Quote:

“Not long ago, one of the student counselors at West Virginia University told me that the most persistent problem she encounters is a lack of self-esteem.”

Why this quote:

Again I think this is more of a statement then a quote, but I can relate to the statement and I think it is completely true.  I have children of my own and each of them has completely different personalities.  My oldest daughter is always so unsure of herself, and my husband and I are constantly telling her that she can accomplish what ever she sets her mind to.  I firmly believe that my daughter as well as everyone else is capable of succeeding in life if they set their minds to it, and don’t let other people or obstacles stop them.  

 This picture really shows how children and adults should perceive themselves

Citations:

Purcell Gates, V. (2002). As soon as she opened her mouth. In L. Delpit & J.K Dowdy (Eds.), In The skin that we speak: An anthology of essays on language culture and power. (Print: Anthology)

O'Brien John. (2003, May 10). Tall tales of appalachia. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/10/opinion/tall-tales-of-appalachia.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm

Sullivan Amy. (2012, January 11). Stereotyping in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.inspiredteacher.net/2012/01/stereotyping-in-the-classroom/ 

Frisk Phil. (2008, March 31). Phil frisk. Retrieved from http://philfrisk.com/about_me.htm  

Inclusive Classroom Video

McCullagh Sherry. (2008, August 15). "the inclusive classroom". Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5WCX-998vs

This video contains really good information and videos about inclusive education. 

Quote

"Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers." --Josef Albers

Reaction:

I chose this quote because I believe that when you give students a question and allow them to come with the answer on their own using their own meanings and intelligences, then the answer will become meaningful to them and will be retained. 

Double Entry Journal #1

                                      

Inclusive Education:

Inclusive education means including all students into the same classroom setting.  It is the right of all students to be educated in regular classes with the chance to interact with and learn from each other.  This is described by IDEA as the “least restrictive environment appropriate” for individual students.  Inclusive education is meant to benefit all students in the class. 

All children deserve to be taught together without being separated and made to think that they are different.  My daughter use to be on a 504 plan and had to have modifications made on her work.  She was not removed from the classroom, but given a little extra assistance or help.  If the school or teacher would have separated her, I think it would have done more damage then good.  She is very worried about what other children and adults think, and if separated she would have constantly been wondering if people were talking about her.  Being left in the classroom with a little extra assistance was much better then being pulled out.   

3 types of students Inclusive Education is meant to serve:

Inclusive education is meant to serve all students including but not limited to students with varied ethnic, linguistic, socioeconomic and ability components.

2 Characteristics of Inclusive schools:

There are several different characteristics of inclusive schools.  However, the two that stand out to me are Problem Solving Teams and Parents as Partners.  I can relate to both of these because when my daughter was on a 504 plan I would have meetings every 45 days or so to discuss her progress.  During each meeting her teachers, principle, councilor, and I were present.  We took the time to discuss what was modifications were being made and what could be done to help and improve her work.  With all of us working together, my daughter slowly improved, and within two years she was able to be removed for the plan and now is functioning or working at a regular pace. 

1 strategy that helps students become more responsible and effective in the inclusive process:

This process is listed as a characteristic and is known as Students as Problem Solvers

Citation:

Inos , R. H., & Quigley, M. A. (n.d.). Research review for inclusive practices.
    Retrieved from http://www.prel.org/products/Products/Inclusive-practices.htm