These chapters were probably the best three ive read so far in this book. For me the way i will feel most sucessful as a teacher is my ability relate to my students and create a fun, informative, and interesting classroom. The chapter on Making it Meaningful provided many good examples of how teachers have created unique learning opportunities for the students that keep them engaged and wanted to learn more, which is what i want to be able to accomplish. I also enjoyed reading about how Lindquist was able to provide examples of ways to encorporate math and ELA into the social studies curriculum since more and more evidence shows how those two academic areas are taking more and more time out of social studies due to high stakes testing. The other key point that Lindquist mentioned was how project based learning can also encourage student-student teaching and learning especially in areas such as multiculturalism.
Chapter 5 furthered that idea with stressing the importance of P.O.V and describing how important it is to student learning in social studies to be familiar with many perspectives. The opening example about the car crash and the different witnesses was a perfect example that stressed the importance of P.O.V. This chapter also connected with my research paper on teaching diversity highlighting the fact that teachers have to be confident and comfortable with their personal values to be able to create an environment that is accepting of all beliefs and values.
The final chapter on assesments was informative as well becuase i hope to utlilze varying assesment methods in my classroom. I was the type of student that didnt so well with the standard test format, i have always benefited from alternative options, such as brochures or papers or posters so this chapter provided reassurance about using alternative methods, while also stressing that the standard tests evaluate the teacher as much as it does the student, so they do have and important place in the classroom.
One quote that i really enjoyed in this selection of readings was, "Learning is like weaving-sometimes the same threads are used in the same pattern, sometimes the same threads are used in a new pattern. Sometimes new threads are used, combining with familiar threads to deepen an existing pattern or to create a new one. One day, from the myraid of threads, a beautiful holistic pattern emerges" (192).
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3 comments:
Hi,
I also think student-student teaching is really important in schools. Multiculturalism is a great realm for this kind of education because the students are more expert about their unique cultures than the teachers are. The students are the best resources in the classroom.
I also think that the area of technology we are talking about would be a great realm for student-student interactions. I feel like children these days know much more than I do about technology, and I would like to give them the opportunity to teach each other and teach me!
Hi Cara,
I also liked the car crash example to describe point of view. I liked the quote at the end of your blog as well.
Incorporating math and Language arts is essential in the social studies curriculum. The classroom need not be a place where Math and Language arts are the only focus since that's what's stressed on state testing. I see math and science are what need to be integrated into a curriculum where social studies is the main umbrella. Language Arts naturally falls into all subject areas whereas weaving math and science into social studies themes are not always as evident. It takes thought on the part of the teacher to create inventive ways to incorporate these subjects into various lesson plans. It is possible - it just takes thought and creativity.
Like you, I was also the type of student that didnt so well with the standard test format. We have determined that there are multiple intelligences so there should definitely be multiple forms of assessment necessary to reflect students' knowledge.
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