As I read this weeks articles it made me think about how I want to be able to see what my student's strengths and weaknesses are. I want to be able to assess my students in order to know what type of 'profile' they fit in to. More than anything I don't want to be that teacher that only requires my students to answer questions that, "require factual recall of information included in the text". I remember all my schools years doing the basic recitation. And what I guess I think about is the difference between grade levels. Right now in my kindergarten class they are learning all these new concepts, ideas, lessons, etc. and I can appreciate the fact that in kindergarten, students are required to 'memorize' many new facts and concepts. Take counting for example, there really is only one way to learn how to count to 100...memorization, but it is interesting to see and understand the various profiles in comprehension. I am a firm believer in the fact that what I put out in terms of my teaching style is what I will get back from my students. My students will be a product of my skills, attitude, and knowledge. When I looked over the profiles in the chart on page 162 I found it very interesting. I have never seen this chart before and it is kind of fun trying to classify all the students in my classroom...and even myself! Right now, no offense, but I would classify many of my students as left fielders...but I would say in time and as they become better readers and writers they will be able to comprehend their text a little bit more. In my placement I would say that my teacher is attempting to allow the students to become authors. They are encouraged to create their own stories and details every morning in their writing journals. I think is a great way to allow the students to be themselves and create a profile for themselves. I would call myself a literalist and I say this because I am sometimes afraid to go off and create my own answer, I feel much safer using the answer from the book, the one I know is right.
I thought it was really interesting when the article had said that given the right tools and if we are aware of all the possibilities out there in order for each student to fit the right profile, there is no reason that each student should not be comfortable in his/her own profile.
The second article was something that I could appreciate. I also agree with Abbey in that we are not given the appropriate tools in order to succeed in our classrooms in the future. At MSU I have not felt as if I have been given everything I need in order to be on my own, let alone to be able to teach LD children. There are quite a few children in my kindergarten class that are seeing the school specialist because they are seen as children who may have learning disabilities, behavioral issues, etc. Many occasions the students are taken to another classroom to work with another teacher in the school and I think it is important that they are identified at such a young age in order to meet their needs. Students in my class are aware of their responsibilities and know that they (and their family) are the ones that are in charge of the learning that takes place outside the classroom. My teacher does many activities that allow the students to experiment with reading and writing (which includes spelling, vocabulary, and reading/writing strategies). I think many of the students are prompted to use strategies that work best for them but my CT does expect students to remember the rules of being a good writer. She is constantly modeling steps and providing cues for the students, which I think helps them tremendously.
I think as a teacher using strategies and skills that I have gained along the way in order to accommodate my students so that they can better themselves is important. Knowing about the reading and writing processes, the various profiles of comprehension, and knowing the different types of learning styles will only better me as a teacher and I hope that I can learn the needs of my students in order to allow them to become better students.
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I enjoyed reading your post and seeing how your placement differs from mine. My CT models new writing strategies at the beginning of every writer's workshop. She then gives the kids an opportunity to use these new styles or write something of their own. However, if they are not writing, she almost "punishes" them with it by making them write at home. I think writing should be something that's fun for students to do while they use their imaginations and get creative! I agree with your statements about learning to accomodate these needs of the students. I wish my CT would do things differently (in some aspects), but obviously it is not my place to say that.
ReplyDeleteI have a I huge problem with the idea of Profiling as described in this book and in your post- not that I think it's your fault my any means, it is something we all do naturally but I feel it is a major problem that we face as a society. As a special education major I have seen the devastating effects of labeling and I think that the profiles on page 162 do something similar. These profiles limit students. When you say oh, this student is a dodger, you label them in your mind and it becomes hard for you to think of them in any way other than a dodger. This label, whether you want it to or not, also goes with the child and can change their behavior. If they feel that you have labeled them, then they will only live up to the expectations you have put forth. Children see when we expect little of them or when we expect the world of them and they will rise to the occasion. Students who have been labeled especially as the "dumb" one or the "slow" one will have stigma the rest of their school career. The problem is that in our society you cannot get help unless you have a label. Unless you have an IEP or 504 you won't get help. Unless someone has taken the time to diagnose and label you, you will not recieve the help you need to succeed and you will not be recognized by employers, teachers or high stakes testing unless you have a label attached to your name. It is a very sad state that we have put ourselves and our students in but it is important I think, to keep these trivial "profiles" and labels to a minimum. It only enhances the stigma of the negative stereotypes and problems and does very little for the kids who already know they can acheive.
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