CH. 2-3 BK

Cognitive process p. 23 Culture and Literacy p. 39

I personally am not a fan of theorists. Whenever I read about Dahl or Piaget I respectfully choose to take in their theories, but then formulate my own opinion with my actual experiences in the classroom. I found it very interesting this year in my observations at centennial elementary. I had three different students, and all of them were in different stages of reading They definitely learned from the social interaction like it talks about on page 23 in chapter two. I unfortunately didn't get to see how scaffolding worked because the book that they chose was under their reading level, Stone Fox. I found it interesting how the students interacted with each other when I asked a question and how they would build off of each other! They would understand the content better when they had the opportunity to verbally discuss it with each other.
I really get tired of talking about how we have to teach specifically to minorities. I think that this can put them at a disadvantage because its like we are treating them like they are supposed to fail. By lowering standards on tests, and having them fill in a circle on what ethnicity they are it is singling them out. Why must we always talk about how culture affects an ethnic group and why do we label them students at risk just because of the neighborhood they come from? I wish that we could just treat them as equals. I had the opportunity to work with a Hispanic boy named "C" and he was extremely bright! Even though he is Hispanic and considered a minority, he received an exemplary grade on both his math and reading TAKS! I think the best way to teach is to actually teach students like they are equal! Because they are equal! When I am a teacher, I will work with struggling students when they need help, and I will try to help those who come from different cultures. However, I think it is wrong to assume just because they are a different ethnicity or from a different neighborhood that they need more help! I will help based on need, not ethnicity.