Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Gibbons chapters 1 &2
I found these two chapters to be very interesting and absolutely in agreement with how I feel about English language learners in mainstream classrooms. Every student should have the opportunity to have an individualized education program, language learners and native English speakers alike. English Language learners should not be singled out and placed into one group as they are most likely at different levels in their language learning experience as well as the fact that all students learn in different ways. I am aware that this is much easier said than done, but it is really important for all students to be gaining as much as possible from their educational experiences. As teachers must take the time to get to know our students and their preferred learning methods individually. In addition to this, the meaningful talk of chapter two falls right into place. Conversation and communication that occurs between the teacher and the students, or between peers, is very important because it can be both for basic practice of speaking and/or for meaningful attention to detail that will increase an English learner's speaking ability in the real-world. I have unfortunately only witnessed this somewhat in my field placement. My class is full of native English speakers, but there is a Spanish-Immersion Kindergarten class in the building as well. Hearing these students code-switch between Spanish and English is very interesting to witness, but I wish I could see more of what their actual lessons consist of.
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I completely agree that every child should have a plan laid out to better aid their educational career. I also don’t agree that children should be separated by their lack of knowledge. I believe that children learn effectively and efficiently from their peers. And as we’ve stated all students know different things and learn different ways. Throughout elementary school my classes were always divided into different reading sections, a method used commonly to this day. Students are divided by their fluency of reading. They may be directed into color groups, animal groups or many other types. While there is much controversy on dividing children into groups this way, it is a method for teachers to use to get students in the same area of development to work together. By doing this teachers can focus a little more on individual needs, developmentally speaking. Personally, I do not condone this method. I think as long as students have provided opportunities to improve and possibly change groups, then I think this method is a valuable tool for teachers and students alike.
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