Studying Humanities :: essays research papers

Studying Humanities   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout life one faces many obstacles against himself and mankind. By triumphing over these conflicts a person develops characteristics in correspondence to his or her experience. Humanities is the study of this basic cycle of life and its effect upon all cultures and nations. Today's generation, like many before and many to come, can attain a better understanding of the present course of history through the study of the past mankind experiences, or Humanities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The question of time travel into the future is simply a raw thought. Therefore, until one can travel into his or her future, mankind must rely on the past actions of society to determine the future course of life. For this reason, I believe that my enrollment in the advanced placement Humanities course is a necessity in preparing me for my future. Also, my previous academic decisions have been the foundation for this class.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The driving force behind my final decision to apply myself to an advanced placement class is due to the fact that I want to be able to go into the real world with some understanding of how and why it functions as it does on a daily basis. Through the study of humanities, I hope to attain this goal. The past classes which have helped to prepare me for the advanced placement Humanities course have been three years of English honors, one year of United States history honors, and the present enrollment of advanced placement United States history. These classes have challenged me as a student to strive, achieve, and excel beyond my expectations. More importantly, the instructors of the classes have placed in me a better understanding of the world in which I live in and how it came to be. Beyond the classroom, many life experiences have prepared me for this course. In my seventh year of grade school I moved to Dallas, Texas. This was one of the most difficult periods of my lifetime as of yet. I had to learn how to start all over again and still be everything that I

Personal Classroom Management System Essay

Abstract An effective classroom management is essential for the success of the students. The classroom management plan needs to be strong, but also flexible since not every class is the same and the teacher needs to be able to change around the plan to fit the needs of the current class. To construct my own classroom management plan, I have borrowed some ideas from classes I have taken throughout my college career and through my own experiences as a student. My Personal Classroom Management System. In this paper I will attempt to explain my personal classroom management system. I will begin by describing the classroom conditions I will provide for my students. I will specify the behavioral goals for my students and the ways in which I want them to conduct themselves. I will elaborate on how I will grade and assess my students. I will conclude by explaining classroom procedures and how I will intervene when a student is misbehaving. Classroom Environment I believe that it is important to create a safe and encouraging environment for my students. The classroom should be a place where the students feel comfortable asking questions and expressing themselves. No student should feel embarrassed to ask questions or voice opinions. I will explain to my students that we are our own community and everyone has a role to do if the community is to work correctly. I plan to create this type of environment by establishing rules, procedures, and routines for my students to understand and follow. I feel that giving students a daily routine to follow it helps to them to develop personal responsibility. Every morning I will greet my students at the door. By doing this I can see my students in the hallway to make sure that they are following the school rules, but I can also see the students inside the classroom to make sure that they are following our classroom rules and beginning their daily routines. The first thing my students will need to do is find their assigned seating and begin their bell work. This helps them learn responsibility and start the day off productively. I will also have end of the day routines for the students to follow. Twenty minutes before the end of school I will have the students  gather their belongings and pack their backpacks. We will also use this time to clean and organize the classroom so it will be in order for the next day. I want to create an environment where my students and I can learn from our various cultures and backgrounds. I want to have a weekly class session where one student is picked to share something they love about their family’s culture and traditions. This will make all my students feel important and I feel this will also help my students who may be ESL students feel comfortable and help them succeed in school. Parental Involvement  I will develop a relationship with parents at the beginning of the school year. Communication between the parents, students and me is extremely important. I will contact parents to give them good news about their students and not just contact them when their child is misbehaving. I will create a monthly newsletter which I will send home with my students and post on the school website. This newsletter will let the parents know what will be going on in our classroom. This will also give them the opportunity to volunteer for different activities and help them become more involved in their child’s education. Class Rules, Rewards & Consequences In order for my students to be successful throughout the school year, they learn and follow the rules starting on the first day of school. In my classroom the rules that must be followed are: 1. Respect and follow all school rules 2. Respect others and their belongings 3. No hitting, touching or using bad language 4. Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat 5. Always do your best These rules will be posted in my classroom on the first day of class. We will create a few more rules together as a class during the first week of school as well. We will spend the first two weeks of school reviewing our classroom rules. According to Wong’s Pragmatic classroom students who spend the first two weeks of school reviewing class rules learn better and conduct themselves accordingly (Charles, 132). This will help give my students ownership on their behavior. I will send two copies of the rules home for the students to give to their parents. I will ask that both the students and the parents sign one copy and return it to me and post one copy at home that can be viewed daily. I will also post a progress chart in the classroom for all students to view. The chart will cover the student’s weekly behavior starting fresh each day. At the end of the week students will be able to choose a reward based on the number of gold stars they have. Some examples of rewards include choosing a book to read when finished with class work, choosing a prize from the treasure box, being the daily helper, and being the line leader for the day. I will also use lots of positive praise and behavioral narration to encourage my students to do their best daily. There will also be consequences when the rules are not followed. These consequences will be discussed with both the students and the parents at the beginning of the year. The following are examples of the consequences: 1. Loss of picking from the treasure chest 2. Time taken from recess 3. Time spent in detention before or after school 4. A call to parents 5. A visit to the principal’s office 6. In extreme cases immediate suspension Grading and Assessment I believe it’s important to use a variety of tools to assess students. This is because all students learn in a variety of ways. I plan to use both informal and formal assessment procedures in my classroom. Homework will be used as a study tool and an extension of the daily lesson and therefore will not be graded. Homework will be used for participation points. Instead of grading it I will stamp the assignment to show that the student was given participation points for effort. All assessments will be aligned with the state standards and curriculum. The grading policy and rubrics will be made available for the students and their parents at all times. When I give tests I will only test students on materials we have covered during that week and never use gotcha questions. Students will be allowed to do make up tests if they fail and would like a better grade. Classroom Procedures Everyday my students will be expected to come into the classroom, take their seats and immediately start on their bell work. All pencils should be sharpened before the bell rings. This means students need to get to class on time. When class work is finished early, students will have the choice of choosing a book from our class library or free writing in their writing journals. Bathroom breaks will be taken individually throughout the day and as a class before and after lunch and recess. These are some of the procedures I will implement: Morning Procedures †¢Greet teacher and classmates as you enter the room †¢Unload backpack, sharpen pencils and place supplies on desk †¢Begin bell work Desk Procedures †¢No food, candy or toys allowed at your desk †¢Keep your hands and feet on/under your own desk and not in the aisle †¢Keep the area around your desk clean Line Up/Leaving Procedure †¢Quietly form two orderly lines †¢Keep your hands to yourself/arms crossed †¢No talking in the hallway †¢No running or pushing while in line †¢When leaving the room one line will follow the other to form one line in the hallway Intervention Plan Before deciding on a plan, I will observe, reflect, consult with the student, parents and coworkers, and outline ideas that may correct problematic behaviors viewed in the classroom. After considering the behavior of the child, I will reflect on the role of the environment and classroom routines, and the interactions of the child with fellow students and teachers. I will  be sure to take advantage of the use of specialized staff members, such as the school psychologist and speech therapist, within the school system who are willing to assist me with my plan. This plan will be constructed on an individual basis as not all students will respond to the same methods. Once the plan is implemented, I will observe for positive changes and make adjustments accordingly after a follow up meeting with the parents, student and specialists involved in constructing the initial plan. Reference Charles, C. M. (1999). Building Classroom Discipline. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.

Vygotsky and Piaget Pedagogy Essays

Vygotsky and Piaget Pedagogy Essays Vygotsky and Piaget Pedagogy Essay Vygotsky and Piaget Pedagogy Essay Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Len Vygotsky’s sociocultural perspective have played critical roles in educational psychology. Both of these major frameworks will be analyzed and compared. From these two different standpoints, it will be illustated how a particular concept or cognitive skill can be taught. Russian psychologist Len Semenovich Vygotsky (1896-1934) was a fundamental figure in the exploration of â€Å"the sociocultural theory. † His ideas played crucial roles in the pedagogical framework of children and education. Thoroughly, he examined the sociocultural theory which emphasizes the role in development of cooperative dialogues between children and more knowledgeable members of society. Children learn their culture (ways of thinking and behaving) through these interactions (Berk Winsler 19). Vygotsky believed that our mental structures and processes can be traced back to our interactions with others (Berk Winsler 12-15). Social interactions not only have an influence on our cognitive development, they actually create our cognitive structures and thinking process (Woolfolk 39). During shared activities between the child and another person, higher mental processes are first co-constructed. This is a social process in which people interact and negotiate (usually verbally) to create an understanding or solve a problem (Woolfolk 39). The processes are then internalized by the child and become part of the child’s cognitive development. The final product is shaped by all participants (Berk Winsler 15). For example (Tharp Gallimore 14): A six-year-old has lost a toy and asks her father for help. The father asks her where she last saw the toy; the child says â€Å"I can’t remember. He asks a series of questions- did you have it in your room? Outside? Next door? To each question, the child answers, â€Å"no. † When he says â€Å"in the car? † She says â€Å"I think so† and goes to retrieve the toy. Vygotsky once stated that â€Å"ever function in a child’s development appears twice: first on the social level and then lat er on the individual level; first between people ‘interpsychological’ and then inside the child ‘intrapsychological’ (Berk Winsler 12. )† For instance, the strategy for finding the toy was initially co-constructed by both- the child and the adult. The next time that child loses a toy it is probable that he/she may have internalized a strategy on how to find the toy (by recalling all the previous places that the toy was last seen). This adult guidance provides early support while students build the understanding necessary to solve problems (Woolfolk 59). Eventually the child will be capable of functioning independently in the process of problem solving. In this scenario, perhaps the child may be capable of finding the toy with no help the next time this problem arises. Vygotsky emphasized the importance of cultural tools, which enables the transfer of cognition from the social to the individual plane (Berk Winsler 21). Cultural tools include material tools such as: computers, scales Internet, rulers, ect. On the other hand, psychological tools include: symbol systems, numbers, language, graphs, maps, codes, languages, ect. These tools allow people in society to communicate, think, solve problems, and create knowledge (Woolfolk 41). These tools are used in daily activities by the child in formal and informal settings, with the help from an adult. An example of using a psychological tool to aid in the advancement of development would be the construction of a map. In this scenario, collaboration would occur between the child and the teacher on how to represent the concepts of people and spaces. In return, these co-constructed ideas are internalized within the child and development occurs. â€Å"Learning leads development (Wood 101). † These tools are fundamental in development because they support thinking, which results in the construction of the child’s understanding of the social and physical world (Berk Winsler 23). Vygotsky emphasized the tool of language as a critical factor in development. Initially, speech serves as a regulative communication function (Wood 29). In time, children develop language as the build on other cognitive abilities by trying to make sense in what they hear. Self talk guides the child’s cognitive thinking. This external tool slows down the thought process, allowing concepts, thoughts, or ideas to be more comprehensible- resulting in problem solving. It transforms the way children, learn, think, and understand (Wood 29). Vygotsky believed that thinking is radically transformed when children become capable of linguistic communication. â€Å"At the least, sounds, meanings, words and sequence of words, volume, voice tone, inflection, and turn-taking rule must all be coordinated before a child can communicate effectively in conversation (Woolfield 51). † Because a child’s self-directed talk aids in the thinking and problem solving process, it helps develops child’s self regulation. (Berk Winsler106-108) This is the process of activating and sustaining thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in order to reach goals (Woolfield 621). An example would be the â€Å"taking turn rule,† during a conversation. The child must sustain the behavior of talking while another person is talking in order to have a successful conversation. On the other hand, Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980) developed the theory of cognitive development, which is based on the assumption that people try to make sense of the world and actively create knowledge through direct experience with objects, people, and ideas (Wood 22). Unlike Vygotsky, Piaget believed that the individual construct their own understanding of the work. The child’s development first occurs on the individual level then on the social level. Because we are constantly trying to make sense of the world in which we live, our thinking process change drastically from birth until maturity. Piaget thought that a major influence on the way we perceive and make sense of the world, is through the process of maturation, which is the genetically programmed, naturally occurring changes over time (Wood 21). More specifically, Piaget believed that young people go through four stages as they develop: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete-operational, and formal operational (Woolfield 57). Conversely, Vygotsky did not believe there was a set stage for development. In the first stage through the exploration of motor activity, infants in the sesorimotor stage (approximately between the ages of 0-2 years) gradually work towards mastering object permanence as well as performing goal-directed activities. Object permanence is â€Å"the understanding that objects exist in an environment whether they perceive them or not (Woolfolk 30. )† For instance, if you take a certain toy away from away from a young infant, they will not acknowledge that that toy exists. Out of sight, out of mind (Woolfolk. )† On the other hand, if an older child sees a package of enticing cookies laying on the table and starts crying for one, even if the adult moves the cookies in the cabinet (clearly out of sight from the child) the child will still know that even though he physically cannot see the cookies- they still exist. The child will begin to make use of imitation, memory, and though t. An example of imitation would be a baby copying the gestures of â€Å"peek-a-boo† with an adult. The preoperational stage occurs between 2-7 years of age. Symbolic thinking gradually begins to develops. For instance, if there is not a toy phone, a child may pick up a block and pretend that that is the phone. During this stage, the child may have a difficult time seeing another person’s point of view. Their concept of space â€Å"is subjective and centered on their own body (Wood 67). † For example, during an experiment, three mountains were placed together. The children were supplied with pictures on how the mountains would look from different positions when observing. They then were asked how another person would view the model from different positions. In most cases, children in this stage are most likely to choose the mountain from the position in which they view the mountain (Wood 67). The concrete-operational stage occurs during the age of 7-11 years (Woolfield 32). The child achieves the principle of conservation during this time. A 5 year old is shown two identical glasses that are wide and short. Both are holding the same exact amount of water, and the child agrees with that notion. The experimenter then pours one of the cups of water into a taller, narrower glass. When the child is asked which glass has more water the second time around, the child declares the taller glass does, â€Å"because it goes up higher (Wood). † Piget believes the child at the concrete-operational stage would have the ability to acknowledge the difference. Also, the child at this stage developes reversible thinking, which is the ability to think from the end to the beginning (Woolfield 31). The last stage is the formal operation stage that occurs from 11 years of age to adulthood. Piaget believed that an individual during this time could become more scientific in thinking, had the ability to solve problems in a logical fashion, and developes concerns regarding social issues and identity (Woolfield 30). Piaget’s theory places action and self-directed problem solving at the heart of learning and development. Learning and development are separate entites. By acting on the world, the learner comes to discover how to control it. Development must be constructed on the basis of knowledge. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Vygotsky believe that they learning and behavior are not separate entities because learning leads development. * * * Piaget puts less emphasis on social experiences and inter-personal behavior as an crucial part of development opposed to Vygotsky. Piaget believed that since the individual construct their own understanding of the work, the child’s development first occurs on the individual level then on the social level. He believed that social facilitation may aid in development because the child is exposed to other points of views, which in return may cause him/her to re-think his individual ideas (Wood 17). However, social facilitation will only be benefital to the child if they are at the â€Å"appropriate state of readiness for change (Wood 17). † (The state of readiness is theâ€Å"stage of development† that was discussed in the previous section. ) Most likely Piaget would not pair two student together to work collaboratively if they were on different levels of development. On the contrary, Vygotsky would most likely pair two students together of different levels so that the students could co-constuct eachothers learning. In my classroom, I would adovate students of different abilities to work together. Both students would benefit in the exchange explanations and questions that each has to offer. In both perspectives, the role of the teacher is to facilitate and guide the students. Both psychologist placed a different emphasis on the importance of instruction. Vygotsky placed instruction in the heart of learning. Instruction is a mayor contribution to children’s growing consiousness and regulation of their own thought processm it prompts a shift to a higher level of cognitive activity (Berk Winsler 106). † The teacher would partake in guided participation, such as walking the students through a complicated problem. For example, if a student was still hesitant on how to solve a math problem, they may do part of the problem and remind the st udent of the proper steps to take to solve it. The teacher should allow revision from the student, offer the student feedback and ask questions. For example, if the students finishs a long division math problem- ask the student to explain what the remainder is. Vygotsky would also encourage a â€Å"think out loud† to assist in learning. For example, if I were teaching a class reading comprehension: first I would read a book aloud, then I would read the same book again only this time modeling my thought process out loud. I would elaborate on the connections I made to the text and to myself. This would demonstrate to the students the revisions and choices a learner undergoes. To scaffold learning in a classroom there are many different approaches such as clues, reminders, encouragements, and breaking down problems into steps and providing examples (Woolfield 49). On the other hand, Piaget believed that instruction can refine and improve structures that have already emerged, but it cannot lead to the development of concepts as Vygotsky believed (Berk Winsler 108). In this case, I would introduce a topic to a group of students together, then I would have them work on follow up activitites to match their learning needs. When devising lesson plans, the teacher would have to be conscious of restructing prior knowledge. To accomplish this, the teacher’s role would be to make connections to what the students already know. For instance, if I were to teach a lesson on the holocaust, if I had previously read â€Å"Number the Stars† by Louis Lowry (a journal of a girl hidden in a attic durning the holocaust), I would first discuss the book before introducing new ideas. In conclusion, Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Len Vygotsky’s sociocultural perspective have played critical roles in educational psychology. Their framework has provided us with insightful theories regarding learning and development and ways particular concepts or cognitives skill can be taught from these standpoints. Berk, Laura Winsler, Adam(1995). Scaffolding Children’s Learning: Vygotsky and Early Childhood Education. Tharp, R. G. , Gallimore, R. (1988). Rousing minds to life: Teaching, learning, and schooling in social context. New York: Cambridge University Press. Pg 14. Wood, David. (1988). How Children Learn and Think: Second Edition. Blackwell Publishing. Woolfolk, Anita. (2007). Educational Psychology: Tenth Edition. Pearson Education. Boston.