Clark's LLS 593 Educating Linguistically Diverse Students Webpage

Midterm Summary

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Four Major Strands of Work
Communication, Research, Technology, and Collaboration
 
As this class has progressed, I feel that I have developed existing thoughts about educating.  As I reflect on my development withing the four major strands I see that there is a distinct connection when it comes to teaching.  Communication becomes the link to the other three.  Research becomes the mode in which a person starts to understand how their communication can become better to those they are communicating to.  Technology becomes a new and distinct form of communicating to a global community.  Collaboration is the point when the student either takes his research, or the groups research and puts it together in a way that communicates the idea in a clear and consise way.  It takes all four strands of work for an educator to be able to effectively communicate to linguistically diverse students.  I have learned that in order for me to communicate in the most effective way, I will need to understand where each of my students are comming from and their histories in order for me to be an effective educator.

Five Dimensions of Learning
Confidence and Independence, Knowledge content, Skills and Strategies, Use of prior emerging experience, and reflectiveness.
 
       So far, I don't feel like I have been directly taught these concepts in so much as their distinct names being spoken of.  I do however feel that the direction of the learning experiences that we have had so far in this class have intergrated some of these concepts.  I can't say that I have a distinct undrestanding of how these concepts will be intergrated into the classroom as per the instruction in this class thus far.  What I do see is that although we aren't speaking directly of these things in class, we are practicing them. 
       As an educator, I hope that I will create a classroom environment where each of these dimensions of learning can be fostered.  I do feel that I am more confident in my ability to be a teacher since I first enrolled in this class.  I am developing many different skills and strategies for my future classroom from both my class experiences as well as what I have gleened from my readings.  I do feel that I have a better knowledge base, but I feel that I need more classes helping me to understand how my classroom will run.  I expect that being in Mrs. Bradshaws classroom will help me develop my understanding.  Certainly my experiences are expressed in my reflections as well as my class responses, so this part is definiately emerging in my mind.  As I write this reflection, I feel that my learning is developing greatly.  I am very happy about this ideas I am learning in this class, and I hope to start the "grassroots" effort in a school system soon.

I feel that my grade thus far should be a B+.  I haven't been puntual in posting my reflection to my webpage, and I have not yet begun writing my story.
 
I think that class objectives will certianly help my development so I have nothing to add.
 
The guest speakers have been great, and I look forward to the remaining class activities.

"I have no greater joy than seeing my children walk in truth."