Double Entry Journal 14

Chapter 7: Shape-Shifting Portfolio People * Chapter 8 A final Word the content fetish

1. What was the most interesting idea you encountered as you read the chapter? I really liked the part about educational shows for children. I absolutely loved Barney growing up and my little brother watched Bear in the Big Blue House. These two shows focused a lot on social emotional issues and things if that nature. My one year old niece is in total awe of Dora the Explorer. Dora teaches a little bit of everything and a foreign language. I think it is reall good of Nick Jr. and Disney Jr. to begin teaching children at a young age. I think this can foster a love of learning for a lifetime.

2. What connections can you make between Gee's critique and Sir Ken Robinsons' critique of traditional schooling? Gee and Robinson both endorse the idea of letting students express themselves  their way, on their terms. They like the idea of letting students learn through the things that they are interested in.

3. How did this book change or support your understanding of good teaching? Good teaching is so many things, but this book has gone to further my belief that you have to engage and interest students in their learning. If students are bored all the time and do not want to do the work then those students are not going to want to put forth the effort. In my placement I did a lot of hands-on activities because of the special needs of the room I was in. I tailored my lessons to fit all the students and they were all very excited to get to do these sorts of lessons.