Module 1: How people grow

While reading, there were several terms that really resonated with me. The first one was differentiaited instruction (page 10). Seeing that I work with students that have IEPs, differentiated instruction is the way we teach all of the students in the special education department. Teachers and faculty take the information that they have on the student and then use it to effectively teach them in the classroom. I know that in one of our self-contained classroom, they have 4 different acheivement groups of students. The highest achieving group moves at a quicker pace and has more difficult problems and work. The lowest achieving group has more basic work to help build their skills  and more help with an aide or a co-teacher with them to help them along using assisted learning (page 63). The modifications done for students is unique for the different students that I see daily. The students with varying levels of learning disablities each are on different academic levels. Some may need help with reading questions while others need a modeling of the work to be done. I do know that without the ability to modify and change the curriculum and instruction then these students would be completely lost and frustrated.

Another term, or in this case theory, that I came across was Vygotsky's sociocultural theory. The theory revolves around the development if cooperative dialogue between chidren and more knowledgeable members of society (page55). Through this theory, children learn more about the culture in their community. With the classes that I work in, it is heavily reliant on social interactions. The students are tasked with a large group activity, with individual assignments. They are then supposed work with the others, yet minding to their responsibilities. It is a mix of group and social workings. The best part that I have seen is when an older student that has a bit more experience will help out. I then feel like everything clicks for the less experienced child. They now have more confidence in the task at hand. I can relate it to the reaching the zone of proxiaml development (page 59). An older student/adult is helping them master a new skill. They have seen someone else do it and they have the guidance if needed.

An idea that I am pretty familiar with is ethnic identities. I was born in Mexico but I have spent the majority of my life in America. With that said, I find it is important to have racial and ethnic pride in order to have a good self-esteem (page 94). I find that I fall under the biculturism category when it comes to my ethnic identity. I take parts of both cultures and mix them together to make it my own. I know that neither is perfect but I am proud of both sides equally. In talking with English language learners in my classroom, I identify with the hispanic students in a different way compared to the rest of the students. There are things that we just have in common and understand about each other, There are times when I see my students struggling with their identities. They either start dressing difffertnly, talking differently, or even having different role models. I want to say that it is good to get a little confused. It can help in giving a little direction once you start clearing away the confusion. Once tht is done, the feelings about yourself and who you are begin to be better. The older a student gets the comfortable they begin to feel in their skin.