Journal #3

Double Entry Journal 3

The author points out three main learning theories:  innative, constructivist, and behaviorist.   Each theory has a suggestion on how a child learns language.  Whether a person believes in the environment making a large impact, human intelligence programmed at birth, or driven out of reinforcement, those of us teaching needs to be aware of each theory as we design lesson plans.  Vygotsky’s belief in the zone of proximal development is that a child will use language to help them solve problems. When a child needs help and can be assisted by another person (or group) they are building on knowledge and learning a task through the assistance of language.  I especially like the breakdown of multiple intelligences into diverse categories:  linguistic, musical, logical-mathmatical, spatial, body-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, naturalist, existentialist and spiritualistic intelligence.  So many times teachers forget that students learn on many different levels.  Children can fit into several of these categories and teachers need to diversify their methods of instruction to hit many diverse learners. Students can learn in a variety of ways and styles.  Having a classroom with an inviting environment will stimulate and motivate children to learn at a higher level while having fun.

     One of my favorite things to teach students (from kindergarten to fifth grade) is to learn the famous pieces of art.  I start off with ten pictures at the lower grades and eventually work up to thirty artworks by fifth grade.  Sometimes I have to offer hints as to what might be in the title of the artwork.  I use popular pieces like The Mona Lisa, Blue Boy, Whistlers Mother, The Scream, Starry Night, American Gothic, Blue Vase, Sunflowers, Waterlillies, Three Musicians, Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Old Guitarist, Still Life with Apples, Dance Class, and I and the Village to name a few.  Some paintings were easy to remember (Blue Vase, Dance Class, Sunflowers, The scream, etc.) while others we would need to give hints.  While flashing a card of Whistler’s Mother, I puckered my lips to show whistling and when the flash card of Girl with the Pearl Earring came up I would point to my ears.  One picture always stumped the class and that was American Gothic.  One day a student raised his hand enthusiastically and said “Mrs. Artman, I know where I saw this picture!” and I was so happy that someone recognized it for once.  I asked him “Where did you see it?” and he said “oh that’s easy…. Squidward did it on SpongeBob Square Pants!”.  I gave a big smile and the class started to discuss the episode it was on.  Another child said “Can I tell you where I saw another one of the pictures?” and I thought…. what the heck…. We are learning from SpongeBob…. and told the child to tell me her memory of a piece of art.  She said she knew The Last Supper and saw it every Sunday.  I said “I don’t think it’s the real one, it must be a print.” and the child said “No my grandma looks at it after church when we eat and says a prayer to the guys playing cards at the table.” I decided I was done with explaining prints and moved on to another lesson.  Yup…. They keep me on my toes!