My Three Research Projects
As a future teacher, I wanted to center my three research topics on children. There are so many new and interesting research about children that teachers should be aware of. The different aspects of our society is changing the way young children see and view people have the environment around them. So, I think the more I can learn about things going on within our community can help me understand my students on a higher level.
1.) The Media and young children
Focus: For my first research project, my focus would be to research how much does the media (TV, radio, internet, magazines ect.) play a role in a child's developmental skills. As we all know the media has become a major part of our society. We are bound to find out about the latest break-ups, make-ups, fashion hits and fashion flops just about anywhere we turn. However, how are the actions of these celebrities affecting our youth? Also, is the effects negative or positive?
Where? I am not exactly sure what this means, but I would do the research where children are surrounding by the media. It may be at someone's house while the children are watching TV, or in a computer lab where children are able to search the internet, or even in a classroom setting before the beginning of class. As I recall from my elementary days, children have the best conversations with there peers right before the teacher walks in!!
When? I would try to do my research when children are able to have play time or free time. I think observing children in a setting where they are able to watch or do as they please would be the best way to see how they react tp any rype of media. For example, observing children when they are allowed "TV time" at home would be a great way to see what they choose to watch anf how they respond to it. I think if I did my research during classroom instructions or at a time when he or she has to get their homework done, would not give me the most accurate results. I only say this because at those particular times children are suppose to be focused on a certain subject or topic.
How? The methods I would use to go about my reserach would be ethnography, interviewing (parents, teachers, and children), and visual analysis. I chose these three methods because for this particular topic I think one of the best ways to obtain the research needed is to observe, then, analyze, and finally draw conclusions. I can interview parents and teacher and get there opinions on the media and how it effects children. Also, interview children and get their take on what they think about media.
2.) Reading to children at a young age.
Focus: The focus of my second research project would be how important is it for children to be read to at a young ag? There are so many different kinds of families in our society, each with their own uniques characteristics and values. There are some parents who read to their chidlren even before they are born, and other who just wait until their children start school to introduce books and reading to them. My main focus question would be does reading to children from a young age help develop childrens' reading skills?
Where? I would do my research in more than one family's home where there is both young children and parents. Also, I think a classroom setting would be another good place to conduct my research. I am not too sure where else would be a good place to do research for this particular topic so far.
When? I think during the school year when children get a lot of reading assignments would be a good time. Also, before bedtime when children are getting to go bed would also be a good time. I chose the secone one because bedtime is usually when parents can have one-on-one time with their child, some choose to spend this reading to their children while other choose to do other things.
How? The methods I would use to do my research would once again be ethnography, visual analysis, and especially interviewing. I would interview parents who read to their children when they were little vs. parents who did not read to their children when they were little. I would also interview parents who were not read to when they were little, but chose to read to their own children vs. parents who were read to when they were little, but chose not to read to their own children. Finally, I would interview teachers that know parents spend time reading with their children vs. teachers that know parents do not spend enought time reading with their children.
3.) Homework and young children
Focus: The focus for my third research project would be how effective is homework for children on a daily basis? There are many people who say that homework is not necessary everyday, but rather on a weekly basis, while others believe that homework is vital on a daily basis especially for younger children.
Where? I would definitely do my research in a classroom and at the homes of students. I would observe students throughout the day at school during their lessons, then go to some of their homes and see how well they do the homework, and then go back to the classroom the following day to see how well the student was able to retain the material.
When? I would condcut my research during the school year, since that is when children would probably get the most homework.
How? The methods I would use for this research project would be ethnography, interview, and visual analysis. Interviewing both teachers and parents as well as children would be a great way to get responses from those who are mostly involved in dealing with homework.
Questions
1.) I know I chose the same three methods for all three research methods, is there any other methods that I could use that would be just as effective?
2.) How long would I have to conduct my research for in order to get accurate results?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
BLOG 3
What Young Children Teach Us About Literacy Learning
Authors: Catherine Maderazo and Prisca Martens
I chose to write my blog about this essay because I was interested to see what kinds of things the two authors Maderazo and Martens would come up with. Children are very active and are always doing something, so I was curious which experiences the two moms/authors would use to write the essay.
Purpose: It took me a while to figure out how to put my thoughts of the purpose into words. I'm still not quite sure if it sounds right or even makes sense, but here goes.....
After I read the introduction and conclusion of the essay, I think that the purpose was for Maderazo and Marten's to take their childrens' experiences in play to explain how adults learn much of what they know about how childrens' early reading and writing by watching young children in their environment . Observation of how children use the tools and people around them has helped adults learn how children connect to the world of literacy.
Process: As I looked through the book I saw that the authors separated their research by five different lesson plans. Under each lesson plan was an example of what Maderazo and Martens observed their child doing, and how it connected to the main point of the lesson. There were also a few pictures of some of the childrens' work which were probably photocopied or scanned from the original.
Sources: When I think of sources I assumed it includes what or who the authors used to get the research. So I came up with a list that I thought was a part of the sources for this essay. (I might be totally wrong!)
Authors: Catherine Maderazo and Prisca Martens
I chose to write my blog about this essay because I was interested to see what kinds of things the two authors Maderazo and Martens would come up with. Children are very active and are always doing something, so I was curious which experiences the two moms/authors would use to write the essay.
Purpose: It took me a while to figure out how to put my thoughts of the purpose into words. I'm still not quite sure if it sounds right or even makes sense, but here goes.....
After I read the introduction and conclusion of the essay, I think that the purpose was for Maderazo and Marten's to take their childrens' experiences in play to explain how adults learn much of what they know about how childrens' early reading and writing by watching young children in their environment . Observation of how children use the tools and people around them has helped adults learn how children connect to the world of literacy.
Process: As I looked through the book I saw that the authors separated their research by five different lesson plans. Under each lesson plan was an example of what Maderazo and Martens observed their child doing, and how it connected to the main point of the lesson. There were also a few pictures of some of the childrens' work which were probably photocopied or scanned from the original.
Sources: When I think of sources I assumed it includes what or who the authors used to get the research. So I came up with a list that I thought was a part of the sources for this essay. (I might be totally wrong!)
- Leo and Elliot Maderazo; Sarah and Matthew Martens
- A variety of books that the children liked to read.
- Signs and logos in the community.
- Hot Wheels website/internet
- Sarah's grandpa
- Miss Cartwright
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Strangman Interview
Strangman: Interview
Literary and Visual Literacy for All: A Fourth-Grade Study of Alice in Wonderland by Nicole Strangman.
After I browsed through many of the readings assigned for this course, I took a special interest in this interview. I found this particular interview to be relevant and useful in my future. As a future teacher in early childhood education, reading is one of the most important and vital concepts to learn and excel in. Many children, just like myself, either love or despise reading from a young age. As a future teacher, it is my job to find various methods and different ways to get my students interested in reading. I think that this interview is a great example of how a teacher utilized something from her childhood experiences and incorporated it in her classroom. She used a simple fantasy story and turned it into a very useful tool to help her students read at a higher level. I think that Miss Edinger was a very effective teacher because she was able to reach out to her students by being creative and making reading fun and letting the children brainstorm their own ideas for the story. She was able to take one childhood story and use it in so many different ways.
I'm still not too clear about genre expectations, but in my opinion this was an active interview with a dialogue between the interviewer and the interviewee. It seemed very straight forward with open-ended questions and greatly detailed answers. The interviewer transitioned very well from one question to another. The enitre interview was organized, clear, and very easy to understand. It was great to read about a teacher who was enthusiastic about helping her students learn new things!
In my opinion, the interview was written in the same form Moreno's essay, "The Politics of Location": Text As Opposition. It began with a brief introdution, where Strangman introduced the teacher, Miss Edinger and gave a good amount of background information about her, so readers would know a little about the person the interview was about. The introduction also included the author's main focus and introduced the topics such as the Toy Theater that she would discuss throughout the interview. The body or context of the interview is a series of questions already mentioned in the introduction, but in greater detail. One question that the interviewer asked was, " The last two years the student illustrations took a new form- Toy Theater productions. What was the motivation behind that?" The topic of the Toy Theater was already brought up in the introduction, but in the body Miss Edinger talks a lot about the purpose of the program and her students feelings and attitudes towards it. In the final part of the interview, which I considered to be the conclusion, Strangman asked Miss Edinger if she had any final words. I particularly liked this question because it gave the teacher a chance to speak freely about her own opinions about her students and how other teachers viewed her method of fantasy in the classroom.
I think this interview was written for not only eduactors, but parents of young children as well. Many times parents have a hard time getting their kids to read at home, but if they were aware of other creatives ideas like the ones Miss Edinger came up with I bet they would be able to get their children interested in reading outside of the classroom.
Literary and Visual Literacy for All: A Fourth-Grade Study of Alice in Wonderland by Nicole Strangman.
After I browsed through many of the readings assigned for this course, I took a special interest in this interview. I found this particular interview to be relevant and useful in my future. As a future teacher in early childhood education, reading is one of the most important and vital concepts to learn and excel in. Many children, just like myself, either love or despise reading from a young age. As a future teacher, it is my job to find various methods and different ways to get my students interested in reading. I think that this interview is a great example of how a teacher utilized something from her childhood experiences and incorporated it in her classroom. She used a simple fantasy story and turned it into a very useful tool to help her students read at a higher level. I think that Miss Edinger was a very effective teacher because she was able to reach out to her students by being creative and making reading fun and letting the children brainstorm their own ideas for the story. She was able to take one childhood story and use it in so many different ways.
I'm still not too clear about genre expectations, but in my opinion this was an active interview with a dialogue between the interviewer and the interviewee. It seemed very straight forward with open-ended questions and greatly detailed answers. The interviewer transitioned very well from one question to another. The enitre interview was organized, clear, and very easy to understand. It was great to read about a teacher who was enthusiastic about helping her students learn new things!
In my opinion, the interview was written in the same form Moreno's essay, "The Politics of Location": Text As Opposition. It began with a brief introdution, where Strangman introduced the teacher, Miss Edinger and gave a good amount of background information about her, so readers would know a little about the person the interview was about. The introduction also included the author's main focus and introduced the topics such as the Toy Theater that she would discuss throughout the interview. The body or context of the interview is a series of questions already mentioned in the introduction, but in greater detail. One question that the interviewer asked was, " The last two years the student illustrations took a new form- Toy Theater productions. What was the motivation behind that?" The topic of the Toy Theater was already brought up in the introduction, but in the body Miss Edinger talks a lot about the purpose of the program and her students feelings and attitudes towards it. In the final part of the interview, which I considered to be the conclusion, Strangman asked Miss Edinger if she had any final words. I particularly liked this question because it gave the teacher a chance to speak freely about her own opinions about her students and how other teachers viewed her method of fantasy in the classroom.
I think this interview was written for not only eduactors, but parents of young children as well. Many times parents have a hard time getting their kids to read at home, but if they were aware of other creatives ideas like the ones Miss Edinger came up with I bet they would be able to get their children interested in reading outside of the classroom.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Fetterly and Moreno
Blog 1:
Judith Fetterly
In this textual analysis of "A Rose for Emily," I came across a few different areas that the author focused on. One focal point was the expectations of women in a patriarchal society and how Emily Grierson did not live up to or meet the expectations. A good example of this point was how the author explained that when Emily bought the poison, no one thought she would use it to commit murder, but rather suicide. Women were supposed to be helpless and could not survive without the help of a man, however Emily proved that she had power over both men and women in the community. Another example of this main point was made when the author stated, " A Rose for Emily is the story of a lady and her revenge for that grotesque identity." The second focus point that I concluded after reading this essay was the community's constant gossip about Emily. It seemed as though those who lived in her neighborhood wanted to know her whereabouts and what she was doing at all times. Fetterly states, "Indeed, though she shuts herself up in house which she rarely leaves and which no one enters, her furious isloation is in direct proportion to the town's obsession with her." The town's ongoing talks and whispers about Emily proves that they were more concerned about her and she did not even give them a second look. There are many different important points throughout this essay and there were so many different things to choose from, but while reading through it I found the two above points to be most important in regards to research.
The methodological approaches for this particular essay is through the perspective of the narrator and this is definitely a textual anaysis more than any of the other methods we discussed in class. The author goes into great detail about specific texts from the story to get her main points across.
This method is used all the time in writing and reading for school and even in our everyday life. We analyze articles and stories in our English courses from pretty much the beginning of our college careers, but i think people also use textual analysis when reading newspapers, magazines, and even our favorite websites on the internet. As a future teacher, I think that I would use this method when helping my students in the classroom, as well as when researching new ideas for my students.
Moreno
1.) Could you use one of the interviewing methods we discussed in class to get similar results?
2.) If this same research was done with another perespective would it change the results completely?
Judith Fetterly
In this textual analysis of "A Rose for Emily," I came across a few different areas that the author focused on. One focal point was the expectations of women in a patriarchal society and how Emily Grierson did not live up to or meet the expectations. A good example of this point was how the author explained that when Emily bought the poison, no one thought she would use it to commit murder, but rather suicide. Women were supposed to be helpless and could not survive without the help of a man, however Emily proved that she had power over both men and women in the community. Another example of this main point was made when the author stated, " A Rose for Emily is the story of a lady and her revenge for that grotesque identity." The second focus point that I concluded after reading this essay was the community's constant gossip about Emily. It seemed as though those who lived in her neighborhood wanted to know her whereabouts and what she was doing at all times. Fetterly states, "Indeed, though she shuts herself up in house which she rarely leaves and which no one enters, her furious isloation is in direct proportion to the town's obsession with her." The town's ongoing talks and whispers about Emily proves that they were more concerned about her and she did not even give them a second look. There are many different important points throughout this essay and there were so many different things to choose from, but while reading through it I found the two above points to be most important in regards to research.
The methodological approaches for this particular essay is through the perspective of the narrator and this is definitely a textual anaysis more than any of the other methods we discussed in class. The author goes into great detail about specific texts from the story to get her main points across.
This method is used all the time in writing and reading for school and even in our everyday life. We analyze articles and stories in our English courses from pretty much the beginning of our college careers, but i think people also use textual analysis when reading newspapers, magazines, and even our favorite websites on the internet. As a future teacher, I think that I would use this method when helping my students in the classroom, as well as when researching new ideas for my students.
Moreno
1.) Could you use one of the interviewing methods we discussed in class to get similar results?
2.) If this same research was done with another perespective would it change the results completely?
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