Chapter 3 Reflection

I loved the idea of using graphic organizers to assist students in organizing new knowledge. It seems more effective to break up important information in an organized chart, rather than writing a paragraph about it. I liked the example of a graphic organizer explaining condensation. It was not overwhelming, easy to follow and definitely keeps the information organized and accessible. I loved how this chapter applied Vygotsky's findings to current classrooms. This was such a relief because in the past books have listed out theories and research without showing examples of how it can be applied. I think it is very important to see many examples of how research applies to the classroom because many teachers use research to back up their teaching methods and classroom structure. This chapter helped me understand Vygotsky's scaffolding theory. I learned that a student can be challenged to learn beyond what is expected, if a teacher provides scaffolding support. This brought me back to my own experiences working with children with special needs. How does scaffolding apply to students that have special needs? What do we do when there is a wide gap between those that need more assistance and those that are ready to move on? The book made me realize how important it is to have assessments. Fortunately, the book listed many ways to assess understanding. It is a relief to know that assessments do not always have to be scantron only tests and pop quizzes, which seem to test memorization and not understanding. Also, I learned why students' desks are put into groups. I thought it was odd when I first saw this because I thought children would talk to each other instead of listening, but my beliefs are shadowed by my own experiences as a student in a traditional classroom, with desks aligned in perfect rows, and students seated in alphabetical order. I now realize that cooperative learning is beneficial and enhances learning. The research provided in this chapter is very useful for future teachers.