Literacy

Think about this scenario: Mr. Migel and Mrs. Colon are kindergarten teachers in the same inner-city school district. The children in their classrooms are mostly African American and Latino. Both teachers are very dedicated to their profession. They have created classroom settings that demonstrate their philosophy and theory about what they believe early childhood education should be. Mr. Migel has designed his room with content area centers, such as science, social studies, art, dramatic play, block play, and music. Each center reflects a theme the children are studying. For example, the children are studying spring, and there are plants in the science corner; recordings about spring in the music center; and books about plants, bugs, and new baby animals in the library corner. A zoo has been designed in the block center where baby gerbils have just been born, and a live hen is sitting on her eggs. There is a place for children to buy tickets to the zoo, there are signs on the real and play animal cages, and children receive play receipts for money spent. In the morning when they arrive at school, the children and Mr. Migel sing songs about spring, talk about spring, and discuss what they are going to do in school. The children spend a good portion of the day working with one another and with manipulative materials. Often there is a lot of noise, and sometimes children are not productively engaged. Mr. Migel has no formal lessons for reading and writing. When children want to look at books, they can. If the children decide to write a story, there are materials for them to use, and Mr. Migel is kind, supportive, warm, and caring. He believes that building a positive attitude about school and themselves is the most important part of the children’s kindergarten experience. He emphasizes social, emotional, and physical development. He also believes that the children will learn reading and writing as a result of their exposure to books and print in a spontaneous way, and that formal lessons in this area are inappropriate and unnecessary. Mrs. Colon’s classroom is different from Mr. Migel’s. She, too, cares a great deal about the children. She is warm, kind, and supportive. She has organized the tables so that there is a definitive front of the room for her to carry out lessons. She feels that the children need to learn school behavior and be ready for first grade. According to Mrs. Colon, many of these children know almost nothing about reading and writing because their parents rarely work with them. She believes that they need to know the alphabet and need to be able to match sounds to their correct symbols as an aid to early literacy. She teaches a letter of the alphabet a week, and children use worksheets to reinforce what they have learned. The writing that takes place is mostly for the development of fine motor control to help the children learn to formulate letters, which they practice. Mrs. Colon’s classroom is orderly, quiet, and organized, with specific objectives to be accomplished. Children do have the opportunity to play in her room, but she views this not as a time to learn, but as a time to relax after they have done their work. The reading specialist in the district is worried about both Mr. Migel and Mrs. Colon. She likes some of the things that both of them do but feels that each is lacking some important classroom strategies. 1.What theorists do Mr. Migel and Mrs. Colon embrace, based on the descriptions of their classrooms? 2.If you feel strongly that one teacher provides kindergarten instruction as it should be, support your premise with the appropriate theory. 3.Could each classroom be improved? If so, how?

Sample Solution

Mr. Migel's classroom is based on the developmental theory of early childhood education. This theory emphasizes the importance of social, emotional, and physical development, as well as the importance of creating a positive learning environment. Mr. Migel believes that children learn best through play and exploration, and he provides his students with a variety of opportunities to do so.

Full Answer Section

Mrs. Colon's classroom is based on the traditional approach to early childhood education. This approach emphasizes the importance of academic achievement and teaching children the basic skills they will need for first grade. Mrs. Colon provides her students with direct instruction in reading and writing, and she uses worksheets and other structured activities to reinforce what they have learned.

2. If you feel strongly that one teacher provides kindergarten instruction as it should be, support your premise with the appropriate theory.

I believe that Mr. Migel's approach to kindergarten instruction is more effective than Mrs. Colon's approach. There is a growing body of research that supports the developmental approach to early childhood education. This research shows that children who learn through play and exploration are better prepared for first grade than children who receive direct instruction in academic skills.

One of the key benefits of the developmental approach is that it helps children develop a positive attitude towards learning. When children are engaged in activities that they enjoy, they are more likely to be motivated to learn. Mr. Migel's classroom provides children with a variety of opportunities to play and explore, which helps them to develop a love of learning.

Another benefit of the developmental approach is that it helps children develop social and emotional skills. When children learn in a cooperative setting, they learn how to work together, share, and resolve conflicts. Mr. Migel's classroom is a cooperative learning environment where children have the opportunity to work together on projects and activities.

Finally, the developmental approach helps children develop physical skills. When children play and explore, they use their large and small muscles. Mr. Migel's classroom provides children with a variety of opportunities to be physically active, which helps them to develop the physical skills they need for success in school.

3. Could each classroom be improved? If so, how?

Yes, both classrooms could be improved. Mr. Migel's classroom could be improved by providing more opportunities for children to learn about reading and writing. He could do this by providing children with access to books and writing materials, and by providing them with opportunities to practice reading and writing in a meaningful way.

Mrs. Colon's classroom could be improved by providing more opportunities for children to play and explore. She could do this by setting aside time each day for free play, and by providing children with a variety of materials to play with. She could also incorporate play-based activities into her lessons.

Here are some specific suggestions for how Mr. Migel and Mrs. Colon could improve their classrooms:

Mr. Migel:

Provide children with access to a variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
Provide children with opportunities to practice reading and writing in a meaningful way, such as by writing stories, poems, or letters to friends and family.
Model reading and writing for children.
Talk to children about the books they are reading and the writing they are doing.

Mrs. Colon:

Set aside time each day for free play.
Provide children with a variety of materials to play with, such as blocks, dress-up clothes, and art supplies.
Incorporate play-based activities into her lessons.
Talk to children about what they are learning while they are playing.

By following these suggestions, Mr. Migel and Mrs. Colon can create classrooms that are both effective and engaging for their students.

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