Double Journal Entry #10

1. What are the features of the forms of language that are spoken in a home environment that align with academic varieties of language?
Many students learn through interpretation of specialized language into their home language. Students decipher new language at hone that tends to serve as useful in school. One way this works is through imitation of the spcialized learning scenario in school, at home. Another is by using the language they learn at home in school and participating in activities that enhances their language skills.

2. What are the features of Leona's specialized form of language?
Patterns in the way she speaks, like similar endings and beginnings of lines. Where she improvises the story she know, when its structured like a well thought out poem. She speaks in a way that the writer makes her sound smarter than she is. She is very poetic in her language

3. Why is Leona's specialized form of language not accepted in school?
It isn't accepted because she sounds like she is rambling on. The teacher isn't letting her finish the story and learn great ways to conclude a story. Rather, the teacher has her sit down mid story. This language isn't accepted due to clisemindedness. This happens, though, and in this case it hurts young "leona."

4. Explain the contradiction between the research conducted by Snow et al. (1998) and the recommendations made by Snow et al. (1998).
Snow talks about the fact that students need early skills development especially for low SES students. This is contradictory in that they need to have a starting base before they can have the skills. And schools aren't taking that into account when teaching students many times.

5. What other factors besides early skills training will make or break good readers?
Having some more home experience helps these students get a head start. Building scenarios to play with reading at the home can build a good relationship to reading. A better learning curve could help. Students could also be given a better set of lessons to help with reading

6. Why do some children fail to identify with, or find alienating, the "ways with words" taught in school?
These ways with words aren't used at home. And so they learn a little bit of may different ways in school, and then come home only to never hear it again. It doesn't reinforce the concepts taught. This is a hard thing to accomplish and until more understanding into ways to combat this are found, then video games and POP culture will be what helps facilitate this.

Double Entry Journal #9

 A strange fact!
 (question-answer version[questions by Dr. Lindstrom, answers by me])

1. What is the strange fact about not learning to read? 

The strange fact is that poverty and the inability to read go hand-in-hand. It is hard to argue, based on the research, and just a lifestyle shouldn't make a difference in someone learning to pronounce letters and create sentences, but it is true.

2. Why is this fact so strange?

It is so strange because students from low SES or from minority groups can learn just as easily as anyone else on all subjects. The fact of the matter is that these students have a harder time learning to read. These are no less of people than any other human being, but they have that trouble with their reading skills. 

3. What is it about school that manages to transform children who at good at learning things like Pokeman into children who are not good a learning? 

The recognition of different learning style with the lack of teaching that particular way. Sudents have the trouble and dont get the attention they need to learn the rules

4. What is the differences between a traditionalists approach to learning to read and more progressive educators?

A traditonalist is more about lectures and listening and taking noes where a more progresssive teacher is there to assign projects and authentic situations for each student to learn how to read from those situations.

5. Is learning to read a natural process like learning to speak a language?

No. It begins as a new skiill, since we havent always had to write/ read regularly enough to cause it to become a natural process in the human bodies. where communicating at all (most usually orally) is more natural.

6. What is the differences between natural, instructed and cultural processes and which process should reading be classified under?

Natural is an adaptaion/ instinct the body knows inherently like eating and protection. Instructed is an idea or process taught to the student. Cultural process is a process taught to the person for cultural necessity, and this deals mainly with tradition.

7. How do humans learn best? Through instructional processes or through cultural processes? How is reading taught in school? 

The cultural process teaches humams most efficiently, since the humans control that area of their lives as an inherently important area. In school, students learn to read in an instructional way, rather than culturally.

8. According to the author, what is the reason for the "fourth grade slump."

 Some students can "read," can decode and assign superficial meanings to meaningless words, and some students can "read," ones who can derive full understanding from multiple viewpoints and depth

9. What is a better predictor of reading success than phonemic awareness?

"Early language ability." it is the experience students have had to use language at early ages. Students who had more exposure to language was able to understnad the phonics of language against those who don't. 

10. What is the difference between "vernacular" and "specialist" varieties of language? Give an example of two sentences, one written in the vernacular and one written in a "a specialized variety",  about a topic in your content area.

Vernacular tends to be more associated with everyday words of the audience. Specialist language is more aimed towards experts of that field. ex. (vernacular) The Phish show was really cool! Their jams were very interesting and long, I like it when they start singing again though.

ex. (specialist) The recitative section of Mussorgsky's Opera is much more dynamically interesting than Mozart's, this is because of the era of time both composers were active.

11. What is "early language ability" and how is it developed?

It is developed through experience at home, with parents, as well as with friends and school mates, in school. But mostly, experiences outside of school prepare a student to be ready to read in school.

12. According to the author why and how does the traditionalist approach to teaching children to read fail?

It is not supporting home language use. The children need the extra experience at home to accelerate the learning of their language skills. It only makes sense because like they say, "practice makes perfect." and this holds true here.

13. Are parents of poor children to blame for their children's inexperience with specialized varieties of language before coming to school?

Not necessarily, but they parents have a very strong influence on the accuasition of language in the classroom. The parents need to be the ones supporting the learning at home and be the ones to facilitate the learning. Parents have a huge impact and they sometimes don't care, and thus don't even try, because they think school is where you learn, not home.

14. Did you struggle with reading this text? Why? Are you a poor reader or are you unfamiliar with this variety of specialized language?

I struggled to read this text book because I was very tired. late nights and early mornings take their toll on the human body. I could undertsnad many of the words, but was having trouble with processing them properly to make the most sense out of it. In hindsight, doing this homework at a decent hour is the answer to this.

Double Entry Journal #8

      The main challenge that this book is addressing is the student's "way with words" and the motivation it takes (or doesn't take) to find that way. In school, some students naturally have a way with words and don't have trouble learning new subjects. But that is rare, and a lot of students have trouble finding that way and need help with subjects in school. The authors phrase, "way with words," refers to the students' understanding of subject matter jargon and textbook vocabulary. This, as he defines, is a major component in the learning of ideas associated with the subjects (mathematics, science, etc.). The core argument is that learning new ways with words when they find the worlds the words apply to compelling. Students do not enjoy learning new ideas if they don't understand what is going in, only by immersing them in the language and a way they can understand and participate in, will they enjoy learning subjects.
     When I was little, I played a computer game called "Age of Empires" which was a strategy game that took place in the middle ages. I learned a variety of vocabulary words through that game: trebuchet, cavalry, monk, feudal. All of these were phrases used during that time which were words I hadn't come across yet, that I learned through playing a video game at home rather than at school. The author talks about learning specialized language best outside of school or through the world the word applies to. If a student can live in the world created through that language, then they can learn that language, which is why video games can be a good tool.
      To be successful in the 21st century, people are to become learners, learners who can use their world to gain knowledge they need. The author states that  learning academic language is NOT sufficient for success in modern society, and I agree with this. People do not necessarily need to sound like they are "smart," to be successful in the world. If someone is an expert in their field and are successful, then they obviously only needed to learn what they needed to learn to become an expert. The author talks this up completely. I like the way the author uses his term "way with words," because it is true what he says about the use of textbook and subject jargon. It is the portal to the understanding of the subject, and one of the best ways to pass through that portal is by immersing yourself in the world of that subject. As you live inside this world, you learn to love it, and you experience the jargon firsthand.