TeacherServer.com
Home | How It Works | Stats
Login | Register
     
  Case: Was there more than a language barrier?
Mr. Henderson is a third grade teacher in an elementary school located in a rural area near a large city in Texas. He has been teaching third grade in this small school setting for six years. His classroom is usually comprised of local students who live in the nearby farming community. Occasionally the established ranchers there hire migrant workers who move into the area for seasonal employment. It is common for these laborers to bring their families with them and enroll their children in school. Mr. Henderson has always met the challenges he faces when these students come into his classroom to join the other third graders. Often, these migrant workers and their families move into this friendly rural community with little or no knowledge of the English language. If the laborers are coming from nearby Mexico, Spanish is usually the only language they have been exposed to. After a few years of studying the Spanish language and culture, Mr. Henderson feel prepared and confident when communicating with the migrant students and their parents. Mr. Henderson feels proud of his accomplishments when he recalls his past few years of academically reaching ESL (English as a Second Language) students. He only regrets one experience he encountered involving an ESL student, Jorge. This young man moved into the community with his parents and siblings for a two year period. Jorge seemed to enjoy his new environment in Mr. Henderson's classroom. However, Jorge was not at all interested in school work or learning the English language. He constantly drew beautiful pictures of fancy cars. He loved classic automobiles as well as all kinds of race cars. Mr. Henderson felt like he could not compete for Jorge's undivided attention when it came to cars. Mr. Henderson was very impressed with Jorge's drawings but was frustrated when Jorge put one hundred percent of his efforts into his car art work. Mr. Henderson worked all school year to teach the curriculum to all of his students, including the ESL students. Jorge seemed to be an exception to the rule when it came to Mr. Henderson's teaching experiences. Jorge was the only student who Mr. Henderson felt had slipped through the cracks of third grade.

Questions:
1. Was there more than a language barrier between Mr. Henderson and Jorge?
2. How could Mr. Henderson direct Jorge's attention toward the third grade curriculum?
3. How could Howard Gardner's Theory about Multiple Intelligences assist Mr. Henderson?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
1. Beyond the language barrier, there seems to be a disconnect between Mr. Henderson and Jorge as well. If Mr. Henderson does not normally have these issues with ELL students, it is possible that his feelings towards Jorge's cars are evident to Jorge and making him feel as though he is not welcome and respected.

2. Before redirecting Jorge's attention, I believe that Mr. Henderson needs to first make sure that Jorge feels like a welcomed part of the classroom community and that he feels his interests are valid. To help with this, Mr. Henderson could incorporate classic cars and things related to them into his curriculum. They could read about the history of some of the cars and their manufacturing and Mr. Henderson could draw parallels between the cars and other subjects to get Jorge's interest. Also, if Jorge draws as a way to comfort himself, Mr. Henderson could allow him a certain amount of time each day where he is able to draw and work on his cars. To encourage the class community feel, Mr. Henderson could even let Jorge share his work and interests with the class.

3. Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences tells us that there are a variety of learning styles. People do not all learn the same way, and because of this will need information presented to them in the ways that fits their learning style. Based on Jorge's interests in drawing the cars, I would say he is a visual/spacial learner. For teaching, Mr. Henderson could make sure that he is incorporating good visuals. He could make flip books, use models, etc., to appeal to Jorge's learning needs.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: This solution is very insightful and presents simple and manageable solutions for the teacher to implement.
Rated On: February 17, 2013 12:05 am
Rated By: Liz Iannacone
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: February 18, 2013 9:33 pm
Rated By: Sarah Hogan Johnson
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: February 19, 2013 8:19 pm
Rated By: eMypur
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: March 3, 2013 5:46 pm
Rated By: GaTuWy
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I thought the examples and ideas were excelent. You are correct in saying that Jorge is a visual/spacial learner.
Rated On: October 17, 2014 11:20 am
Rated By: ySaryN
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree with this solution.
Rated On: February 28, 2015 8:50 pm
Rated By: eSaPaz
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this.
Rated On: October 13, 2016 12:52 am
Rated By: junuTu
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: good solution
Rated On: October 8, 2017 4:27 am
Rated By: Gapasa
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: I agree
Rated On: February 24, 2018 10:49 pm
Rated By: upyWyH
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Great Solution! very helpful.
Rated On: October 13, 2019 11:49 pm
Rated By: GeQapy