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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!) The language barrier was definitely there, but I believe that the cultural differences may have gotten in the way as well. Many teachers are not skilled at incorporating the arts into their instruction, and I think Mr. Henderson could benefit from beginning to incorporate arts into the curriculum. If Jorge enjoys drawing so much, he is likely a very visual learner, according to Gardner's theories. Mr. Henderson should use that knowledge and incorporate illustration into as many lessons as possible. Since illustration is so inviting to Jorge, it could be used as leverage. For example: if he successfully completes his writing assignment, he will be allowed to add an illustration. Another method could involve 'illustration time' as a reward system, Jorge can earn illustration time for completing assignments in a timely manner and are his true best effort. Gardner's Theories come into play here because the students are inclined to enjoy different topics and instruction catered around those topics will be more meaningful to the student. Jorge may just be an artist, and Mr. Henderson shouldn't condemn that. He should use it as a tool to promote Jorge's success. |
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