Case 2: Learning the Ropes - Essay Example

EDB 502, Dr. Jeremy Jan 29, Case 2 Case 2: Learning the Ropes What strategy does Mr. Corbet use to make his feel as if they “belong” in their new classroom?There are two ways Mr. Corbet uses to make his students feel as if they “belong” in their new classroom. First, he tapes each student’s name to the back of their chair and seats them in specific groups. Second, he makes the students color their name tags as they please, to personalize them. The name tags will be used to mark their place at the group table. 2. At the beginning of the case study, we see Mindy and Tanya talking while they color, yet they don’t seem to be listening to each other.

How would Piaget explain this event? How would Vygotsky explain it? According to Piaget, Mindy and Tanya’s interaction is in the egocentric speech stage. Piaget believed that children are neither born with social skills nor able to relate with others. Instead, they are self-centered and can only think about what they want. Since Mindy and Tanya are not yet developed socially, they do not take each other’s thoughts into consideration. As children mature, they learn and develop social skills and the egocentric speech will fade away.

On the other hand, Vygotsky believed that Mindy and Tanya’s interaction was social learning and not self-centered immaturity. Vygotsky believed that egocentric speech springs from social speech and social interactions shape how children learn. Unlike Piaget, he argued that children develop from social speech to self-talk or private speech as they grow. According to Vygotsky, Mandy and Tanya’s egocentric speech is not immaturity but a vital function in their development. The reflection: The strategies that Mr.

Corbet used to make his students feel as if they “belong” in their new classroom were great. Giving children their own labeled places helps them feel accepted and comfortable in a new environment. However, children do not always know what is expected of them when they first come to school. I think it would have been better if Mr. Corbet had set expectations and explained in advance what routines and activities the new students would participate in. For example, Mindy did not know what recess was.

Also, she was concerned when she broke her crayon although the way Mr. Corbet handled that situation was a great teaching moment.