Cognitively, Brian struggles with reading, social studies, and science, but excels in math. Reading, social studies, and science are typical subjects an English Language Learner (ELL) struggles with and because math is universal it is not as challenging for a student who’s second language is English. Although Brian’s favorite subjects are math and reading, he is in the lowest reading group in his class. He struggles to recognize sight words learned in class and uses pictures to help him with the words. Brian seems to be a visual learner and would benefit from pictures to learn successfully. According to Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory, since Brian is a visual learner he has spatial intelligence (Nolen, 2003, p. 116). Since Brian
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117). Spatial intelligence allows people to create pictures in their minds to solve any problem they are challenged with. Although Brian learns how to read by using pictures, he still struggles to remember basic sight words and this may be because he may not read at home with his parents. Brian even stated that he does most of his school work on his own. It may seem Brian is self-sufficient at home and because of this Brian is struggling in school. During math, Brian excels and understands many concepts, especially when using objects like counting blocks. Brian is also somewhat capable of picturing objects in his mind and answering questions. According to Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, Brian would be in the preoperational stage where students “learn to represent things in the mind” (Slavin, 2012, p. …show more content…
King, Personal Communication, October 4, 2016). Brian’s culture could be a major impact on his education, especially when it comes to language. Although his family at home speaks Spanish and Brian understands Spanish, his family has chosen for Brian to fully understand English, which he seems to be pretty fluent at such a young age. Although Brian is pretty fluent in English there still have been many times where Brian did not understand because of a culture difference. For example, during math students are able to play math games and Brian was asked by a white student if he wanted to play with them, but he said no because he already had a partner when he did not. A few moments later, Brian asked another Hispanic student to be his partner, which could be because he felt a social responsibility to the Hispanic community and by playing with the Hispanic student instead he was able to speak in Spanish to the other student (S. King, Personal Communication, September 13, 2016). Moments like Brian’s interaction with other students in the classroom frequently impacted Miss. Kane’s classroom since a majority of her students were from all different cultures. Students’ with different cultures see the world differently and because of this many may behave differently than one another because of their different
117). Spatial intelligence allows people to create pictures in their minds to solve any problem they are challenged with. Although Brian learns how to read by using pictures, he still struggles to remember basic sight words and this may be because he may not read at home with his parents. Brian even stated that he does most of his school work on his own. It may seem Brian is self-sufficient at home and because of this Brian is struggling in school. During math, Brian excels and understands many concepts, especially when using objects like counting blocks. Brian is also somewhat capable of picturing objects in his mind and answering questions. According to Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, Brian would be in the preoperational stage where students “learn to represent things in the mind” (Slavin, 2012, p. …show more content…
King, Personal Communication, October 4, 2016). Brian’s culture could be a major impact on his education, especially when it comes to language. Although his family at home speaks Spanish and Brian understands Spanish, his family has chosen for Brian to fully understand English, which he seems to be pretty fluent at such a young age. Although Brian is pretty fluent in English there still have been many times where Brian did not understand because of a culture difference. For example, during math students are able to play math games and Brian was asked by a white student if he wanted to play with them, but he said no because he already had a partner when he did not. A few moments later, Brian asked another Hispanic student to be his partner, which could be because he felt a social responsibility to the Hispanic community and by playing with the Hispanic student instead he was able to speak in Spanish to the other student (S. King, Personal Communication, September 13, 2016). Moments like Brian’s interaction with other students in the classroom frequently impacted Miss. Kane’s classroom since a majority of her students were from all different cultures. Students’ with different cultures see the world differently and because of this many may behave differently than one another because of their different