Practice Explained- Research
“I think using focus groups during reading and literacy is an effective way of learning as the students can learn and listen to one another” (Quoted by mentor teacher 13.09.16)
There are a significant range of experts and theorist that agree with this quote, teachers are under the assumption that all students will work and learn better in focus groups as they can have discussions, different thinking strategies and learning from each other, Vygotsky argued, "that language is the main tool that promotes thinking, develops reasoning, and supports cultural activities like reading and writing" (Vygotsky 1978). In essence, Vygotsky recognizes that learning always occurs and cannot …show more content…
I consider focus groups being a very successful classroom learning strategy but I also think it can create a few are concerns and issues to student learning.
I believe students can be distracted and not focused during literacy group work, I know this because on my placement rounds I have seen a group of boys partnered together in the low level of academics group displaying no work, no focus on the task and not working together as a team. The task was not completed and the boys didn’t learn or get anything completed during the hour lesson. However the other groups in the class represented fantastic learning strengths when working in groups. I saw teamwork, cooperating with others to contribute to the achievement of group goals, group discussions, reflecting on past experiences and guiding one another. This represent successful learning, not only does this technique allow students to devise their own thinking methods in regards to working in groups, but it also provides them with strategies they can utilize to help them in the future with communication skills. I believe this teaching method can improve student confidence and ensure in class and out of class relationships …show more content…
If I were to practice focus groups in my classroom literacy program I would make a few alterations. Through observing on placement I have found that the allocation of students in the groups stay the same as they are based on level of academic, which is a great way to help students succeed in their abilities, however I would reinforce regular changes to groups in order to establish new relationships and a mixture of high and low academic students which would allow the students to teach and learn from each other.
Behavior levels with learning levels, I have found that the lower leveled group is a group of boys who do not work well together so you alter this issue I would separate them throughout all the groups in the class and give them slightly different exercises/ worksheets to adapted to their level of ability. This will allow them to work better at a team as they are not being distracted by their friends and also would ensure they don’t feel like they are in the “lower group” and may help her confidence in literacy. As Bf Skinner states “The ideal of behavior is to eliminate coercion, to apply controls by changing the environment in such a way as to reinforce the kind of behavior that benefits everyone” (B.F Skinner 1938) this relates back to ensuring placement of students in groups will enhance the students learning and not
“I think using focus groups during reading and literacy is an effective way of learning as the students can learn and listen to one another” (Quoted by mentor teacher 13.09.16)
There are a significant range of experts and theorist that agree with this quote, teachers are under the assumption that all students will work and learn better in focus groups as they can have discussions, different thinking strategies and learning from each other, Vygotsky argued, "that language is the main tool that promotes thinking, develops reasoning, and supports cultural activities like reading and writing" (Vygotsky 1978). In essence, Vygotsky recognizes that learning always occurs and cannot …show more content…
I consider focus groups being a very successful classroom learning strategy but I also think it can create a few are concerns and issues to student learning.
I believe students can be distracted and not focused during literacy group work, I know this because on my placement rounds I have seen a group of boys partnered together in the low level of academics group displaying no work, no focus on the task and not working together as a team. The task was not completed and the boys didn’t learn or get anything completed during the hour lesson. However the other groups in the class represented fantastic learning strengths when working in groups. I saw teamwork, cooperating with others to contribute to the achievement of group goals, group discussions, reflecting on past experiences and guiding one another. This represent successful learning, not only does this technique allow students to devise their own thinking methods in regards to working in groups, but it also provides them with strategies they can utilize to help them in the future with communication skills. I believe this teaching method can improve student confidence and ensure in class and out of class relationships …show more content…
If I were to practice focus groups in my classroom literacy program I would make a few alterations. Through observing on placement I have found that the allocation of students in the groups stay the same as they are based on level of academic, which is a great way to help students succeed in their abilities, however I would reinforce regular changes to groups in order to establish new relationships and a mixture of high and low academic students which would allow the students to teach and learn from each other.
Behavior levels with learning levels, I have found that the lower leveled group is a group of boys who do not work well together so you alter this issue I would separate them throughout all the groups in the class and give them slightly different exercises/ worksheets to adapted to their level of ability. This will allow them to work better at a team as they are not being distracted by their friends and also would ensure they don’t feel like they are in the “lower group” and may help her confidence in literacy. As Bf Skinner states “The ideal of behavior is to eliminate coercion, to apply controls by changing the environment in such a way as to reinforce the kind of behavior that benefits everyone” (B.F Skinner 1938) this relates back to ensuring placement of students in groups will enhance the students learning and not