“Adolescence as a sample case for understanding plasticity and diversity in development.”
Scientist says that,” Developmental plasticity is a general term referring to changes in neural connections during development as a result of environmental interactions as well as the changes induced by learning”. Continue reading “Plasticity and neuroscience”
MVP # 3 Pawan
Freedom and Independence
“Messages children receive in school that Stress the importance of personal freedom and independence are likely to conflict with the hierarchical structures that characterize parent-child relations in many immigrant families.” Adolescents from Immigrant Families. P-55
Yes it is true because youth learn faster and adapt quickly new culture than their parents. As a typical Asian parent, I always spend a couple of hours discussing about their activities with my 11th and 4th grader sons. I encourage and motivate them to be respectful in your family and society. You are free to do whatever you want but never forget your duties. Duties always come before your rights. If you respect others rights and freedom then they will respect yours. This definition of freedom and feeling of independence makes more responsible and motivate them. We are always worried about these things. We never allow them total freedom before maturity. We believe they need some guidance, that doesn’t mean we are against their freedom. We are just trying to aware them and remind their duties towards their family and community. All the parents want these qualities in their kids, may be our approach is different.
MVP # 2 pawan
“Gaining understanding……………………………….. academic and social success” page 154
There is no doubt that the social and cultural forces impact on their behaviors, attitude and in learning environment. We need to understand especially those students having different cultural backgrounds with different social identities. Basically, when we as a teacher dealing with adolescents, it is not easy to predict their behavior and attitude because it influences even by a small incident of their day to day life and that will reflect in their classroom activities. Learning is collective effort of students and teacher together in the classroom. The most important responsibility of teacher is how he/she socialized students among their peers. Creating positive teaching environment is one of the major responsibilities of the teacher, so student feels comfortable to build up their understanding on their positive comments, feelings and thoughts. As Dewey said, “learning is active. It involves organic assimilation starting from within. It is he and not the subject matter which determines both quality and quantity of learning.” Page 150.
“The findings from a substantial and diverse body of research provide strong evidence that shows that parent–child relationship quality during adolescence is predictive of students’ academic, behavioral, and emotional health” (Catalano et al., 2004; Cause, Stewart, Rodriguez, Cochran, & Ginzler, 2003; Murray, in press; Richman, Rosenfeld, & Bowen, 1998; Wolley & Bowen, 2007).
I believe that the students should be inside the triangular line of parents, teachers and school administration. If parents were involved in academic lives, because of their emotional attachment, it is easy to push them to achieve their academic achievements. “Empower parents by providing them with real and sustained opportunities to be involved in the assessment, placement, and planning process, and by providing them with opportunities to serve as advocates for their children. “Murray and Naranjo, (P-156). Last year I worked at P.S 56 as a tutor of America Reads and I found healthy involvements of parents in almost all the activities. I realized because of that there were almost no behavioral and attitudinal problems, all the students are respectful and positive. They build a community of each class with parents, students and teachers. So they could monitor their entire activities.They know each other and share their problems with each other and solve them together. “Spirit of enquiry and excellence that I hope will stay alive in their hearts. It modeled a vision of culture founded in respect. It expanded the notion of excellence to include excellence as a human being- being the kind of person who will be a credit to our society”. An Ethic of Excellence by Ron Berger. (p- 62).