Double Entry Journal #9

Link to article:

It is important for linguistically diverse students to use a language they feel most comfortable with. It aids in students remembering more of what they learned and become linguistically savvy. Primary language support is a reinforcement of the validity of students’ language, self-esteem booster, stress reducer, and sets the stage for a positive education experience.

 Students with an Appalachian dialect are also encouraged to speak in their dialect. Students should be encouraged to make meaningful connections between their lives and school experiences. Their academic performance is heightened and students are encouraged to use what they know to acquire new knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

 Below is a table that compares and contrasts Teacher vs. Learner-Centered Instruction. I found it on a website with no other information except the table. So, I have included the link.

Teacher vs. Learner-Centered Instruction

Teacher-Centered	Learner-Centered
Focus is on instructor	Focus is on both students and instructor
Focus is on language forms and structures (what the instructor knows about the language)	Focus is on language use in typical situations (how students will use the language)
Instructor talks; students listen	Instructor models; students interact with instructor and one another
Students work alone	Students work in pairs, in groups, or alone depending on the purpose of the activity
Instructor monitors and corrects every student utterance	Students talk without constant instructor monitoring; instructor provides feedback/correction when questions arise
Instructor answers students’ questions about language	Students answer each other’s questions, using instructor as an information resource
Instructor chooses topics	Students have some choice of topics
Instructor evaluates student learning	Students evaluate their own learning; instructor also evaluates
Classroom is quiet	Classroom is often noisy and busy

Related source:

I found a website with resources for K-12 from the Appalachian Studies Association. I never knew there was such a thing!

Source:

"A Resource Directory for Teaching Appalachian Topics." Appalachian Studies Association (2005): n. pag. Appalachian Studies Association. Web. 23 Sep 2011. <http://www.appalachianstudies.org/resources/K12/index.php>.