2/4/09
I need to understand more
according to author S. J. Kuder, pg 34-36. He said children from upper class families develop language far large vocabulary than from low income families. He also talk about quality interact between high income families and their children, and Im tempted to think that parents from the lower income families have sub standard interaction with their children and they are specislist discipline. Does it mean that children from lower income class are always on misbeh......?I thought most of this children High income families spend most of their time with their nani's and lower income spend most their time with one of the parents. Respect the researcher's findings but I need more clarity on thi issue
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Great question. . . I'm interested in students' thoughts and then I'll share some of my own thinking.
ReplyDeleteI also was thinking about this as we were talking about it. My mother teaches at a private school and daycare so I have had a chance to volunteer there a lot over the past few years. Many students there are from high classified families and then the other 40 percent of the students are either children from low class families or children with special needs. Working there I saw that children in the high classified families were very disobedient and never talked about being with a parent, just a babysitter. I don’t believe that they ever saw their family. When they talked about family it was more of grandparents and babysitters because mom and dad were always at work. I defiantly saw that these children had a less of a language than the lower class families. I believe that it is because what language they knew came primarily from the school and daycare because they played alone at home. These children usually went to daycare until 6pm as well. The low classified families were more family oriented. Usually one of the parents stayed home to take care of the children and these parents are the ones that helped out with the fund raisers and volunteered with the school. These kids were also much better behaved and you could tell by stories that even though they didn’t have the money like other kids at the school, that they grew up in a family home. The children with special needs usually didn’t have much of a parent around either and they picked up everything they knew from the school. The children of lower class and special needs had better language than the higher class children in my opinion. I can see where Kuder gets his idea but I believe that in today’s society he is a little off. This is just what I have seen so correct me if anyone has anything different.
ReplyDeleteI think because lower class families can not afford to spend a lot of time away from home for entertainment purposes than the more upper class people the children are more able to pick up on and advance their vocabulary at an advanced rate.
ReplyDeleteI think it also has to do with the parents involvement in their childrens lives and education. Language starts off in the home from the very beginning. Yes upper class families may have the money for more advanced resources to educate their children doesn't mean that they are going to have exceptional vocabulary. They may have differences like any other child no matter what there socio economic status. I think any parent can give there child an extended vocabulary if they are willing to find resources and are willing to be involved in their language development. The library is a great way to expand a child's vocabulary, from starting off reading to a child to having them read to you, and keep challenging them. Most public libraries don't have a fee to get a library card and if there is a fee it's usually less than five dollars to open an account. Taking children to the park to play with other children encourages new language and communication between different families. It helps in the growing and development of children. But I really do think the parent's involvement, no matter how much money they make or don't make can help influence their children's language and vocabulary. I don't know if this helped at all, but it's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience in the classroom I've found that both low income and high income children can be on both ends of the spectrum. There have been cases in our school system where a child from a very wealthy family had a very hard time communicating because they were raised in an environment where they spent the majority of their time playing alone. On the other hand a child from a much lower income family tested very high in vocabulary and comprehension, not because their parents spent more time with them, but instead this student had learned so much from movies and video games it was amazing, they communicated on a very high level but faltered in other areas. I tend to lean toward the idea that you can't judge a child's potential on where they come from, but instead on each child's will to acheive and learn.
ReplyDeleteThe old saying, "You can't judge a book by it's cover!" I think this says it all.
ReplyDeleteI completed student teaching at the Burrier Child Development Center in 2005. The children who attend there are usually professors children or professionals children. Some of the children had high vocabulary, some did not.
I also worked at Countryside Day Care Center in Danville, Ky for two years. Many of these children were from lower income families such as those who received "Day Care Assistance". Many of these children were left at the center all day long (6:00 a.m.-6:00p.m.). Some of the children had a large vocabulary, some did not.
I now work through the Lincoln County Board of Education as a Substitute Teacher. These children are from mixed backgrounds. Some have large vocabularies, some don't.
Through MY experiences it does not matter whether the family has money. It matters whether the parentgs are willing to work with their children to expand their vocabulary.
I do believe that the more educated the parent is the more educated the child will be. This also includes those parents who try to find resources for their children not just their educational background.
I think it really doesnt matter how wealthy or poor you are, it wont show how smart or below the average you are... The thing i think that really affects this is what the good Lord above has planned for you... I feel if you are below the average it might just be a test he has put in front of you to see how you will handle it.. Then if you are above average, it could still be a test for you because he is going to see how you will use your knowledge for the better, and not be lazy and not use your brain..
ReplyDeleteI do not think that being poor plays a large role in an individuals success and learning. Yes, with money you are able to buy certain items to help and maybe get your child into a better school. I believe it is truly from the school and the parents. If a parent is willing to help their child succeed and read to them and help them with their school work outside of class then that parent is setting up that student for success. I have been able to do many hours of observation and mentoring where I have seen children whos parents decicate much of their time to their childs learning and it truly shows. I also have seen parents lack of care for their childs success, they believe that the school should teach it all. They are wrong, the school does in fact teach the child but there are many aspects outside of school that the child needs to learn. I also believe that most parents that are wealthy and have all this money spend a lot of time in most cases at work; therefore, leaving little time to help their children at home in learning. Parents should motivate their children and expand their learning also at home. Money is just an object and a material and I think those who come from poor families know this to be true, that it is their will and their parents that got them to where they are. Its not the money that did it!
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that wealthy families and poor families impact the childs education, but only ever so slightly. I do not feel that this had the greatest impact on a childs vocabulary or on their education. Yes it is steyotyped that wealthier families do not spend as much time with their children becasue of work, which may happen in some cases but not all. Also, poorer families may not have had the opportunity to go to college to recieve the higher education which could impact their childs vocabulary, but I think when it comes down to it, the greatest impact on a childs education is the home life. My mom has been a teacher for 27 years and when helping her grade papers, you could always tell which parents checked their childs homework or helped them study for their tests. I don't think that wealth matters, but rather interaction. If the parents talk to the children about their day or even about their friends or interests, then this will promote a higher vocabulary in the child. In order for a child to appreciate education, they have to have parents that care about their grades, their homework, and their activities. If a child is constantly being checked on at home and at school, then I feel that their value for education will increase and so will what they get out of school. If children interact with parents and siblings at home, then this will have the greatest impact on their education, not whether their parents are rich or poor.
ReplyDelete