A Beginning Note on Language Arts

I wasn't surprised to find viewing and visually representing on the list of the 6 language arts. I am a visual learner and therefore appreciate the inclusion of either into any of my classes. During my student teaching I worked to include both on a regular basis. For example, the students watched two film clips to learn about allusions. For me, seeing these two clips made the concept so much easier to understand; for some of my students, they needed a more textual explanation. Everyone learns differently.

I think adding these two new types of language arts show that not only have we made technological progress in the past 50 years, but we have also made progress in our education system. I do not fear that by adding visual and viewing language arts to the list that books will somehow flutter away and our children will only be left with video games representing time old tales (in gruesome and twisted ways). I think that by adding these we have simply broadened children's scope, and allowed for more differentiation. I think the more types of learning that are brought to educators' attention, the better chance we have of catching the children who might have previously fallen between the cracks.

In other news, I am excited to be reading Sahara Special! I was wondering about her mother though; her mother made some derogatory comments to her daughter concerning her intelligence. Sahara seems to think their relationship is fine, but I am wondering if her mother is 100% on her side... I am looking to find out more about that in the next chapter. Other than that, I think the story is smooth and easy to get lost in; teachers always like to here inspirational accounts that leave them feeling that they too can change the world for one little girl or boy : )