101.0001Chapter2Syntheses

Below are our class's syntheses of the answers to the questions in Chapter 2 of //The Joy of Teaching// (2008) by Hall, Quinn, and Gollnick:

1. How racially and ethnically diverse are our schools? In The Joy of Teaching by Gene Hall, Linda Quinn and Donna Gollnick, the authors describe the challenges of teaching to a racially and ethnically diverse classroom. America has a multitude of racially and ethnically diverse groups, including African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, European Americans, Latinos and Multiracial Americans. Students of color are more concentrated in the western and southern states, while the Midwest and northeast are significantly less racially diverse. Most teachers belong to the majority race, which can cause difficulty relating to students from minority cultures. Teachers have the responsibility to develop lessons that engage all groups of students, regardless of cultural background and enable them to absorb all necessary information. Students, especially students of color and minorities, may feel pressure from their families, their peers and society to behave in certain ways. Teachers should not create additional pressures, and should instead allow students to define their own identity. Teachers in American public education should adapt their curriculum and lesson plans to cater to the needs of a growing diverse student population.  4. What should teachers know about English language learners?

In the textbook the Joy of Teaching, the authors Hall, Quinn, and Gollnick discuss what teachers need to know and be aware of when they are teaching English language learners. There are 48 million Americans who speak a language other than English at home (70). "In large cities within the United States there are more than 100 different languages spoken" (86). Teachers need to be aware that these students come from many various cultures and countries; they are very diverse people. Teachers need to be aware of this so they are able to work with their curriculum and help these students to meet their needs. Teachers must find out where students stand in terms of education and English speaking and work from there. Understanding a student’s culture and how well they speak English and any other language is important when instructing English language learners.

5. What are the religions of students? In chapter 2 of The Joy of Teaching, Hall discusses religion I the classroom. Students come from different backgrounds and have different religious beliefs and practices. To some students their beliefs are very important and sensitive, yet to other students it is not of any concern. For teachers, they have to be cautious about discriminating against beliefs of any students and be sure not to push their own beliefs onto those they are teaching.

2. How does socioeconomic status (SES) affect students?

In the //Joy of Teaching//, chapter 2 explains how socioeconomic status plays a large factor in their educational career. Students can be distinguished by their family's income and wealth which lead to differential economic, social, and political resources. Students with low income families are at disadvantage and are often faced with the trouble lacking healthcare, dental care and can be eligible for free or reduced lunch. Additionally, students who come from impoverished environments do not have the health and motivation to attend school and give their fullest effort. Middle class students typically have a stable home with educational expectations coming from their families. Parents are also more likely to be involved with their child’s school and education. Families with high incomes have the opportunity to send their children to private schools and contribute funds to school. Their children have easier access to technology and are also capable of hiring tutors if needed. Participating in academic summer camps is another option upper class families can give their children. Students from lower income families are offered the same opportunities as students who come from middle to high income families in their educational careers. However, students from lower income families have more challenges to overcome in their home lives in order to focus on their educational careers.

3. How does gender influence students?

__The Joy of Teaching,__ by Gene Hall, Linda Quinn and Donna Gollneck, states that gender directly influences students in education. Tests show that girls are generally better at english, while boys are generally better at classes in science and math fields. Girls are shown to be more inductive whereas boys are more deductive. From a physical standpoint, it is expected that girls sit still in class, while boys are stimulated by movement. Gender stereotyping negatively affect students because it creates boundaries and a non-friendly learning environment. It is becoming easier for students to branch out as individuals and not as part of a gender-based group. - In the book __The Joy of Teaching__, Hall talks about gender discrimination/ stereotyping in the school environment. Males and females have no difference in level of intelligence, but due to biology often males and females excel or favor different skills attributed to different hemispheres of the brain. It is understood that female students will generally excel greater in language arts, reading, writing and speech while males will generally excel greater in math, science and testing. These stereotypes are supported by biology; however every individual is different and will conform or not conform to these stereotypes accordingly. Students (especially young students) feel pressured to live up to these standards by their society. Schools reinforce culture's view on gender by supporting how females are expected to be feminine and males are expected to be masculine; for example it is considered the norm for girls to be quite and respectful while boys are loud and disruptive. Currently, the roles of genders are mixing, females are encouraged to be more outgoing and hold the same jobs as males, which once was unheard of; however, as males attempt to exhibit more feminine traits, society is critiquing this as an unacceptable quality for a man to hold. Teachers are expected to treat all individuals equally and encourage all of them to succeed regardless of whether a student exhibits masculine or feminine characteristics regardless of their gender.