Top 10 project
As I went through school, being the eldest, I set the “Waybrant” standards for the teacher’s in my high school. I was a good student, never spoke out of turn, finished my homework and assignments on time, and put effort into my school work. Now, as my two younger brothers go through high and having most of the same teachers as I did, the teachers are expecting the same devoted student I was. But as they get to know my brothers and see that we are not exactly the same. I remember, my one brother had the same grade nine math teachers as I did and the first thing that teacher asked was “Are you just like Meghan, a hardworking student?” My brother just looked at him and said “Hmmm....No.”
Here is a cartoon where the “girl” swan is saying the
other:
“Well you walk like a duck, you quack like a
duck....May I ask who brought you up?”
From the
website
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/cga/lowres/cgan1299l.jpg
This
brings up the age old question “Nature versus Nurture.”
Are we born with our personalities, quirks, and mind-sets, or are we
a blank slate and who we become is determined by the environment we
live in. This debate has fantasized people for many years, and it has
gone from one side of the spectrum to the other
For example, a student in the beginning might not be
good at solving math problems, but there is something innate that
wants them to be good at solving the problems. The student is drawn
towards these problems and practices them until they improve.
As
a teacher we have to think that every student has that innate ability
to want to learn and wants to get good at everything that they are
learning about (Hannink, 2007). This
is actually called “Nature via Nurture,” where “nurture
depends on genes and genes need nurture” (Ridley,
2003). Knowing this as a teacher, our students need the genes
to succeed, but we need to nurture those genes so the student can
succeed (Ridley, 2003).
We also
know that females are more influenced by environmental
factors (Greenspan & Salmon, 1995).
When we are teaching female students, we know that if females have
good experiences with math, science, English, etc. then they will be
more drawn towards those subjects. However if they had a bad
experience with a particular subject such as algebra, then the female
students will be affected and probably not like algebra. While males
are more affected by genetic factors (Greenspan
& Salmon, 1995), so if a male student has a gene where
they want to learn about a particular subject such as the geography
of Canada they will be more drawn to that subject.
When we
are teaching students, we should use the idea of “Nature via
Nurture.” The idea where we believe that each student can be
nurture, taught, everything they need to know in life, but as well,
have the genes to want to learn, and want to be nurtured. Also, not
just believe in one side of this debate, looked to both sides.
Please refer to these videos for more information on
Nature vs. Nurture:
Bryner, J. (2006, July 19). Live Science. Retrieved March 17, 2009, from Nature vs. Nurture: Myteries of Individuality Unraveled: http://www.livescience.com/health/060718_nature_nurture.html
Dr. Pinker, S. (2002, November 9). The Blank Slate -Nature vs. Nurture. (B. McDonald, Interviewer)
Greenspan, S. I., & Salmon, J. (1995). Challenging Child: How to Understand, Raise, and Enjoy Your "Difficult Child". Perseus Books Group, Inc.
Hannink, N. (2007, October 4). The Science of Everything COSMOS. Retrieved March 17, 2009, from On nature vs nurture: http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/online/1634/on-nature-vs-nurture
Ridley, M. (2003, May 10). Nautre Via Nurture. (B. McDonald, Interviewer)
The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. (2009). Chile Care Aware. Retrieved March 14, 2009, from New Research on Brain Development is Imporant for Parents: http://www.childcareaware.org/en/subscriptions/dailyparent/volume.php?id=1
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