Autumn Tamlyn

What are the benefits of learning a second language? Throughout the beginning of the twentieth century, the idea that learning a second language at an early age confuses children and hinders their cognitive development was the primary belief. However, new studies have shown that this common misconception is actually the opposite of the truth . Now, linguistics, psychologists, and educators all agree that second language acquisition, or the learning of a second language, improves cognitive development by enhancing abstract thinking, cognitive creativity, cognitive flexibility, and memory retention. The most recent studies have shown that the enhancement of creative thinking allows individuals to create solutions that they otherwise would not have thought of which leads to more complex problems solving abilities. Students who learn a second language also have been found to be better listeners and have a greater ability to concentrate. All of these benefits are acquired duri...

During elementary school it is common for parents to be involved in many aspects of their child's learning since their children are at a more dependent age. Unfortunately, as students move into middle school the amount of parent involvement tends to decrease because student's are becoming more self-sufficient and independent. However, it is crucial to maintain a high level of parent involvement during this transition, and throughout middle school, to insure that students are receiving the supervision and support needed for them to be successful and engaged students. Joyce Epstein is the director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at John Hopkins University where she received her doctorate degree in Sociology and is currently the principal research scientist and a professor of Sociology. Epstein developed a framework for Six types of parent involvement. In this blog I am going to discuss two these six types by analyzing their key benefits, the chall...

For my Adolescent Development placement I am working with a conversation partner through the Saint Michael's College Intensive Language Program. My conversation partner is a young man from Columbia who currently lives with his mother in Middlebury, VT. He is a level one in the Intensive Language Program and is taking classes in the areas of reading, writing, and speaking. My conversation partner and I meet twice a week, once in a more professional setting during one of his  classes and once in a more relaxed setting, usually for lunch. During our in class meeting I am there to support him with his class work and to be someone he can have conversations with to help improve his speaking. Typically we play word or question games to reach a wide variety of topics and vocabulary. When my conversation partner and I meet for lunch we will often talk about how our weeks have been, our likes and dislikes, differences in our cultures, traveling, or any other topic of interest. I am really...

Lev Vygotsky is a psychologist who is most famous for his theory of cognitive development. Vygotsky believes that a child's development is influenced by both their surrounding environment and their social experiences. I agree with Vygotsky's view of development because I think he places an appropriate amount of importance on how a child's development is affected by their learning atmosphere and their social interactions. Jean Piaget, another well know psychologist who focused on cognitive development, would disagree with Vygotsky. Piaget believes that cognitive development is strictly biological and is not influenced by experience or environment. For me, Piaget's theory of development is too limiting and disregards the effect that a safe environment or an influential teacher might have on a child's development.  Vygotsky believes that teachers play a significant role during a child's cognitive development. As a future teacher, I agree with Vygotsky's vi...

“The quality of the relationship between teachers and students is the single most important aspect of middle level education.” - Van Hoose (1991, 7) For adolescents, middle school can be a time of confusion, stress, embarrassment, and isolation. As educators, it is our responsibility to create an environment where each student has a strong and caring relationship with a superior in order to reduce or eliminate these negative aspects from their middle school experience. As said by Van Hoose, "The quality of the relationship between teachers and students is the single most important aspect of middle level education." A supportive and trusting relationship with an advisor can be the key to success for a middle school student. How can we insure that each and every student has access to and attains this critical relationship? And why are teaming and advisory programs such an essential piece? In their article, Organizational Structures that Support Meaningful Relationship...

One piece of the Adolescent Development class that I am taking this semester includes reading three young adult books with our PLC groups. The first book my PLC group chose was  Eleanor & Park  by Rainbow Rowell. Eleanor & Park  is a book about the relationship between two teenagers as they are facing the stresses and realities of high school. Rowell cleverly intertwines their two stories, bringing the reader to understand the complexities of their upbringings and how these upbringings have affected them mentally and emotionally. Eleanor lives with her mother, younger siblings, and her physically abusive, alcoholic stepfather. In a very low income house Eleanor constantly lives on the edge, trying to avoid her step father at all costs. Just down the street Park lives in a healthier environment with his parents and his younger brother. Between the combined experiences of the two teenagers, this book provides windows and mirrors for each reader making it easy ...