If there is one thing I've learned during my time in teachers college thus far, it's that differentiated learning is a must in modern classrooms...(That and everything should be taught by inquiry for best results). A huge, but understandable weight is put on our shoulders as we are told time and time again that teachers
should strive to meet the individual needs of each of their students.
“Good teachers” wrote Donald Graves, “take a personal interest in their students lives, always looking for signs of what each student wishes to become. They skilfully arrange literacy so that it is the instrument through which students engage in self-exploration. They become fascinated by the stories their children want to tell. Their students know they are valued, independent of their ability" (1). All this sounds well a good, and would be awesome to strive for, but at times can seem a lofty goal.
From what I know about fandom, I think that fandom meets all of these requirements head on. Regardless of your skills, talents or abilities, there is a way to respond to what you read in any form, and all are welcomed and celebrated in fan communities. My main question is how to best bring it into the classroom.
“Good teachers” wrote Donald Graves, “take a personal interest in their students lives, always looking for signs of what each student wishes to become. They skilfully arrange literacy so that it is the instrument through which students engage in self-exploration. They become fascinated by the stories their children want to tell. Their students know they are valued, independent of their ability" (1). All this sounds well a good, and would be awesome to strive for, but at times can seem a lofty goal.
From what I know about fandom, I think that fandom meets all of these requirements head on. Regardless of your skills, talents or abilities, there is a way to respond to what you read in any form, and all are welcomed and celebrated in fan communities. My main question is how to best bring it into the classroom.
Using Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory (2), I will
demonstrate that there is a way to reach every student through fandom,
inadvertently allowing them to apply critical thinking to a topic they are
interested and engaged in, thus promoting and motivating literacy.
I will leave Donald Graves to
summarize this post in one skilful sentence: “I have learned that writing
flourishes when children’s expression is valued in all it’s forms" (1).
You can jump to posts about the various multiple intelligences here:
Sources:
(1) Graves 2004, p 91
(2) Gardiner (1983, 2003, 2009) as cited in Hoy, Winne & Perry, 2016, p. 93.
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