Teaching Methodologies and Children’s Literature in Education
Disruptive Behavior Management
It is crucial to integrate the specific needs of learning students into the classroom. These students do not require curriculum adaptation or diversification, but rather tailored methodological strategies. This includes:
- Clearly defined daily routines and short activities.
- Simple, achievable goals and clear guidelines.
- Minimizing distractions.
- Assigning a classmate as a behavioral guide.
To improve undesirable behaviors, the following techniques can be employed:
- Positive Reinforcement: Praise good behavior.
- Ignoring undesirable conduct.
- Utilizing the “scratch record technique.”
- Offering rewards for motivation.
- Using charts and visual aids.
- Establishing clear and simple classroom rules.
- Implementing a “Token Economy” system.
Students with learning differences may exhibit low motivation, discouragement, and impulsivity when facing challenges. A “Self-Control Training Program” can empower them to manage their own behavior and develop autonomy.
Children’s Literature in Great Britain and the USA
Children’s literature provides authentic language in context, developing receptive skills. In Great Britain, it has held a significant position, evolving through various periods:
- 15th Century: William Caxton’s books.
- 17th Century: Chapbooks and tales from oral tradition.
- 18th Century: New plots and characters emerged, featuring the common man, such as in Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe) and Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift).
- 19th Century: Notable authors include Charles Dickens (victim child), Lewis Carroll (nonsense literature), Stevenson and Kipling (adventure literature), and Oscar Wilde (Aestheticism).
- 20th Century: A flourishing period with authors like J.M. Barrie, Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne, and J.K. Rowling.
In the USA, children’s literature reflects the country’s history, with key figures like Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin), Mark Twain (Tom Sawyer), Louisa May Alcott (Little Women), L. Frank Baum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), and E.B. White (Charlotte’s Web).
Language Teaching Approaches
Traditional Approach
Derived from classical language instruction, this method focuses on reading literature and mental discipline through vocabulary lists, grammar rules, and paradigms.
Modern Approaches
- Direct Method: Emphasizes oral proficiency through spoken language and conversation.
- Oral Approach: Influenced by British structuralism, it uses various situations for language practice.
- Audiolingual Method: Based on structuralism and behaviorism, it promotes oral proficiency through imitation, repetition, and memorization.
Current Approaches
- Communicative Approach: Focuses on developing communicative competence and contextualizing language.
- Humanistic Approaches: Emphasize the learner as a whole person and prioritize comprehension over production, including methods like Total Physical Response, Natural Approach, Silent Way, Community Language Learning, and Suggestopedia.
- Learner-Centered Approach: Encourages learner autonomy and the development of learning strategies.
- Task-Based Learning: Centers on learning tasks, promoting language use through pair and group activities.
- Bilingualism/Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Integrates language learning with other subjects, fostering both content and language acquisition.