Communication Encourages Learning Essay -- Education Teaching Papers

Communication Encourages Learning The classroom needs to be an open forum in which students and teachers are allowed and encouraged to share opinions and experiences. When this communication breaks down the learning environment also fails. I remember being in the first grade and one of the students in our class was trying to say something to the teacher. Obviously this was not a real stimulating conversation as we were only in the first grade. When the student started talking the teacher became irritated and told the student to stop talking. The student tried again to say something to the teacher, at this point the teacher went ballistic yelling and screaming for the class to be quite and not talk. This teacher proceeded to place the student in the corner to punish her, when the student again tried to say something to the teacher, the teacher tied her to her chair and ordered everyone in the room to stay silent. Observing this display had an enormous effect on all the people in that room. We as students felt that we did not have anything of value to say, and therefore should not speak up. We also learned a fear of reactions that may come by expressing what we had to say. Fortunately since this experience I have not encountered another such teacher, and have had teachers who have gone out of their way to encourage class discussion. I think it is also important for teachers to be aware of the games students are playing. My sister and I can both remember being in grade school and playing game like the farmer and the dell, in this game kids stand around in a circle and one student calls other students into the circle to be a part in the song. The problem with this is that the kids who are quite or shy tend to get left out, and ... ...icate is in the classroom, where they spend most of their time. If people can communicate with each other, and have an understanding that not everyone will agree, then they will be much more productive in life. They will be able to get their point across while at the same time hearing another point of view. This skill is imperative to survival in our growing and changing society. WORKS CITED Cheney, Lynne V. "PC: Alive and Entrenched." The Presence of Others. Comp. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruskiewicz. New York: St. Martins, 1997 112-123. Hooks, Bell. "Keeping Close to Home: Class and Education." The Presence of Others. Comp Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruskiewicz. New York: St. Martins, 1997 85-96. Rose, Mike. "Lives on the Boundary." The Presence of Others. Comp. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruskiewicz. New York: St. Martins, 1997 97-111