chapter 7

Chapter 2

One of the most cited theories of human development is that of Swiss biologist Jean Piaget.  After reading about Piaget’s basic assumptions (p. 27-32) look with particular attention at the stage of child development you would like to teach.  How might you accommodate those students who have not yet developed to this stage?

Piagets' preoperational stage is said to emerge at about age 2. Language rapidly expands, pretend play occurs, and intutitve thought is present. Piaget also suggest that knowledge is constructed not absorbed. If a child has not reached this stage, one could practice vocabulary words with the child. intentionally point objects out a say the word. This will help the child construct their own understanding.

The other most cited theory of human development belongs to Russian developmentalist Lev Vygotsky.  Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development leads us to expect greater diversity among our same-aged students than Piaget.  Create a compare and contrast chart or a mind map that examines these two influential theorists’ ideas on cognitive development.

Theories in educational psychology promote the idea that language plays a critical role in cognitive development.  Examine Table 2.2 (p. 51), paying particular attention to the age range that you are interested in teaching.  Consider how you might incorporate or adapt the strategies presented for use with your own students.

I want to teach special education in a high school setting. It is possible that my students have not developed some or any of these stages.I will examine each need on a case by case basis. To improve these stages I could read storybooks, parts of speech, introduce new vocabulary, or distinguish abstract words. These are just a few of the suggestions the book gives for each stage.