Test Questions

Since we have already taken our test, I would say it would be safe to talk about some of the questions that were on it. I didn't do good on question #9, did anyone else have problems with it? It was about the Hart & Risley study.

I also missed last weeks class, my son was sick with a stomach virus. If anyone could, please let me know what I missed? I will check the other blog, too, just in case. Thanks!

I was absent on Wednesday

I was absent last week because my son was very ill. I would also appreciate it if someone filled me in.. I had to miss all my classes last week so I am far behind in everything :(

One more thing! I had to leave class early on wed. due to a meeting, can someone help me out on the things i missed!

First Test

Hey Guys, I was just wondering if everyone did well on the test. I tried really hard and ended up with a 41/50, which averages to about a 82 but thats still not wonderful. I was just wanting some feedback on everyone elses first test experience. Thanks!

MLU Discussion from 8.24.08

In all retrospect, I have been trying to figure out all week how get'em was an included part of the language analysis we did. I understand how contractions are counted, but I do not see how get'em can be counted. How can it be counted when it is more of a slangterm than anthing? Even when analyizing a child's language does slang count? Does anyone have an idea to help me figure out how to count this word?

SCEC

This past Tuesday, I went to my first SCEC (Student Council for Exceptional Children) meeting and joined as a member. I have always wanted to join SCEC, but the meetings were always during my class times. This year, I was able to join! When I went to the meeting though, I was surprised to see only about 10-15 people there! There are so many education majors here at EKU, and I expected to see the room filled up. All that the SCEC asks for is that you have a love for exceptional children, as I think all of us do. So if you are interested in joining a group of students who share a love for exceptional children and want to help support them, then please consider joining this group. The officers were very nice, and they discussed fundraisers that they would like us to participate in to raise money for exceptional children. We are currently selling wrapping paper and other holiday items from a book to raise money. If you are a commuter student like I am, I know how difficult it is when you want to participate in a group, but you are never on campus when they meet or do things! The SCEC only meets once a month, so it won't take a lot of your time. This group supports a great cause...so if you are looking for a group to join or just want to be able to help children, please consider joining SCEC. I am really happy I did!

Class Tonight, September 24

Alright guys and gals, as you already know I wasnt there tonight. So, I could use some help here...what did we go over tonight? Give me all the good details...I talked to Mrs. White and she said that some of the stuff would be on the language analysis assignment...other than all that jazz, how was class tonight?

Pragmatic Skills - Like the Blog????

If one of the pragmatic skills is "maintaining the topic" how can that be similar to "conversation skills" on a blog?

When a person posts a comment is this the same as starting a conversation? How can one maintain the topic by posting a COMMENT rather than starting ANOTHER conversation with the exact same topic?

How can we create CONVERSATIONS on the blog to DISCUSS ideas back and forth, building on one another's ideas, actually demonstrating acknowledgement of other's ideas?

Challenge for the week as we conclude blogging for the month. Posts that demonstrate the pragmatic skills such as turn taking and conversation skills we've addressed in class.

last wed. night

So, I was really glad about last weeks class. I feel like I really learned a lot more by being in groups then I would have doing it on my own. All of the input that everyone put in was also very helpful:D 

Test Questions

I realize I have made the test an online test and give you the opportunity to access it multiple times. I also realize I've said you're welcome to study together. However, I do not want test questions posted on the blog, nor students explaining to one another what THEY believe a question MAY mean and giving EXAMPLES of ANSWERS to use.

You are MORE THAN WELCOME to email or call me and ask these questions and I will try to give you some guidance with questions.

wed nights class

Wed. nights class I thought was great. I really liked how we got in small groups and worked to figure out the answers. I think this helped me understand things better and I hope that we do this more often. P.S. everyone good luck on your tests.

Class

I enjoyed class last night too. I just find it rather hard to distinguish which experiences in each model. For example we as groups came up with a different model for each video clip. Some where easier than others, but it's your opinion or what you see as a person that your seeing occur.

Class Tonight

I really enjoyed how class was conducted tonight. I feel like I took in the information better, because we were actually having to look for it, watch videos, and come up with our own thoughts on the topics. Being lectured to is ok...but it can get rather boring, especially with such a long class. I felt more intrigued in the topic, because I knew I would have to talk about and do my part for the smaller groups of four. We taught each other about our topics and ourselves which kept my attention. I think that we should have more lessons taught in this way or similar to tonights class. Anyone agree?

Repeating Vocalization

When an infant is just learning should I say vocabulary they really just repeat what your teaching them. I'm sure they know your their mom or not but it's bascially what you want them to say. I feel it's later in their months that they fully develop the meaning of things.

Tomorrow's Class - the 17th

Tomorrow night we will be continuing our thingking about how children develop language. We will look specifically at acquisition - how do babies, children acquire language.

We will be watching more (different) video clips. You will be working in small groups. You will need to have your books with you in your groups for reference. Please bring them to class. I would strongly encourage you to look over the material on Blackboard or at least highlight the major ideas in the book prior to class time in order to maximize your ability to participate in the small group activities.

Each group will be PRESENTING out to the large group after the class has watched several clips.

I look forward to what YOU will be TEACHING all of us as we continue to work with this interesting material.

Bonus Points

I think that for those of us who keep up with this blog and who post more than four times, should get some bonus points.
Lets have a debate about it. I am sure all agree now if we all sign this patition i am sure that the teacher will give us all bonus points.:}

Repeated Vocalization vs. Intentional Word Production

As we REFLECT on Wednesday night's class and prepare for our upcoming class . . . share some some thoughts on when babies, toddlers or children repeat sounds and words and may NOT have any cognition of the MEANING of what they are saying. Can you think of other times when they may produce sounds or words INTENTIONALLY to communicate a meaning.

Thoughts on the difference between these two situations?

Class

I am so glad we reviewed what we learned last week, last night that helped me so much and I thought that class yesterday was very interesting. I enjoyed watching the videos and I felt like I understood what we were talking about by reviewing.
ps the popcorn girl was my favorite too

Which movie was your Favorite?

I really enjoyed the movies about the kids in class yesterday. I was wondering what everyone else thought was the best movie.
Personally i like the girl and the popcorn the best although all were good.
Lets hear from you guys.

Infants

I have a 7 mth old who is blabing, but I think it just depends on the child and what communication they have with those around them. I had a friend who's 2 year old wouldn't say much. My four year old was talking by 1. I talk alot so I guess he learned from me. I talked to him all the time day till night whether it be about things going on or just how our day went. So keep it up making them talk to you and hopefully they'll come around.

Infant language

Since this is a language course, I was wondering if anyone knew at what age infants begin to talk? I have a baby cousin who is 1 yr and a half old. She says a few words, but is quiet, nods her head, or just mumbles most of the time. I've been trying to speak to her a lot recently and ask her questions, and the other day she surprised me with a response of "I don't know". I asked her the question again just to see if I was imagining things or if she really said three words, and she did :-) So I was just wondering if anyone who has been around babies knows what age infants begin to increase their spoken vocabulary, and if there is anything I can do to help her with the process? Thanks!

Drop Outs..

Speaking of drop outs and the rates.. did you guys read about the teenage boy who dropped out of high school to play guitar hero? WOW.. I couldn't imagine..

Wed. Nights class

Wed. nights class was very interesting for me atleast. I have never really talked about this subject in depth and really it is kind of new to me. I was a bit confused when we started, but once we talked about it, it became very easy to understand. I am still very interested in this class and hope to keep learning new things each week.

Kentucky State Drop Out Rate

Last night in class Monica asked me about our state's drop out rate. She had been told that it was 50%. It is often that people confuse numbers or statistics.

The state drop out rate was 3.31% in 2005-2006. The data is always a year or so behind as we collect it and make it available.

I would encourage you to take a look at this page that gives you various FACTS about education in KY such as how many schools, districts, teachers, average salary, graduation rate, transition rate after high school, etc.

http://education.ky.gov/KDE/HomePageRepository/News+Room/Kentucky+Education+Facts.htm

Exit Slips

Thanks for the great info on the exit slips! We will do a "What We Remember" activity to begin next week and I will review the concepts we covered last night in class. Remember last night was your INTRODUCTION to these concepts - laying a foundation. We will be building on your knowledge and understanding of these concepts throughout the entire semester.

Feel free to post ideas about what helps you remember things about each of these concepts here, questions you have about phonemes, morphemes, or the big three - - - syntax, semantics and pragmatics here.

I've also posted a link on phonemes that has some games that you might want to take 10 minutes and just click through - especially those who put on their exit slip this is a concept you want to review. Just think about SOUNDS letters or groups of letters make and play a few of these games.

Looking forward to your questions and watching your understanding grow! You're off to a terrific start.

About this Blog Stuff..

So I must be behind the curve becuase I still have a question about the grading.. I figured I'd blog it rather than ask in class just to have another blog under my belt.. The question is that if we "comment" on other people's blog, does that count as one of the 4 for the month?? Thanks!!

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (Non-teaching)

Okay, so I have done some research on different majors and I think that Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education non-teaching is for me. My previous major was LBD with an emphasis in elem. ed. and i was dreading teaching rather than getting excited about it. Like I said before I wanted to go more toward the health aspect of special education without having to be in school for a long time. The research that I did said that with this major I could work in hospitals or rehabilitation facilities and that is exactly what I wanted to do. Also, I am working with children birth-5, I love babies and toddlers so I am so excited about my major now!!!!