What Tutors Need to Know About Differentiated Instruction

What Tutors Need to Know About Differentiated Instruction Tutors: You Need to Know This About Differentiated Instruction ChaptersDifferentiation of Instruction: What Does That Mean?Coming to a School Near You: Differentiation StrategiesIs Differentiation the Death Knell of Private Tutoring?If you’ve been tutoring for any amount of time; if you, in fact, earn your living as a tutor and especially if you are a teacher who spends evenings and weekends tutoring, you are most likely familiar with the strategies of differentiated learning.Perhaps you didn’t know that what you have been doing all this time actually has a formal name.Teachers in one-room schools have been differentiating learning for centuries but that teaching method did not have a name until Carol Ann Tomlinson, American educator and spearhead of the differentiation initiative so christened it.Now that the concept has been formalised; now that there are seminars and workshops and countless web pages, texts and books detailing the particulars of differentiation and how to differentiate, it is time for tutors to take a look at these techni ques.Together, we’ll examine facets of teaching and learning and differentiating instruction so you can measure what you’ve instinctively known as effective teaching against the learning activities carried out in a differentiated school classroom.Historically, children in the appropriate age range would attend classes in one room, no matter if they were four or 14 years old â€" especially in rural areas.Ireland still has several such schools!The teacher would spend time educating the older, more knowledgeable students, and then the younger and finally the youngest, constantly dividing her time, attention and intellect as equally as possible between all of the groups.No disrespect to male teachers intended; in those days, teachers were almost always female.This practice of addressing students’ learning needs at their levels is the foundation of the differentiated learning philosophy â€" even if, back then, the differentiation was because of age groups rather than ranges of inte llect and scholastic ability.In the early 1900s, education boards initiated standardised testing. That concept was predicated on two beliefs:that all students learn the same way, andthat all students of a given age should have acquired the same amount of knowledge.So, based on those two popular ideas and the practise of teaching to age groups, our public education system was built.Through the bureaucratising of education, another timeless practice flourished: private tutoring.Tutors have been educating on an individualized basis for millennia. Since the time before great scholars such as Plato founded their schools, tutors have been invited into households to educate.What Is most interesting is that, through the passage of thousands of years, teaching strategies have changed dramatically but the methodology of tutoring has not changed significantly.Tutors work with students one to one or in small groupsTutors modify their pedagogy to work with students’ learning styles and interes tsTutors help students develop their thinking skillsTutors help their students formulate learning strategiesTutors create a supportive and engaging learning environmentTutors conduct an ongoing assessment, what is now known as a formative assessment of each studentToday, while schools bear scathing criticism for teaching to the test, private tutors continue their student-centred instructional strategies â€" all while helping their charges gain mastery of subject material in the preparation of said exams.The dichotomy between these two educational practices could not be more pronounced: something has to give!With more and more students calling on private tutors for everything from reading instruction to homework help, the Department for Education can’t help but notice that a change in classroom strategies is far overdue.There may be teachers in your local schools already implementing differentiation techniques! Source: Pixabay Credit: Vector Free ImagesComing to a School Near You: Differentiation StrategiesSchools all across the UK have passionate, knowledgeable teachers on their rolls.In spite of tremendous pressure to show well through their students’ exam scores, they take the time to formulate exceptional lesson plans and maintain an active interest in their students’ lives, both in and out of school.They are mindful of their responsibility toward their professional development while still managing to meet or exceed all of the student achievement targets set forth by our Department for Education.To that end, everything from their lesson plan development to their classroom management is meant to provide their students with a superior learning experience, which invariably leads to student success.Those teachers’ efforts are getting noticed and more educators are emulating them.Could it be possible that a revolution in mainstream education, a license to differentiate instruction given to each educator that could ease the stress and burden our educators labour under today is forthcoming?We’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves...As of yet, there has been no mention of our schools implementing differentiated instruction strategies as a matter of policy. For now, it is up to individual teachers to employ a differentiation strategy in their classes.What that means is that teachers may assign their students group work based on their learning styles.They may assign their gifted students inquiry-based learning projects â€" a more complex exercise meant to challenge them on their intellectual level.Conversely, their kinesthetic learners â€" those who learn best through physical activity may be tasked with project-based learning; building or making something to illustrate the concept at hand.What about students with special learning needs?  For those students, learning activities would target their strengths as well.It’s long been the habit of educators to load their more advanced students with more work â€" not necessarily more challen ging work, just more of it.Meanwhile, those students with special education needs receive external help in various forms but are not necessarily absolved of the work that higher performing students are tasked with.One size does not fit all when it comes to education.Conscientious teachers have always known that this teaching model does not work well. It is these teachers who are changing their teaching methods. They are a shining example of what a teacher can accomplish.How are they doing it?They are clueing into the idea that multiple intelligences impact how a student learns and they are modifying their teaching strategies to address as many of them as they can.The net result is a more inclusive learning environment for every student.But if every student is suddenly able to keep up with his/her schoolwork and student achievement reaches levels before unseen in standardised education, what will be left for tutors to do?As advances are made in teaching methodology, so too must tutor s evolve Source: Pixabay Credit: GeraltIs Differentiation the Death Knell of Private Tutoring?It would be a good bet that you did not become a tutor (or teacher) because it is a particularly lucrative venture.Most likely, you yourself have a passion for learning and wish to impart it to as many other learners as possible. Logically, it follows that you will want to continue to tutor, come what may.However, if, as supposed above, all students have their educational needs met through differentiation, wouldn’t that negate the purpose of private tutoring?When it comes to working with students, individually or in a small group, the possibilities are endless.Far from being mere dispensers of knowledge, tutors wear many hats.Tutors are MentorsSeldom does it happen that a tutor arrives for a learning session and only talks about the lesson at hand.Usually, there is a conversation: about how the student has fared since the last tutoring session, if anything significant has happened to him/ her unrelated to the lesson at hand...Only after a few minutes of putting the student at ease does the tutor broach what new material s/he has been exposed to and his/her understanding of such. After that, the actual review and study begin with the tutor guiding his pupil to optimal learning strategies.Tutors know that external factors can impact a student’s ability to absorb and retain knowledge. That is the reason for these interviews.In the language of differentiation: tutors conduct formative assessments of their pupils.Tutors as ConfidantesStudents may not tell their parents or any of the authority figures at school that they’ve been bullied but there is a good chance they’d confide in their tutor.Conversely, whereas a teacher may not have time to delve into the interests of each student, a tutor makes time to discover what his/her students like and don’t like â€" and then applies that information to lesson planning.In the parlance of differentiated instruction, this is called pre-assessment.Tutors as Academic CoachesAs more teachers jump on the differentiation bandwagon, more tutors are turning toward their fulfiling their role as coaches rather than supplemental teachers.An academic coach focuses on helping students develop their own learning strategies as well as minimising stress. Their techniques range from showing students how to keep their study area and materials organised to planning a study schedule.They also help students develop higher order thinking skills and teach them to conceptualise.Academic coaching is another example of a tutor’s function that is enjoying new attention and focus. And, if differentiated instruction does become the norm in classrooms across the country, coaching may well become a tutor’s primary function!All things considered, you may rest assured that curriculum development tailored to students’ learning processes is not exactly around the corner.That means that your desire to pass on your love of learning will not soon be supplanted by any DfE policy - if it ever could be!On the other hand, as formal education strategies evolve, you too would have to examine your role in students’ learning and perhaps embrace one that, till now, you’ve considered incidental.Nevertheless, all of the roles that tutors play are vital to students’ success â€" so don’t count yourself out too quickly!Now discover Superprof's complete guide to differentiated instruction...

Surprising Ways Music is Good for your Heart

Surprising Ways Music is Good for your Heart Megan L. Most likely, youve felt a song pull on your heartstrings or maybe even felt your heart skip a beat. Countless love songs have been written about the heart, to the point that for many people love and music are beautifully intertwined. Outside of these emotional effects, did you know that playing and listening to music actually has real health benefits for your ticker? Whether youre a musician or a music fan, turn up the tunes and give your  heart some love. A recent study found that listening to music for just 30 minutes a day can lower your blood pressure. Patients with high blood pressure listened to classical music, Celtic music, or Indian ragas for a half hour every day for a month, leading to significant drops in systolic blood pressure, which is the top number when your blood pressure is taken. High systolic blood pressure increases heart disease risk. If you have high blood pressure, you should definitely consult your doctor for treatment options, but remember adding a daily dose of music cant hurt! Perhaps one reason music has the power to lower blood pressure is its natural stress-relieving ability. Music has actually been found more effective than prescription medications at reducing stress in patients before surgery. Next time you find yourself stressing, just take a deep breath and put on your favorite song. De-stressing isnt just good for your heart; taking time to chill out boosts your immune system and helps to clear your head. Musicians enjoy another heart benefit every time they pick up their instruments. Though most instruments are not exactly a workout, playing music does burn calories and it certainly beats eating potato chips on the couch. Drummers see the biggest burn, averaging around 200 calories per hour of playing. Guitarists and other musicians who rock out on their feet can burn from 130 to 200 calories per hour, while seated players only burn about 60 calories. When you are ready for your workout, listening to music pumps you up and increases your stamina. Studies have shown many benefits to adding music to your workout,  and regular exercise is one of the best ways to improve and maintain heart health. Dont forget to bring your iPod the next time you hit the gym! Even if you dont particularly like to exercise, you can at least enjoy your playlist. Now that you know how music is good for your heart, why not find a few more ways to add more music to your day? Here are a few ideas: According to Nielsen, the average American watcesh about 32 hours of television per week. Instead of automatically reaching for the remote, turn on your stereo instead and enjoy the benefits of music! Dont do your chores in silence! Put on your favorite album while you do the dishes or make a playlist you can put on when  you work in the yard. Adding music to your daily tasks will change your mindset and help your heart. Want to play an instrument but you never learned how? Now is always the best time to start music lessons! Learning to play will deepen your appreciation for music and give you a new way to experience your favorite songs. Musicians, do you turn off your cell phone and your computer when youre practicing your instrument? Many people dont, and it can be very difficult to disconnect. Remind  yourself that your emails will still be there later and give yourself at least 30 minutes of play without interruptions from technology. How do you connect with music every day? Let us know in the comments! Megan L. TakeLessons Staff Member and Blogger You might also like 4 Inspirational TED Talks for Musicians 5 Rewarding Ideas for Volunteering With Music How to Expand Your Musical Palette (and Why You Should!) Photo by Ms. Phoenix

Geometry Definitions Tutors

Geometry Definitions Tutors Geometry is a section in Mathematics which deals with different lines, angles and predominantly is the study of various shapes and their measurements. When two or more lines are connected, various kinds of shapes are formed and those shapes are called by different names like squares, rectangles, triangles etc. These geometric shapes have different side lengths, angles areas, volumes etc. and the study of all these measurements is Geometry. Geometry constitutes one of the most important sections in math and its concepts are used most of the time in our daily life. Example 1: Calculate the area of a triangle which has base side of length 5m and height of 4m? Soultion: Triangle is a geometric shape which has 3 sides and 3 angles. The area of the triangle is = 1/2 *(base)* (height) Given: Base length of the triangle, b = 5m Height of the triangle, h = 4m This gives, Area of the triangle, A = 1/2 * 5m * 4m = 10m2. Therefore, area of the given triangle is 10m2 Example 2: Calculate the area of a circle if the radius of the circle is 3m. Solution: In the given question, radius of the circle, r = 3m Area of the circle is given by the formula, Area = * (radius)2 In the above formula, (known as pi) is a constant == Value of = 3.14 Therefore we get, Area of the circle, A = * (3m)2 == Area, A = 9 = 28.3m2 Hence area of the given circle, A = 28.3m2

A Day in the Life at University of California-Berkeley

A Day in the Life at University of California-Berkeley The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Kyler is a San Antonio tutor specializing in History tutoring, Literature tutoring, Philosophy tutoring, and much more. He graduated from University of California-Berkeley in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Political Science. Check out his review of his school: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Kyler:UC Berkeleys campus is situated in the city of Berkeley, an urban environment. The campus is open to the public. It is easy to tell where the Berkeley city begins and the campus ends. This means that students can experience the benefits of an urban setting, like restaurants and housing close by, with public transportation. If youre a biker, Berkeley is the perfect place for you. Students can purchase an Oakland bus pass sticker that is placed on your student ID card, allowing you to use most of the East Bay transit system. The public transportation is quicker than those in other cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, or any other city that lacks adequate public transportation. The longest I waited for a bus was 20-25 minutes. One bus takes you to San Francisco and back. Owning a car is a liability there. People have them, but dealing with parking tickets, lack of parking, extra fees for parking spaces in rentals, etc. is a lifestyle choice youre going to have to get used to. Berkeley has the car share program, Zip Cars, where you can rent a car for however long you want. My friends and I rented the Zip Cars at midnight to do our big shopping, costing each of us $3. Unless you plan to travel to SF or outside of the Bay area, I would not suggest a car. Biking is great, but they are big targets of theft. If you do get a bike, make sure its theft-proofed. UC Berkeley, in my experience and in most of my friends experiences, was a safe place. The campus is safe, and during my time there, nobody was assaulted or robbed while on campus grounds. However, off campus can be a different story. I know that one student was robbed at knife-point just one block away from campus in the morning, and a my friend of mine was assaulted and injured not near the campus, but in the apartment complexes where many students live. Apartments have been broken into, but you can thwart breaking and entering if you place locks appropriately and make sure your most valuable items are with you in a safe place or are insured. You can also rent apartments that have key codes or keys to access them. Try renting rooms in the second or third floors. First floor apartments are easier targets, but I rented a first floor room to myself over the summer and nothing happened to it. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Kyler:Most of my professors, teaching assistants, and graduate school instructors were available. I met with some of my professors regularly. You have to set time aside to attend student hours and arrange times to see your professors and GSI advisors when they are free. Ask questions and show a genuine interest in learning and your professors will remember you. I established relationships with my professors and GSIs by asking questions after class about their previous careers before academia and life in the academy. After graduating, I still email my professors to update them on my status and check up on their work. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Kyler:I lived in transfer housing and it was a great place to make friends. It wasnt like the freshman or sophomore dorms. The transfer housing was more like apartments. I would try to get into transfer housing if you have the money. The rooms were furnished and the place was clean. Unit 2 apartments were expensive, but you got what you paid for. I never had a meal plan, but I know it was expensive to have one. There are plenty of student groups on campus and plenty of organizations off campus. I was involved in the choral groups at Cal and made many friends through my involvement. In my experience, it was difficult to make friends just around campus unless there was some event going on where you could make connections and relate with others. My activities centered around the campus, but after graduating, I can now say I wouldve spent more time searching for opportunities outside of the campus. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Kyler:Any program that receives federal or private funds from companies or foundations is well supported. With the budget cuts, some majors like Ethnic Studies have been reduced. It really depends on your major. Call the program and ask them if they have had their budgets restricted. I majored in Political Science because I wanted to take courses in international relations and political theory. Since federal foundations and endowments recognize Political Science as a science, they receive money that other hard sciences like Biology, Computer Science, and Engineering receive. The Political Science department had two amazing counselors that provided us updates on research and employment opportunities and events related to political science. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Kyler:I was not a freshman at this school. There is Greek life, but it does not play a big role from what I witnessed. Professional groups for business, science, politics, etc. played a greater role because this was a way for students to network and gain skills in their desired field. When I got involved in the choral groups, it was easier to make friends. Just get out there and join groups that interest you. Try to make time to study and hang out with friends while you study. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Kyler:Like anything else, if you put more effort into something, youll get more out of it. In addition to this, if you know what youre looking for and are prepared with the right questions, the Career Center can be an amazing resource. When I did use the services, the Career Center provided me materials to look into careers, recommendation letter service, job postings, and career counseling. The career counselors I had helped me focus my career search and career path. They also gave me some UC Berkeley alumni to contact about career advice and informational interviews, which could have led to possible internships or employment if I had followed it up. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Kyler:Any library at Cal is a perfect place to study. Be sure to keep your stuff close or study with a friend. The transfer housing had study and meeting rooms which were great places to study with friends. The meeting rooms in the housing were also close to your room. Any of these places will get crowded, especially during midterms or finals, so go early or ask friends to help save a spot for you. It depends on your preferences. Memorial Glade, a large green space in the middle of the campus, was a great place to study and be outdoors at the same time. Some of the buildings where classes were held were also great places to study. Tour the buildings and find what works best for you. Look for outlets to charge your laptop as well. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Kyler:What you get out of Berkeley and Cal depends on you. If you get involved in the campus and in organizations within Berkeley, Oakland, or San Francisco, then youll have a great time. There are bars, but not many right next to the campus, so youll have to walk to downtown Berkeley or venture out more to find them. They are also expensive. It is a lot cheaper to visit Greek Row or have events at your friends places. COOP housing is always a great place to get cheap and free fun. Berkeley can provide a lot of entertainment, but also gets quiet around midterms and finals. There is the Greek theater for concerts, football games, and plenty of great restaurants around the campus. Know what you like and look for it, and it will be there. Downtown Berkeley is not that long of a walk from the campus, but students visited it regularly. Telegraph is the main street tourists and students congregate. When you mention downtown most students thought of Oakland or San Francisco which are only a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) or bus ride away. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Kyler:UC Berkeley is an internationally recognized school and a part of the UC System; its classes are going to be large, especially general education classes for freshmen and sophomores. When you start taking classes in your major, class sizes shrink, but shouldnt stop you from connecting with your professor. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Kyler: American Cultures class Poli Sci 111, a requirement for every student at Cal, transformed my worldview of my place in American culture, country, and the world. The class and the professor motivated me to pursue a career in conflict resolution and to discover my background and my place in my society. In the class, we discussed topics that primary education (K-12) did not cover, like minority self-determination, labor rights, pioneer mentality, the immigrant experience, and participatory democracy. One theme that I adhere to today is the concept of the rhetoric of opposites. The concept describes Americans response to conflict, difference, and others, how we continue to teach this method in our pop culture, literature, and politics, and the conflict that this method produces. This lecture class motivated me to pursue training in conflict resolution, facilitation, and democratic decision making. Helping communities resolve their conflicts and find a just solution for all parties became my guiding mission and philosophy. It has informed my career and life choices. Immerse yourself in classes and you will get more out of them then just a grade. Check out Kylers tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Trinomial Factoring

Trinomial Factoring A trinomial is an algebraic expression containing three terms, where the terms are separated either by the addition operation or the subtraction operation. Trinomials are also considered as polynomials since they also contain variables and constants written together. In order to simplify a given trinomial, we can use the trinomial factoring method where the trinomial is either reduced from three terms to a single term, or it can be simplified to its lowest terms. With the help of trinomial factoring, the algebraic expressions can be easily simplified and solved to get the answer. Example 1: Simplify the given trinomial, 12x6 + 18x4 30x3using factoring method. Given trinomial= 12x6 + 18x4 30x3 We should first find the greatest common factor of the three numbers 12, 18 and 30 so that it can be factored out! GCF of 12, 18 and 30 is6. Similarly, common factor of x6, x4 and x3 is x3. Now, pulling out 6 and x3 we get: 6x3 (2x3 + 3x 5). Hence the factored answer for the given trinomial is 6x3(2x3 + 3x 5). Example 2: Simplify the given trinomial, 20x5 - 50x3 80xusing factoring method. Given trinomial= 20x5 - 50x3 80x We should first find the greatest common factor of the three numbers 20, 50, 80 so that it can be factored out! GCF of 20, 50 and 80 is 10. Similarly, common factor of x5, x3 and x is x. Now, pulling out 10 and x we get: 10x (2x4 5x2 8). Hence the factored answer for the given trinomial is 10x (2x4 5x2 8).

Tutorfair and Flooved team up

Tutorfair and Flooved team up Tutorfair and Flooved are both passionate about helping students get the best results in education that they can.  Flooved provides free textbooks and Tutorfair gives free tutoring to children who can’t afford it.   If only we could find someone to provide a free lunch …. Flooved provides free educational content for those studying Maths and Physics at university. This content is provided by academics and acts as textbooks available online.  The idea came about because it didn’t seem right that students had to pay for access to educational content. Their website now has heaps of online textbooks available for free so please check it out and make use of this expert guidance. If you find that you still need that extra bit of help, this is where Tutorfair comes in. We have fantastic tutors who can help in degree level Maths and Physics. So, we now have a link on Flooved’s website where, with a click of a button, you can be on our site finding the perfect tutor for you. Not only this, but our brilliant tutors are currently busy annotating the textbooks on Flooved to provide even more guidance to those tricky theorems and equations. So, with a bit of help from Flooved and a bit of help from Tutorfair, you will get the support you need to get the results you want. Illustration from www.posterenvy.com  CC-by

Start the School Year Off the Right Way With These Study Tips

Start the School Year Off the Right Way With These Study Tips Start the School Year Off the Right Way With These Study Tips The new school year is here! Start the year off right - develop a study schedule, organize your materials, and take a few moments to reflect on what you can do to make this year the best yet. Stay a step ahead Dont wait until you are behind to adjust your study skills. Starting the school year off the right way will provide you the opportunity to maximize your learning and stay ahead of your studies. Attend to your learning Good attendance is necessary for school success. Arrive at your classes early, make sure your materials are ready, and prepare for the days learning. Being ready beforethe school day and the individual class begins will help you acquire the most new knowledge. Review your study habits Think about your previous years study habits and determine what worked best for you. Talk to your teachers about any concerns you may have and how this years courses will impact your individual study habits. If you have laboratory based courses, such as chemistry, biology, or physics, seek additional time in the lab to review your learning with course materials on hand. Identify your strengths and weaknesses Understanding what your strongest academic areas are, and identifying the areas you struggle with the most, will help you plan your studying and maximize your learning. Huntington Learning Center can help. Each customized tutoring plan we create is based on the individual students strengths and weaknesses. Your tutoring plan will reflect your needs and is crafted based on your individual assessment data. Find What You Need Each student is different and what works best for you is personal. Some students choose to study in large chunks of time and others prefer to spread their studying out over time. You may study best at home in your bedroom but your friend may do better in a secluded corner of the public library. Determining your ideal conditions for studying will aid your preparation. Choose the perfect spot It is important to determine the perfect spot for you to study. All of these study tips will be irrelevant if your study location is insufficient. Where are you most comfortable? Which study spot has the least amount of distractions? Where do you complete your best work? Set a weekly schedule Take the time to create a master study schedule you can stick to each week. Be careful to schedule plenty of time around family, athletic, and extra-curricular activities. Consider building in extra time in case unforeseen circumstances or commitmen ts arise. Know when you need help If your school work is quickly becoming overwhelming and you are struggling to keep up it may be time to ask for help. The professional tutors with Huntington Learning Centers will administer assessments to determine your current strengths and weaknesses. Your progress will be carefully monitored to determine areas of continued need and the tutoring plan will be updated as you master new learning. Stay in Touch It is important to stay on top of both coursework and your individual performance. Knowing when you need additional support, and asking for help, is best done as soon as difficulties arise. If you wait too long to seek assistance you will likely be wasting precious study time. Review expectations Don't just read the syllabus and stick it in a folder. Your course expectations should be reviewed often to ensure you haven't missed any important dates or information. Compare the expectations periodically with your master calendar to make sure you haven't overlooked anything. Connect with others There may be other students in your class who are searching for a peer to connect with. Having another student in the class to study with, compare notes, and bounce ideas off of is a great way to stay connected with the academic work. Communicate with teachers and tutors Do your part to communicate with your teachers and tutors. When you are feeling confused ask for help. When something seems frustrating or overwhelming let them know. Utilize your teacher's office hours or review sessions and spend time during tutoring sessions to share your concerns or problems.

Vocabulary Deficiency - Tutor Hunt Blog

Vocabulary Deficiency Vocabulary Deficiency Vocabulary DeficiencySchoolsStudents afflicted by a `Vocabulary deficiency` say UK teachers A report commissioned by the Oxford University Press has found that many schoolchildren possess a severely deficient vocabulary. These findings have been confirmed by teachers in both primary and secondary schools, who report that many pupils are afflicted with a `vocabulary deficiency.` The report questioned 1300 primary and secondary teachers across the UK, and found that more than 60% had noticed a substandard vocabulary in pupils of varied ages. The teachers were concerned that this linguistic deficit will restrict their overall education and social skills, and will impact their self-esteem, and even fuel negative behaviour. At secondary schools the vocabulary deficiency was `stubbornly high,` according to the report - with teachers saying that they were unfortunately lacking both the time and resources to adequately deal with the problem. While there are an abundance of studies concerning the importance of language stimulation in young children - especially those under 3 years of age - there is a relative paucity of research regarding the significance language development for adolescents. The report made this point: `This is significant because while language development is a key focus in early years education, relatively little research has been conducted into language deficit as children progress through secondary education.` Many teachers have pointed out that a poor vocabulary has a negative impact across a broad range of subjects; not just in English, but also geography and history, where pupils will be required to read large amounts of literature. It is certainly possible that a student with a poor vocabulary might struggle with exams, not through lack of knowledge, but by being unable to fully comprehend the questions being asked of them. I have always considered a wide vocabulary to be of paramount importance - a well populated lexicon can lead to wider ranging, more nuanced thoughts. George Orwell was well aware of this when he wrote his despotic masterpiece 1984, which has a totalitarian government systematically thinning out the dictionaries every year, reducing words from circulation, with the intention to reduce the range of thought (and thereby sedition) amongst the population. The famous Sapir-Whorf hypothesis states that an individual`s thoughts and actions are both constrained and facilitated by the language (or languages) that individual is able to speak. Without a complex language with a substantial vocabulary, there are thoughts that an individual simply cannot have. An example of this would be the language of the Aborigines, which contains a multitude of geocentric navigational terms, themselves concerning such things as the position of certain stars in the sky. This feature of their language enables them to navigate, and think, in an extremely precise and efficient way, and thereby traverse the plains of central Australia. Our language has ego centric navigational terms: left and right, and is ill suited for complex navigational reasoning. A more prosaic example might be to imagine two people engaged in a civilised debate - one possesses a rich and abundant vocabulary, while the other`s is meagre by comparison. The speaker with the larger vocabulary will certainly be able deliver their points with greater clarity, while deconstructing their opponent`s with more incisive counterarguments and barbed wit. It seems perhaps too easy to place the blame of a shrinking adolescent vocabulary to the ubiquity of smartphones. These devices (useful though they may be) are a pet hate of mine - and knowing what counts for messages these days - the skeletal, laconic nature of `text speak` with its lol`s and lmao`s - I find it hard to believe that that this new technology is not having a negative impact on students` literacy. Reading habits must of course be mentioned here - the current generation, in my opinion, does not spend as much time reading for pleasure as did previous generations. The classics are rarely taught in schools anymore, being considered too long, too dated, and too difficult. At the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon I`ll just mention that television, movies, and other mainstream media forms, in my opinion, have also contributed to the decline of literacy. Kate Nation, professor of experimental psychology at Oxford university, has cautioned anyone positing a single cause to the complex issue of differing language abilities amongst children: `Regardless of the causes, low levels of vocabulary set limits on literacy, understanding, learning the curriculum and can create a downward spiral of poor language which begins to affect all aspects of life.` The problem is certainly a serious one, and it doesn`t just have academic implications - more than 80% of teachers questioned in the report said that those children possessing a deficient vocabulary were very likely to suffer from lower self-esteem. So much to do with linguistic ability seems to be correlated to those early years in life - the so called `critical window`, which closes off at about the age of 6. Children below this age can pick up new languages simply by hearing them spoken by those around the home. How this happens is a complete mystery, despite extensive work by Noam Chomsky, and other leading linguists. After a certain age though, it is incredibly difficult to acquire a foreign tongue - something every adult who has struggled to lean another language knows. The same may very well be true of vocabulary - If you don`t acquire a broad range of synonyms (and antonyms) by a certain age, it may be incredibly difficult to do so later on. 22 months ago0Add a Comment