Item of interest chapter 6: Bilingual Education

I feel pretty close to this subject; on the other hand bilingual education continues to receive criticism in the national media. The criticism effects on the public opinion, which often is based on misconceptions about bilingual education's goals and practice. It is a big controversy, but when schools provide children quality education in their primary language, they give them two things: knowledge and literacy. The knowledge that children get through their first language helps make the English they heard and read more comprehensible. Literacy developed in the primary language transfers to the second language. The reason is simple: Because we learn to read by reading, by making sense of what is on the page -it is, easier to learn to read in a language we understand. Once we can read in one language, we can read in general. I believe that being bilingual will help children with this transition to understand a new language.

Item of Interest Chapter 5: Virtual Field trip

I personally love the idea to take a classroom to places like The White House, The Grand Canyon, The San Diego Zoo, Death Valley, Colonial Williamsburg, The Tower of London, Tower Eiffel and The Ruins of Pompeii. Virtual fieldtrips are enriching and exciting internet trips that allow students to visit destinations they might otherwise be unable to tour. Specifically, virtual fieldtrips are changing the way elementary school students explore our world. When I used to be in school my major field trip was to the zoo, now teachers are currently incorporating these virtual fieldtrips into their classrooms to supplement a live upcoming fieldtrip.
So far virtual field trips sound just wonderful, don’t they? These virtual excursions are educational, exciting, and easily accessible! Computers with internet access are the only form of technology needed to take a virtual fieldtrip in the elementary school classroom. How convenient! Some virtual fieldtrips do require additional internet capabilities, such as Java, but are easily downloaded free of charge. For a teacher who has always wanted to take his or her students on a variety of fieldtrips during the school year, the virtual fieldtrip is perfect! The educational possibilities are almost endless when using virtual fieldtrips in the classroom environment! . Some advantages are accessibility, Inexpensive and also safety. The most disadvantage for me is just the lack of sensory experience.