Week 2: Popular Culture Survey Results
From completing my student teacher survey I was very interested with the ideas that arose. Overall the lady that I interviewed believed that using popular culture within the classroom was very beneficial – alike to my own opinion. When asked what she’d use it for she replied ‘I would use popular culture as a hook when introducing a new subject to my class. I think that when children can get involved with something which they are already familiar with at home it really supports their understanding of new or tricky subjects’. This supports the view from Robinson (1997) who said that school is only a small proportion of a child’s life and that it is ridiculous to suggest that we ignore what goes on outside of it.
However, she did raise the idea that children should be introduced to new topics in school not just link in to things which they are already familiar with. This way children can be stretched and challenged and these new themes will broaden their experiences. I found this a very interesting point and I do agree that the use of popular culture in the classroom should be used sparingly in order to engage but not overload the children with images they may have already seen.
In regards to my future practice I still believe that using popular culture within the classroom is extremely invaluable and I agree with the idea that the curriculum should be culturally relevant (an interesting idea that we discussed during our seminar session). I therefore will aim to include popular culture within hooks and references in as many aspects as possible during my teaching.
Robinson, M. (1997) Children Reading Print and Television London: The Falmer Press
I, like you, feel that introducing and incorporating popular culture into the classroom is very beneficial. I feel it is beneficial because children can engage more thoroughly as they're using things that relate to them and things that they know. Why do you feel the are beneficial for the classroom?
ReplyDeleteThe point you have made about introducing children to new ideas is very true. I have been focusing very heavily on adding to the basis of knowledge a child already has but it is also key to broaden their knowledge with new concepts.
ReplyDelete