Assignment:
Discussion 1
Microsystem Case Discussion
For this discussion, you will need to address the issues of Case 14, "Tomasito Is Too Big to Hold Hands" (Weiss et al., pp. 149-157). Use the following questions to guide your discussion:
- How do family processes influence Tomasito's development?
- How does Tomasito's sense of connectedness affect his motivation to learn? How does it affect those around him and the way they support his learning?
- If you were sharing the results of math work and math assessments with Tomasito and his family, how would you go about doing that to optimize his future success in the subject?
- What are the possible ways of building reciprocal relationships with this family? Which do you think are the most appropriate and why? What support can be offered and how can parents be encouraged to be more involved?
Use examples from the case study and other appropriate reading to support your responses. This discussion will help you complete your assignment for the unit. Review the postings of others to help you complete your assignment for this week.
Discussion 2
Motivation
Very young children are usually highly motivated to learn (such as exploring gravity by dropping things from the highchair), but this often declines as they grow. With your readings in mind, think about your own motivational drive. What pushes you the most: extrinsic or intrinsic factors? How did your educational environments in the past and today support or detract from this motivation?