“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor…” Do you think that Mr. Rogers envisioned just how big the neighborhood would be when he wrote the lyrics to Won’t You be My Neighbor? back in 1967? Yet, his words still ring true.
It begins in the classroom. We strive to create a learning environment that is safe enough for even the most unwilling student to feel welcome and part of a group. It expands as we create lessons that use technology to enable our students to communicate with a classroom across town. It grows as we link our students to different cultures within our country. It explodes as we leap across rivers, mountain ranges, and oceans to meet people from countries we may never physically visit. This is learning; this is being connected and networked to the world. This is our students’ future.
However, their future will start with Behaviorism. After a foundation is laid with Behaviorism, we, as teachers, will expose them to Cognitivism, Constructionism and a new theory, Social Learning. To be successful, our students must learn to work together. To see similarities and differences as a good thing. One way to reach this goal is through the use of cooperative learning. Cooperative learning can lay the foundation for a strong neighborhood in the classroom. Once students are working together in the classroom, teachers can open additional communities for students to explore. As barriers break down, learning increases.
I cannot learn without my neighbors. “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
Resources:
Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Rogers, Fred M. Won’t you be my neighbor? Lyrics. 1967. Retrieved from: http://pbskids.org/rogers/songlist/song1_ra.html 2009.
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7 comments:
I wonder if Mr. Rodgers understood all of the psychology involved in his show. Did he know that he was litteraly teaching the world how to properly socialize and "get along." I remember with fondness learning lessons on how to deal with angry neighbors, upset friends, sad situations, and happy celebrations. Even though if was done through puppetry, did the writers plan out the interactions is such a way to teach social behavior? Granted, it's hard to teach constructionism through a television set, it got as close as it could. Who can forget the day that Mr. Rogers went to the donut factory and got to help make donuts.
I think I watched one episode... But the song stuck. My kids may have watched more; I don't know. We didn't watch much tv growing up. The song, though, exhibits everything 21st Century that our students need to learn.
I was quite amazed at your post because you really found the epitome of the social learning theory. Mr. Rogers definitely was one of my favorite shows, and as I look back at it now, I can see why. I look at the kid's shows today, and they do not have the same effect as shows like his did. I really liked all the social interactions that he had made, and I am fairly confident that it was intentional to teach children proper behavior.
Forever in the Land of Make Believe!
Mr. Rogers was a teacher's teacher. I think it stems from his background as a minister. He tried to show the best qualities in everyone.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Sesame Street were staples in the 1970's and 1980's on PBS. Sesame Street went a long way to show how people from different cultures could interact and get along. Both shows had a huge impact on my life as I grew up.
As Travis points out, there are no shows on television that compare today. I think we see the result of that in our schools today.
I must have missed out. I just didn't watch tv growing up. Part of it was the poor reception; rarely did the tv even come in clearly. Part of it was living out in the woods with too much to do outside. But, obviously, the one episode of Mr. Roger's I did see made an impression. Even my own kids didn't watch tv. There was always something else to do. From the very beginning though, I knew the song was what I wanted. Our world is smaller; we interact with more people from places we will never see. We need to learn to be neighbors.
What a clever way to write your response for this week's blog. It makes me wonder if you are an elementary teacher??? I only watched Mr. Rogers a few times, but I definitely know the song. I'm with Travis on this one. They definitely do not make kids shows like they used to! Shows today do not teach the same life lessons that programs like Mr. Rogers used to teach. If only everyone could learn how to get along like Mr. Rogers used to teach children to do the world would be a much happier place.
Mr. Rodgers was one smart guy. I always wanted to ride the trolley...
I believe social learning is a powerful tool. But just like all tools we use and ask students to use, we must teach them how to use it. This whole week I have thought a lot about students working together. In the past, I avoided it because it was always harder than it was worth. But I wonder if our students actually know HOW to work together. After teaching middle school now for three years, I have learned that I cannot take anything for granted. Just because they are thirteen does not mean they know a specific social norm or behavior. In elementary school, you practice everything because there are no assumptions of student knowledge. I've learned the same for middle school.
I will be your neighbor, please show me how...
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