Yardsticks is definitely a great tool for educators. It reinforces the fact that observation and reflection are key components of teaching. These elements are present in all of the theories of childhood presented in the text.
One question came up as I was reading about Chip and his research. Since Yardsticks is based primarily on first hand observation I wonder how accurate it is across cultures. I would find it very interesting to see how much influence culture has on the behavior and attitudes of children at different developmental stages. Yardsticks may be completely useless to a teacher in a non-western culture.
There were definitely a few treasures in the text that I would like to hold on to. I specifically remember reading that 11 year olds like to debate. This is great information! Many times they will argue for the sake of arguing. They are beginning to form a view of the world and now have concrete opinions. Understanding that this is part of their development will prevent a lot of frustration on my part. This knowledge is also an opportunity to use the child’s interests to facilitate learning. Debating is a great way to combine many different content areas into a cohesive, meaningful unit.
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