Knowledge of Students
The second core concept is the belief that to teach skillfully, you must have as much knowledge about students as possible: their needs, characteristics, and differences. Section 1 of this book introduces you to the developmental lives of children. Chapter 2 is devoted to tracing the cognitive and language development of children, while Chapter 3 focuses on their psychosocial and moral development. Reflecting the diversity in our classrooms, Chapter 4 examines the impact of culture, class, and gender on teaching and learning.
If you become a regular classroom teacher, you will come into contact with one or more students who are exceptional. There are many different types of exceptional students, including the gifted and talented, as well as students experiencing sensory handicaps, communication disorders, physical and health impairments, behavior disorders, learning disabilities, and mental retardation. Chapter 5 provides valuable information about the typical characteristics of students who are exceptional.