The book “Funds of knowledge,” is intended to be useful for teachers and it will help them in formulating a set of courses for the students to make them perform well in their studies. According to researchers Luis Moll, Cathy Amanti, Deborah Neff, and Norma Gonzalez (2001), Funds of knowledge means “to refer to the historically accumulated and culturally developed bodies of knowledge and skills essential for household or individual functioning and well-being” (Lopez, n.d., What does the term “funds of knowledge” mean, para.1).
Thus it transpires that the phrase ‘Funds of Knowledge’ refers to collecting information by analyzing it to understand it better. In the above-mentioned book, the author says that teachers must know the personal details of each and every student so as to know their character and problems; and then only teachers can understand the students better and solve the problems they may be facing. If all the students come from the same surroundings and society, it will be easy for the teachers to handle them. However, students may not be coming from the same background and their nature and culture may be different. So, it is the responsibility of the teachers to have close personal rapport with the students’ families to gain necessary information that will help them in molding the students. To achieve this, the teachers should go directly to the student’s homes to meet their parents and other family members and conduct interviews to discuss the performance of students both at home and classroom. This way, the teachers as well as parents can understand the students and resolve the problems they may be encountering. Once the teacher has collected the details of students, they can make use of this information to handle the students in the classroom. Every teacher should acquire proper training and guidance to build up an appropriate understanding of the students.
Thus the author postulates the idea that in order to make education effective, teachers should first of all try to understand the students. “When teachers shed their role of teacher and expert and, instead, take on a new role as learner, they can come to know their students and the families of their students in new and distinct ways.” (Lopez, n.d., What does the term “funds of knowledge” mean, para.1).
A teacher cannot understand a student completely from the classroom alone so in order to know the students well the teachers must follow some of these measures.
- The teacher should put away his or her identity as a teacher and try to be one among the students.
- The teacher should try to learn each and every student personally and the information so gleaned from this effort forms the core of ‘the funds of knowledge.
- Teachers should observe the activities of the students and encourage them to improve in the areas in which they are found wanting.
“Becoming more perceptive and analytic observers enabled teachers to detect aspects of children’s everyday learning experience that could be adapted for use in school.” (Funds of knowledge for teaching, n.d., Curriculum and instruction, para.2).
To make a student will in all activities it is not only the responsibility of the teacher but moreover it is the duty of the parents because the parent can able to know their children better than the teacher.
- Parents should also pay visits to the school of their children to know about their children’s performance in studies and other activities and should report if their child is weak in any particular field.
- A teacher always cannot able to identify the weakness of an individual student and hence it is necessary to meet and discuss with parents. This will help the teacher to pay particular attention to the student who is weak.
- The teacher never shows any partiality towards the students and they should treat every student as equal without bothering whether a student is good or bad in studies.
‘Funds of knowledge’ represents the teachers as both researchers and learners of the students’ background so as to give better teaching in the classroom as well as helping in the overall development of children.
Reference
Funds of knowledge for teaching: Curriculum and instruction. (n.d.). Archived Information. 2009. Web.
Lopez, J K. (n.d.). Funds of knowledge: What does the term “funds of knowledge” mean? Learn NC. 2009. Web.