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Exam: Growing Up Too Fast?
Article posted April 27, 2008 at 03:17 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 13905
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This article touched my heart. Even though the focus of this class is primarily secondary teaching, it is always important to remember the steps our students have taken, the paths they have traveled and the experiences they have encountered that have created the young men and women that we reach out to each and every day.
Read, reflect and remember that passion, the love of learning, that early flame is present in each and every child that is born into this world. It is our job to keep it burning...
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Article posted April 27, 2008 at 03:17 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 13905
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Learning in Finland!
Article posted April 2, 2008 at 07:34 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 942
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I understand that cultural differences are probably the major factor in Finland's educational success...but I can't help but wonder what we could do that would impact our educational system in the U.S. It seems as though we should learn from the success of other countries...not package and market what they are doing--that would be more like what we would do...FINLAND EDUCATION for U.S. Dummies. But wouldn't it be great if we could take educational research, best world practices and apply it to what we do in our own schools? There must be lessons to be learned!
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Article posted April 2, 2008 at 07:34 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 942
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As the World Learns
Article posted March 25, 2008 at 08:17 PM GMT0 •
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More to come on this, but let's read this article from Edutopia about education around the globe. I read a few, but want to read more. There is so much to learn from what other countries are doing. Suddenly the world seems so very small and teaching so very big when you consider that everywhere there are people just like you and I who are dedicated to helping children love learning! See the link to the article under Related Links.
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Article posted March 25, 2008 at 08:17 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 898
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21st Century Learning...
Article posted March 13, 2008 at 04:13 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 329
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A very interesting posting by Will Richardson (see related links) has generated a lot of buzz in the blogsphere. His posting has well over 100 comments and rising. There are comments within comments and the conversation is very engaging. For your blog this week, follow the link, read his posting and try to read some of the follow up comments. I have to say that I was drawn in and felt compelled to comment myself, only to be commented back by a teacher from NYC, then I commented back to him...this type of professional learning is really creating a new arena for learning and I think it has the potential for great things for education. The idea that we are models for learning...that teachers themselves should be passionate about learning, always wanting to learn more is an important criteria for any teacher entering the profession today. I am really drawn into this concept of personal learning networks. If you want to read more, follow Karl Fisch's link. I am thinking lately about how teachers could encourage students to develop their own networks and how that process, the connections they make could really build the foundation for WANTING to learn. I also posted a blog...about my conference experience and what PLN's have done for me...check it out (see related links.
What do you think?
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Article posted March 13, 2008 at 04:13 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 329
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Nothing like a Snow Day!
Article posted February 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 296
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That delightful feeling from childhood of waking up and finding out that you do not have to go to school is really one of the true joys of childhood. One benefit of being a teacher is that we get to relive that experience (if you are lucky enough to live in our neck of the woods!) over and over again! I hope you all did something just because you could and not because you had to. This topic caught my eye as I was looking for blogs and led me to a very funny writer. I added the link in Related Links. It is also a great resource for any administrator...pass it along!
The snow day gave us all a day to slow down, but many of you were busy emailing and submitting your projects! I can tell you I have been sharing links already to some really thoughtful projects. It is a learning process and some of the sites used are better than others as far as access goes, but the content of your projects has been top notch thus far. Thank you for taking a risk and putting yourself out there, trying something new. Technology can be challenging, but as educators we have to continue to have curiosity and that undying need to learn in our hearts. I hope in addition to the information you learned about autism and disabilities, you learned at least one new piece of technology that you can take with you into your teaching careers.
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Article posted February 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 296
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Some random thoughts...
Article posted February 6, 2008 at 02:54 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 227
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It was interesting how the discussions in each of the sections traveled along the same paths. When we look at teaching and learning styles, conversations automatically shift towards classroom management, organization and grading. It is so much about creating a community of learning. The tools you use to create and manage that community need to be secondary to how you actually relate to your students. How they feel when they are in your classroom is going to greatly impact their ability to learn, regardless of their ability levels.
On another note, I have to comment on the overall reactions to assigning this multigenre project vs. the papers. It is interesting how pushing people outside their comfort zones affects their anxiety levels. I know that the use of multigenre is a new concept for many, if not all, of you. It is an important lesson in and of itself. Remember this when you are teaching. Doing the same worksheets, requiring just research papers, or doing the same activities day in and day out, create learners who are comfortable and dependent on routine. As teachers we need to shake things up a bit. It is our job to push our students to learn more, to think deeper and understand material in different ways. Regardless of the subject, the technology, the curriculum...we aren't doing our job if we just march them through and check things off the list.
Finally...
Please don't forget to read some (at least two!) of your colleagues blog postings. Leave a comment on their blog and try to generate some discussion among your peers. This is an important factor of blogging, one I am just starting to really understand. Blogging is about the interaction of thoughts among people. It is about writing for an authentic audience...and what increases that authenticity is when the audience responds. Read--reflect--learn something new today!
Wednesday! Enjoy the rest of the week!
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Article posted February 6, 2008 at 02:54 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 227
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Forgot to mention...
Article posted January 29, 2008 at 02:38 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 172
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Sitting here reflecting on the classes tonight and I have to say that I was impressed by the enthusiasm and insight everyone had during the book discussions. They are three great reads and I strongly encourage everyone to try and read them all...even if you come back to them this summer!
As I was thinking more about the multigenre projects, I realized that I forgot to mention that you will need to include a bibliography in APA format with your project. Even though it is not considered a formal research paper, it is a research project and any information you take from any other source should always be cited. I mentioned a couple of helpful websites that will be helpful in getting your citations correctly formatted. I will include them in the related links section of this blog and also put them on the wiki.
If you have any other questions, please contact me.
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Article posted January 29, 2008 at 02:38 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 172
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Exam Week
Article posted January 18, 2008 at 01:49 AM GMT0 •
comment (10) • Reads 342
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Just finished day three of exams. Whew! Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. I have to say that I am proud of my students. Regardless of the insanity of the exams, the amount of material they are forced to memorize, the importance of the grades, my students really rose to the challenge. I hope their grades reflect their hard work.
Here is the question I am posing to the group. More out of curiosity than anything else. One of the primary arguments for giving these cumulative semester exams each year is the notion that we have to "prepare them for college" and give them similar assessment they may see at that stage in their education. Most of you are fresh out of your liberal studies. Did your professors rely on the more traditional exam approach to assessment or are projects becoming more of a focus for assessment and learning? I am betting that it is about 50-50, but I am unsure.
It isn't a requirement to comment on this posting...just if you wish to contribute.
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Article posted January 18, 2008 at 01:49 AM GMT0 •
comment (10) • Reads 342
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Welcome!
Article posted January 14, 2008 at 02:35 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 179
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Another semester of figuring out this whole world of teaching! I hope that through this class you are able to understand the world we call special education, but more importantly that you understand that it all is really just about learning...teaching and learning, regardless of a child's ability.
Please feel free to comment, post blog articles, read each other's, comment back and generate any and all discussion you feel is appropriate for this course.
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Article posted January 14, 2008 at 02:35 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 179
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My Classes & Students
About the Blogger
Teacher, technology geek, friend, mom--love my kids--at home and at school.
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