Courtesy of: Schools.com
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Info-graphic Professors/Teachers & Social Networking
I thought this was pretty accurate and I just love these! Yes, I do believe that blogs, podcasts, wikis and video are valuable tools for teaching and learning.
Courtesy of: Schools.com
Courtesy of: Schools.com
Monday, August 8, 2011
Cultivating a Learning Environment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/niclindh/1389750548/
After reading David Warlick's blog post this evening, I started to think about how schools can take this advice? I know we are focused on creating a Personal Learning Community. What does that mean? It can't mean just solely focusing on data driven instruction. It has to start somewhere in our classrooms. We need to make the connections to our students and create a level of trust along with nurturing them. Why not start by "Cultivating a Learning Community"? Why not celebrate things we learn and are good at? By asking questions and wanting to genuinely know the answers from those students, teachers, parents, administrators and who ever else we can find to ask, we will be creating a nurturing community of learners. If we listen closely, the kids want to tell us about their lives, their interests, and what they are most passionate about. We can the allow them to feel vested in their learning. We can then use these answers to create meaningful lessons for our students which support and encourage their passions. We should try to ask more questions and then listen carefully.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Love This Video!
Today I was reading David Warlick's blog and noticed this video. I have to agree with him. I wish more people understood the benefits of collaborative learning. In my graduate work, I was asked to create my dream classroom. My dream classroom looked exactly like the one in this video. Comfy seating areas, along with round tables. My tables were actually on wheels, but round too. If kids can see each other when working together rather than sitting in rows and rows, it would make such a huge improvement in their learning environment. If we could give those students technology to use in the classroom without worrying about "stranger danger" and showing their faces out on the internet, who knows what could happen within the school? I hope it happens in my day of teaching. I know it is happening in some schools but not nearly enough.
Take a look at the web page for this video. I love the comments. That is what it is all about. Great job!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
This is why we teach!
This is why we teach! "Mr. Callahan: Best Teacher I Ever Had"- Thanks for Sharing Cool Cat Teacher!
It is not always about the assessment, just plain old life lessons! You can't put a grade on them.
It is not always about the assessment, just plain old life lessons! You can't put a grade on them.
Why Great Teachers Quit - Does anyone have the answer?
Today I came across this book - "Why Great Teachers Quit, and how to stop the mass exodus". Why do teachers, who are passionate, loving and notoriously care givers want to leave the profession they trained 4-6 years of their lives for? This blog author said after reading the book, "..... left me convinced that teaching is not a family-friendly profession".
If you have been following any of the news lately, especially surrounding the many budget cuts and tenure discussions, it is difficult to see your profession being thrown around as though it can be put to paper so easily. It is also difficult to see others who do not know the "real" work teachers do, bash the profession, and make teachers out to be lazy people who are taking advantage of the town or city they work in. I have worked in the private sector for half of my adult life. I know how hard it is to fight for promotions, reach targets, work collaboratively with others and gain your superiors recognition for a job well done. I chose to leave that world with over 5+ weeks of vacation, bonuses and recognition to become a teacher for almost $20,000.00 less a year in salary.
Why? I actually wonder some days, but I do know why. It was because of days like today when I returned after being out for the last day of the trimester and seeing all of my students left me notes all over my white board about how they will miss me and they love me! It is because they threw me a birthday party last week with cupcakes, cookies and juice for everyone in the class along with a card they all signed before they even came to class. It is because of the student who seems to be different than most, doesn't really fit in, becomes agitated easily, yet I never once saw that in him. I saw an engaged boy who was eager to learn new things using the technology I put before him. When I read over his website and saw the meticulous amount of work he put into that project, I could not help to be proud and emotional all at the same time. This was "his" venue! I could not help but gush to another one of his teachers about what an amazing job he did all on his own, with great care and pride. Never once did we have to have a confrontation. Never once did he become agitated. He was content. He knew he was coming to a safe, loving, and empowering environment where he mattered. It is because of the other boy who hides behind his long hair so no one will see through him. He does not want to be seen. Yet he writes on his website that someday he wants to be a doctor and he really does care about his grades. It is because of the kids, the ones who I may or may not make a difference in. The ones who were so happy to see me today. That is why I keep coming back. It is certainly not because of the "red tape" that comes along with teaching. It is the children.
The education system itself is not created like the private world. It does not always appreciate the one who speaks out for change and looks to make improvement. It seems as though that is why we (the education system itself) are in the predicament we are in today. The world is changing so quickly but education is stuck. The ones who are making the decisions are stuck. Why? Is it scary? Will things not work out 100% as planned? It is the same as teaching with technology. Everything is scary at first try. It doesn't even work sometimes. It is OK to fail, OK to make mistakes, and OK to be human. It is OK to admit that there were mistakes made. Why push good people away when all they want to do is make a difference in children's lives?
According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, it is the cost of turnover that is the largest factor of why schools are not performing well. According to the executive summary of the research study done, "Low performing schools rarely close the student achievement gap because they never close the teaching quality gap – they are constantly rebuilding their staff. An
inordinate amount of their capital – both human and financial – is consumed by the
constant process of hiring and replacing beginning teachers who leave before they have
mastered the ability to create a successful learning culture for their students. "
Unraveling the teacher shortage trys to figure this out in this 17 page report.
"In general, the turnover rate among teachers is significantly higher than for other
occupations.1 The fact is, an alarming and unsustainable number of teachers are leaving
teaching during their first few years of teaching. The No Child Left Behind Act has
stimulated a national effort to find highly qualified teachers for every classroom. But no
teacher supply strategy will ever keep our classrooms staffed with quality teachers if we
do not reverse the debilitating rate of teacher attrition. We need to balance our efforts to
prepare high quality teachers with strong strategies to support good teaching in our
schools."
These are just a few items that would help to retain teachers. I would be more than happy to discuss any one of my days in a middle school with anyone would would like to talk!
If you have been following any of the news lately, especially surrounding the many budget cuts and tenure discussions, it is difficult to see your profession being thrown around as though it can be put to paper so easily. It is also difficult to see others who do not know the "real" work teachers do, bash the profession, and make teachers out to be lazy people who are taking advantage of the town or city they work in. I have worked in the private sector for half of my adult life. I know how hard it is to fight for promotions, reach targets, work collaboratively with others and gain your superiors recognition for a job well done. I chose to leave that world with over 5+ weeks of vacation, bonuses and recognition to become a teacher for almost $20,000.00 less a year in salary.
Why? I actually wonder some days, but I do know why. It was because of days like today when I returned after being out for the last day of the trimester and seeing all of my students left me notes all over my white board about how they will miss me and they love me! It is because they threw me a birthday party last week with cupcakes, cookies and juice for everyone in the class along with a card they all signed before they even came to class. It is because of the student who seems to be different than most, doesn't really fit in, becomes agitated easily, yet I never once saw that in him. I saw an engaged boy who was eager to learn new things using the technology I put before him. When I read over his website and saw the meticulous amount of work he put into that project, I could not help to be proud and emotional all at the same time. This was "his" venue! I could not help but gush to another one of his teachers about what an amazing job he did all on his own, with great care and pride. Never once did we have to have a confrontation. Never once did he become agitated. He was content. He knew he was coming to a safe, loving, and empowering environment where he mattered. It is because of the other boy who hides behind his long hair so no one will see through him. He does not want to be seen. Yet he writes on his website that someday he wants to be a doctor and he really does care about his grades. It is because of the kids, the ones who I may or may not make a difference in. The ones who were so happy to see me today. That is why I keep coming back. It is certainly not because of the "red tape" that comes along with teaching. It is the children.
The education system itself is not created like the private world. It does not always appreciate the one who speaks out for change and looks to make improvement. It seems as though that is why we (the education system itself) are in the predicament we are in today. The world is changing so quickly but education is stuck. The ones who are making the decisions are stuck. Why? Is it scary? Will things not work out 100% as planned? It is the same as teaching with technology. Everything is scary at first try. It doesn't even work sometimes. It is OK to fail, OK to make mistakes, and OK to be human. It is OK to admit that there were mistakes made. Why push good people away when all they want to do is make a difference in children's lives?
According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, it is the cost of turnover that is the largest factor of why schools are not performing well. According to the executive summary of the research study done, "Low performing schools rarely close the student achievement gap because they never close the teaching quality gap – they are constantly rebuilding their staff. An
inordinate amount of their capital – both human and financial – is consumed by the
constant process of hiring and replacing beginning teachers who leave before they have
mastered the ability to create a successful learning culture for their students. "
Unraveling the teacher shortage trys to figure this out in this 17 page report.
"In general, the turnover rate among teachers is significantly higher than for other
occupations.1 The fact is, an alarming and unsustainable number of teachers are leaving
teaching during their first few years of teaching. The No Child Left Behind Act has
stimulated a national effort to find highly qualified teachers for every classroom. But no
teacher supply strategy will ever keep our classrooms staffed with quality teachers if we
do not reverse the debilitating rate of teacher attrition. We need to balance our efforts to
prepare high quality teachers with strong strategies to support good teaching in our
schools."
HOW CAN WE REDUCE HIGH TEACHER TURNOVER? (according to article above)
To fix the problem we need to understand the cause. Four major factors are
especially prominent influences on whether and when teachers leave specific schools or
the profession entirely:
· Salaries
· Working conditions
· Preparation
· Mentoring support in the early years of teaching
These are just a few items that would help to retain teachers. I would be more than happy to discuss any one of my days in a middle school with anyone would would like to talk!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
This made my day today...
Sometimes I admit I get down on myself and reexamine all of the many different directions I pull myself in each and every day. Today I read this blog post from one of my graduate students and it warmed my heart... I know that I can make a difference and it is a great feeling ... thanks so much for acknowledging me and the course I teach in your final blog post D... I truly appreciate it more than you know!
There has been no class graduate or undergraduate that has influenced by teaching style and environment more than Plymouth State University's, Teaching and Learning In a Network Classroom. Having coursework that can be used in the classroom immediately has lifted many frustrations and provided hope that tomorrow will be better. Technology really lends itself well to project based learning which, I think we all appreciate for its deeper and enduring understanding.
Monday, March 7, 2011
This Quote is worth reposting - Love it!
"At the end of the day, the biggest disruption brought on by technology has nothing to do with the youth themselves, but with the way in which it forces us to reconsider our position of power as adults. We cannot simply tell it like it is; we need to re-learn how to learn and how to evolve with the changes all around us. " - Dana Boyd -"Living and Learning with Social Media"
Some Interesting Posts I have read lately
Just a few posts, videos and articles I have found interesting lately.
Thoughts by Jen
Digital Textbook Adoptions - Curriculum Mapping Example
We Must Change the Narrative about Public Education
Formative Assessment Done Right
Digital Media - New Learners of the 21st Century Video - PBS
Comprehensive Assessment - A NY City Success Story
Thoughts by Jen
Digital Textbook Adoptions - Curriculum Mapping Example
We Must Change the Narrative about Public Education
Formative Assessment Done Right
Digital Media - New Learners of the 21st Century Video - PBS
Comprehensive Assessment - A NY City Success Story
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