Welcoming Challenges in the Classroom

Hello Friends!

I want to address a topic close to my heart.  Students with challenges.  As a classroom teacher who has a special education endorsement and a mother of a child with autism, you can see why this topic really pulls at my heart strings.  It has been my experience, that we as a society learn more from those we see as being radically different then those we often term a nuero-typical. 

Have you ever noticed how we have learned more about learning by trying to understand those who do need atypical methodologies?  Then it dawns on researchers and educators if that works well with a particular population then most likely it will enhance the learning of all.    Personally, I have learned more about teaching from students who have given me challenges and have cultivated a better instructor.  I think our students have much to learn from each other and it's up to us to create a culture of safeness within in our classrooms.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/ami_klin_a_new_way_to_diagnose_autism.html


While on Ted Talks, I recently viewed two interesting videos.  One was on identifying, children as early as 6 months and how to intervene.  There is no cure, but they are beginning to find ways to lessen the impact.  Everyone lives have now been touched by autism in one fashion or another. 

The other Ted talk explored how to help students with autism using videos.  Salman Kahn suggests that watching a video on how to do math could be the homework assignment.  He has created a free website for students and teachers called the Kahn Academy.  Much of this website is focused on math and science objectives.  Students can practice skills they need to know in these areas and teachers can monitor their progress.  It is definitely worth checking out.
http://www.khanacademy.org/

More Web 2 Tools

Hey Fellow Teachers,

We have all experienced the difficult task of record keeping in our classroom.  Homework turned in or  NOT and attendance.  There is a Web 2 tool for that.  This Web 2 tool is called Class You can reward positive rewards for class participation, being helpful, creative, working hard and creativity.  There are negative consequences as well for being disruptive, disrespectful and not turning in homework.  You can email reports to parents quickly.  Teachers can have a class summary as well.  It is also free!  Students each have a avatar.  Check it out!!.http://teach.classdojo.com/#!/features

Another teacher friendly Web 2 tool is Socrative.  Socrative is an electronic student response system that allows for quizes, exit tickets and games.  The teacher designs the tools needed and then invites the student to participate by having a room number they type in.  It works with all devices.  The quizzes can  be true/false, multiple choice or short answers.  The program gathers the data for you as well.  The game programs look extremely motivating and fun! Take a look!  http://www.socrative.com/how-it-works

Technology and Cooperative Learning

Greetings!

Technology has become a big part of our world.  Technology is needed to be integrated into education.  The stakeholders who will be employing our students in the 21st century will be expecting students to be skilled in using technology.  These same stakeholders will be requiring all of their employees to be able to cooperatively work with others.  During these trying economic times, many schools are struggling to fund computers and or notebooks for their students.  As Americans, individualism is held in high esteem.  This highly valued characteristic may be counter intuitive for realm of the working world.  Collaboration is valued in today's work place.  Students need to practice skills that enable them to be productive and communicate with other people. 

Due to this high regard for individualism, the thought is to have a 1 to 1 ratio of student to technology.  Students do need a 1 to 1 ratio to computer when working on independent writings or projects.  Our economic crimping maybe to our students' benefit.  But the possibility exists, that students may actually benefit from sharing a computer and working collaboratively.  I have noticed that when each student has a computer they are just engaged with the computer.  When students share they become more interactive with each other and dialogue ensues.  Of course as with any cooperative learning in the classroom, guidelines will need to be set:

• The computer is to be used for the focused task. 
•  All students are to work together and dialogue should focus on the learning or task. 
•  Students will share the work and will take turns with hands on the computer.

In the study, referred to as "A Hole in the Wall", children taught themselves how to use a computer.

The interesting thing is these students did not individually learn.  These students were in groups.  I have a feeling that if just one child was presented with a computer they would learn, but not as much if he would have had a group of peers to share ideas and dialogue.  Watch and form your own opinion.

The Courage to Teach

Greetings All!

As we approach Independence Day, we honor those who ensure our freedoms.  Our military men and women serve our country daily to safeguard the rights set out by our forefathers.  People who serve the law in any capacity support our citizens freedoms and safety.  Firefighters are diligent in safeguarding our personal well being and properties.  Many of them are working very hard across our nation and risking their lives to fight wild fires that seem to be popping up in every state due to drought conditions.  Education has always been at the very core of our great nation.  These United States of America issued a proclamation that all have the right to a free education.  Educators have been given the torch to instruct our children so that our freedoms and rights maybe passed on for generations to come.  Militia, law enforcement, firefighters and educators should be honored for the courage to hold the light of freedom just like our Lady- Statue of Liberty.

My daughter, who is a educational studies and political science major, gave me a book to read. The book, " The Courage to Teach" by Parker Palmer, states educators must teach from their hearts.In order to be effective teachers, we must be true to ourselves, our passions and our styles.  When we teach from the heart we are authentic.  Our students respond to authenticity.  The current policy in education has forced upon many a teacher to use direct instruction with scripted instruction.  Much of instruction is also being dictated by state standards.  Teachers names are being published in some states as ineffective teachers if their students do not reach a certain standard.  Is this inefficacy due to not letting teachers teach with their hearts?

COURAGE is demanded of today's teachers to find ways to teach with passion and authenticity to reach our students.  UNITED,  we can change policy and encourage educators to honor their own styles and teach authentically.  As teacher are charged with the ills of  education, BRAVERY  is needed to forge and channel our education system into new directions.  PATRIOTISM for the very citizens we serve, our students, is required. 

A SALUTE TO ALL TEACHERS!!!

In honor of you watch this video.