"Student questions are the seeds of real learning."- Dr. Ramsey Musallem's I really like this quote by Dr. Ramsey. It has alot of meaning for me. My students are always full of questions and curiosity. They are always excited during our discussion times. From what I have learned about the flipped classroom it allows students to be more engaged in what they are learning. It encourages curiosity and student inquiry. I agree on the three rules that Dr. Ramsey discusses and as an educator I need to remember them. Rule1) curiosity comes first. 2)embrace the mess which is experiencing trial and error. 3)practice reflection (make room for revisions). I admit these rules are not always easy to follow and the most difficult for me is embracing the mess with allowing trial and error in my own lessons. I think the flipped classroom model is so much more engagning for students and that's why it has been working so well. My teenage son has a flipped class in math and he likes it much better. He was having a hard time being taught the traditional method. Challenged Based Learning Students motivation is increased by CBL because they are pushed to learn in new ways. They work together and there is focused discussion going on. They learn from each other and it is a different feeling than just listening to a lecture from the teacher. In my class the students are more engaged when they have a variety of activities and discussion in groups instead of listening to alot of teacher talk. In CBL students are able to make a difference in helping solve community problems. Many students discover qualities they thought that they didn't have. Many discover that they are actually great leaders and communicators.The additional benefits of CBL is that it provides exposure to a realistic outlook towards the competitive nature of real life issues in a way that other educational programs do not. It is rooted in an engaging multidisciplinary approach to teaching and learning that encourages students to leverage the technology they use in their daily lives to solve real-world problems. This learning also blends well with the TPACK model of instruction because of the use of technology. My research project was influenced by using techonology as a visual stimulus for learning. I did have some influence from this content as well as the TPACK model. I am not doing it exactly like the examples shown, but it has some influence which is mainly technology. I think that CBL has the most influence in my future teaching instead of the flipped classroom. I have students who are curious and will be excited to learn more with the CBL frame work. We have a great diverse community to work in and it is easier for the students to understand the problems in their community than having them participate in a flipped classroom. The grade that I teach is young for that and the population of families aren't really ready to support that in my opinion. I think it would be interesting to see how a flipped classroom in Kindergarten works and what it looks like. Project based learning(PBL) is more popular in implementing in Kindergarten and engagement is high. Reflection As I reflect on my journey so far in this class I feel that I have learned so much. I also felt clueless with creating a website and blog. I've created a website before but it was a very long time ago. I have never experienced creating a blog. I feel like I survived technology wise although I'm hoping to become more proficient with it. My biggest challenge is balancing how to figure out technology with all the learning and assignments I'm expected to complete in the class. This is my first experience with online classes so that is one reason why I felt out of sorts. I was so accustomed to the traditional way of learning and these online classes tend to follow more of a flipped class model. I like it better than the traditional lectures because it is more enriching and engaging to have discussions with others instead of just listening to a lecture. This experience also helps me think of how my students must feel and it can be a humbling experience. I feel like I have come a long way. I am hoping to still learn more and grow in my learning of the subject matter for this program as well as utilizing the technology tools needed to make it presentable in a meaningful way.
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“What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must we want for all children in the community. Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy.
_ John Dewey This quote by John Dewey is thought provoking for me. It encourages a fair and equitable education for all children. My classroom is made up of primarily second language learners who are Spanish speaking. They are also socioeconomically disadvantaged and many have special needs. I believe they can learn and should have the same opportunities as all children regardless of where they come from. This quote speaks to me as an educator and the importance of having a positive attitude with my class no matter how difficult the challenges can be. I believe there are many positive changes that can effect education if policies are implemented properly. Children can be more successful and test scores will increase. Children will be more college ready and have a more positive outlook in life. I believe they will also be inclined to make a greater contribution to their community. I already see it happening in my district and the school that I teach at. These changes affect the way teachers approach curriculum and I've seen efforts for improvement in curriculum and professional learning for teachers on how to administer new and improved curriculum. When my district offers new resources and curriculum to teachers it is followed up with meetings and professional training. We have academic specialists who help and guide as needed. I really appreciate the help and support my district has for teachers. I was pleased to read that many strategies I use along with my colleagues are listed in Hammond's book under what the successful schools are actively implementing. Hammond's key elements for achieving success in schools:
Key Ideas from C-Content Speakers John Seeley Brown nmc Sparkling Innovative Learning and Creativity A new culture orf learning The key ideas: In John Seeley Brown's presentation he stated that learning is constantly creating the "new". He also asks the question of how do we afford curiosity? He is supportive of having students use ipads, iphones and any technology device that will help them creatively study and increase their knowledge in learning. Many times students are discouraged from using their phones in assignments even ipads and other technology devices are discouraged in the classroom. I agree that students can learn and research alot quicker if they are allowed to use technology more often with their assignments. I do however, believe that the concern educators have is the proper use of technology and using it appropriately in school. I believe there should be supervision at all times, especially in the elementary grades. I believe that technology is the tool for the future but can also hold them back from learning if it becomes only entertainment. Howard Gardner (multiple Intelligence) Five minds of the future Key ideas: Howard Gardener made some very important points and asked some thought provoking questions. When we are learning and we have so much information entering our minds we need to learn how to synthesize the information and how to make sense out of it ourselves so that we can remember what is being taught in a meaningful way. The big question that inspires me and challenges me as an educator is how do I help my students to synthesize what they learn? How can I help my students put together information in a way they can hold on to it? The thoughts that came to mind were using visuals and actual experiences in their learning. For example if I did a reader's theater in my class on the first Thanksgiving I could have them dress up and perform it to help make it memorable. Gardner talks about the five minds and how they work. The Disciplinary Mind: the mastery of major schools of thought. The Synthesizing Mind-inundated with information. What do I pay attention to? What do I ignore? The Creative Mind- the capacity to uncover and clarify new problems, questions, and phenomena. The Respectful Mind- awareness of and appreciation for differences. The Ethical Mind-fulfillment of one's responsibilities as a worker and as a citizen. Sir Ken Robinson “Schools Kill Creativity” Challenges the way we're educating our children I like how it was stated that creativity is as important as literacy. We have been trained to teach so much to the academic mind that many times creativity is taken out of our curriculum. I am responsible for that problem myself. It can be challenging to add creativity in every lesson taught. I would like to encourage my students to be more creative. Daniel Pink The surprising science of motivation I was surprised to hear what Pink said about how people performed worse with higher incentives as a reward for achievement. Rewards actually can destroy creativity. He discussed how autonomy, mastery and purpose are building blocks of a new way of doing things. Intrinsic motivation wins. I can understand his point and agree that intrinsic motivation is the best. As a Kindergarten teacher I have to say that, physical rewards have their place and most children are not developmentally ready for intrinsic motivation by itself for their achievements. Overall, each speaker explained that because our world has changed, the way we value thinking needs to change. All speakers stated that creativity exists in everyone. Implications for the classroom Choice and Autonomy- Students need to have choice in the classroom and be able to have some autonomy in their activities. Collaboration- Students need to learn to collaborate and work together learning from each other. Growth mind set- Students need to learn that it's okay to fail. Trying, failing and trying a new strategy is okay until they succeed. Application for Mobley Regarding Mobley's insights, doing and failing are the most important things that happen in my classroom. Students need to learn that it's okay to take risks and failing is a part of life. We learn by failing and keep on trying. This is a good way to teach persistence and real life situations in the classroom. Through my readings of The Flat World and Education, I would like to know what steps we can take as a nation to come together and agree on how to solve the achievement gap problem. I think there is much to be said in what Thomas Jefferson quotes." I think by far the most important bill in our whole code is that for the diffusion of knowledge among the people. No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness....[The Education Act is] is to avail the commonwealth of those talents and virtues which nature has sown as liberally among the poor as rich, and which are lost to their country by the want of means for their cultivation."
-Thomas Jefferson "Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 5,000 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental." -W.E.B. DuBois. I would like to know why in America we have such a problem with our education system and there is so much inequality. Shouldn't there be access to equal education for all? Case Studies 21st Century Teaching Another Best-Practices Spotlight – Early Literacy and ELDThis case study was from an observation of a teacher in my local school district. She does a great job teaching ELD students and her room is set up perfectly for them. Her strategies and repetition are what makes learning scores rise for these children. She is a great example of a good teacher that helps and does her part in trying to close the achievement gap.
http://assessmentnvusd.edublogs.org/2016/09/15/another-best-practices-spotlight-early-literacy-and-eld/ Six Proven Steps for Effective English Language Instruction When English language instruction is at its best, teachers are designing lessons to support academic language acquisition for all students. Those lessons are particularly effective for English Language Learners when they’re based on an instructional model that involves the following six stages.
http://www.schoolimprovement.com/strategy-of-the-week/effective-english-language-instruction-six-steps/ Initial Response The Flat World and Education 9/16/16 My initial reaction to the first 3 chapters of The Flat World And Education was one of sadness, dismay and frustration that our education system is in such disarray. From my reading I reflected on how Linda Darling-Hammond states that Tom Friedman has demonstrated, our world is increasingly flat. Globalization is changing everything about how we work, how we communicate, and, ultimately, how we live. As I think about this I am in agreement that our schools in the United States must teach central concepts and help students learn how to think critically and learn to problem solve. One of the many problems I read about were dysfunctional learning environments in schools. Dysfunctional practices are inherited from a century ago. As a result, many students move from teacher to teacher and have little opportunity to become well known over a sustained period of time by adults who consider them as whole people or developing intellects. I thought it was interesting how students in U.S. schools have twice as many teachers over the course of their careers than children from other countries. Close connections with teachers are important for student success and learning. It was sad to me how many low income schools in urban areas suffered the most with dysfunctional learning environments. There is high teacher turn over and little funding and safe environment for the students to learn and grow in. Schools in suburban areas have better access to curriculum and more experienced teachers with less turnover. I can understand both sides. The problem needs to be addressed in the political realm and district levels. I think more funding should go to schools with a high needs population. Parent education is also important. There also should be better incentives for teacher retention in urban schools. I believe some of those types of improvements can help close the achievement gap that exists. I think it's at least a start. Extra funding for teacher training and standards based curriculum should always be a priority for every school. I work in a Title I school and I feel like my district has done a great job funding these type of schools and making sure funds go for important things such as teacher training, great standards based curriculum and parent communication. I believe our country can do better as a whole in this area, we just need a lot of support from everyone. Our future depends on our education. |
AuthorDiane Williams Archives
December 2016
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