Andrianes Pinantoan makes a good point in her article, "Why Discipline is Overrated" when she points out the fact that parents and teachers are losing their footing in discipline. The threat of getting sued by a child or parent for trying to discipline a child increases every day. I have asked my self on many occasions how I would keep control of my classroom or discipline my kids without overstepping the ever-enclosing boundaries of appropriate discipline.
Pinantoan argues that the reward system does work well in getting kids to behave well. If the reward is given out sporadically and not every time the child does something then they will be encouragd to keep doing the task. However, if rewards are the only reason the child is doing something then they are not learning good morals. They are learning to do something in order to get something, instead of doing something simply because it is the right thing to do.
I am not a parent or a teacher yet, but when I am, what will I choose? I hope that I can teach my kids and students good morals through praise and explanation. But I have seen parents give in to the easy method of just handing the child a reward or taking something they love away without explaining the significance of their actions that caused the reward or punishment. I believe communication is the best way to handle any situation. A child should be told when they are doing something wrong but also what they are doing right.
website used: http://www.cerebralhacks.com/education-learning/why-discipline-is-overrated/
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
My Future Role As A Teacher: Effects of E-Learning
Dana Rosen's article, "From Chalkboards to Chat Boards: What Will E-Learning Look Like in 2075" forced me to accept that my current vision of what teaching will be like is partially skewed. As a future literature teacher, I envisioned sitting in a circle with my class, and guiding them through a discussion about the book we are reading. I envisioned myself as the sole provider of information, the one that the students looked to for help.
With a mixed sense of regret and relief, I realize that my vision of the classroom needs to be revised. Rosen points out many technologies that will make my job easier when teaching. However, I must admit that I am not a very technology oriented person and it is kind of defeating to know that a computer can replace me as a teacher. Rosen's final words scared me when she said that schools could become obsolete due to the ability to learn online, but she did reassure me by pointing out that teachers can still be utilized in other way such as mentors.
I am interested in learning more about what technology can do for me when teaching literature. Although I am old-fashioned and like to read actual paper books in order to scribble notes all over the pages; I know that not everyone learns the same way as me. I look forward to inspiring my students to love reading with the help of this technology.
website used: http://www.edudemic.com/chalkboards-chat-boards-will-elearning-look-like-2075/
With a mixed sense of regret and relief, I realize that my vision of the classroom needs to be revised. Rosen points out many technologies that will make my job easier when teaching. However, I must admit that I am not a very technology oriented person and it is kind of defeating to know that a computer can replace me as a teacher. Rosen's final words scared me when she said that schools could become obsolete due to the ability to learn online, but she did reassure me by pointing out that teachers can still be utilized in other way such as mentors.
I am interested in learning more about what technology can do for me when teaching literature. Although I am old-fashioned and like to read actual paper books in order to scribble notes all over the pages; I know that not everyone learns the same way as me. I look forward to inspiring my students to love reading with the help of this technology.
website used: http://www.edudemic.com/chalkboards-chat-boards-will-elearning-look-like-2075/
Monday, January 26, 2015
Freeing Poetry from Its Bad Reputation
It seems that every time I am in a literature class and the teacher announces that we will be doing poetry, not only do the students seem to cringe at the thought, but the teacher as well. Students seem to want to run away from poems because the answer of what it is about is not plain to see. I personally love analyzing poetry because I can appreciate a writer more when they create a clever puzzle with their words.
High school English teacher Nancy Barile understands the fear that students can have when approaching the unknown rhelms of poetry. She created a thought out introduction to poetry that shows students how interesting it can be to figure out each lines meaning. She starts with Sylvia Plath's "Metaphors", then John Donne's "Computations", moving onto Emily Dickinson's "It sifts from Leaden Sieves" until finally she finishes up with Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress".
For the first three poems she guides the class through the poem and makes them contemplate how title coincides with the lines of the poem. For the last poem she had the class break off into groups and write one sentence for each stanza that sums up what the speaker is say. Her class responded really well to the approach and even reading through her explanation made me want to raise my hand and answer her questions. Until I realized I am staring at a computer screen.
I will definitely try this approach when I am finally teaching my own English class. The lesson provides a comfort starting level for students who have no experience with poetry. The teacher does not have false expectations for the class and the students are encouraged to just go with their first instinct in analyzing the poem. Once students realize how cleverly a writer can express a thought without flat out saying it, I believe this inspires students to read more poetry. Once the intimidation that poetry often produces is proven to be unnecessary, more students will be open to learning how to analyze poetry.
Website used: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom_solutions/2011/03/get-ready-for-national-poetry-month
High school English teacher Nancy Barile understands the fear that students can have when approaching the unknown rhelms of poetry. She created a thought out introduction to poetry that shows students how interesting it can be to figure out each lines meaning. She starts with Sylvia Plath's "Metaphors", then John Donne's "Computations", moving onto Emily Dickinson's "It sifts from Leaden Sieves" until finally she finishes up with Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress".
For the first three poems she guides the class through the poem and makes them contemplate how title coincides with the lines of the poem. For the last poem she had the class break off into groups and write one sentence for each stanza that sums up what the speaker is say. Her class responded really well to the approach and even reading through her explanation made me want to raise my hand and answer her questions. Until I realized I am staring at a computer screen.
I will definitely try this approach when I am finally teaching my own English class. The lesson provides a comfort starting level for students who have no experience with poetry. The teacher does not have false expectations for the class and the students are encouraged to just go with their first instinct in analyzing the poem. Once students realize how cleverly a writer can express a thought without flat out saying it, I believe this inspires students to read more poetry. Once the intimidation that poetry often produces is proven to be unnecessary, more students will be open to learning how to analyze poetry.
Website used: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom_solutions/2011/03/get-ready-for-national-poetry-month
Portland Maine Problem Solvers
"Portland Maine Problem Solvers" is a great example of how the right kind of teaching can produce the right kind of learning. Every year teachers get their classroom plans together in hopes of fulfilling school curriculum guidelines. However, each year is a different group of students with varying styles of learning. These guidelines seem like they have good intentions, but how successful can a classroom be if a teacher does not have the freedom to decide what curriculum would best fit her class this year. It seems to me that each year a teacher's freedom and a students' creativity is stifled, all in the pursuit of passing state exams.
But state exams should not be the end all be all of deciding how a school is run or how a student learns. The future is what matters, the end all be all is what students do with their knowledge to better society. It is clear from the student interviews at Portland Maine Middle School, that straying away from the standard curriculum was an inspiring idea. Expeditionary learning asked kids to get out of their comfort zone and ask teachers to enter uncharted territories in learning. Even though the students were reluctant at first to build robots and study wind turbines, they soon became invested in learning as much as they could to make the best inventions they could. The tasks given to them not only provided an interesting way to learn about engineering and inform them about the problems society is facing, but it is showing them that they can make a difference.
These students were shown how rewarding it could be to enter a job in the engineering field. They also gained practice with collaborating with team members and improving ideas, which ultimately prepared them for the real world. They know now not to give up and to keep communicating to improve their ideas. If expeditionary learning spreads across America, our future generations could be the ones to figure out ways to save resources, purify water in low income countries, and bring new eco-friendly power supplies to the world.
The first step is getting the kids interested at a young age. Portland Maine Middle School student are on the right track to become influential members to society.
Website used: http://vimeo.com/68323188
But state exams should not be the end all be all of deciding how a school is run or how a student learns. The future is what matters, the end all be all is what students do with their knowledge to better society. It is clear from the student interviews at Portland Maine Middle School, that straying away from the standard curriculum was an inspiring idea. Expeditionary learning asked kids to get out of their comfort zone and ask teachers to enter uncharted territories in learning. Even though the students were reluctant at first to build robots and study wind turbines, they soon became invested in learning as much as they could to make the best inventions they could. The tasks given to them not only provided an interesting way to learn about engineering and inform them about the problems society is facing, but it is showing them that they can make a difference.
These students were shown how rewarding it could be to enter a job in the engineering field. They also gained practice with collaborating with team members and improving ideas, which ultimately prepared them for the real world. They know now not to give up and to keep communicating to improve their ideas. If expeditionary learning spreads across America, our future generations could be the ones to figure out ways to save resources, purify water in low income countries, and bring new eco-friendly power supplies to the world.
The first step is getting the kids interested at a young age. Portland Maine Middle School student are on the right track to become influential members to society.
Website used: http://vimeo.com/68323188
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Welcome
Hello,
My name is Megan Sanders.
I am a student at Stockton, taking Instructional Technology.
This blog will contain my assignments from the class.
Enjoy!
My name is Megan Sanders.
I am a student at Stockton, taking Instructional Technology.
This blog will contain my assignments from the class.
Enjoy!
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