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Exam: Too much Academia Too Soon
Article posted April 30, 2008 at 10:34 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1608
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I agree that we are stealing the childhood away from the child. Not only are they not allowed to have fun when they are young, but we are quickly teaching them to hate school and thus, hate learning altogether. It is so sad that we are forcing our student to "bubble up" at such a young age - learning how to take tests rather than learning how to "be". I can't imagine how exactly we jumped on this highway to hell, but we are there. Somehow, our generation of teachers (and the next, and the next) need to work hard at making changes in these realms. Don't do it for the sake of our country, or it's economy...do it for the sake of humanity. Maybe I'm just an old hippie in a young person's body and I'm too idealistic - but it seems to me that that's what we need right now. We have to find the way to be the change we want and then help others do so too. Good for this teacher for trying to hold off on crushing a little girl's spirit!
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Article posted April 30, 2008 at 10:34 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1608
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Finland's Calling
Article posted April 5, 2008 at 06:07 AM GMT0 •
comment (407) • Reads 2087
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Finland certainly has made some impressive strides. I have to wonder though, how much of their progress in the educational realm can be related to progress in other areas as well. What I'm getting at: Finland also has some amazingly progressive social programs which I'm sure has some influence over the mindset of their citizens. Ensuring that parents can take leave to care for their children without fear of being fired and the fact that students studying at the university level receive study grant, a housing supplement, and a government-guaranteed study loan. I think that I may have to do some additional research to find out more about the educational philosophy in Finland.
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Article posted April 5, 2008 at 06:07 AM GMT0 •
comment (407) • Reads 2087
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International Education
Article posted March 29, 2008 at 07:22 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 443
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Community. In a single word, that is what impressed me most about the articles on Edutopia's website. I was touched by the need and desire to make community-wide improvements as opposed to individual gains. The Service Learning Programs were also very interesting as well. It's unfortunate that we don't see more programs that provide for the greater good within our own communities. It seems there are so many things that we can learn from our neighbors across the globe. Honestly, I don't know why we don't think to look toward what other countries have done successfully more often. Why reinvent the wheel? Grant it, any useful programs would need to be adapted to fit the unique situation of our students, but wouldn't that be worth it?
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Article posted March 29, 2008 at 07:22 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 443
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The 21st Century
Article posted March 24, 2008 at 08:26 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 454
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Although I commented on the blog itself, and placed an additional comment on Ms. Van Abel's entry, I thought I would take a moment and share my views here as well.
In my opinion, we definitely need to get the teachers "up to snuff" on technology. I mean really, how do we expect to be able to teach technology that we don't even know how to use? I've never been a person that could "mess around" with a program and learn the ins and outs of it. I need to sit down, be taught how to use a program and make notes on those step-by-step operations. For me, that is a necessary step to "running with it", without that I have difficulty moving forward. I can pick up the basics...but will never be fluent in the technology. So...onward for being taught good things.
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Article posted March 24, 2008 at 08:26 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 454
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Spring Break
Article posted March 13, 2008 at 12:31 AM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 382
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In all honesty, I think I could use a "do-over" when it comes to Spring Break. With a combination of preparing and presenting a paper on Independent Reading & Writing at the Michigan Association of Sciences, Arts, and Letters (MASAL) in Kalamazoo and also needing to travel to Beaumont Hospital in Detroit for my mother (because of a recent stroke), my break was both stressful and travel intensive. Fortunately, I did spend some time relaxing in a jacuzzi tub (which, needless to say, was much needed).
Overall, my mother is doing well. Her vision has been affected by the stroke (we're not sure what she'll be able to do at work though) and she has some difficulty with finding the correct word at times - but her general health and motor skills are good.
The conference was great! I wish I could have been a bit more involved in the activities though. My paper was presented in the "literacy" segment of the education section. There were two other presenters (both with PhD's) that were reporting research findings based on their work and their graduate students' work. I made sure to introduce myself as an undergraduate student to ensure that I would less likely be asked questions that were beyond my scope of understanding. :) They were all really nice and down to earth though (and indicated that I did a really good job).
Now...if I could just have some time to myself that didn't involve traveling, thinking, or studying. If only just for a few days...
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Article posted March 13, 2008 at 12:31 AM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 382
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Classroom Management - It's a Necessity
Article posted February 17, 2008 at 05:55 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 392
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The thing that impressed me the most about this article was that it provided real-world examples of what various teachers have done at different levels of education from Kindergarten through College to implement these ideas. I enjoyed seeing how other individuals had applied these same concepts in different ways from one another in addition to having concrete evidence of what actually worked for them.
I have to admit, I picked up the Wongs' book for a quarter at a Peter White Library sale last year and haven't had an opportunity to read it yet. Now I know that I need to AND that I want to.
I too am struggling with how much structure I should include in my classroom as far as rules go. But, I have to admit that (even in college) the best run courses have been with professors who have had very specific policies in relation to classroom rules/management. There are no doubts as to what is expected and that has made the course so much more enjoyable in the long run.
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Article posted February 17, 2008 at 05:55 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 392
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UDL for everyone
Article posted January 30, 2008 at 03:17 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 387
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“But if you can start people thinking about the curriculum as having a disability, instead of the student having a disability, it’ll be worth it.”
I liked the quote at the end of the article. I think it gives us a better idea of where our focus as teachers should be: changing the curriculum rather than changing the students.
I think the UDL concept would be well worth implementing, but I think I would need more direct instruction as to exactly what that would mean. How do I change my focus to make it work better? What concepts and methodologies have worked for others? While I realize that most of us wouldn't and for that matter shouldn't be using identical methods, I still would like to know where to begin. I think the idea of creating such changes through technology may be a bit less obvious to those of us who haven't been taught with much technology in the past. Which doesn't mean that the ideas are any less useful to us, it just means that we may initially require a bit more of a learning curve to get started.
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Article posted January 30, 2008 at 03:17 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 387
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Read and Reflect: Future Schools
Article posted January 21, 2008 at 04:59 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 307
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I have to admit...I've often wondered why schools function the way they do. As I've taken classes and learned what the original function of the school system was, I can see that society has evolved beyond those humble beginnings. Then, I ask myself: what are the goals of todays schools? Do we still desire to create informed citizens who take part in the democratic process? Are we attempting to create worker bees? Are we corporate institutions forming miniature consumers? Are we in the business of sending masses of people to college? What's our focus?
I'm really impressed that an individual is actually looking for real answers and has lofty goals of beginning from the ground up. Part of me is surprised that a person in his seventies is open to such vision. Then I remember that not all individuals of the older generation are so conservative in mindset.
I think his ideas are bold. I think it's wonderful that he wants to alter the schedule to suit the individual (personally, I function as a night person - it's just my nature) and make it easier on the family. I often wonder how parents deal with a school schedule that doesn't match their work schedule. In my experience, employers aren't too flexible when it comes to family issues (so sad, but true). I do have concerns though. I think it is important that we learn things beyond our natural interests. If nothing else, we discover further interests! But I do agree that education should be tailored to the individual. Why should everyone have the same text book? Why not cater to the individual. I may have to think about that a while...
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Article posted January 21, 2008 at 04:59 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 307
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Intro to Mindelei
Article posted January 20, 2008 at 05:18 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 272
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Happy Saturday Everyone!
I think I've started the beginning of this introduction about three or four times looking for something clever to say. Rather than continue down that path, it might be easier just to jump right in.
I grew up in the "village" of Free Soil, down in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. As a kid, I was a theatre fanatic. I auditioned for every play at my school and begin doing shows at the community college and at the Ramsdell Theatre (where James Earl Jones started) when I was in high school. As you may have guessed I grew-up sheltered in the country and finally got my first taste of all the amazing colours and flavours of the world when I attended Interlochen Arts Camp in the summer of 1992. That experience opened up my eyes to so many new things.
Once in college, I studied Theatre just outside of Chicago. I had never been to the city prior to moving there (and have managed to continue that tradition as I've moved around the country). It was amazing, I loved it!
Since then I met my husband, Nigel, (online of all things - he's from Australia) we've been married for eight years now. We've had the pleasure of living in Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, Houston, as well as other parts of Michigan. It certainly has been an adventure traveling the country and learning about different places and different peoples. At the time, it was my job that continued to relocate us as I moved from one office to another working as an Immigration Consultant. The job was stressful, but it really was very interesting.
Once we moved back to Michigan, we took an entirely new direction: raising pigs and cows for their meat and growing organic vegetables. It was during this period that Nigel returned to school to finish his Bachelor's degree. I continued working, but had difficulty finding stable employment due to the economy. His educational journey brought us to Northern so that he could earn a degree in Philosophy and continue on to graduate school. At the same time, I decided to return to school to become a teacher. Honestly - I'm having so much fun as a student, I wouldn't have it any other way. Coming to Northern to finish school was the perfect thing for the two of us to be doing right now. As of May 2009, who knows what part of the country we'll be traveling to. I can't wait to begin the next adventure!
See you in class...
:) Mindelei
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Article posted January 20, 2008 at 05:18 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 272
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About the Blogger
What would you like to know? I have a habit of moving to knew places without having visited them previously. I've been married for 8 years (my husband rocks, if I do say so myself). My spare time is spent studying for class (boring - I know). I'm the Secretary/Treasurer for Phi Delta Kappa (the premier professional teaching association), our chapter was just formed in Oct. 2007. And...I'm a perfectionist who is a total slob: go figure. Oh - if you want to know anything about me: just ask (I might even tell you). :)
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