I would like to throw out a disclaimer before I begin yet another angry rant. Today I filled out a self assessment as part of my requirement for licensure by the state of TN. I was required to select three growth areas and discuss why I chose each area. One area I picked was "Teaching Strategies". The school at which I work, is a huge supporter of the "direct method". The administration encourages teachers to stick with the "drill and kill" method, believing it yields better test results. My school also doesn't buy into this whole theory that technology is the public school system's savior. My school doesn't buy flashy smartboards or purchase state-of-the-art LCD projectors. The majority of my class it taught with an expo marker and a white board. Now you are starting to get the picture why I am "technology-phobic". With ALL that being said, I think that my students might benefit from some of what the internet has to offer. The YouTube project made me think of all the cool videos that are on the web which provide visuals that my expo marker and left hand simply cannot produce. Enough positive, let's get on to the ranting!
It may come as no surprise, but I did particularly agree with certain ideas genearted from the Digital Youth Project. The authors state, "Contrary to adult perceptions, while hanging out online, youth are picking up basic social and technological skills they need to fully participate in contemporary society." *Sigh*. Myspace, Twitter, and Facebook are not teaching social skills necessary to participate in society. I don't know about anyone else's school, but mine has some drama. It can be hard to work with other people. When I have a conflict with a coworker, facebook does not tell me how to deal with it. My relationships in the past and present help me to know the most effective way to deal with tough situations. Students need to make meaningful relationships with their peers, so they can get experience with relational challenges.
What are the steps that I need to take to have my classroom be engaging?
I think my classroom is engaging. In fact, you are welcome to visit my classroom anytime. I'm sure you will find a majority of students eagerly raising their hands in anticipation of answering a question correctly. Sure I have a student who slouches every now and then--or heaven for bid, a child who doesn't write down all the notes. But overall the engagement is great. I've had teachers from several other schools observe my class and ask, "How do you get your students to be so engaged for the full 70 minutes?" The reason? Because my students know what engagement can get them: a college education. All 191 students at my school want to attend college, and they know that they will get there if they put in the hard work.
I had the privelage of taking a teacher field trip to a traditional memphis city school a few months ago. I am a second year teacher at a charter school, so I had never ventured into a traditional MCS school before. I had heard horror stories of students widdling weapons from broken library shelves and students pleasuring themselves in the back of classrooms. Need less to say, my expectations were low. The visit fully lived up to my expectation. Although I did not wittness any weapons being widdled, the engagement was severely lacking. Students were not learning. It was as if each student was in their own little world doing their own little thing, and nobody, including the teacher seemed to care. Had the students been listening to the teacher, they wouldn't have learned anything anyways. The teacher told them that 6 was a perfect square because 3 + 3 = 6. I almost cried.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Forecast 2020
I have mixed feelings about this website. Overall I thought it was super biased toward inundating our school systems with technology. The most disturbing aspect of the site was a comment made on the homepage. The homepage stated, "If you think our future will require better schools, you're wrong. If you think we will need better teachers, you're wrong!" Um, excuse me? Yes, we do need better teachers and better schools. Even if those better teachers use technology in the classroom, they still need to be better. Teachers need to be better and teach better in better schools. News Flash "Forecase 2020": Memphis City Schools is not good enough.
On a positive note...
I enjoyed reading the article titiled, "Altered Bodies". It discussed how in the year 2020 the world will be in an bio-warfare--more or less. Because the majority of humans have a total disregard for the environment, it is only a matter of time before the damning consequences of this neglect become more perceptible. (Watch an "Incovient Truth". Al Gore's documentary describing such consequences). The article states, "At the same time, greater threats to human and environmental health from climate change, pollution, war, extreme urbanization, and other natural and human-made disasters will in the next decade create new stresses on minds and bodies." Naturally these threats will effect schools. As a teacher, I am responsible for keeping my students informed of ways they can help reduce their carbon footprint. I must set a good example for my students by recycling, bicycling more frequently and reducing my energy use.
The article also encourages teachers to stay informed on current medication their students may be using. As a teacher, I am responsible for being knowledgeable about how chemicals and other factors can affect my students' learning. Not only do children consume far more medication than ever before, their diets are far less healthy. My children consume meals that lack any nutrition. For example, Memphis City serves "three cheese marinara bread"--one of my students' favorites cafeteria lunches. When this delicious treat is served, the line curves around the cafeteria with children, giddy for the scrumptious meal that await them. What is it? A piece of bread, smothered in American cheese, with marinara dipping sauce on the side. It is really not a meal at all. Where is the protein? Where are the vegetables? These meals are not helping the children to develop physically or mentally. And don't get me started on Flaming Hot Cheetos. Whose bright idea was it to make the most processed flavor ever, and inundate our children's diets with it? Children do not have the capacity to make healthy decisions with regard to their diet. Adults must take the initiative to set positive examples and restrict the diets of children before they become victim to obesity. Alas, I ranted again...
On a positive note...
I enjoyed reading the article titiled, "Altered Bodies". It discussed how in the year 2020 the world will be in an bio-warfare--more or less. Because the majority of humans have a total disregard for the environment, it is only a matter of time before the damning consequences of this neglect become more perceptible. (Watch an "Incovient Truth". Al Gore's documentary describing such consequences). The article states, "At the same time, greater threats to human and environmental health from climate change, pollution, war, extreme urbanization, and other natural and human-made disasters will in the next decade create new stresses on minds and bodies." Naturally these threats will effect schools. As a teacher, I am responsible for keeping my students informed of ways they can help reduce their carbon footprint. I must set a good example for my students by recycling, bicycling more frequently and reducing my energy use.
The article also encourages teachers to stay informed on current medication their students may be using. As a teacher, I am responsible for being knowledgeable about how chemicals and other factors can affect my students' learning. Not only do children consume far more medication than ever before, their diets are far less healthy. My children consume meals that lack any nutrition. For example, Memphis City serves "three cheese marinara bread"--one of my students' favorites cafeteria lunches. When this delicious treat is served, the line curves around the cafeteria with children, giddy for the scrumptious meal that await them. What is it? A piece of bread, smothered in American cheese, with marinara dipping sauce on the side. It is really not a meal at all. Where is the protein? Where are the vegetables? These meals are not helping the children to develop physically or mentally. And don't get me started on Flaming Hot Cheetos. Whose bright idea was it to make the most processed flavor ever, and inundate our children's diets with it? Children do not have the capacity to make healthy decisions with regard to their diet. Adults must take the initiative to set positive examples and restrict the diets of children before they become victim to obesity. Alas, I ranted again...
Monday, February 14, 2011
YOUTUBE Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sskf3tF2heU&feature=fvwrel
I chose this video, because my students and I are about to begin Unit 5: Geometry. I thought this video, although very simple, was a nice introduction to surface area. I would have the students track the video and copy down the notes as the teacer did on the board. Afterwards, I would give the students a worksheet of several more surface area problems involving cubes. After 5 minutes of drill, I would introduce surface area of rectangular prisms. I would then give students more practice problems calculating the surface area of both recangular prisms and cubes.
I chose this video, because my students and I are about to begin Unit 5: Geometry. I thought this video, although very simple, was a nice introduction to surface area. I would have the students track the video and copy down the notes as the teacer did on the board. Afterwards, I would give the students a worksheet of several more surface area problems involving cubes. After 5 minutes of drill, I would introduce surface area of rectangular prisms. I would then give students more practice problems calculating the surface area of both recangular prisms and cubes.
Angry Rant
After viewing this video, I think technology is over-emphasized in today's schools. The vidoe made me angry. I liked that it brought up important statistics: such as "I watch television 16.5 hours a week." and "I game 3 hours every day." Honestly, I think those two statistics are exactly why we should NOT implement technology in the classroom. Maybe children today should be spending a little less time staring at a screen. You're probably thinking right not, "Oh Whitney, she must be some frumpy 88 year old lady, who doesn't know the difference between DVR and Tivo." The truth is, I am 23 years old. I don't have a televison. I choose to spend my time reading rather than spending mindless hours in front of a television watching Jersey Shore. (I'm proud to say I've never seen an epidsode!) I read "Watership Down", "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", and "Grapes of Wrath". This antiquated form of entertainment challenges me, and it helps me learn. You know why I think kids can't get jobs or go to college? Because they can't read! Watch "Waiting for Superman". Maybe if teachers taught kids how to read and do basic arithmetic they'd be closer to going to college than having the "create" on a laptop. I apologize for my elistist tone, but I refuse to devalue my morals by buying into the newest crock that MCS is trying to promote. With all this being said, I DO think that typing is a very valuable skill. I also think learning basic computer skills that are pertinent in college (such as writing a report using WORD, organizing/creating a presentation using POWERPOINT and analyzing data using EXCEL) IS very important. I don't think that schools shoudl be void of computers by any stretch of the imagination. What I DO think is that learnig to read, write, and do math should be prioritized before learning to blog.
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