Assignments

== =Good morning:) All the best, Michelle= = For Dec. 5, 2013 = Sorry I couldn't make it tonight. I was in an accident on exit 6 (the guy who hit me definitely caused your traffic), but I am ok. Luckily, all three cars and other drivers were ok, too. Here is my presentation. The video is cool :)

http://prezi.com/-4gd8pbeqnae/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy = = = = = For September 26, 2013 =

1. What are the primary characteristics defining a successful student? Use single words or short phrases to identify up to
5 characteristics. Underline __THE__ (only one) __most important characteristic__ (i.e. Without a student will not be successful.).

2. What is your “philosophy of discipline” (as it relates to students at the level you teach or intend to teach)? This is often an interview question.

4. What steps do you/will you take to create an atmosphere where students can take intellectual risks in your classroom/class?
5. "Fair is not always equal." How does this apply to the coursework so far?


 * READ CHAPTER 3, "Knowing the Learner" in //One Size Doesn't Fit All// **

= For September 19, 2013 = = =

Read and highlight (annotate) up to page 4 of handout. (The remaining pages are for reference.)
= = =**Consider the question:**=

POST your response by Wednesday. YOU DO NOT have to comment on another's response.
I think that we should start “evolving” toward the social piece of education. Academics are important, but just as important as social interaction. There is no guarantee that a student will graduate high school or even enter it. There are dropouts, there are flunk outs, and there are those that just don’t see the reason to continue their education. Therefore, we should implement social education immediately from pre-K into Kindergarten and onwards, because now is the ONLY time they will get it formally and with instrucation. For those that do graduate high school, some will enter college and some will not. Are we preparing all types of students, learners, graduates, non-gradates, and the in-between for a social, global empire that is the world? My answer is no. Sure, we are preparing the academics portion of education. We test, we teach, we lecture. But do we generously give our time as educators to those that are need of learning values like respect, community, conflict-mediation, and interdependence? I cannot say that was my personal experience and based off of this reading, I cannot claim that this is America’s experience at large in the public education system. Students are bullied, taunted, bully, and taunt. They tease, they play, they date, they struggle as a class, and they find their clique (which sometimes means no clique at all). Educators need to provide a safe space for debates, conflict resolution, noise, and contact opportunities. The world is social. Social media is a billion-dollar franchise, because human nature makes us social. But just because we are social beings, does not mean we are innately good at it. If we were, children wouldn’t need to be taught kindness, sharing, or altruism. That is where the education system comes in. We need to teach these concepts and provide a space that encourages mistakes, wrong answers, and tolerance. That way, when these children are adults they are prepared for the world and the social nature of it. If they are not given opportunities to socialize with freedom, but also with responsibility and consequences than they will never improve. We are breeding social beings without instructing them how to be social! Life is social and if we aren’t teaching social aspects, than we are not preparing them for life. We are preparing them for unknown territory as soon as they leave our walls. ~Lumiere~

9/16/13 Are we preparing our youth for life? Hmm, well with the implementation of the Common Core learning standards, some buzzwords being "differentiation" and "community" and decision-making frameworks such as the positive behavioral and intervention supports (S.W.P.B.S), I believe we are taking steps towards that goal. However, **no, I do not believe that our current educational system is preparing our youth** for an increasingly globalized, complex ,and media-saturated society. Even though the world we live in values collaboration, cooperation, and interdependence, most if not all of our schools focus more on the academics. I agree with educator and author, Chris Cavert, our education system needs to "evolve' and include more "affective" education. Even though the classroom is the perfect place to learn and collaboration, I believe it is not being exercised or taught. In the article, //Journey Toward the Caring Classroom// by Laurie Frank she makes a great point when she poses the following: //"How can we expect students to learn how to act responsibly if they are not given the opportunity to have responsibility? In order to learn how// //to live in a democratic society, it is necessary to experience democracy. Experiencing true community in the classroom may just breed true// //community in our society."// I believe there are many factors that come into play when we ask ourselves why this is so. Think about that teacher in the article- "the ultimate enforcer". How many teachers have you heard that are like this? I've not only heard, but know of teachers like this. They struggle for power and feel they are losing control of their classroom when they allow students to be responsible for their own learning or behavior. In the section titled, //Creating the Conditions for Community,// Laurie Frank shares how her college years provided even fewer opportunities to make connections with her colleagues. It reminded me of my own college experiences. For the most part, my undergrad college life was an isolated existence. I coexisted semester after semester with a class of dozens of students without even getting to know one of them (unless I already knew them)! My professors made little or no attempt at building a community of learners. If communities did exist, it existed outside of the classroom with my friends of friends.Research shows that our brain makes connections at higher cognitive levels when we feel safe and valued. Thank goodness that most of us learned in spite of this. As for me, I struggled, but fortunately I had a support system at home that allowed me to //survive, b//ut what about the rest of us? Are we failing them as educators? The U.S Census Bureau shows that while fewer students are dropping out of high school, fewer are choosing to attend college. The number of Americans attending college in the fall of 2012 shrank by nearly half a million students compared to the previous year! Are our "A" students really college ready both academically and socially? I believe not. Football legend Gary Ablett couldn't have said it better when he said, "Modern society has lost its moral compass." Television, newspapers and computer screens are full of horrid stories and crimes that detail a very serious decline in morals and values in our society. **These stories show a rapid deterioration in standards of behavior.** Our nation as a whole is in crisis. Our political system, hospitals and schools have become desensitized. Instead of just continuing to sit back and wonder why and where our strong and solid culture has gone, we need to relearn how we as a community can live and work together in order to produce a more peaceful and secure loving environment. **Let's make classrooms as dynamic as the world around us. Let's ALL regain OUR moral compass and begin OUR journey toward the caring classroom!**

Respectfully, Decachild (Iris)

9/18/13 Are we preparing our students for life?

It is impossible to give this question a clear answer. I think of the one room school house where the students are asked to line up and the teacher would check behind the ears of each child for cleanliness. I remember my grandfather’s story of how the teacher would make the children hold out their hands while she checked their fingernails for dirt. Was this a way of preparing the class to maintain decent hygiene? Preparing students for life? It just happens! In an elementary setting we teach students how to share, to work together in co-operative groups, we teach them to cover their mouths, wash their hands, speak up for themselves, apologize to a friend, zipper their jackets. We teach them how to walk safely, how to sit quietly and how to be an important citizen in our classroom community. In the course of the school year we become a microcosm of a family. We begin to know and understand one another, we make adjustments to our classmates’ learning styles and take care of each other. Young students are wonderful at embracing the parameters of classroom procedures and expected behaviors. In fact, young students have a feeling of safety and comfort knowing that these types of parameters are in place, like the care and safety you get from your family. In the forward of the article, __ Journey Toward a Caring Classroom __ by Laurie Frank, Chris Cavert asks, what about the personal part? In my opinion, it’s all personal. So when does that begin to change? As children get older are we as educators become more focused on the standards. Educators need to prepare their students for a stronger academic life, college, careers. How do we help our students learn when they are dealing with bullying, divorce, death, substance abuse, sexual orientation? Are we really preparing our students for life? Is it temporary? When they leave us, what happens? When do students develop the skills to make formative decisions or become critical thinkers? I truly believe the seeds need to be planted at an early age.

We had a staff development meeting today after school and the focus was the new evaluation process for teachers. Teachers will be held accountable for how well they provide a positive learning environment for their students. The domain focuses on how a teacher promotes a respectful learning environment, an environment where students are respectful of one another’s differences. Apparently the state believes we must continue to prepare our students on skills that will help prepare them for life.

One thing I can say about this topic is that it has had emotional effect on me both professionally and personally. I remembered so many profound moments I have had as a teacher and so many of my own childhood memories.

Tonight, at dinner, I asked my 20 year old son if he felt he had teachers who helped prepare him for life. In his most eloquent way he said, “The ones that gave a //bleep// did.” He went on to say the ones who didn’t, were focused on what had to be taught, they didn’t see beyond that. Teaching = Love :)

Michelle aka Mademoiselle