http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/02/22/student-protest/
I think these rallies are an important step in getting our legislature to hear us. The educational system is key for all other areas of our country. We need to fund schooling in order to produce the workers our companies are in need of.
I think if we can turn around the governments thoughts on education we'd see an improvement in all areas of the economy. We need to keep rallying and get our legislature to consider stopping the funding cuts.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Reinventing English in France
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/feb/08/tefl-france
France's education minister Luc Chatel is looking at new ways to incorporate English into education. He is suggesting that teaching English around age 3 has shown promising benefits. He has also been looking at different computer programs to help aid students, but this area is still under some controversy.
This advancement in English would be very beneficial to students in many areas. Being multilingual has shown to be very beneficial in education and in the work force. I think that if other countries can get their children to start with English at a younger age, then so can the United States. I think it would benefit our students greatly, and help them with their future education. This could be a great starting point to incorporation a more multicultural curriculum in many schools.
France's education minister Luc Chatel is looking at new ways to incorporate English into education. He is suggesting that teaching English around age 3 has shown promising benefits. He has also been looking at different computer programs to help aid students, but this area is still under some controversy.
This advancement in English would be very beneficial to students in many areas. Being multilingual has shown to be very beneficial in education and in the work force. I think that if other countries can get their children to start with English at a younger age, then so can the United States. I think it would benefit our students greatly, and help them with their future education. This could be a great starting point to incorporation a more multicultural curriculum in many schools.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Field Experience: Day 1
Today was my first day in my field experience. I was placed in a 4th grade math at Kennedy Elementary in St. Joseph. I really enjoyed my first day, especially because it was Valentines day! We cut our math time down so we could exchange and share treats. I really enjoy the teacher and helpers, and I am excited to be in their classroom.
Waiting for Superman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN0nf6Hqk0
Today I watch the new release called Waiting for Superman. I thought this movie was eye-opening and very informative. It was a documentary on the United State's educational system. It showed startling statistics for many metro areas. I recommend this movie to anyone going into education. We all can work together to make a change in our failing educational system.
I want to be the teacher that can make a change. I want my students to know I care about their education and future. I will work towards changing our failing schools, even if it takes one student at a time. To prepare myself I will keep updated on news and policies that are happening. I will listen to suggestion to change and help others do the same. I believe with our new generation of teachers we can make the difference we want to see in the world.
Today I watch the new release called Waiting for Superman. I thought this movie was eye-opening and very informative. It was a documentary on the United State's educational system. It showed startling statistics for many metro areas. I recommend this movie to anyone going into education. We all can work together to make a change in our failing educational system.
I want to be the teacher that can make a change. I want my students to know I care about their education and future. I will work towards changing our failing schools, even if it takes one student at a time. To prepare myself I will keep updated on news and policies that are happening. I will listen to suggestion to change and help others do the same. I believe with our new generation of teachers we can make the difference we want to see in the world.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bullying in Anoka-Hennepin School District
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2010/12/17/report-no-link-with-bullying-and-anoka-suicides/
I think this article is a real piece of work. To say that none of these suicides happened because of bullying is wrong. They are trying to make there school district sound perfect by basically saying there is no bullying there. Maybe not all of the suicides were an act from being bullied, but you don't know what else would give them reason. Students often do not report bullying issues, because they are afraid that the bullying will get worse. What they do not realize is that it can only get better if they report it. Then it is put upon the educators shoulders to make sure that the situation is handled and stopped. If we do not provide schools with enough information and training in these situations, the bullying will never stop, and our students will still be in danger. I think it is very sad for this school district to be denying the suicides were not partially a result of bullying. And I am sorry for the students in that school district who may not be getting the help they need from their educators. Bullying is a problem everywhere, and you cannot deny that it doesn't happen even when you have a no bullying policy.
I think this article is a real piece of work. To say that none of these suicides happened because of bullying is wrong. They are trying to make there school district sound perfect by basically saying there is no bullying there. Maybe not all of the suicides were an act from being bullied, but you don't know what else would give them reason. Students often do not report bullying issues, because they are afraid that the bullying will get worse. What they do not realize is that it can only get better if they report it. Then it is put upon the educators shoulders to make sure that the situation is handled and stopped. If we do not provide schools with enough information and training in these situations, the bullying will never stop, and our students will still be in danger. I think it is very sad for this school district to be denying the suicides were not partially a result of bullying. And I am sorry for the students in that school district who may not be getting the help they need from their educators. Bullying is a problem everywhere, and you cannot deny that it doesn't happen even when you have a no bullying policy.
Bullied
http://www.tolerance.org/bullied
Today I watched the movie Bullied. As a future teacher I will always be a protector of my students. The schooling system should be a safe haven for students to learn and grow. Our students should be able to come to any one of their teachers and get help. I would never give up on a student if they were in trouble. No matter the situation and my personal beliefs about it, I would help my students. How are students supposed to know if it's ok to stand up to something, if their teachers never do. No matter the situation, students should not be subjected to the cruelty of bullying.
Today I watched the movie Bullied. As a future teacher I will always be a protector of my students. The schooling system should be a safe haven for students to learn and grow. Our students should be able to come to any one of their teachers and get help. I would never give up on a student if they were in trouble. No matter the situation and my personal beliefs about it, I would help my students. How are students supposed to know if it's ok to stand up to something, if their teachers never do. No matter the situation, students should not be subjected to the cruelty of bullying.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Global Achievement Gap: Chapter 1
The author of The Global Achievement Gap, Tony Wagner, raises awareness about the United States education. The U.S. is continually falling behind other nations in education. We have become more concerned if our teachers are teaching well, rather than if our students are learning. The introduction of standardized testing has forced teachers to make sure that their students are prepped for the information on the test, rather than problem solving and critical thinking.
Tony introduces seven important survival skills that everyone should have. They are:
1. Critical thinking and problem solving
-These skills are important not only in the classroom, but also in the workplace. Employees need to be able to use these skills to make changes and advancements in their company or workplace.
2. Collaborations across networks and leading by influence
-In this section Tony presses that teamwork and collaboration are changing terms. Students today lack leadership and teamwork skills, which are important factors in the workplace.
3. Agility and adaptability
-This section talks about jobs, and how they are ever-changing. This forces workers to be able to adapt and change along with their job and be able to excel.
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship
-There are more opportunities for people to go out and create ideas and strategies.
5. Effective oral and written communication
-High school and college graduates do not have effective communication skills. Companies are looking for people who can communicate their thoughts and ideas, and newly graduated students do not possess these skills.
6. Accessing and analyzing information
-There is so much information out there for people to access now, but students do not know what is relevant and important.
7. Curiosity and imagination
-New employees need to be able to come up with new and creative ideas to put their company on top. They need to have the ideas to compete and excel in their field.
Finally, Wagner discusses that we cannot succeed if we do not approach our goal with a global perspective. Our world is so diverse, and even in the United States we are so diverse, we need to know what's going on around us. Our students in the U.S. are falling behind because of the "mono" school system. Diversity in our schooling systems is a great engine for developing a more global curriculum. I think it would be very beneficial for students to be bi or multilingual and have more global perspectives classes. If this happens we can put the U.S. back in the runnings in education.
Tony introduces seven important survival skills that everyone should have. They are:
1. Critical thinking and problem solving
-These skills are important not only in the classroom, but also in the workplace. Employees need to be able to use these skills to make changes and advancements in their company or workplace.
2. Collaborations across networks and leading by influence
-In this section Tony presses that teamwork and collaboration are changing terms. Students today lack leadership and teamwork skills, which are important factors in the workplace.
3. Agility and adaptability
-This section talks about jobs, and how they are ever-changing. This forces workers to be able to adapt and change along with their job and be able to excel.
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship
-There are more opportunities for people to go out and create ideas and strategies.
5. Effective oral and written communication
-High school and college graduates do not have effective communication skills. Companies are looking for people who can communicate their thoughts and ideas, and newly graduated students do not possess these skills.
6. Accessing and analyzing information
-There is so much information out there for people to access now, but students do not know what is relevant and important.
7. Curiosity and imagination
-New employees need to be able to come up with new and creative ideas to put their company on top. They need to have the ideas to compete and excel in their field.
Finally, Wagner discusses that we cannot succeed if we do not approach our goal with a global perspective. Our world is so diverse, and even in the United States we are so diverse, we need to know what's going on around us. Our students in the U.S. are falling behind because of the "mono" school system. Diversity in our schooling systems is a great engine for developing a more global curriculum. I think it would be very beneficial for students to be bi or multilingual and have more global perspectives classes. If this happens we can put the U.S. back in the runnings in education.
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