Tags for "Learning"
Children Will Learn, With Or Without A Structured Education
To me, it seems that just by living, and getting by in... A Glimpse of Compassion in Room 114
I never intended to take a band class, but I had heard the teacher was awesome and well loved. So I decided to do it. I play percussion, so I don't always have much to do, but it's great fun just to sit and watch the teacher... An Inadvertent Lesson From My Nephew
To illustrate my first point, consider an educator who has been devoted to our nation's education practices for the past 30 years. Perhaps a person as such would be very upset to learn that educating democratically actually caters more to the child in many ways. Consider possible issues of personal pride being hurt, and issues of doubting oneself as a person who is able to accurately reason through situations and information so as to make conscious, and deliberate decisions. Or perhaps this information could come as an unpleasing update if one had been trying to best educate... A Rainforest Brain in a Sea of Standardization
The article in ODE was a source of optimism for me. Thomas argues that rather than focusing on the stigmas of psychological or... Lucas: A Puppy with a Purpose
Lucas is one of countless young dogs across the US in training to become a seeing-eye dog for the... In the Interest of Full Disclosure
In the interest of full disclosure, I feel the need to divulge a few things to the IDEA audience.
I AM a public school teacher, in a non-democratic school. Students do have a choice in course selection, but often do not receive the classes they ask for in their schedule. Kids can choose to ditch class, and face the repercussions. Students can also choose their level of engagement in each class, and to some extent the grade they will earn for the course. Those are the choices the students can make, and the extent to which... “Man, this class is pugnacious!”
Things quickly got heavy with my new eighth graders as soon as I passed out the class syllabus which contains the following paragraphs (selected because they caused the loudest sighs of exasperation and/or shouts of defiance from my students):
Basically, the study conducted an experiment between two groups of people preparing for a Swahili vocabulary test. One group studied for the test by whatever methods they chose, and the other group took a pop-quiz prior to the actual test, and were given a list of English words which correlated to the Swahili words in some fashion (by meaning or phonetically)... The kind of mayoral engagement we can celebrate
Imagine a mayor who calls together all department heads to sit in a circle with leading educators, youth, and parents every other week to sort out how to increase each young citizens sense of belonging, their rootedness to the city, and how the city can bring its resources to bear in service of the best learning available.
Sound crazy? Impossible? In March,... Self-Determination Theory
Posted on Apr 12, 2010 - 08:43 PM by Shawn Strader in Op-Education
Often I wonder, why do we send our children away to a classroom at all? I can only speak for myself, but I feel that I have an ample amount of knowledge and know-how which I would love to share with my future children. With my knowledge, plus the fact that I would be bringing my kid(s) with me on daily adventures and into my networks of other people, it seems that experience alone would provide a well-rounded atmosphere for learning. So unschooling, to me, seems to be a viable option for providing an education. But at the same time, it seems odd, intuitively, to even think of planning an educational route for my future children.To me, it seems that just by living, and getting by in... A Glimpse of Compassion in Room 114
Posted on Apr 14, 2010 - 08:27 PM by Claire Russell in Pulse
In my Waldorf grade school, compassion and inspiration were the norm, which was a beautiful thing. However, in my current public high school it is much harder to come by, which is something I dearly miss about my old schooling. Words like "stupid" and "retarded" are thrown around like they mean nothing and like they aren't hurtful. However, every once in a while you can truly see the heart of the student body, and that is precisely what inspires me to write about this.I never intended to take a band class, but I had heard the teacher was awesome and well loved. So I decided to do it. I play percussion, so I don't always have much to do, but it's great fun just to sit and watch the teacher... An Inadvertent Lesson From My Nephew
Posted on Jul 06, 2010 - 07:51 PM by Shawn Strader in Op-Education
As of late, I have been observing what it is like to maintain a high level of patience with my 4-year-old nephew. For example, he can sometimes take a very long time to complete a task that he knows how to do, because he is trying different methods. And sometimes, his experimental process can be a nuisance, depending on what kind of time frame we have to spend with each other. If we need to be at the park down the road to meet up with his parents at 3pm, and he needs to get his shoes on in the next 3 minutes, or else we will be late, then his efforts to successfully throw his flip flops onto his feet can be straining on whoever is responsible for him. But lately I have been allotting a lot... Ignorance Is Bliss, But Isn’t Learning More Important?Posted on Jul 27, 2010 - 12:00 PM by Shawn Strader in Op-Education
Sometimes, it is so begrudging learning new things. Does that mean that we should avoid learning certain things?To illustrate my first point, consider an educator who has been devoted to our nation's education practices for the past 30 years. Perhaps a person as such would be very upset to learn that educating democratically actually caters more to the child in many ways. Consider possible issues of personal pride being hurt, and issues of doubting oneself as a person who is able to accurately reason through situations and information so as to make conscious, and deliberate decisions. Or perhaps this information could come as an unpleasing update if one had been trying to best educate... A Rainforest Brain in a Sea of Standardization
Posted on Aug 05, 2010 - 09:56 PM by Zuleka Irvin in Op-Education
I read two articles today that lifted and sank my heart. The first was an article in ODE Magazine ("for intelligent optimists") written by Thomas Armstrong. It was an excerpt from his book, "Neurodiversity: Exploring the Extraordinary Gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Brain Differences." The second was an education article by Our Weekly, a newspaper about current events in the African American community that circulates in my town. The title of that article is, "California's Education Transformation: New standards, programs, and funds introduced."
The article in ODE was a source of optimism for me. Thomas argues that rather than focusing on the stigmas of psychological or... Lucas: A Puppy with a Purpose
Posted on Aug 06, 2010 - 10:50 PM by Claire Russell in Pulse
I stood waiting in line under the fluorescent light of my local Super Wal-Mart, a container of juice in my right hand. This was a very rare scene for me because I don't shop at Wal-Mart as a habit, but what made this occasion really rare was what was in my left hand. I looked down at the leather leash in my fist, the kind they usually use for service dogs in training. I followed the leash down until my gaze was met with soft brown eyes. At my side sat a six-month old black lab puppy wearing a red 'Guiding Eyes for the Blind' bandanna and a matching red collar with a name-tag that read: LUCAS.Lucas is one of countless young dogs across the US in training to become a seeing-eye dog for the... In the Interest of Full Disclosure
Posted on Sep 03, 2010 - 10:22 AM by Alison Bagg Brink in ImprovEducation
I am a public school teacher. I teach First Year Spanish. I have been teaching for 15 years. I am a parent. My children are students in a democratic free school.In the interest of full disclosure, I feel the need to divulge a few things to the IDEA audience.
I AM a public school teacher, in a non-democratic school. Students do have a choice in course selection, but often do not receive the classes they ask for in their schedule. Kids can choose to ditch class, and face the repercussions. Students can also choose their level of engagement in each class, and to some extent the grade they will earn for the course. Those are the choices the students can make, and the extent to which... “Man, this class is pugnacious!”
Posted on Sep 11, 2010 - 04:33 PM by Ammerah Saidi in The Learning Curve
I saw my students for the first-time this past week. I've been preparing for their arrival, metaphysically, since man was first created; philosophically, since I was born; and officially since teacher training started on August 16th Things quickly got heavy with my new eighth graders as soon as I passed out the class syllabus which contains the following paragraphs (selected because they caused the loudest sighs of exasperation and/or shouts of defiance from my students):
*CRITICAL INFORMATION* “C” is the default grade for any assignment, NOT an “A” since an “A” means going over and beyond what is requested of the skill and requires further independent research from the student. See...Is Testing and Quizzing Good for Learning?
Posted on Oct 15, 2010 - 02:02 PM by Shawn Strader in Op-Education
According to a blog posted in the education section of the online magazine, Good, Kent University conducted a study which, scientists claim, has shown that practice tests and practice quizzes are good for learning. It's a short blog, and if you've got time, I suggest reading that before you read the rest of this blog. Just click here.Basically, the study conducted an experiment between two groups of people preparing for a Swahili vocabulary test. One group studied for the test by whatever methods they chose, and the other group took a pop-quiz prior to the actual test, and were given a list of English words which correlated to the Swahili words in some fashion (by meaning or phonetically)... The kind of mayoral engagement we can celebrate
Posted on Nov 30, 2010 - 02:39 PM by Scott Nine in The Landscape
Imagine a small city of 200,000 people whose mayor has earned the trust, partnership, and respect of its educators (both public and private), business leaders, youth, and parents. A mayor whose calendar reflects a real commitment to an honest conversation about ways the entire city can become a school - in the best use of the word.Imagine a mayor who calls together all department heads to sit in a circle with leading educators, youth, and parents every other week to sort out how to increase each young citizens sense of belonging, their rootedness to the city, and how the city can bring its resources to bear in service of the best learning available.
Sound crazy? Impossible? In March,... Self-Determination Theory
Posted on Dec 17, 2010 - 12:37 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
Professors of the Year: They Put Students in Charge of LearningPosted on Jan 31, 2011 - 04:30 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
Brain Facts: Learning, Memory, and LanguagePosted on Feb 03, 2011 - 10:07 AM by Dana Bennis in Resources
Alfie Kohn: “It’s bad news if students are motivated to get A’s”Posted on Mar 30, 2011 - 06:15 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
The Civic Mission of SchoolsPosted on Jun 16, 2011 - 03:50 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
Education EvolvingPosted on Jun 17, 2011 - 12:08 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
SkillsharePosted on Jun 21, 2011 - 12:56 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
I Learned to Believe in MePosted on Aug 31, 2011 - 11:23 AM by admin in Blog
Vermont’s Framework Of Standards & Learning OpportunitiesPosted on Nov 07, 2011 - 03:56 PM by Shawn Strader in Resources
Collaborative CommunicationsPosted on Jan 16, 2012 - 05:29 PM by Melia Dicker in Resources