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I am back!
10 years ago
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Making the Interactive
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=47452&title=Science_Notebook&ref=mwarner1968
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Duncan, charter schools and me
I really have nothing against charter schools. I just don't think they are the salvation of public education.
Arnie Duncan does. Now a look at his record quickly shows his record as CEO of Chicago's public school was less than stellar. His idea of shutting down poorly performing schools (what the heck does that mean?) and starting over as charter school misses the point. The schools are a symptom. I would like to see the schools where this has worked.
Charters over all do about as well as public schools, but when success are cited, very often there is more to the story, like in New York City, where the populations of charters schools do not match those of non-charter public school concerning homeless, ELL and Special needs.
While I am asking, how about adding other items to our international test scores, like health care, teacher planning time and crimes committed by handguns.
Everyone seems to have an idea on what is wrong with education, and what it should look like. Like this Article titled "If We Didn't Have the Schools We Have Today, Would We Build The Schools We Have Today?" And Tapscott points out that someone from the last century would not recognize a modern ER or Airplane cockpit but would fit right in a modern classroom. I am not sure that is a fair comparison, the same person would recognize a bank lobby or restaurant, and while the physical structure is the same, many of the methods of teaching have changed. I am thinking of differentiation, cooperitave learning and megacognition.
But, to play the devils advocate, the materials supporting my geophysical text are are very prescribed and if allI did was teach with them it would be bad.
Should we tear now all our schools and start over. This is misleading questions because it is not going to happen. It is a fun mental excersize, but let talk about what we can do to change what we have.
Arnie Duncan does. Now a look at his record quickly shows his record as CEO of Chicago's public school was less than stellar. His idea of shutting down poorly performing schools (what the heck does that mean?) and starting over as charter school misses the point. The schools are a symptom. I would like to see the schools where this has worked.
Charters over all do about as well as public schools, but when success are cited, very often there is more to the story, like in New York City, where the populations of charters schools do not match those of non-charter public school concerning homeless, ELL and Special needs.
While I am asking, how about adding other items to our international test scores, like health care, teacher planning time and crimes committed by handguns.
Everyone seems to have an idea on what is wrong with education, and what it should look like. Like this Article titled "If We Didn't Have the Schools We Have Today, Would We Build The Schools We Have Today?" And Tapscott points out that someone from the last century would not recognize a modern ER or Airplane cockpit but would fit right in a modern classroom. I am not sure that is a fair comparison, the same person would recognize a bank lobby or restaurant, and while the physical structure is the same, many of the methods of teaching have changed. I am thinking of differentiation, cooperitave learning and megacognition.
But, to play the devils advocate, the materials supporting my geophysical text are are very prescribed and if allI did was teach with them it would be bad.
Should we tear now all our schools and start over. This is misleading questions because it is not going to happen. It is a fun mental excersize, but let talk about what we can do to change what we have.
Monday, April 27, 2009
I got it
The article Let's Just Put them In Jail 24/7 is a great read. Although being paid about 45% more is attractive, what's that? No extra money? They don't expect teachers to work that extra time for nothing do they?
The Beatings Will Continue Until Moral Improves
I read a blog post titled David Warlick is Angry I tried to get to the original post, but failed, but this gives me a start. My school is going to e-time, a 1/2 hour period everyday for interventions in reading, writing and math. I get kids in science about 43 minutes a day. I recognize the need, some kids are below where they need to be and spending more time makes sense. But is there a cost? How many kids will retreat further into themselves? How many will accept they they 'Just Dumb" and stop trying. A hard thing to measure. A here is where I am torn, I think my kids could do a lot better if they would try harder. They think they are working hard. They are not. Can I make them work harder? I work hard to motivate, but motivation is hit and miss, some seem unreachable. Doing the same stuff longer does not seem to be the answer. I hope the time spent with smaller groups by specialists (math and language arts teachers) will show some results. I expect I will havestudents who test as profient, a lot of them. I asked to teach electronics or robotics and tie in math and technical reading. All interventions had to be based on reading or math. There might be a bright side, maybe I can use this time to connect with some of the kids who really love science and mentor them.
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