Monday, March 30, 2009
Middle School and Junior High School
What are the differences and similarities between middle schools and junior high schools? What came first middle schools or junior high schools? Why did educators feel the need to create middle schools? What was your experience - did you attend a middle school or a junior high school? Provide examples.
Effective Instruction
Describe what you believe are the elements of effective instruction. Make sure you look at the information in Chapter 12 to back up your beliefs.
Managing a Classroom according to a Social Reconstructivist philosophy
Here is some information I found off the web regarding social reconstruction and classroom management.
Education should be a place of gratification and self-discovery. Processes of learning can interact with knowledge and truth in a classroom environment. In order for the most constructive methodology of education to prevail, several of the existing philosophies need to be scrutinized and combined to form a new philosophy of education.
Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism are philosophies of education that promote the child over all matters. Progressivism advocates for the interests of a child over subject matter. Educators are prompted to aid in the development of a student’s personal and social values. The atmosphere of the school is aesthetically pleasing and diverse activities take place simultaneously in a classroom. Educators encourage students to learn by doing. Social Reconstructionism is also a liberal based methodology that is based upon the belief that schools should help reconstruct society. Educators should be held responsible for transforming society as well as transmitting knowledge. Social Reconstructionism exhibits concern for tomorrow.
Classroom management is a key aspect of achieving a successful curriculum and should be established to aid in positively modifying the behavior of each child. Some believe that children are naturally disruptive and therefore need to be conditioned and undergo behavior modification: Others believe that children acquire ill behaviors from their surrounding environment. Parental and environmental influences can be major causes for the development of disruptive behaviors. Teachers need to reconnect with the roots of these behaviors and help to positively alter them. Educators should model desired behaviors and provide a consistent and dependable classroom atmosphere. When dealing with misbehaviors, teachers need to be proactive rather than reactive.
Education should be a place of gratification and self-discovery. Processes of learning can interact with knowledge and truth in a classroom environment. In order for the most constructive methodology of education to prevail, several of the existing philosophies need to be scrutinized and combined to form a new philosophy of education.
Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism are philosophies of education that promote the child over all matters. Progressivism advocates for the interests of a child over subject matter. Educators are prompted to aid in the development of a student’s personal and social values. The atmosphere of the school is aesthetically pleasing and diverse activities take place simultaneously in a classroom. Educators encourage students to learn by doing. Social Reconstructionism is also a liberal based methodology that is based upon the belief that schools should help reconstruct society. Educators should be held responsible for transforming society as well as transmitting knowledge. Social Reconstructionism exhibits concern for tomorrow.
Classroom management is a key aspect of achieving a successful curriculum and should be established to aid in positively modifying the behavior of each child. Some believe that children are naturally disruptive and therefore need to be conditioned and undergo behavior modification: Others believe that children acquire ill behaviors from their surrounding environment. Parental and environmental influences can be major causes for the development of disruptive behaviors. Teachers need to reconnect with the roots of these behaviors and help to positively alter them. Educators should model desired behaviors and provide a consistent and dependable classroom atmosphere. When dealing with misbehaviors, teachers need to be proactive rather than reactive.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A Social Recontructivist in Action
I just finished reading Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin and I have to say it is a must read. Greg Mortenson is a living example of someone who possesses the philosophical perspective of a social reconstructivist. Three Cups of Tea is the story of a failed American mountaineer who ends up in an impoverished Pakistan village. (There is an adult version of the book, a young adult version of the book, and a picture book all available.) Moved by the kindness of the inhabitants he makes a promise to return and build a school for the uneducated children of the Karakoram village. As of today he has built 78 schools.
In the book he describes a situation where he is trying to get funding for the school project and sends out 580 letters to celebrities. He only receives $100.00 from Tom Brokaw but somehow a group of elementary school children from River Falls, Wisconsin hear about his project. These elementary students begin collecting pennies for the project which they named Pennies for Peace and donate $623.40 which then inspires adults to begin making donations. This is what social reconstructionism looks likes in a classroom or a school. It is children making a difference one penny at a time.
Visit http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ to learn more about this incredible story of social reconstructivism in action.
In the book he describes a situation where he is trying to get funding for the school project and sends out 580 letters to celebrities. He only receives $100.00 from Tom Brokaw but somehow a group of elementary school children from River Falls, Wisconsin hear about his project. These elementary students begin collecting pennies for the project which they named Pennies for Peace and donate $623.40 which then inspires adults to begin making donations. This is what social reconstructionism looks likes in a classroom or a school. It is children making a difference one penny at a time.
Visit http://www.threecupsoftea.com/ to learn more about this incredible story of social reconstructivism in action.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Extra Credit Opportunity
The monthly The Brownbag Series on Diversity is in LSF 144 this Wednesday, March 25, at noon.
Jodi James, the Disability Services Coordinator at PNC, will present "Diversity in Disability," which will look at the diversity of characteristics and effects caused by various disabilities that are seen in higher education classrooms. Students within various disability categories have unique characteristics that follow them into the classroom. Jodi will look at these effects and how they can be accommodated so that a student's knowledge is not filtered through their disability. Students and faculty both can learn why certain students are accommodated and how these accommodations work to bring students with disabilities to the same level as their peers.
This extra credit assignment is worth 10 points.
To recieve the extra credit points - attend Jodie's presentation, post your reaction to this presentation on the blog. Share something you learned, why is it important for future teachers to have an understanding of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, and any other comments you may have.
Jodi James, the Disability Services Coordinator at PNC, will present "Diversity in Disability," which will look at the diversity of characteristics and effects caused by various disabilities that are seen in higher education classrooms. Students within various disability categories have unique characteristics that follow them into the classroom. Jodi will look at these effects and how they can be accommodated so that a student's knowledge is not filtered through their disability. Students and faculty both can learn why certain students are accommodated and how these accommodations work to bring students with disabilities to the same level as their peers.
This extra credit assignment is worth 10 points.
To recieve the extra credit points - attend Jodie's presentation, post your reaction to this presentation on the blog. Share something you learned, why is it important for future teachers to have an understanding of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, and any other comments you may have.
Monday, March 23, 2009
You Take a Position
Teaching in an Era of Reform
Refer to the "Teaching in an Era of Reform" case found on pages 405–406 of your textbook.
document.
Now it’s your turn to take a position on the issue. Respond to the blog concerning whether you favor learner-centered instruction or teacher-centered instruction, and provide a rationale for your position.
Refer to the "Teaching in an Era of Reform" case found on pages 405–406 of your textbook.
document.
Now it’s your turn to take a position on the issue. Respond to the blog concerning whether you favor learner-centered instruction or teacher-centered instruction, and provide a rationale for your position.
Creating Productive Learning Environments
After reading about Creating Productive Learning Environments check out one or more of the following websites. Share something interesting you have discovered about creating environments that are conducive to learning.
caring
http://www.caringteachers.com/
classroom management
http://education.indiana.edu/cas/tt/v1i2/what.html
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/drugfree/sa2lk9.htm
http://www.shpm.com/articles/child_behavior/behavman4.html
http://www.honorlevel.com/techniques.html
http://7-12educators.miningco.com/msub49.htm
classroom organization
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/futureteachers/classroom_organization.htm
withitness
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/leap/aee535/Management.ppt
http://www.aaeteachers.org/newsletters/aprilmaynews.pdf
caring
http://www.caringteachers.com/
classroom management
http://education.indiana.edu/cas/tt/v1i2/what.html
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/drugfree/sa2lk9.htm
http://www.shpm.com/articles/child_behavior/behavman4.html
http://www.honorlevel.com/techniques.html
http://7-12educators.miningco.com/msub49.htm
classroom organization
http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/futureteachers/classroom_organization.htm
withitness
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/leap/aee535/Management.ppt
http://www.aaeteachers.org/newsletters/aprilmaynews.pdf
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Spring Into Education
Tomorrow, Thursday, March 19th from 11:30-1:30 there will be an open house for all education students in LSF 02. Come and have a free lunch (fried chicken, sub sandwiches, side dishes, desserts, and beverages), mingle with other education students and professors and find out about the education clubs we have on campus. Hope to see you there.
For Monday's class - sorry about not putting an online assignment on the blog. This was my mistake and therefore consider it a free day.
Thanks to all of you who attended the Reader's Theatre performances last Monday. Your feedback was very helpful to the Block V students.
For Monday's class - sorry about not putting an online assignment on the blog. This was my mistake and therefore consider it a free day.
Thanks to all of you who attended the Reader's Theatre performances last Monday. Your feedback was very helpful to the Block V students.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Have you filled out your FAFSA?
Deadline: March 10, 2009
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) is a form that students (and their families) can complete online, and is used to calculate their eligibility for financial aid. While certain types of federal aid (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, etc.) can be included in a student's financial aid package regardless of when the form is filed, there is a deadline to maintain eligibility for certain Indiana aid programs (Frank O'Bannon Grant, 21st Century Scholars, etc.). These State grants, which do not need to be repaid, could amount to as much as $6,012 for the 2009-2010 academic year (approximately 30% of the total cost of attending PNC), depending upon a student's need.
Last year, only 35% of PNC students filed their FAFSA before the Indiana deadline. Essentially, two-thirds of PNC students passed up "free money" from the state, relying instead upon either off-campus employment or loans that will represent a lingering debt whether they complete a degree or not.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) is a form that students (and their families) can complete online, and is used to calculate their eligibility for financial aid. While certain types of federal aid (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, etc.) can be included in a student's financial aid package regardless of when the form is filed, there is a deadline to maintain eligibility for certain Indiana aid programs (Frank O'Bannon Grant, 21st Century Scholars, etc.). These State grants, which do not need to be repaid, could amount to as much as $6,012 for the 2009-2010 academic year (approximately 30% of the total cost of attending PNC), depending upon a student's need.
Last year, only 35% of PNC students filed their FAFSA before the Indiana deadline. Essentially, two-thirds of PNC students passed up "free money" from the state, relying instead upon either off-campus employment or loans that will represent a lingering debt whether they complete a degree or not.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
MONDAY'S CLASS: Extra Credit Opportunity
If you would like to earn 10 extra credit points here is an opportunity for you.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tech 214
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Watch block V students do reader theatre performances. Provide the performers with feedback by completing a feedback form and sharing your opinion of their performance.Please leave your name on this post if you are interested in this opportunity.
REMEMBER WE WILL NOT BE MEETING FOR EDST 200 ON CAMPUS. OUR CLASS WILL BE ONLINE FOR MARCH 16, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tech 214
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Watch block V students do reader theatre performances. Provide the performers with feedback by completing a feedback form and sharing your opinion of their performance.Please leave your name on this post if you are interested in this opportunity.
REMEMBER WE WILL NOT BE MEETING FOR EDST 200 ON CAMPUS. OUR CLASS WILL BE ONLINE FOR MARCH 16, 2009
Mid Semester Celebration
Come celebrate making it half way through the semester!!! Let's show our support to Graham Smith, Dave Farris and Dr. Pratt other wise known as Common Denominator- Sunday night March 8, 2009 at 6:oo p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings in Valparaiso- show starts at 7:30 p.m. in the basement.
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