Final Blog

Throughout this class I learned a lot, not only about education, but also about myself and what kind of teacher I want to be. I want to strive to be the best that I can be and I will try to use knowledge acquired from this class to help me in that goal.
The readings in this class really made me realize all of the different topics and concerns in education. I really liked the stories in the educational foundations book. I liked how while I was reading through them I could really relate to the stories. I especially liked the story when the teacher went against all odds to do what he thought was right. I can really appreciate the fact that he stood up for what he believed in.
The blogs I thought were awesome. I really liked how you had a chance to set up something with your own style was really different from many other classes. They were a little hard to get the hang of at first, trying to set them up and everything but afterwards they were a great way to see what others thought and react to them.
The literature circles were a good learning tool to get reactions from others. It gave us the chance to get to see what others thought about the certain subjects that were given. I enjoyed how each part of the subject was broken up into different parts to be discussed.
The education paper was a big task. Discussing everything in a six page paper can be hard. Trying to figure out what to say can be a tricky task. On the observations I thought that was an extremely important part of the class. Seeing what other teachers do with their classes is an important part of learning. I really enjoyed how from just hours in a class you can really get a feel for how they are run.
I think that the way this class was set up was perfect for the subject matter. The stories all tied into one another and helped understand the lessons. I feel that every single thing had a significant part in keeping this class organized. I really enjoyed this class and I feel that I learned more from this class than most other classes.

Pizza Anyone?

At first this blog sort of confused me. I didn’t really have any idea what I was going to pick to compare to education. After thinking about it I decided to go with the metaphor of making a pizza.
I chose this because I feel like, like making a pizza, education has many layers. The first thing you need to do to make a pizza would be to lay down the dough. This would be the same as picking the right school for you to teach in and parents finding the right school for their children to attend.
The next step would be to pick the right sauce and put this down. This would be like children being put in the right classes for their different levels. Along with the cheese that has many different varieties shapes and sizes children are all different as well get put in different classes with different teachers.
The last thing that happens with a pizza would be the toppings. The toppings that are on the pizza are individual to each and every person who orders it. Each child needs individual help. Not all children are the same and each type of education is personal to each child. Pizzas have layers like each grade of school, each building up to the next step. Without the dough or the sauce the pizza could not keep going. And without elementary schools where children learn the basis of their knowledge they wouldn’t be able to keep going through the grades.

Evolution vs Creation

There are many issues that teachers face on a daily basis. What to teach and how to teach it is a debate that has been going on for ages, and will continue to occur. The issue that I have decided to discuss would be the debate of teaching creation or evolution in school. Many people have their sides chosen, and others don’t care. However this is sometimes a very heated argument.
The Evolution vs. Creation question is often called the "Great Debate." It's the emotion-filled question of "Origins" how, why, and where did the whole thing come from? The 20th century scientists have made the convincing discovery that, the universe began at a certain point in time and both sides of the Great Debate can now agree on some of the opposers views of the origin of the world and its life. However, after a few common points this is where the harmony ends. As far as the origin of the world and human life there are countless differences in the views. There are basically two basic theories that are involved in this Great Debate. The first is the historical view that we all remember from Sunday school which is the “Creation Model of Origins”. This theory maintains that the complex design of all things had some sort of a “Designer”. The second theory is the more recent, and a more atheistic account of the theory which is now known as the “Evolution Model of Origins”. This theory argues that the complex design that makes up this world and all things in it is a product of growth and excessive time.
No matter which side you fall under it is a heated debate. Teachers have lost their jobs teaching some of these things in their classrooms. The United States is a very diverse place and I feel that no matter what teachers should teach what they want to, as long as they do not try and impose their view as the only correct ones.

http://www.panspermia.org/mechansm.htm

Waldorf Schools

For this blog we had to pick a type of school that interests us. I decided to go with the Waldorf schools. While doing research I found a passage that perfectly sums up what the Waldorf schools are about. “For the Waldorf student, music, dance, and theater, writing, literature, legends and myths are not simply subjects to be read about, ingested and tested. They are experienced. Through these experiences, Waldorf students cultivate a lifelong love of learning as well as the intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual capacities to be individuals certain of their paths and to be of service to the world.”
The Waldorf schools were developed by Rudlof Stiener in 1919; The Waldorf Education System is mainly based on a deep thoughtful perspective of human growth that addresses the requirements of the budding child. Waldorf teachers go all-out to convert education into an art that educates the entire child; this includes the heart and the hands, as well as the head.
When a person enters a Waldorf school, the first thing that you may notice is the extremely lively structure. The walls are painted with bright colors and covered with children’s art work, which is an important part of child growth to make them feel needed and important.
I choose this school because of the fact they strive on hands on as well as head on experience. I feel that all children learn in different ways so the fact that the school and the teachers make it so every student can learn in their own way is a good learning method.
“Rudolf Steiner stressed to teachers that the best way to provide meaningful support for the child is to comprehend these phases fully and to bring "age appropriate" content to the children that nourishes healthy growth.”

http://www.waldorfanswers.org/

John Dewey

“John Dewey (1859-1952) believed that learning was active and schooling unnecessarily long and restrictive. His idea was that children came to school to do things and live in a community which gave them real, guided experiences which fostered their capacity to contribute to society. For example, Dewey believed that students should be involved in real-life tasks and challenges”
I feel that I would mostly agree with John Dewey. His view would pretty much be learning through experience. I know for me I am a very visual learner. So I feel that taking real life tasks as learning experiences is a solid idea. Some of his ideas included.
“Math’s could be learnt via learning proportions in cooking or figuring out how long it would take to get from one place to another by mule. History could be learnt by experiencing how people lived, geography, what the climate was like, and how plants and animals grew, were important subjects”
I believe that one needs to experience something to get the full effect of what it is about. I feel that Dewey’s teaching fully coincide with I believe in.
Born 1859, Burlington, Vermont, USA. Died 1952.
American philosopher and regarded as the foremost educator of his day.
Major books include
"Democracy and Education" (1916)
"Logic" (1938)
"Experience and Education" (1938).
Had a profound impact on progressive education
Rejected authoritarian teaching methods.

http://wilderdom.com/experiential/JohnDeweyPhilosophyEducation.html

Social Justice

Is it good to teach what “they” want? It is an ongoing battle of teacher vs. society and there is no near end in sight. Teachers are faced with these issues everyday they step into their classrooms, should they do what they want or what they are given. In the class that I am observing the cooperating teacher showed me her “lesson plan” the entire book was pre-made, no decisions were really her own. At one of her breaks while the kids were in the library my teacher and a couple others were discussing how they were going to try and sneak some of their own lessons in with the schools. For teachers to have to try and sneak in their own work is ridiculous. We get into teaching to make an impact on kids lives, and the fact that we need to follow what someone else has already done, that doesn’t make us feel very accomplished. Teaching with social justice is an educational practice that promotes teaches to argue for justice and equity in all of their learners and in all educational settings. The practice is spread through all grade levels and academic settings, often making educators think harder and enlighten themselves as well as students. When I began to read Kohl’s article I will admit I was lost. I had to idea what was happening. Then reading though what he suggested for us, it began to make sense. I liked what he said about teaching against consciousness. “First, don't teach against your conscience. Don't align yourself with texts, people, or rules that hurt children; resist them as creatively and effectively as you can, whether through humor or by developing alternative curricula.” (Kohl)
I believe that social justice is an ongoing fight, but teachers need to teach. In order to get across what they need to, to the students they need to enjoy what they are talking about. Teachers need to display what they love in any way possible. Teacher freedom is needed.

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/15_02/Just152.shtml

Special Needs

Special needs children have it hard enough in school. Getting pulled out class if they are integrated, and having a hard time keeping up with the rest of the class. They might even feel like they don’t belong. But what happens if they feel like they don’t fit in at home as either. Children going through adoption have a very hard time adjusting to their new lives. Special needs children have an even harder time adjusting. If they are in foster homes they are getting the attention and help that they need to thrive. Teachers need to handle special needs students carefully and give them the proper care. With the added stress of adoption special needs students need too have special help that they might not be receiving.

http://www.comeunity.com/adoption/special_needs/index.html

Children Falling Behind

Children falling behind is a very serious issue that is happening more and more today. There are many factors that can contribute to this. Children these days have just as much stress as adults do, or so it seems. Children who have stressful home lives also seem to have added pressure to the everyday pressure of school. If a child doesn’t have a place of their own to study and get work done then they might fall even more behind. For some students school could also be a safe haven if their home life is too hectic. However if a child isn’t understanding what it going on in class and they are falling back instead of forward what can be done? Many schools have a good special help for those students who need one on one help, but I think that there should be a country wide collaboration that had set goals for these students. I know that when I was in elementary I had a very tough time with reading. I got put into a special reading class in the basement of all places. It did nothing for me and I could tell the teacher didn’t want to be doing it. I think that more focus should be put on this area.

http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=158

What up with private schools?

Are private schools all they are cracked up to be? What does the price get you, and is it really that expensive? More and more scholarships are being giving to try and get students in private schools rather than public. A recent study has shown that the cost of different private schools do vary, and they are mostly somewhere between 2,500$-5000$ per year. In the long run this price really isn’t that bad, but is it worth it? Do private schools give you a superior education to public schools? I don’t think so; public schools offer a largely diverse group of students to interact with. Private schools cater to one type of family, ones that can afford private prices. Also I don’t believe that since you pay for school you are getting anything more than you do in public school. The school you teach in does not mean you are a better teacher. It is how you approach your teaching that makes you a good teacher. Private schools may be for some people but I think public education is a gift that should be appreciated.

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=3231

Are the Arts overlooked?

Research has shown that art is a very important part of a child’s life. It allows them express themselves freely mostly without restriction. However is it getting left in the dust?
Art has many positive factors on a child, including increasing non-verbal skills and cognitive skills. Art can give a child who is “falling behind” a chance to be good at something. I know that when I was in school art was my favorite class! Art is a natural source of curiosity and lets children’s minds wander to new and exciting things. It allows children to become involved in their schools and can even establish a sense of pride amongst a group. A strong bond can be linked between art and student to student and student to teacher relationships as well. By letting a child express themselves you are giving them an utmost sense of pride and accomplishment. It enhances the natural curiosity all students possess.
However sad to say especially in today’s economic crisis, art is being over looked. With tighter and tighter budgets classes like art and music are being dropped. Canceling these classes may help the money problem but it is ultimately the students that suffer from it. With a way to healthily express themselves students may feel contained and anxious. I think that Art should be a part of every school, economic crisis or not.

http://www.ecs.org/html/issue.asp?issueid=211&subissueID=0

Getting Started

This is my first time making one of these so hopefully I did it right? I think its ok! Well just wanted to write something to get started. I guess I will just put up some pictures. Me and my girlfriend are on the left. Also this is how we found Lorelai asleep in her crib.