Learning Pyramid

Another blog wrote about this also-but I think this Learning Pyramid is facinating. What it says is that we learn the best by teaching others. Perhaps this is why the One Room Schoolhouse worked so well. The older students were taught by the teacher and then they helped the little ones. My parents both went to a One Room Schoolhouse and I asked them over Thanksgiving what learning in that environment was like. They said that the teacher would call up the grades one at a time. You would be working at your desk but you would hear the teacher going over the material for the different age groups again and again. So there was repitition and when you were older you helped those in need of help. My parents have their doctorates and masters degrees. They learned a lot in those little red schoolhouses-maybe they learned by teaching others.
Check out this website for more information on why this works.

Where we'll be December...of next year!

Just got this "Your first year" email. Thought it was interesting to see where we'll be next year! And we think we are stresses now.... ;)

NEW TEACHER SURVIVAL GUIDE

www.teacher.scholastic.com/newteacher/index.htm

National Board

I know we are not nearly at this point, I happened across the website for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There is information about support and funding on the state and local level.

http://www.nbpts.org/resources/state_local_information/Washington

Story telling in the classroom

So I ran across this video about storytelling in the classroom. We were just reading about having kids act out stories as a tool to get them excited about reading a story several times. I think having them choose stories and choose one to retell to the class is another great idea.

Getting Endorsed

After working with 6-8th grade students during my dyad I have found that I like the age level and material of junior high. I don't know if I will ever teach in a junior high but I think it would be a good idea to get endorsed anyway. Before I joined the program I was speaking with a fellow parent who was saying how impressed she was that her child's 6th grade teacher was endorsed in math, science and english. I think this could really help me to get a job.

There are two of us who are considering studying for an endorsement test over the break. Do you have any information about the tests or any interest in studying with me for the test?

Have you heard positive things about a teacher who is endorsed when they don't really need it?
I'll be interested to hear your ideas about this.

I VOTE FOR PEACE

For the past week I have been dealing with a very personal family emergency and have been out of touch with this program. My current situation has allowed me to consider what things are really important. This is a total cliche' but I just want to stand up in our cohort and yell, "can't we all just get along?!" We are all so extremely different and wouldn't it be awesome if we could just deal with our frustrations quietly and respectfully and be there for each other. This would be an incredibly boring place if we were all similar. Sure, it might be easier, at times, but really super boring. I hope we can all work on building each other up instead of knocking each other down. Let's live what we will teach. I am now stepping down from my box.

Guess I was confused

Wow, I really thought we were in these classes to learn and ask questions about the things we don't understand before getting in the classroom. I have always believed the old saying "the only stupid question is the one you don't ask."

This attitude of old people are sooooooooooo slow and stupid can't we just forget about that and move on, has been building from the start of the summer quarter combined today with the "oh goodie for you" and "how hard is it for you to read" remarks when I asked for clarification on the "whereto' (which is on the erserve templete)of the unit plan today really HURT my feelings. Never fear I know how to let it go.

But it left me with two thoughts, First, I am concerned about the future students of these future teacher. How will those student feel about continually being shot down and dismissed. It is easy to say it won't be that way then and what you are going to do then, but actions have always spoken louder to me.

Yes, in a perfect world I wouldn't be in this program with a family and life. Then I could spend my every waking moment devoted to studying, but that is not realistic for many of us. I do wish some members would have a little more patience or if nothing else be less verbal about how much of your time we are wasting. You know I happen to pay the same tuition for class time as you, therefore I should be able to ask questions without fear.

For individuals that will be teaching others about community in the near future, it sure appears to me this cohort has a lot still left to learn.