Fighting Together

In We are not the enemy (if we try) from  Seth Godin's Blog, Seth Godin states,

“We end up spending our time fighting each other instead of fighting for the things that really matter. We end up focusing on the current thing while something more important shrinks away in the background.”

As election time approaches, I see this fighting more and more on the political front. I feel like all this political fighting actually overshadows the real issues. People seem to be spending more energy fighting each other than actually trying to resolve the problems. There are lots of name calling and accusations but not a lot of actions.

I would rather see a candidate trying to resolve a problem and show me that he/she is actually doing something to try to help. Even if they don’t have the power they need at this point, they are still doing what they can. They are not just saying the words, but they are showing me they are willing to do whatever necessary to improve the situation. Just standing up and saying the words that people want to hear doesn’t say very much to me.

I like to look at candidate’s backgrounds and see what they have already done up to this point. The campaign brings their name to my attention, but I only spend a little time listening to what they are currently saying about how they feel towards future issues. But for issues that we have been dealing with for years, I want to see how committed they have been in the past to try to resolve them or is this just a new bandwagon they got on for the election.  

I hear a lot of candidates arguing about education, but I don’t see a lot of improvements being made. Usually, the candidate is so far removed from the classroom and only taking the advice of those giving the most money. I want to see a candidate who actually gets in some classrooms in order to get a real sense of what is going on in education. I want them to get in a cross section of classrooms which show different social and economic communities. I would love to see a candidate offer to teach a class for a whole day as a substitute teacher at least four times before they are elected. I’m not sure that will ever happen but if I wished for something, that is what I would wish for in an election dealing with education candidates.

Instead of spending so much time fighting each other, people in charge need to come together to find a solution to the problems. I’ve been to so many meetings where people argue about who is to blame rather than how to fix the problem. Stop blaming and start fixing! We need to fight the problems together and this strength may actually solve some problems. We are weak when we are apart but if we start fighting together, we can make something happen.

How do you think we can solve education problems? Please share.

Photo by Katerina Radvanska on Unsplash

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 10/26/18

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels:  E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

Science Journal – by Google; “Science Journal transforms your device into a pocket-size science tool that encourages students to explore their world. As they conduct eye-opening experiments, they’ll record observations and make new, exciting discoveries.” (L:G;SA:S)

Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors – “Based on the hit PBS KIDS show, Nature Cat’s Great Outdoors is the on-the-go toolset that will inspire your child to explore nature – in the backyard, at a local park or even looking out the window. Every day, Nature Cat has a set of new daily adventures that lets kids use tools to record and share their observations in fun, creative ways!” (L:E;SA:S)

Geocaching – “join the world’s largest treasure hunt.” (L:G;SA:S)

Plum’s Crreaturizer – “Go on a nature adventure with Plum's Creaturizer! Kids and families can build wild creatures, then head outdoors to photograph them right in their own backyard. It's part of PLUM LANDING, a PBS KIDS project that helps kids develop a love for this amazing, beautiful, and dramatic planet we call home. The app provides opportunities for kids and their families to interact with nature in a thoughtful way and have fun exploring together.” (L:E, M;SA:S)

Make a Monster – “It’s the spooky season, and the perfect time for crafting. While you are working on last-minute costume preparations, keep the kids busy with a DIY monster craft. Your kids will have a blast as they make a monster with just a few simple materials. How the monsters look is completely up to your kids; they can personalized the eyes, mouth, ears and more! This is a great craft for preschoolers or young elementary-level students. The craft involves no more than cutting and pasting and the options are endless. Have some free time or want to join in on the Halloween spirit? Create one with them!” (L:E;SA:FA)

Original photo by Pat Hensley 

Learning By Doing

In Learning without doing from Seth Godin's Blog by Seth Godin 

“You can try to learn without doing.”

I like how the writer used the word “try” when he comments about learning without doing.

I know that when I hear people talk about how to do something I’ve never done before or I’m watching a video on how something is done, it really doesn’t sink in until I actually try it for myself. I think it is good to see how it is done first but I won’t really learn how to do it without doing it myself.

As teachers, sometimes it seems easier to do things for students ourselves as we tell them how they should do something, but we really aren’t helping them at all. The best thing would be to be patient and walk them through the procedure they need to follow so they can learn how to do it for themselves. Sometimes this might be frustrating because it seems easy for you to do and hard for them to do. Remember that one time you were a beginner too.

When teaching students something new, remember to not assume they know any of the steps. It is easier to start as if they don’t know than to assume, they do and skip something important. Once you realize that they can do that step, you can move on to the next step.

Don’t rush through something new. Once they learn how to do something, give them time to practice the new skill. Doing it once is not enough. They might be lucky enough to get it right the first time but can they do it again? Can they do it again without you walking them through every step?

It is good to actually write out the procedure you follow and show it as you teach it. Then students can follow each step as you talk about it. Then they can it again without you talking about it but they still can see the steps. Eventually, they won’t even need to see the steps.

How do you teach something new? Please share.

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

Nothing in Life is Free

In ‘Free of charge’ is an illusion—We pay a price for everything. From Lisa Ricard Claro – Author, Lisa Ricard Claro shares,

“There is a price to pay for everything. “

I have had this discussion with several people who think that every time they see there is something free, there is no cost. I try to explain that nothing in life is free.

There may be no money being exchanged but there is always a price for something.

Usually, when I find something someone is giving away, I know that I might have to do some work on this item to make it fit where I want it to go.

If I’m visiting a tourist destination, people come up to me and try to offer me something for “free” but first I have to go hear their sales pitch. It is going to cost me my time to get this “free” thing, so I don’t see it as really free.

I get things in the mail to go to a free dinner in order to hear about a sales pitch. Again, my time is the cost.

Sometimes I get offers for a free trip in the mail, but I will have to pay taxes and fees. I do not consider this a free trip.

If you see a sign on a restaurant that offers free wifi, it is usually included only at the cost of a meal.

Usually, there is a catch if something is offered as “free.”

No one gives up something willingly for free. (Unless of course, it is a close friend who is trying to declutter her house. But then again, the cost is actually giving up some of my living space so maybe it really isn’t free.)

What really bothers me is when so-called friends want me to do something free for them at the cost of our friendship. Friends should not impose on friends.

I need to remember that there is a cost for everything free or not free. I need to remind my students this too and maybe one day they won’t be sucked into scams or bad friendships. They need to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

How do you help students see scams for what they really are? Please share.

Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

Halloween Activities

Before long, it will be Halloween and students will be excited. Rather than try to fight them on the excitement, I like to plan some activities around Halloween. Here are some suggestions.

Language Arts:

Cut out large pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper. Have the students decorate the pumpkins with markers or crayons. Cut out a smaller version of these from white construction paper.  Have students write a story on the white shape and glue it to the undecorated side of the pumpkin.

Writing Prompts:

·      My favorite Halloween Costume

·      My Name is Peter/Penelope the Pumpkin…

·      The Scariest Costume

·      A Scary Story

Math:

Cut our pumpkin shapes from orange construction paper and pumpkin stems from green construction paper. On the pumpkins, write math equations and on the stem, write the answers.

Have the students match the pumpkins with the correct stem. You can even make it self-correcting by labeling them with matching numbers on the back.

Write Halloween themed math word problems.

Have students do price comparison shopping for pumpkins. Have students figure out the cost per pound. Have students find the cost of multiple amounts of pumpkins.

Social Studies:

Find out the origin of Halloween.

Find out if other countries celebrate Halloween and how do they celebrate it.

Science:

Make orange slime with cornstarch, water, and food coloring.

Make a sizzling cauldron using food coloring, baking soda, and vinegar.

These are just a few activities that students enjoy. There are many other activities that you can find online.

What is your favorite Halloween activity for the classroom?  Please share.

Photo by Bekir Dönmez on Unsplash