Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Element

The Element stereotypes that all schools are a 'fit-one-size' and tend to stifle the creativity of students with a non-adjusting curriculum. This is the public school prescription and some parochial and private schools follow. Directions like these strongly allow cracks to open up and swallow many students. The Element is a call for Education Reform. Everyone of us as individuals and teachers should embrace our creative side, with students as well. Open up and allow our students to become creative within the class you teach and the curriculum you follow. Every single class has potential to do just this. A good teacher should take the proper steps to change and develop his/her subject area to fit a kid's creative needs. An extended time period will allow and encourage this practice...

Note: Way too many personal stories in the book. Get to the point...don't try to fog and shadow us with stories that sometimes don't support the thread of the book.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Uncommon -- Tony Dungy retired coach Indianapolis Colts

What a great book that addresses relationship in your life. Tony, not only the coach but a true Christian Man, relates his faith and position as a man on how to build and sustain these relationships. Not only coaching but being a husband, father, leader of people or just a 'common' man. Several scripture verses throughout his writing reinforce his philosophy and success. Not only how to treat people but simple things as respecting authority. "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." ...Mark Twain.

Dungy also lists 13 'Keys for Developing Your Core'
1. Remember that what you do when no one is watching matters.
2. The means matter as much as the ends, if not more.
3. Hang in there. Character is revealed through adversity.
4. Often we grow as much through the little things as we do through the big ones.
5. Truth is critical. Being truthful is too.
6. Don't rationalize your way around honesty.
7. Don't blow your own horn.
8. Don't be falsely modest; you have amazing gifts. Just recognize that others do too.
9. You are important, but not indispensible. The same goes for others. See yourself as a significant part of the process.
10. Be carefule what you do with your resources, gifts, time and talents. You've been entrusted with them.
11. Some of the most rewarding time in life are when you have to stand alone, even if you are uncomfortable doing so.
12. Life is hard. Courage is essential
13. Never give up.....NEVER

These are pretty essential for teachers or just the plain COMMON person.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Out Of Our Minds...

"Imagination is essential for learning to be creative" "How can I become more creative as a teacher". Yes, the book addressed creativity and the importance of it in successful curriculums. The author kept making similar points regarding teachers creating projects that do not stifile creativity of students. All students are capable of creativity, from the lowest student to the Valedictorian. An important part of a successful curriculum of a school; the arts. In judging and assessing creativity, students involved in the 'Arts' are the most creative (supposedly) within the school. Use what that particular area of the curriculum as a model to success. In developing a sound curriculum that encourages creativity, the teacher must 'let go' of the many rules and regulations he/she has created and follows in their particular classroom. Standardized tests, workbooks, worksheets, sitting in straight rows, desks cleared; etc. are elements that discourage the creativity of all individuals. A teacher must work and plan a bit harder in order to be 'creative' in the classroom, not just the mundane method of delivering a lesson. One point Robinson made..."Loosening the Hierarchies". A single comment that deserves sharing; "Creativity is possible in any activity in which human intellilgence is actively engaged". Kind of makes you think...

Collaboration was also addressed. We tend to teach today as we were taught yesterday. Our economy and structure of the world in 5 years is unknown, but one thing is for certain. Companies desire workers who are collaborative and can work together with people to become problem-solvers. Not an individual who sits alone at a desks and ponders a problem from 8-4.

Now I'm wondering if any PND teacher can shift (paradigm) this to their classrooms, to their everyday approach to teaching.

The Book of Learning and Forgetting...

According to the author, a very well-educated man, taking the time to develop positive relationships and foregoing the mindless tasks of making a 'kid' memorize material, complete lengthy worksheets, working on tasks unrelated to the subject area that assist the students in 'unremembering' (forgetting) will no doubt assist any and all educators in becoming more efficient. Our old-style of teaching must give way to a paradigm shift of offering the material to our students. Too much of what is done currently in most schools is designed around; keeping strict control of classes, giving students busy work to keep those 'hands and minds' from wondering and of course giving students lengthy assessments that are infrequently returned to them so they can learn from their mistakes. Assessments should be on-going in an environment where the teacher knows the students by name, inquires about many of their outside and extracurricular activities and takes a genuine interest in the overall achievement as students and human beings. What if all teachers attempted a more positve approach. What do you have to lose, except those 100+ question worksheets, scantron tests and no gum-chewing in my class while you are staying on the task I want you to follow>?!

Great book that could guide teachers to more success in the classroom coupled with fewer discipline problems. Something everyone hopefully wishes to achieve.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Who Moved My Cheese

Very similar to Peaks and Valleys. It should be, the same person, Spencer Johnson M.D. authored them both. A really neat approach to risk-taking to survive in a competitive and demanding world. The book can really relate to education, espcially to a classroom teacher afraid to change. The outcomes are almost realistic in a sense if you keep doing the same old things while others are moving forward you may get lost or just always seem to be behind. Although a teacher may not 'expire' his/her methods in the classroom may not be as effective as those that change to challenge the student to learn at a higher level. Made me go out and buy Cheddar and Horseradish cheese.

Peaks and Valleys

Good illustration regarding Problem Solving. Sort of mirrored Riding the Dragon without the spritual aspect. This is the type of material teachers can share with students, at least to goal setting and achieving. The book is not a real cookie cutter, yet it gives some real-life suggestions to meet higher goals and achievment.

Riding the Dragon

Riding The Dragon

Some great ideas regarding handling your emotions in a manner to work with people. The book is sort of Henry David Thoreau with a dash of sprituality. Great reading that offered me some ideas in working with others this coming year. And it did and does allow you to build your inner strength.