As I listened to all 3 of the videos for this week, I realized even more the importance of always learning. In our profession, we cannot just wake up and teach. There is research to be done, data to look at and methods of delivery to be addressed.
I teach 2 sections of math/science for 5th grade. One section is a bilingual class, so I must look at the way I deliver instruction, as they are coming to me at a different learning level than my other class. I teach both classes similarly, but I have to look at the vocabulary and hands on portion with the bilingual group. They are a super smart group of kids, but their processing time takes a bit longer. If I did not do some research and talk to my bilingual partner, I would not know that. I would teach both classes and expect them to catch on.
I believe that we, as educators, must continue to learn or we will not be assisting our students and will actually hamper their development in the classroom!
Have a great week.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
What I have learned about Action Research
I was just reading another blog and noted that another student had the same image of a "research" course as I had. What a pleasant surprise to find that it is not what I thought. I feel that action research is something that every good teacher/educator does in their classroom/building. As a teacher, I look at the lessons that I have completed and ask myself, "is that the best I can do?" or "I saw a lot of blank looks on their faces, I have to fix that!" I think that being reflective in your teaching or even personal life can be difficult, but necessary as we move on our journey. We must continually look at ways to grow and action research is just another way to do that.
I believe that our campus is beginning to do this. Our leadership team just read, Turn Around Schools: Creating Cultures of Universal Achievement, and we are implementing some of those strategies on our campus. We have a very young team of teachers, most have taught 3-4 years and are 25 years old or younger, so we have had to address many issues. Many of the veteran teachers, including myself, have had to step up into a mentoring role to assist our younger counterparts. If we had not participated in both reflection and some action research, we would still have the same issues that were occurring in our 1st and 2nd year as a campus (our building is 4 years old).
In my opinion, our principal has led the way and that is the key for the process to work. Administration has to set the tone and the example for it to work on a campus.
I believe that our campus is beginning to do this. Our leadership team just read, Turn Around Schools: Creating Cultures of Universal Achievement, and we are implementing some of those strategies on our campus. We have a very young team of teachers, most have taught 3-4 years and are 25 years old or younger, so we have had to address many issues. Many of the veteran teachers, including myself, have had to step up into a mentoring role to assist our younger counterparts. If we had not participated in both reflection and some action research, we would still have the same issues that were occurring in our 1st and 2nd year as a campus (our building is 4 years old).
In my opinion, our principal has led the way and that is the key for the process to work. Administration has to set the tone and the example for it to work on a campus.
Educational Blogs
Educators can use blogs for many reasons. One is to communicate with students some upcoming events or topics of study in class. Another reason to blog is to allow students a way to respond to material covered in class or even take it beyond what was covered in class.
I went to a blogging GT update this summer and I created a blog for my class. This week, in class, I am showing the students the blog site and including it in my weekly newsletter to parents so they have the opportunity to participate outside of class time.
This valuable technological tool also allows students to see that writing is important in the classroom and outside of the classroom. It shows students that when we say you must write in the real world, do math in the real world and read in the real world, these are not just words, but reality.
Blogs are also an invaluable tool for parent communication. In a world that is steep in technology, this is another tool at the hands of parents that are working more and less able to make phone calls or who have students that "forget" to give them their printed newsletter.
I went to a blogging GT update this summer and I created a blog for my class. This week, in class, I am showing the students the blog site and including it in my weekly newsletter to parents so they have the opportunity to participate outside of class time.
This valuable technological tool also allows students to see that writing is important in the classroom and outside of the classroom. It shows students that when we say you must write in the real world, do math in the real world and read in the real world, these are not just words, but reality.
Blogs are also an invaluable tool for parent communication. In a world that is steep in technology, this is another tool at the hands of parents that are working more and less able to make phone calls or who have students that "forget" to give them their printed newsletter.
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