Motivation Educational Issue

The presentation was very useful for me when considering techniques I can use in my classroom to motivate my students. I have never really thought about using games in the classroom, as I have never really played games and feel like there is not educational merit. However, using the links provided I came across some websites which have many video games which incorporate trivia and background knowledge. I found myself playing a game about the construction of a pyramid, and depending on how you constructed it would determine how successful it was. I think that these are good SUPPLEMENTS, but should not be the lesson. As a teacher, I would feel comfortable using these methods, providing that I would take time to explain the importance of the material and how it relates. That way students aren't just playing video games, they're learning about the material as well. One of the stages where we discussed scenarios about behavior problems in the classroom due to lack of motivation gave me a good idea of how to handle common problems that arise in the classroom. I feel that it is important not to immediately discipline a student for acting out, making a joke or other comments, but to try and make a teachable moment out of it, where the students can learn. Overall I feel the presentation was great and I truly learning a lot through taking part in all three of the stations.

Discipline Educational Issue

I really enjoyed the presentation on discipline. The activities allowed me to reflect on my experiences as a student as I thought back to how my classrooms were disciplined and what techniques worked and didn't work. I found that my discipline style was more on the authoritative side, meaning that I value clear expectations and student independence and accountability. When it comes to punishment, the authoritative style recognizes the negative behavior and thinks through how to deal with it, and sticks by the expectations but is not too harsh in punishment. I felt that this was true for my view on discipline, but before the presentation I had not really thought about it too deeply. The skits we performed really helped me understand the types of discipline there are, and which forms I am comfortable with. The essay does a good job of explaining the problems with discipline in schools today, and this was revealed during the presentation in the texts that we looked over in our table groups. The best part was that it was not told to us by the presenters, it was explored and explained through the class as a result of the activities. This presentation was very helpful as I develop my philosophy of education.

Four Philosophies

Idealism is the belief that ideas and concepts are important to know. The physical world is not perfect and a figment of what we think about, while the spiritual world is "reality" and perfect. Idealists value that knowledge and ideas are continuous through time, and are constant. Because of this idealists value the content in education that is unchanging, like figures and the humanities. Idealists believe that learning is done best using dialogue led with questions from the teacher to challenge beliefs.
Realism is almost the opposite. It places value in reality and the physical world as the basis for knowledge and scientific investigation. Unlike Idealism, Realists believe that truth can be found in the physical world. Experience, reasoning, and experimentation is valued.
Pragmatism believes in change and a dynamic universe, and in a state of growth, and the idea of valuing experiences. Since they believe that the world is always changing, students need to be able to question and rethink to keep up with the changing world.
Existentialists believe that reality is just lived existence, there is no meaning, basically life is what you make it as an individual. Knowledge should be personal and all about the individual and the human condition. They believe that schools should center on the student and help them achieve self-actualization, and treat the students as individuals.
I believe that I am a combination between realist/idealist. There are aspects of both that I find I show. I like having discussion based lecture. I like having my students think about concepts and questions which may have no definite answers as well.

Teaching Hope: Rejuvenation

This chapter in teaching hope was one that I really enjoyed reading. The first passage of the chapter was one that stuck with me and I kept reflecting back to the entire time I was reading. I really liked the concept of the boys including Blake, a special needs boy, the play basketball with them. The chapter begins with the teacher coming back to school after missing a day and reading a note from the sub who did not have many nice things to say about the class. Then there was a second note from the special ed. teacher who praised the students for including one of hers in the game outside. When discussed in class, they said that they felt bad for him and wanted to include him in their game. For the teacher, this meant more to her than a note that a substitute left for her. She knew that she had good students, regardless of how they may have acted for the sub.

The second passage I chose, 111, which involved Temika being a troubled student always starting fights and being disciplined at school. After going a long period of time writing in her journal without marking any entries that could be read by the teacher, one finally appeared. Through reading it, she realized that Temika probably has reason for acting the way she does. Though she was a troubled student, and even after marking that entry was such, the teacher vowed to never give up on her as others had done to her in the past. When a student like that is in your classroom, all you can do is model how one should act and find small ways to help them cope with what they're going through until one day hopefully something clicks.

Finally, passage 112 was very intriguing to me. Partly because it was not in a regular ed. classroom, but a psychiatric youth center, and reason being that Chuckles and Max goes crazy the entire time in the background, yet the teacher keeps his cool. He even gets punched in the face by Max, and remains calm. Granted this is an environment where this behavior may be commonplace, however I admire his willingness to not be aggressive in any way. At the end of the passage, where he tells Max that the reason he was still in class was because he did not say anything to those who would prevent him from going, Max understood that the teacher was looking out for him and respected him for that. Little things that help your students go along way. I feel that if they know that you look out for them, they will try harder to be successful.

Multicultural Education Educational Issue

The topic of multiculturalism is a very debatable one with many ideas and aspects, which was shown through three debates on various issues pertaining to multicultural education. I strongly believe if gender roles and sexuality are present in a teenagers world, then what they are reading should pertain to it, or learning about should in some way incorporate it. Not that I am saying to teach sex, safe sex practices, or anything like that. But to find some way to incorporate common issues that appear in an adolescents life. I hope that as time goes on society's views of sexuality shift and allow the widespread use of materials dealing with gender and sexuality. Discussing it in a mature classroom setting can be very beneficial to students. Religion is another controversial topic under multiculturalism and just as the Department of Education states, I too believe that religion can be taught without displaying personal and religious beliefs on students. There are many relevant books that deal with culture, tradition, and religion, and almost all of them are important to a history class. I believe literature about Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and other religions have a place in a history classroom. I would not be afraid to use a book with a religious or sexual content, provided it is relevant to class and that I am confident my students are mature enough for it.

The Story of School: 1980-2002

In the fourth episode of the story of school, we saw fundamental shifts in education. Teaching became more individual and a personal experience than a business. City schools created small learning environments withing the school building to foster a stronger educational experience. However, school funding was definitely at a low. Schools that were built around the same period of time in the 1940's or so were starting to deteriorate, leading to poor and somewhat dangerous learning environments. It was pretty shocking to see students walking through schools where there was water leaking in the hallways, or classes being held in closets and hallways. That is not how one receives a quality education, and by the end of episode 4, some ideas were discussed that improved these conditions. The concept of charter schools and specialty education were discussed, which helps give students a smaller working environment, as well as learning that interests them on a more personal level. The fourth episode of this series was very interesting, and was kind of a reality check as the the types of teaching and learning that is still happening around the country today.

Article: Nation At Risk

The Nation at Risk was a document produced by a blue-ribbon commission in 1983 that was designed to point out the problems with the American education system. The document outlines the state of American education. A shocking stat is brought up that states only about one-fifth of American students could write a persuasive essay, or could solve a math problem that consisted of more than one step. The report also states how 13 percent of students were illiterate, and goes on to state that there are 23 million American adults who were illiterate and had difficulty with reading and writing. The report discusses why America needs to place more emphasis on the education system. American students need to be able to compete with students from around the world. The report even states that the education problems are a threat to national security. It would lead to more funding for education and prevented Ronald Reagan from abolishing the Department of Education and cutting federal funds.

I would say that the Nation at Risk was a harshly written document, but one that made sense and was speaking with urgency. I would say that it does seem to put all schools in the same category of failing, but the general notion that the schools are in bad shape and opinions of education have been changing would be pretty accurate. Many students try to do the least amount of work to get by. We live in a world were more students are picked on for being smart and doing their work than the students who don't care about school. We need to place more importance on education, on doing your work to the best of your abilities, and we need to pay teachers more in order to keep the best and brightest minds well educated.

The Story of School: 1900

Schools before the year 1900 were very different then they are now, or even 50 years ago. The whole concept of Dame Schools was very interesting to me. Schools where female teachers typically taught and cared and nurtured their students. Its something I think all teachers should do anyway, but it was cool to see that is where their focus was. Not just solely on education, but it helping their students grow up. For the most part, only the most privileged students were the ones who went on to high school. We think of high school as being mandatory, but prior to 1900, only basic skills were needed to be successful outside of the educational setting. I found it very interesting how President Jefferson only asked for women to complete three years of education, which he believed was enough to have women successfully run a household and be able to complete all the duties of a mother/wife. Common Schools were something that I think was ahead of its time. Before integration there were these common schools, where students of all social classes and religions were accepted and able to come and learn without fear of being discriminated. Education was a lot different in the years prior to 1900, however somethings have remained virtually the same.