Tuesday, October 18, 2011
How Language Transformed Humanity
This is an awesome presentation about the power of language. Mark Pagel presents the idea that language is one of the most important and dangerous tools. In this video he talks about how much language has involved into such a tool that works in a seeming technological process. Dr. Pagel also theorizes that language has evolved as a social tool that enables us to do so much more because of how it is used. I really found this fascinating, I hope you do too.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Issue In Education
An issue I find often in education is the lack of support for English Language Learners (ELLs). There are so many students who may not speak English proficiiently who are many times, just thrown haphazardly into classrooms and left to drown so to speak. Now, some school district offer ESL teachers which predominantly helps students that speak Spanish as their native language. But what about the children from Europe? Africa? Even children from English speaking nations like Great Britatin and Australuia can have an adjustment.
If this problem isn't addressed, we will continue to let children of other cultures and different languages slip through the cracks. These children have so much valuable information and experiences to share with us, but often times we are not reaching out to them. Thus we are unable to learn from their vastly differentiated knowledge and use what we learn to broaden our horizons.
Personally, I am wildly passionate about differentiated instruction, multiculturalism and the rich vales international and multi national students can bring to the classroom. As a teacher, I would always make it my personal goal to make sure I am meeting the needs of all of my students. This can be very difficult but it is something I believe very strongly in. It's not fair for the child in the class who has only had, for example, a years worth of English inclusion, to be expected to be right on task with all of the other students in class who clearly have the advantage.
How can we as future educators ensure that we are meeting teh needs of all of our students?
How can we promote inclusion in the classroom?
What are the rewards that can be gained from a more multiculturally diverse classroom?
If this problem isn't addressed, we will continue to let children of other cultures and different languages slip through the cracks. These children have so much valuable information and experiences to share with us, but often times we are not reaching out to them. Thus we are unable to learn from their vastly differentiated knowledge and use what we learn to broaden our horizons.
Personally, I am wildly passionate about differentiated instruction, multiculturalism and the rich vales international and multi national students can bring to the classroom. As a teacher, I would always make it my personal goal to make sure I am meeting the needs of all of my students. This can be very difficult but it is something I believe very strongly in. It's not fair for the child in the class who has only had, for example, a years worth of English inclusion, to be expected to be right on task with all of the other students in class who clearly have the advantage.
How can we as future educators ensure that we are meeting teh needs of all of our students?
How can we promote inclusion in the classroom?
What are the rewards that can be gained from a more multiculturally diverse classroom?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Comments?
Please, anyone know which domain to type comments from on others blogs? I keep trying to post comments to complete our assignment but it has me choose a domain like AIM or LiveJournal etc (and none from blogger) and it won't let me post comments! I have tried using the google gmail domain but it says something about cookies is null (whatever that means) :(((
Thank you!!!!
Thank you!!!!
Technology In Class Reflection
We have used several different pieces of technology in our classroom this semester. Perhaps my favorite has been Powerpoint. I know Powerpoint can get stale after a while and from too much use, but I really enjoy creating interactive and interesting Powerpoints. I like the creative control. Powerpoints can be used to make any class lecture more interesting, also it can be used as an integrative tool that gets students more involved in class discussion.
However, Powerpoint also has its pitfalls as well as any other piece of technology. Powerpoints can easily become stale and uninteresting if used to often. Also, if Powerpoints are not made interactive, students can lose focus during class and drift into inattentivity.
I think if Powerpoints are used seldomly and in interactive and creative ways, it can become a very useful tool for the classroom.
However, Powerpoint also has its pitfalls as well as any other piece of technology. Powerpoints can easily become stale and uninteresting if used to often. Also, if Powerpoints are not made interactive, students can lose focus during class and drift into inattentivity.
I think if Powerpoints are used seldomly and in interactive and creative ways, it can become a very useful tool for the classroom.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Hallo!!!
By creating this blog, I hope to enlighten others, be a source of inspiration, or provide humor to those who need it. Sometimes my life is really just plain chaotic and I think you will get a few laughs here as well. I'll type more here later :)
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