Thinking About Your Teaching

As preservice teachers we were taught to ask ourselves how our lessons went that day, how the students received the lessons and what we could have done differently. But do seasoned teachers actually practice this? I beleive they do.

Different teachers approach reflecting on their lessons in various ways. Some teachers keep a journal about their teaching. Some even include their reflection process as apart of their lesson plans. Others might blog about a particular lesson, take in the constructive criticism of others and be able to adjust their ideas about teaching the lesson for the next time around. Still others may video themselves during instruction so that they may gain a new perspective when reflecting on the day.

Many teachers talk to a grade or teaching partner to gain some perspective. I fall into this category. Because there are 4 teachers in my grade and that we each teach 2 subjects, there is another teacher who teaches the same subjects that I teach. We are constantly bouncing ideas off of each other and questioning what we could do differently. I also keep a notebook for each subject or topic that I teach. Within each notebook, I keep notes to myself about what I think could be changed for the better and even what worked wonderfully.

So what works for you? Or do you think that this is a completely unnecessary practice?

Are there limits to a teacher's freedom of speech?

In class we briefly mentioned about the teacher that almost lost her job because of things that she blogged about her students.  One question came to my mind immediately when I heard that story.  Is it really fair that students can text, tweet, blog, post on Facebook, etc. anything about their teachers, but their teachers cannot express general feelings about what went on in their classroom that day?

Now, this is not to say that I personally would ever publicly post anything about my own students.  I do not agree that this is necessarily the most professional way to go about expressing your feelings, but is it really fair that teachers are held to a higher moral standard then most other professionals?  As a teacher I feel like I am always walking on egg shells when it comes to things like blogging or especially social media sites.  I am constantly afraid that someone will write something inappropriate on my Facebook wall or post a picture I would not want to have posted.

We have been encouraged through this class to become part of the blogging world, but where do we draw the line between what is safe and appropriate to blog and what could be misinterpreted or inappropriate?

Nightly Homework: Purposeful or Pointless

The topic of homework is near and dear to my heart because I see the assembly line teachers not wanting to deviate from what has always been done. Homework gives teachers a purpose, it provides them with something tangible to assign and check. The monotony of homework helps teachers feel as though they are doing their job. I think this is a terrible trend that should be questioned and changed. I believe that learning in school is very important and demonstrating knowledge is critical to growth, however, I do not feel that daily homework assignments are significantly beneficial. Many parents assist and check their child's homework, which does not allow the teacher to identify if a child is having difficulty with a certain concept. Expecting students to demonstrate responsibility and understanding can be done during the school day. I'm not saying that work done at home should not exist at all, I'm merely suggesting that work be assigned sporadically throughout the school year, not daily and not composed of worksheets or drill and kill assignments.

You Should Blog Because You Teach

Over at Teach Paperless, Shelly Blake-Plock, in his post, 'Why Teachers Should Blog', argues:

Because to blog is to teach yourself what you think.

Take a moment and read his post and come on back here and share your thoughts. 

The Death of Creativity

At the time of Sir Ken Robinson's 2006 TED talk, "Do Schools Kill Creativity?", web2.0 tools were in their earliest stages, and in truth, a niche concept that had yet to pour over into schools.  Robinson contends that we are born to be visual and kinesthetic learners.  He states that education is at a cross-roads, an intersection where the direction chosen will have a profound impact on future generations.  Robinson believes that creativity is best nurtured through the arts; programs such as dance, theater, and art.

Creativity promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and analysis.  Therefore, web 2.0 tools provide a level ground for all students to enhance their creative thinking powers; especially to those who can not, quite literally, dance or sing.

I believe that if Robinson offered in 2011-2012 the same topic as he covered in 2006, he would include web 2.0 tools. 

And he would be excoriated.

It's easy to win a crowd over by referencing all the subjects they experienced as learners, but to content that web 2.0 deserves a spot on the shelf next to venerated programs such as art and dance would be an act of recklessness and irresponsibility.

Week 1: Video - A Vision of Students Today

This video tends to enlighten or enrage.  Where do you fall in the 'reaction spectrum'?

Week 1: Article - Do They Really Think Differently?

Please provide a thought-provoking response to the Prensky article.  Please use the following questions to help guide your response:

• What assumptions of the text does the author hold?  
• What do you agree with in the text? 
• What do you want to argue with in the text?  
• What parts of the text do you aspire to?

Week 1: Reflection - A Framework for Web 2.0 Learning Design

Please take some time to provide your reflections regarding this journal article.  Additionally, please include connections regarding your own classroom practice.