My son started this year as a 6th grader in a charter middle school in my area, the same school my daughter attended. He came home from school the very first day saying “school was cool” a day later school “was awesome”. After an experiment in the parking lot shooting corks he exclaimed “science was awesomely wicked cool”. I asked why it was so terrific, “because we DO stuff mom!” said with a certain middle school attitude. He placed heavy…
Rule #6: Remember to Repeat As an educator I am concerned with student learning. In my opinion that means aiding a learner to reach their full potential in a variety of areas; the core academic subjects, the arts, critical thinking, etc. This a long term view, for learning never really ends. But in this day and age much of our focus is student success on mandated test which is a short term goal with the underlying assumption that all students…
Rule #5: Repeat to Remember Back when I was a doctoral candidate (never defended dissertation, a long story for another time) I studied constructivism. The dissertation was based on this theory. Sections of chapter 5 remind me of my studies. “The more handles on the door, the more access points were available for entrance†(pg 114). We are more apt to remember things if they are familiar to us or, can relate, connect to what we already know. We build…
Scott Merrick left a comment, shown below, that this blog has been nominated for blog of the month. Scott runs the Blogger’s hut on ISTE in Second Life. I have found some great blogs thanks to his efforts. Thanks again for the honor Scott. Hey, Beth, Congrats on being in the running for the Blog-o-the-month at the Blogger’s Hut on ISTE Island in Second Life. All month the survey poll will be open for voting, so bring your friends, your…
I find I am frequently talking to parents about teens and the web. Their questions go beyond saftey issues they seem more about management concerns and why and how kids connect. When I talk to parents I go through the usual; keep the computer in the public room, refer them to a variety of internet safety sites, and how our family has an AUP. But they want more. How do you check who your kids are chatting with? How much…
Rule # 4: We don’t pay attention to boring things. Ironically I had trouble attending to this chapter. I was reading this at my parents’ home and was constantly distracted. This is not to say the chapter was boring, just illustrated to me that it was difficult to keep refocusing if there are many distractions around. As I read this chapter I was thinking of the many special education classrooms I have visited. Often these students have difficulty maintaining attention….
Rule #3 Every brain is wired differently. This I remember from my college days studying biology. If you play the violin, practice meditation, or speak many language, your brain will be different from others. I use to always associated the saying ‘use it or lose it.’ with brain development. Our brains are very pliable when we are young and that in some way we educate our selves out of various talents. I know that the brain has a tremendous growth…