Dews and Doughnuts

Sometimes, lifelong lessons are compacted into one sentence. Today in class, we went through the do's and do not's of being an educator. It was mostly an overview of what we learned this semester, but was a great reminder as to what we need to do as teachers to be successful. It's a reminder that if we fail, we must get back up and try something different. A reminder that teachers never stop learning, and our reward is our students and that we wake up every day for them. It's a reminder that we must always stay positive and always be there whenever a student is in need. I want my students to move on and look back and think that time spent in my classroom was not wasted. I want them to think that Mr. Woodin was a teacher to remember and take memories from my class that will last them a lifetime. After today, I was never so sure that I wanted to teach... I just can't wait to actually start teaching.

Motivation

I reread all my blogs, and found a common theme... Motivation. We talked about motivation in class and decided that I would devote an entire blog entry to it. As teachers, it can be quite difficult motivating a great amount of students. Educators need to walk into class with a plan every day.. They need to walk in with a positive attitude and show they are passionate about what they are teaching, only then can students be passionate about learning. I feel like anymore, the only real motivation for kids to perform well in class is the grade. In inner city schools, or schools where motivation is low, we cannot rely on a grade providing the motivation. Our goal should be getting students to want to go to class every day and ask questions. Getting them actively involved and participating in activities within the classroom is hard, but staying persistent and constantly believing in the students will help. In too many classes, teachers teach what needs to be taught, and that is it... The students write it down, take a test, and never remember it again. The teacher isn't learning anything from this, and neither are the students. I've been subject to too many of these classes, and know that I need to be different. If I walk into my class and give my choir some music and tell them to sing, they won't be into it. You need to act like you want to be there and prove that to the students. Working hard pays off in the end, especially when you receive a letter from a student 10 years later saying that what they learned and took away from the class, lead them to where they are present. That is motivation for me to teach.

Building Blocks of Positive Behavior

There are many ways to get students to act positively in and outside of the classroom. Every school and every classroom has different guidelines and ideas they think works best to extract the best behavior of their students. PBIS is a great example I think of a way to keep kids interested in schooling. The only way it can work though is if the faculty and the community are willing to work their hardest and put in long hours. I have preached it time in and time out, but a hard working and motivated teacher is the only answer to a proper education. If done right, I can see this program doing exactly what it says... The only problem I have with this article is the number of teachers leaving areas because of students... I know some teachers are not cut out for inner city or tougher areas, but if you are unsure to begin with, don't get your feet wet. We don't need teachers giving up on children, because then they give up. All this talk about positive behavior and the teachers cannot be models for that? Grinds my gears... We want teachers pushing themselves to the limit, so then, maybe, just maybe, the students will work just as hard.

One-to-One Laptops?

Though it is a great idea, I think a laptop for each and every child in the classroom is dangerous. We would like to think the students are sitting at their desks typing the lesson we are teaching, but the probability that some of them are playing a game of solitaire is high... You can preach all you want about the importance of paying attention even though you have such technologies at the tips of your fingers, but a kid will be a kid. I know I will admit, I'm twenty years old, and in ed psych I'll still catch myself playing a game of hearts or checking my e-mail every once in a while. Imagine putting a computer in front of every child in an elementary school... GOOD LUCK! Now I know we are trying to go green these days, but there is nothing wrong with giving a student a pencil and paper and making them write. Something I've noticed is that children are starting to have worse and worse handwriting skills... Giving them a computer would not change their writing ability, but what about standardized essays? If a teacher cannot read your handwriting, it could be a problem... There is some value in hand written material, and believe it is our best bet in teaching... But once we get a better hold of technology, maybe make that transition.

Bridge to Constructivism

People learn while doing couldn't describe the art of constructivism any better. Even though many teachers have yet to adopt the constructive approach, I believe that the number will increase in the next several years. If we are going by the "we teach how we are taught" theory, we should be pretty darn good teachers. I mean, if you think about it, throughout our lifetime, we have had teachers who are always in the back of your mind, but also teachers we wish we could forget... But if that is that case, would we not learn from their mistakes and do the opposite? Anyway, as teachers we need to be constantly learning and generating new ideas, and that is the only way a constructive approach can work. So a teacher that wishes to take the constructive route, must be careful I think, and must be willing to work hard to make proper lesson plans that fit the subject and will motivate the children... and if something doesn't work, find something else to do... learning from our mistakes is a part of teaching also.

Brain Development

Just minutes ago I arrived back to my dorm room from a brain development presentation at Decorah Middles School. I left feeling like a child all over again. All this talk about proper brain development, makes me feel like I have no right to choose anything for myself until I am 25 or 30 years of age. Hopefully by then, I will have already started a career and a family and will be fully aware of the responsibilities I have as both a professional and a father and husband. I know how important it will be for me as a father to make sure my children are studious, show good manners, and all that good stuff, and I know that this all starts at a young age. But brain development isn't just learning from lecture or schooling. Brain development comes from all around, every day things. As a father I can start reading to my kids before bedtime, tell them to always say their please and thank yous, give them "talks" about what is right and what is wrong... but at the end of the day they are going to make their own decisions... Now I'm sure I don't completely understand what it's like to be protective parent yet, but I know that all this talk about the destruction of the brain and its development these days is making me sick... This past year I have heard nothing but negative things about what current college and high school students are doing to their bodies. Was our parents' generation any different, maybe worse? I believe so... I think that an essential part of brain development is learning from your mistakes and about what you do both academically and socially. I think that the parents that try to stay more informed about the harmful things that kids are doing, are creating more issues. And now, these parents that engaged in very similar activities at our age (and younger due to legalities) think they know exactly what is best, and are causing this web of protection that is leading to this new batch of spoiled rotten children. If anything, this is more threatening to a child's development than abusing their livers with alcohol every weekend. Our parents were allowed to drink at age 18, and they turned out more than fine. Families in Finland, Sweden, and Germany allow their children to have a glass of wine at each meal, and really have no drinking age... and by the way, produce way smarter people. But now, these very same parents are stripping basic responsibilities from children who need to engage in activity and chores. How can we expect our kids to survive in college and out on their own if they've never vacuumed or done their own laundry? I swear, the more informed we become about brain development, the worse our brain develops. We begin to notice all these dangers to brain development, so we try to avoid them... which is stupid. What do you think this lack of involvement is going to do? Make us smarter? Doubtful. Concussions happen... Drinking happens... Children that make it over that second "hump" of development (14-16 years old) are becoming adults. They are going to make their own mature (sometimes not so mature) decisions. Just because your 20 year old son drinks every weekend, does not mean he doesn't do his studying and perform well in classes. An essential part of brain development is learning from any kind mistakes. I burnt my finger on a car lighter once, so now I know it's hot, and I won't ever do it again. DEVELOPMENT! Parents are keeping their kids from playing sports because of this possibility of concussions/death: they say it hurts brain development. And now we face this national problem of obesity... and the same exact mom that pulled their child out of the soccer and football leagues because he hurt his head is wondering how her son got so fat and lazy... Playing sports, and having fun with other children is also essential for a child's social and emotional development. How can we expect our children to make friends if we are so worried about them playing and getting hurt? Pulling them out of social opportunities is a huge threat to brain development. I say when it comes to brain development, there are more threatening issues than drinking and concussions.. Although dangerous, we have bigger problems on our hands. Supporting your children is the most important thing you can do as a parent and for your kid's development. So quit worrying about everyone else's children, and focus on your children becoming the best they can be... into someone you are proud of not because of what they do (whether we agree with it or not), but what they become.

Dr. Doan van Dieu

Dr. Doan van Dieu was a very interesting and intellectual man. He is a psychology professor out of the Ho Chi Minh University in VietNam. At first, I didn't quite understand what he was trying to say in his message, but later was revealed. I feel like his presentation was more of a "Are we prepared for the real life?" preaches. He focused his presentation on the importance of families and the relationships we have within the family. His first message was very interesting to me, which dealt with children and marriage. We are supposidly free to choose for ourselves, but is that actually true? Dr. Dieu's studies showed that children, though able to make the decision on their own, often asked their loved one's parents for permission to marry their son/daughter. I know personally when I'm ready to pop the big question, I will more than likely do the same. Not only that but I will find myself asking my own parents if I am making the right decision and if they approve... Which is exactly the majority of what actually happens, regardless of this "freedom to choose", we still rely heavily on our parents' opinion. This was a good transition for him to talk about the real educational differences between families here and families in VietNam. Though parents expectations look quite similar, they're very different in terms of subjects. For example, here in the United States, a common problem we face is our capitalistic nature to always want that high paying, stable job. We are usually very free to choose what we want to do in our lives, with some parent interaction... Usually parents are very happy when their child choose to be a doctor, lawyer, etc., but are usually happy no matter, as long as they are getting their education. In VietNam, expectations are ridiculously high when it comes to their studies... They, too, would rather have their child have a stable job and good education, but aren't stuck up on getting that well paid job. Dr. Dieu told us a story about how a parent would disown their child if he quit school. So you see the emphasis they put on their education. Sometimes I think we've lost that drive to educate ourselves, and maybe a more direct approach from parents could help... this kind of change, however, is very doubtful. In VietNam, the number one expectation children think they should abide by is filial piety... At young ages, many are told what they should do for a career, and most go through with the career picked for them by their parents. I found this baffling, but also filled me with curiousity. Wouldn't it be nice to get to college and already know exactly what you were going to do with the rest of your life? That might help not only getting your college career jump started, but also that possibility of actually enjoying what you study. Maybe it's that push our society needs...

Autism and Education

These kinds of stories are a rarity. Autism is not all that uncommon anymore, however, to have an autistic child, and an extremely, EXTREMELY gifted child as well only happens once in a blue moon. I really like how the mother notices the extreme differences, but then makes sure we all realize that they are both happy, active, healthy children with pretty solid lives. The mother is an absolutely wonderful and intelligent woman, who's experiences have led her to much wisdom. Now I know as well as everyone else that the son in this article deserves a specialized education for his disability. He is learning is accompanied by government required programs (his IEP) that ensure that he receives all opportunities to do well and grow in school. He is pushed, motivated and observed every day to make sure he excels in a positive direction. However, I agree with the mother in this article. Her daughter sounds like the smartest 12 year old I know. I was in TAG (Talented And Gifted) throughout elementary school, and this article hits it right on when it says it does not enable children to reach their full potential. Me and a few people would sit in a classroom and work on a booklet full of science and math problems slightly more advanced than the other children, but it never took us anywhere. And then we'd have group projects that were not even graded, but were encouraged to do in order to stay in this TAG program. As the mother said, imagine if for gifted children like her daughter, we had a program with loads of government backing and emphasis on expansion of outrageously intelligent minds; maybe the molding of the next Einstein or Edison? Who knows... No Child Left Behind makes me furious... It is a great idea, but it's priorities are jumbled. 7.5 million federally to gifted and talented students?! That is ridiculous.
Shouldn't we reward students who do well and want to continue on and perform to their potential, not punish them by forcing them to do individual math problems for an hour a day? The mother has it right on, this No Child Left Behind Program ("whose goal is to help EVERY CHILD" --Not just the ones whose education is in danger), could spare some of it's 25 billion dollar account for those who could potentially be the smartest in the world. We just need to give them the resources they also deserve.

Mr. Chambliss

I thoroughly enjoyed the message Mr. Chambliss was trying to portray. As I continue down this path of education, I become more and more curious about where I'm going to end up. Before this year, I always thought about eventually going back near home and teaching at a school near by, because of that comfortable feel and am familiar with the community and surrounding area. I see it as a great place to raise a family, and a great place to live in general. However, lately I've been thinking about alternate plans. After tonight's visit from Mr. Chambliss, it has only fed to my idea of searching for other opportunities. His educational experience from extremely diverse, through comfortable middle to upper class, is a great model for to be educators. There is so much out there, why limit yourself? I agreed completely with his outlook on extended stay teachers, where they stay for 30 even 40 years at the same school, same grade, same subject, etc. It truly takes an absolute patient, and master instructor to do so, but for us normal educators, aiming to become great, I think we need to keep our minds open for any opportunity; whether it be in your comfort zone or not, because as educators, we too still have the necessity to learn every day.
I'd also like to build on his final thought of the night: A life of public service offers many rewards. That right there provides me with the motivation to become a teacher. It's not just about job security, or a solid 401K plan, although it is a nice bonus. But as I strive to become a notable music director, giving students the gift of music and a lifelong appreciation, call it cheesy, is the greatest reward of all.

Paper Clips

Paper Clips was a very interesting video, chucked fool of good ideas and possibilities. Trying to start any kind of topic of interest in a middle school setting is no simple task. What the teachers did here at Whitwell Middle School was a large step for their education. Creating this project about the Holocaust enlightened many children who were still very unaware about the history of this subject, which allowed the students who chose to take part in this project to be motivated and interested. Though the idea of the project was very successful and developmentally appropriate for the 7th and 8th graders, I feel as if they lose sight of the true goal along the way.
Part of the problem I had with this documentary was that their constant lack of individual learning. It seemed as if they weren't learning anything on their own, or taking the initiative to further their knowledge in this subject; they just learned what they had to in the classroom and then would work on the project of collecting paper clips. I feel as if the teachers could have provided the children with a little more direct information. F0r example, something that stuck out to me was that when they were sent the suitcase full of Anne Frank letters and notes, the teachers asked the kids if they knew who she was... Personally, I think knowing this historical figure is very basic when it comes to the Holocaust, and if there was enough teaching going on, the educators shouldn't have to ask the kids if they know who it is. Also, once the project expanded tremendously, they lost sight of knowing the information, and just worrying about how many paper clips they received, who sent them, what their address was, and blah blah blah. And when it comes to them collecting paper clips, they got lucky. I feel as if they would not have fallen into such popularity if it were not for the two Washington Post journalists. The teachers were losing motivation before they arrived, and it seemed like the project was at a stand-still. There are many teachers elsewhere who could have achieved this goal with less help I believe, and with much better educating involved. So like I said, this was a great idea for a project and full of possibilities, however, I feel as if it was not totally completed.

FIRST BLOG

Well, here is my first blog for all of you to read... I am tall, not so dark, but still handsome.