Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Something cool.....

                   

A little disappointing this evening....being the parent of a young child, now is the time we find ourselves looking into the open houses for preschools in the area.  So we pull up this evening, right after work, and we are greeted outside by the admissions director.  Our daughter, who is 3, is so excited she can barely contain herself.  She's even wearing her "red sparkly shoes" because she wants to show them off to a potential new teacher to see if she/he oo's and aw's over them like our daughter does. 

The admission director quickly tells us that the open house is for adults because children might make a mess and asks us which parent wants to come inside and which wants to go over to play at the playground with the kids.  This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves. I instantly feel the hairs on the back of my head and all over my arms stand straight up and truly something I just don't understand.....perhaps someone can enlighten me, but what is the purpose of having an open house for families who might be considering placing their child in your school if you don't let the children come and check it out?  I truly don't understand this approach and it's not the first time this has happened to us.  Our sons local school did this last year (before we moved him to a new school) an "adult only" open house.  WHAT IS THE POINT???? 

Are they scared of what kids would say? Is it just easier? Is it convenience?  I really don't understand it, nor do I really want to.  I think it's wrong.  I think kids should be leading the tours. They should be proud of their school and the work they do within it.  They should want to show it off. There should be artwork in the halls. Every teacher, secretary, and custodian should be there. Every door should be open.  This is how we engage families........

Perhaps it goes back to my previous post.  Perhaps it's just time for me to open my own school.......


Thursday, February 16, 2012

..........It's time for change.........

Enlightening conversation and presentation this evening from a certified google teacher.  At first, the fast presentation could be seen as a headache (maybe because I've been sick all week) because it is moving so fast. About two minutes in, and I get it.  Give as much information as quickly as you can for absorption. As many tools in the toolbelt as possible to see what will happen.  

What a fabulous concept for our kids today. I'll have to play around with the tools mentioned tonight to see where I could go with some of them.

Has anyone been watching the Governor of Oregon's talks about how he wants to reform education?  I've only caught a couple of minutes here and there, but one of the most enlightening was listening to him talk about how we have moved away from the very things that need to be in schools (art, music, the "specials" so to speak).  His plan, which is quite forward thinking, is causing controversy.  Is it because people are hesitant to change? or is it because people are afraid of what kids might do if given the opportunity to unleash their full potential? Lord forbid we give them the tools to be creative. To let their minds expand. Who knows what would happen then.  

In 2005, when I first got assigned to the building I was in, the office assistant outside my door, who I didn't know at the time, came up to me and said "You know Kristi, I have the feeling that someday you are going to open your own school, like a charter perhaps, but for sure one that fully includes all children and engages children and families from birth through graduation. It will be the first of its kind and I think you're going to do it."  I laughed at the time at the sheer thought of having my own school, but over the years that conversation keeps coming back to me........

 It's time for change folks.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Accessing Technology

I made an iMovie tonight!!!  Super easy, super fun.  You should try it.  Provided you have a Mac and some time.  Goes back to the access discussion we were having earlier this evening in class.  What if you can't afford it? 

Technology can be a great tool, but everyone should have the opportunity to access it.  Perhaps that's it.  Perhaps it's not about making sure there is a classroom set of iPads.  Perhaps the school needs to stay open later and have a computer lab for students to be able to complete their homework/work on projects in a quite supported space? Perhaps it's about making sure that once you knew what was going to be covered in class, you could decide what tool would work best for your learning style?  Would a textbook be better for you than an iPad? Who says we can't accommodate/adapt/modify to meet the needs of all students?  We do it in special education all the time, why can't it be done in general education too.  

 




Thursday, February 2, 2012

Hey, check out my UGLY background on that previous post.........for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to change the background back.  The good news is, even with a few people still sitting here next to me we couldn't get it.  Ah well........just know that I would have it a normal brick red color if I could figure it out. Perhaps Nathan can fix it for me next week! :)
I'm going to borrow a quote from one of my classmates, Nathan, just because I like it and it gets you thinking:

What would happen if Education moved as fast as technology?  


 An interesting night full of active discussion.  Frustrations with technology integration in schools, but primarily "behind the scenes" frustration.  Technology as it relates to students is working quite well-laptops, iPads, Syncpad, smartboards, texting your answers..........look where we have come and wonder where we will go........

More resources. Tools for the toolbelt. 

A video where children are self instructed in technology and using a computer within 8 minutes when they've never seen a computer before. Where language is not a barrier. Where the younger ones teach the older ones.  Where kids are surrounded by a computer watching and helping each other. The power of group learning.

I've been curious for awhile now about how technology could really help children/students with different languages and different learning styles.....the video shows makes me think it could be possible.
 
The children will learn, with or without us, so why not help guide their way?