So--it has been a while since I have added anything to this blog. All of you know the issues--education leave little time for reflection. This first part of the school year with the new iCoach role has been very interesting--really. I am learning so much more about teaching since I work in a variety of content areas. It is exciting to think about teaching in new ways with new content. It is also very interesting to watch how the reading, writing, comprehending and thinking skills that I have always worked with fit into every content addressed in school.
Last month I was in a presentation with Alan November. His notions of turning the learning over to our students is exciting. How can we as educators pull our students into the lead, give them ownership, help them feel empowered to guide their own learning. In turn, how do we help them connect their ideas with other learners around the globe. Listening to Alan helped me realize that I won't be able to authentically talk about it until I have actually done it. So beginning this semester--3 days ago--I have begun teaching a 6th grade social studies class--Contemporary Cultures. My plan is to take what I learn from my professional reading, staff development, work with Alan November and his team as well as with the ICLE folks and blend it in a logical fashion to help students learn.
We started with a piece by Dr. John Leinhard: http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1840.htm He has a different take on ignorance. Students have to listen/read the essay and respond to the ideas in the essay. We are working through edmodo. Due on Tuesday but 2 students did it the first night it was available.
They especially enjoyed the short video we watched: http://vimeo.com/20924263 The part that made sense to the students was how they and their brains are changing. They have access to it through edmodo as well.
Both of these have gone very well. Today I stepped out and shared the state standards with them--WAY over their heads. A few students really understood and worked to understand and explain each piece. Most were confused. If I were to do this again, I would start at the beginning of the year. The SS teachers teach the acronym PERSIA (political, economics, religion, social, intellect, arts). They also add to that geography. These are the things they investigate each time they study a culture. I would bring in the standards as we studied each aspect of the acronym. Lesson Learned.
We begin north Africa and the Arab world on Monday. I've asked them to ask family and research on the internet things that are currently happening in that part of the world so that we can begin our thinking and investigation on Monday. My learning continues.
Showing posts with label social studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social studies. Show all posts
Friday, January 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
changes begin
I work in a district in Texas. Yes, we are one of several states that are having financial troubles. But my situation does not really come from that. I have been in education for over 20 year. I now find myself in a district that is turning its beliefs about teaching and learning toward a new direction. Like most districts, we had an English department along with all of the other academic departments. Each department was led by a director. That person's role was to guide the department with a teaching and learning philosophy and help the administrators and teachers with their decisions based on that philosophy. We managed staff development including national consultants.
We are a successful district that is looking for a way to move student thinking to a more rigorous level. This new path to teaching and learning removes the focus on departments and moves it toward an interdisciplinary approach that includes the use of technology.
We began the move by eliminating the directors of all core content areas. We also eliminated our school improvement specialists in every building. There were two in each building. One who worked with math and science and the other who worked with ELA and social studies. The role of interdisciplinary coach (iCoach) has been added to each campus. The role of the iCoach has not been clearly defined--it will develop as we move into our new learning. We know that this person will know technology and encourage appropriate use of it. This person will also help to write curriculum that includes interdisciplinary units.
We began last week with Sara and Shelly from November Learning helping the coaches and administrators better understand how technology fits into good learning. I was invigorated by the three days of working together. I learned a lot about technology, but I also learned about building units with appropriate technology. I especially liked using jing to create tutorials. But in meetings today, the conversation was around different tech tools rather than the learning. Looking at one tool after another became overwhelming. It was suggested that a teacher acquire two new tools in a year. I learned about more than 30 tools today. Too much!
So I have decided to chronicle my change from someone who guided the English department to someone who works with all teachers in a middle school helping them to move away from thinking just about their content toward thinking about connecting their content with other content areas while also using technology.
As I was feeling overwhelmed today, I decided that I would use technology to help me make this move. I know that many of you out there have been using technology in your teaching for years. I would bet that many of you are also in an interdisciplinary environment. I need your help! I don't know how you will find me to help me, but I am putting this out there hoping to get feedback on my ideas as well as suggestions for additional ideas. While I am no "Julia," I am more than willing to put my ideas into the blogosphere and hope that help and encouragement will come flying back towards me.
We currently have ACTIVBoards in every classroom. Teachers are getting mini laptops (4-6) and 2 IPads in their classrooms. Our libraries have Macs, IPads, and Ipod touches. We also have digital cameras. So we have the technology basics. How can I help my teachers use these tools to improve learning among the students in my building and this district?
We are a successful district that is looking for a way to move student thinking to a more rigorous level. This new path to teaching and learning removes the focus on departments and moves it toward an interdisciplinary approach that includes the use of technology.
We began the move by eliminating the directors of all core content areas. We also eliminated our school improvement specialists in every building. There were two in each building. One who worked with math and science and the other who worked with ELA and social studies. The role of interdisciplinary coach (iCoach) has been added to each campus. The role of the iCoach has not been clearly defined--it will develop as we move into our new learning. We know that this person will know technology and encourage appropriate use of it. This person will also help to write curriculum that includes interdisciplinary units.
We began last week with Sara and Shelly from November Learning helping the coaches and administrators better understand how technology fits into good learning. I was invigorated by the three days of working together. I learned a lot about technology, but I also learned about building units with appropriate technology. I especially liked using jing to create tutorials. But in meetings today, the conversation was around different tech tools rather than the learning. Looking at one tool after another became overwhelming. It was suggested that a teacher acquire two new tools in a year. I learned about more than 30 tools today. Too much!
So I have decided to chronicle my change from someone who guided the English department to someone who works with all teachers in a middle school helping them to move away from thinking just about their content toward thinking about connecting their content with other content areas while also using technology.
As I was feeling overwhelmed today, I decided that I would use technology to help me make this move. I know that many of you out there have been using technology in your teaching for years. I would bet that many of you are also in an interdisciplinary environment. I need your help! I don't know how you will find me to help me, but I am putting this out there hoping to get feedback on my ideas as well as suggestions for additional ideas. While I am no "Julia," I am more than willing to put my ideas into the blogosphere and hope that help and encouragement will come flying back towards me.
We currently have ACTIVBoards in every classroom. Teachers are getting mini laptops (4-6) and 2 IPads in their classrooms. Our libraries have Macs, IPads, and Ipod touches. We also have digital cameras. So we have the technology basics. How can I help my teachers use these tools to improve learning among the students in my building and this district?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)