This week you will be taking a look at Sir Ken Robinson's website and reading a blog posting he wrote for The Huffington Post. In addition you will be following the link in the post below to the Picassohead website and creating your own masterpiece.
1. Go to Sir Ken Robinson's website and take a look around. Find the short two-minute video called Intel Inspire Project and watch it. In the comment section write at least a paragraph answering the question asked at the end of the video.
2. Go to the Huffington Post website and read the blog posting titled Transform Education? Yes, We Must written by Sir Ken Robinson. Imagine for a moment that starting tomorrow you no longer have to teach under the mandates of NCLB or deal with AYP. In the comment section tell us two things you would immediately change in your classroom that would foster a more creative way of learning.
Intro
Welcome to the class blog for "The Creative Process," Baker SPGS SOE Spring 2009.
Every week there will be several items posted. You are required to respond to the posted items. In addition you may respond to comments posted by classmates. Either a gmail or yahoo account is required to post comments. If you do not wish to use your existing account please create a new account and provide me with your tag name so that I will know that you are posting.
An acceptable and successful post will be more than one word and will be a formed and thoughtful response.
In addition to the the weekly posts I will also be adding lists and links that may be useful to you, first in your personal "creative" life, and second, in your life as an educator. I encourage you to forward websites, photos for posting, and other ideas to me so they can be shared with everyone.
37 comments:
Intel Inspire Project:
I have many people who I am inspired by but as an educator I am inspired by my 8th grade teacher. He made me believe in myself and my abilities. He made being a teacher look easy. Every student mattered the same, regardless of looks or ability. I hope I remain as energized and enthusiastic about teaching as he did. To this day, whenever I see him I learn something new.
Response 1
An old colleague of mine, Rob Conway, inspires me. The man must not sleep any more than two hours a night because he constantly rivets his students with his personality and his methods of teaching. Every kid wants to go to his class and references him as influential to their growth as a person and student. I strive to be viewed the same way as him. His reaching such heights as an individual inspires me to do the same.
Response 2
NCLB gone? I could be a teacher again? I would first bring back show and tell. What better way to learn one’s preferences and passions as well as promote diversity than by allowing students to display what they hold dear? I would also place an ellipsis at the end of every English objective to allow students the ability to expand the outcomes of English to fit their needs rather than the needs of a test.
Transform Education: Yes, We Must
If NCLB no longer existed my classroom would be more hand's on. We would be able to spend more time on real-life situations such as learning how to count money, figure a checkbook, or figuring converting measurements for recipes. I also feel that the components of math could be taught in a much better way if there was more time. At the sixth grade level we have many students who do not know their multiplication facts, we need more time to work on the basics before we can progress.
I have quite a few people who inspire me. The first one would be my PE teacher in middle school. She helped me to believe I could be somebody and that I was worthy of being her friend. The second person would be my husband of 36 years. He never tells me I can't do something and supports me in whatever I want to do. He knows how to pick me up, dust me off, and send me down the road with a pat on the back for trying. The last would be all the students who come through my classroom door. They inspire me to go beyond what is required and meet their imaginations.
Response # 2
WOW, NCLB what a concept. The first thing I would do is through out the furniture. I have students who want to stand and move around the room. I can't let them due to space problems and too much walking into desk can cause a problem. I would teach not from a text but from projects that meet their learning abilities. Testing would be from what they learned and how they could adapt to the world around them.
Transform Education?
Ok so does that mean I can purchase the items I need to give the students in my science class their needed hands on labs? I would purchase two sets of kits from Loose in the Lab. One for me and one for Jason. I would also like to have a one to one laptop ratio for all students and go paper free in my room. Those are the two top priorities for me right now.
Who inspires me? No one, because I inspire myself. I think we might envy other people, we see someone doing something we admire and would like to “be like them.” We might find inspiration in others actions. However, I think true inspiration comes from within, not without. Be your own inspiration. What we do with the inspiration is the important thing.
Intel Inspire Project:
There are many influences in my life that inspire me. Some are mentors, people I don't know, or even, my family. However, I have to say that the person who inspires me the most is a 10-year-old girl. Over the past eight months, this young lady has shown tenacity and determination.
In August, she was reading on a first grade level (early first grade at that, 1.2 or 1.3.) Now, she is reading at a fourth grade level. There are days that I am in absolute disbelief at what she can do. When it became apparent to me that this little girl was going to meet and exceed the goal she and I set in August, I realized something huge. This 10-year-old girl knew a little more about life than I did. She showed me that nothing is impossible and that one can achieve things that truly do seem impossible. This inspires me to give 100% to everything in my life. It is such a good feeling to work so hard because it has paid off tremendously.
Transform Education
Two things I would change...well, There are several things I would like to change, but here are my top two.
1. Stop using scripted curriculum. While it is a good idea in theory, it is actually not. Instead of insuring good instruction, as I imagine was it's creator's intention, I find that using it on a regular basis makes for a monotonous year. Also, it makes it very easy for teachers to become lazy. When you don't have to think of a creative way to teach something, you don't. You stop looking for ways to improve lessons because they are already planned. It's so easy to just write lesson 2 rather than typing an entire new lesson for teaching about multiplication.
2. Severely limit the number of worksheets used. There is nothing more boring or more pointless that doing a worksheet. Especially if you do several each week. There are so many resources for finding creative ways for students to practice concepts and respond to literature. It not only makes learning more fun, but I would argue that it also makes learning more meaningful.
Who inspires me?
My wife is my inspiration. She makes me want to better myslef at everything I do. SHe is the reason I am in this program in the firstplace. I am the professional I am today because of her. I wish everyone had a significant other that is as wonderful as her.
Aaron
The person who inspires me the most is my father. He has been through many hard times, and always comes out on top. He survived the Vietnam War, and came home and has a successful business. Then he survived being a single parent. You always hear stories about single moms, but rarely single fathers. He raised my little brother, my older sister, and me since I was 14 years old. He always found a way to provide for us. He never missed a sporting event that I had in high school. He was there when we needed him. He inspires me to never give up. If I can end up being a portion of the man my father is, I will be honored.
My parents have always inspired me. Both of my parents came from very poor families. My mom was from a large family and my dad was an only child. My parents taught me that hard work, and a goal will pay off in the end. My parents retired several years ago from fulfilling careers and now run a successful business.
To balance the career side of my parents, they have provided my sister, myself, and our children with excellent role models on raising a family. They will have been married for 50 years this November. Both are loving and supportive, but neither one will sugar coat things when you need the brutal truth. I could go on forever but basicaly I hope my children think that I have been as good a parent, and human being, as I believe my parents have been.
Part 1
If No Child Left Behind or AYP were gone, the first thing I would do is move my program into an elementary school. My students are in a trailer behind the high school because of their disruptive behavior interferes with their peers learning. They can have a place in the elementary school where on bad days they can remain in a self-contained classroom or on good days, they can interact in a general education classroom. The second thing I would change is to bring back the shop type classes for those students who are not college bound. This allows the students who are more tactile learn skills that they could further at trade school or a junior college.
Part 2
Many people have inspired me in my life but my fifth grade teacher was the person who inspired me to be a teacher. She wanted every student in her classroom to do their best and try their hardest. She was tough but she was fair. She made school a place where children wanted to be. She taught more then reading, writing, and math. We learned about compassion when she cried at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows and how to settle arguments in a civil and respectful. I hope one day, that my teaching inspires my students much as I was by my fifth grade teacher.
The things that I would change in my classroom wouldn't necessarily have anything to do with NCLB per se. I would not have those nasty, uncomfortable desks in my room. I think some comfy chairs with tables to use when needed would be much better. I would like permission to paint my room whatever color(s) I want.I would ask for each of my students to be supplied with a laptop for taking virtual tours, maps,completing projects...
I could take a poll of the students at the beginning of the year and study the time periods that they think interest them.
Good intentions aside, NCLB was and is doomed to fail. The problem is will it fail soon enough to save education? NCLB-AD (after dead) – I will go back to teaching in the “teachable moment.” History has too many wonderful and interesting pieces to teach, I can finally get away from having to come up with why the “Populist Party” was so important to Kansas history.
I would not worry about covering every little delta or tested item on the standards. I would not have to hurry through a curriculum to make sure we get everything covered, instead of taking our time until everything is understood!
I would start doing a lot more hands on activities in depth. We can and do hands on activities now, but not in depth. You have to be completed by the day you have planned. There is no room for that free experimental, self exploration. I am scared of not meeting AYP!
Oh yeah I would purchase those loose in the lab kits for Mr. Winkleman and myself too! We would never run out of materials!
My children inspire me everyday. They push me to be the best and to always stay on my toes. They provide me inspirtation within my classroom as they are my idea consultants. They provide me with the negative feedback that allows me to be more constructive in my thoughts, lessons and in life.
Transform Education! That would be great. I could teach with out the fear of reprecussion for having fun in the classroom. I would not have to have an explaination ready to explain why we are playing math baseball instead of studing in a more traditional way. I would have the time to work with kids on the skill areas where they are diffiecent and have the opportunity to work on catching them up to "grade level". Where do I sign up for this?
I'm mostly inspired by the children in my life now. My on children inspire me to come up with new challenges and ideas, and my children at school inspire me to do the same. I want to push my students and lead them to reach their potential and use the talents they have been given. So I am always looking for new ways to inspire them as they have inspired me to do.
Transform Education, Yes we Must
That is almost too exciting for me to comprehend. I would love to not have to rush through all the tested indicators by April, but to instead let the kids explore more. Experimenting is one of my favorite ways to learn and to teach, but under current teaching requirements, there simple is not enough time for all the fun and often more meaningful learning. SAD!
My Picasso Head number is 890974. This was fun!
Transform education
I am not affected as much as other grade levels are by NCLB and AYP. I would immediately go back to teaching by units, I have a little bit more freedom with my current guided reading students to look at different texts, and be more creative. One of my favorite units to teach is Ancient Egypt, and unfortunately I dont have sufficient time to get through everything I need to.
My Picasso Head number is #892177. I am making my current students create their own.
Math is a unique and fun suject. I would do more fun things that teach number relationships.Like simulations and role play. Webquests and definitely more games. We would take the time to do tesselations and other creations with shapes. Iwould take time to teach an economy lesson where students brainstorm an invention. Then create from a list of materials, and figure the costs for making and marketing and their profits.I would take the time to use manipulatives.Students would have more control over their grades based on what they chose to do.Somebody make me stop!!!!
I have such a fun age group to work with, 1st graders are full of excitement and wonder. I love the days when the "light bulb" comes on even for just one student, it gives me courage to continue what I am doing. Vicki Cornett, is a person that inspires me. She was a cheerleading sponser in college and just saw what I could become. She pushes me to become a better person and in the end of every email quotes the Serenity Prayer.
"God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
Response 1
I have many people who have inspired me in my life. I do think that my boys Gage and Gavin have given me the most inspiration. I strive to be a positive role model for them. I want them to see me work hard, set and achieve goals, and take responsibility for my actions. I also have been inspired by my mother who lacked parental skills. She inspired me to be the parent I am for my children. I was determined to NEVER be like her.
Response 2
My classroom would change drastically. So many projects could be incorporated and explored. Hands on would play a large part in my curriculum. Outside community would be involved more often and organized chaos would be celebrated.
One person that inspired me was my father. He was a hard working man who never asked anything of anybody. If he wanted something done he did it himself. If he didn't know how, he learned. I am not that by any means because if i can't do it, then i call the first professional i find in the phonebook or the nearest relative. Before he passed away he told me, out of the blue, that no matter what i wanted to do with my life i would soon figure it out and would be good at it. A year later i enrolled back into school and pursued my education degree. He was a very simple man with high standards and respected everyone and everyone respected him.
If i could transform education it would first be to say goodbye to NCLB or at least be the one who had a say so in the regulations of it. It would be so much more relaxing and exciting to teach. No more rushing through all those tested indicators and shoving them down the children's throats at the last minute. I could spend more time in areas that my students need. Just removing the state tests would allow everyone to relax and enjoy the school year much more. Maybe the children could even learn a few life lessons in the classrooms once again. That seems to have disappeared as NCLB came along.
Response 1)
I would have to say the one of my role models was my history teacher. He made learning history a lot of fun and interesting. All of his students wanted to learn as I remember and he was one of the first who made me consider education. My goal is to make math fun and exciting as I remember going into history.
Response 2)
With NCLB gone, I would love to be in education. This antiquated notion that every child is the same is so fundamentally stupid that the senators should attend classes in high school to see how flawed it is. First thing I would do is develop a curriculum that was more hands on. This allows for more meaningful connections since students can actually see how math affects their lives. Second, not every child needs to know all of the indicators. While it is nice to have the mental acumen to be able to read how a data set of a histogram provides mental gymnastics, not every child will use it. The classroom could be an actual place of learning where children are taught life skills and those who need the extra time to learn basic math facts are allowed to do so. I eagerly await the day that the government realizes that the education system is being dragged down by the good intentions of NCLB. As we all know, good intentions pave the road to hell.
it doesn't seem like i mentioned 2 things to change in my previous comment. Another thing i would change is to just allow the kids to be themselves much more often. I would have them create projects that really have much to do about nothing. I would require some skills such as math, science, reading, writing, etc. I wouldn't put some "DELTA" beside the objective and see to it that they included "measurement to the nearest 1/4 inch" I would just have them explain what they used and how.
I’m inspired by all the usual suspects: parents, friends, relatives, friends’ relatives, and an ensemble of other rascals I’ve met along the way. I take away a little of everyone I meet, including the members in the Ottawa cohort. Scary as it sounds, maybe a little of me will go with them.
Has Sir K. R. taught in U.S. public schools?
I would immediately change my attitude without NCLB in place. I would no longer tolerate complacency, indifference, or bad attitudes. The students would either be "on board" with where the class is going, or they would be "left behind".
Without NCLB I might actually focus a little more on finding out the students' intelligences, nourish those talents, and help them to blossom, each according to their strength.
What Sir K.R. advocates for in his article scares me a little. I’m from a culture of men who served in the military, though I myself have never served. The world I grew up in was a little more conformist than what Sir K. R. might order, and a little less understanding of a person’s individual strengths. I am comfortable and at ease with the residual exposure to military experience I’ve received from the men in my family and friends who’ve served, and their dads. Their ideals included efficiency, responsibility, and teamwork. Since I’ve never been in the military myself, I’m also very at ease with indulgence, irresponsibility, and self centeredness, not that those traits are exclusive to civilians. I want the freedom for the individual, and responsibility from all.
It’s difficult for me to visualize what a completely reformed education system looks like. I don’t want “socialism”. I believe in capitalism. With capitalism, there’s reward for initiative, creativity, and other desirable traits. And I’m not labeling Sir K.R. as a socialist. I want awesome reform as well, and I want it to keep its American originality.
I do not think that I have one person that inspires me. Every time I get goosebumps from a story of how somebody strives to improve others lives, they inspire me. When I hear stories of teachers that achieve new levels with their students or are able to reach individuals that were unreachable, I am inspired. When I witness a teacher who has the ability to entertain while teaching, I hope that I can do the same.
I truly feel that we do need to reform education, but I think we need to educate parents also. So much attention is on what schools and teachers need to be doing, but what about the education the child is getting at home. I look at my well adjusted, successful students and 99% of them have supportive parents. If we started mandating parental skills and requiring that they pass standardized testing, we may see more successful learning in schools. If I could change two things after NCLB is gone, I would provide more outdoor activities. With today's biology standards, they have moved away from everyday, visible concepts of life into more abstract, detailed processes of life. I would also skip some of the "important" standards dubbed by the state and incorporate those "silly" things that made want to be a biologist.
I can't figure out why he opened with a putting a penny in a jar and closed with putting a penny in a jar.
My parents were my inspiration. My mom would tell my sister and I that we could be anything we wanted to be and that it wasn't safe to rely on someone else for what you need. My dad has spent his life building us girls up. I can't remember him saying anything negative in reference to us. He has always told me I was smart and I truly believe he thinks I'm smarter than I am. He thinks I have a good story telling imagination and is always encouraging me to write. Poor dad. He let me help build our first new house when I was 10. He would tell me what to do and go do something else leaving me to do it. As far as i know he never checked my work. He always made me feel smart. I've always wanted to be as smart as he thought I was. I still do.
I don't know that I have one person that is my inspiration. My parents must have been an inspiration, they were both teachers.
I'm not sure my classroom would change much without NCLB or AYP. We would still cover the same topics that are covered on the state assessments. The State Dept. doesn't tell the teachers how to teach the material, it only tells them what to cover.
here's my link to mr. picassohead:
http://www.mrpicassohead.com/canvas.html?id=89f83a3&skin=original
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