1a. How is “living what [you] believe” (Fulfilling the Promise, page 26, middle of right-hand column) both difficult and easy for teachers?
1b. How can (might, should) differentiation affect “living what you believe”?
1c. From chapter 4, explain what Tomlinson mean when she suggests that a teacher, early and often, should say to students, “Let’s figure this out together. Let’s make this our class.”
1a- Living what you believe can be difficult for teachers because you can't always proclaim your beliefs (such as religion), and can't always help students in the ways that you may want to because of limitations and rules on relationships, time, money, etc. On the other hand, it can be easy for teachers in some aspects. For example, if a teacher truly believes that they can inspire and help a student, they can.
1b-I think differentiation should be the fuel to "living what you believe". Because every child and situation must be treated differently, it's important to use differentiation methods in order to live what you believe. Building on the example listed above, if a teacher believes that she can inspire and help a student, they should use different differentiation methods to help this student. While most students may learn a concept by watching the teacher demonstrate, the teacher may have to demonstrate the concept by drawing pictures, etc.
1c-When there are questions or problems or concerns that surface in a classroom, it's important to work through these issues together as a class instead of leaving them unresolved. And, by working together, it shows the students that she cares about issues and when they work together as a class, they can solve anything.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Response #3 - 9/17
Reflect on what you learned about creating community in your classroom from our visitor, Sylvia Allan.
I learned a LOT from Sylvia. She really opened my eyes and helped me to realize just how much influence I can have on my students and their futures and families. I couldn't believe how detailed each section of the morning meeting was, and how each section is detailed and calculated to complete certain tasks. I really like that it gives students a chance to express themselves, and find equal ground right at the beginning of the day. I love that students can find another family away from their families. Some children come from completely disfuncitonal and even scary backgrounds, and if anything, this morning meeting provides a sense of stability and security that they may not get from anywhere else. I love how she over-emphasized everything good that anyone said or did. I think that is an amazing tool to use in the class, and also helps to build students' confidence.
I learned a LOT from Sylvia. She really opened my eyes and helped me to realize just how much influence I can have on my students and their futures and families. I couldn't believe how detailed each section of the morning meeting was, and how each section is detailed and calculated to complete certain tasks. I really like that it gives students a chance to express themselves, and find equal ground right at the beginning of the day. I love that students can find another family away from their families. Some children come from completely disfuncitonal and even scary backgrounds, and if anything, this morning meeting provides a sense of stability and security that they may not get from anywhere else. I love how she over-emphasized everything good that anyone said or did. I think that is an amazing tool to use in the class, and also helps to build students' confidence.
Response #2 - 9/8
2d. On page 22, Tomlinson says, “The truth is, we will never really do all each child needs us to do.” Later on this page she says, “The point is not to entertain guilt. The point is to relentlessly seize the remarkable opportunity of a teacher to shape lives – to do the best we can to ensure that we are better at reaching children today than yesterday, better at it this year than last.”
In all honesty, I was RELIEVED to read this. I've wondered and worried a little bit about just how I was going to meet ALL of the needs of each child and yet progress and actually be able to teach! But this quote really helped me to remember that that would be absolutely impossible and to just do the best I can to seize the moments and not force anything upon the child. Great teachers are usually those that seize any and all moments to teach their students even if it means they won't get to cover every detail of curriculum . Taking the time to let the child know that their thoughts, questions, and emotions are important can speak and teach volumes compared to handing out another worksheet about topics that need to get covered in order to simply cover ideas. However, a really really good teacher learns how to manage these moments and not only pay attention to the student, but to teach the students what they need to know while they are answering their questions. And then to build on this even more and become better and better at it as the years go on.
In all honesty, I was RELIEVED to read this. I've wondered and worried a little bit about just how I was going to meet ALL of the needs of each child and yet progress and actually be able to teach! But this quote really helped me to remember that that would be absolutely impossible and to just do the best I can to seize the moments and not force anything upon the child. Great teachers are usually those that seize any and all moments to teach their students even if it means they won't get to cover every detail of curriculum . Taking the time to let the child know that their thoughts, questions, and emotions are important can speak and teach volumes compared to handing out another worksheet about topics that need to get covered in order to simply cover ideas. However, a really really good teacher learns how to manage these moments and not only pay attention to the student, but to teach the students what they need to know while they are answering their questions. And then to build on this even more and become better and better at it as the years go on.
Response 1 - 9/2
1a. On page 10 of this reading assignment, Tomlinson states that “teachers who are willing to establish ties with students discover new depths of truth each day...” What does this mean to you?
The older I've gotten, the more I've realized that there is so much more to every person that meets the eye. Everyone has lived different lives, gone through different experiences, battled different challenges, and became who they are now through these experiences. However, children have a special advantage over some adults. Some (hopefully most) have not yet realized how harsh the world is and as a result look at it through eyes of hope, innocence, and optimism. So often this view can be incredibly refreshing for adults, as children will tell how they see the world and situations straight-out instead of trying to always sugar coat everything. By taking time to get to really know your students and establish those ties, students will become more comfortable with you, and as a result will usually talk more with or confide in you as a respected adult. Some students may not confide in you but may become comfortable enough with you to give their opinion, show how they could teach a classmate, or any number of other things. Often, students don't realize that they are even doing these things, and they just happen naturally. That's where taking time as a teacher to watch and listen comes into play. Establishing those ties and then taking the time to strengthen them will not only help your students to feel valued, but will help you as a teacher learn truth from other eyes.
The older I've gotten, the more I've realized that there is so much more to every person that meets the eye. Everyone has lived different lives, gone through different experiences, battled different challenges, and became who they are now through these experiences. However, children have a special advantage over some adults. Some (hopefully most) have not yet realized how harsh the world is and as a result look at it through eyes of hope, innocence, and optimism. So often this view can be incredibly refreshing for adults, as children will tell how they see the world and situations straight-out instead of trying to always sugar coat everything. By taking time to get to really know your students and establish those ties, students will become more comfortable with you, and as a result will usually talk more with or confide in you as a respected adult. Some students may not confide in you but may become comfortable enough with you to give their opinion, show how they could teach a classmate, or any number of other things. Often, students don't realize that they are even doing these things, and they just happen naturally. That's where taking time as a teacher to watch and listen comes into play. Establishing those ties and then taking the time to strengthen them will not only help your students to feel valued, but will help you as a teacher learn truth from other eyes.
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