End of the semester

Wow its already the end of the semester! Cannot believe this is the end already. Usually I think the Spring semester seems to drag on and on. This semester not the case before I knew it April was upon us. I think this class has taught me a lot about the field of education. There was so much information to cover with such a broad topic. What I really enjoyed the most was through observations, and reading what my classmates thought about the topics we had to post on. It was really interesting to read what others thought as well. Listening to your peers gives students a more reflective thought on their own response. Also I found it much easier to agree or disagree with someone in this class than others because we were not in a classroom. I think students say more information when they are not in front of a group of people.Out in the field the teacher I was observing gave me many opportunities to have full access to the classroom. Which was nice because I was allowed to teach lessons and help the students when necessary. I am very grateful for that.

When it came down to the final exam for this class I was at first a bit nervous. What helped a lot was breaking down the assignement each week and getting the chance to work on it. This helped for this last week especially with many last minute assignements. I believe the phone conversastion with the professor was nice because it made the class feel more connected than just through the interent. Many professors would never take that kind of time to do that.

I liked the textbooks in this class in particular for the lit circles. They were both easy reads so that in it self was a time savor, but they were interesting as well. Made me think about what was going on out in the field as well as what I was supposed to be learning. I am sure there is much
more to cover, but I cannot think of everything. Thanks for a great learning environment and a great semester!Have a good summer everyone!


http://www.salemstate.edu/

Building a house

I decided to compare education to building a house. When you first build a house there are plans that are drawn out to guide the contractors along. With education the plans are also set. There is elementary, middle, and high school. All in which has to be completed before students move on to bigger and greater accomplishments. Next comes the foundation. Elementary school sets the foundation for all students. Everything that students learn in grades K-5 are the building blocks to the rest of your career. The foundation on a house keeps the house steady so the house does not move or topple over. Elementary school teachers teach students their foundation for the rest of their lives.
Middle school is like the roof. The roof in a house keeps water or other weather from seeping in. Middle school can make and or break students like a roof. When there is a leaky roof problems then arise within the house. In middle school when problems happen then there usually more problems arise as well. Windows and other intimate details within the house is like high school. All the material learned in high school is covering all the other important material learned in the lower grades. In education all you see is the details not the hard work from past grades that lead you up to that point. When contractors build a house all you see is the finish work not what the house looks like without the walls painted and the furniture enclosed within. Education is special but all people see is the end result not the process students had to go through until the end. Also like a house education never ends there is always new information to be learned, and there is always the upkeep of a house so it does not fall.

The Conscious Classroom

Even though I have blogged on Social Justice before here is a example on how social justice can impact one city and the community involved.

How would you feel if you were a high school student who attended a run down school? Learning environments are meant to be up to date for students to feel good about where they attend school. In Chicago's West Side there is a high school by the name of Little Village Lawndale High School (LVLHS). Students have to travel a distance to get to school. Parents and teachers rallied together to get a new school built closer to other students. The rally consisted of a nineteen day hunger strike in order to get this project completed. They were successful after sicx years of fighting and the school was opened in 2005.

After the school was build parents had a new cry for help. " The parents kept saying they really wanted our school to teach the values of peace and struggle, says Rito Martinez, the principal of Social Justice High School at LVLHS, and what the community had to do to fight for the school. One of four small schools housed on the campus, Martinez's social justice school was specifically created to foster basic skills and literacy--as well as critical inquiry--through projects and problems centered on race, gender and economic equity. " The principal wants his students to understand this concept because 98% of the students are from low income families. Students like to express their feelings on how advertisements influence kids today. After Congress passed The No Child Left Behind Act schools across the nation are now linking education, social justice, and activism within the classroom. Students deserve to learn in the most comfortable environment with no restrictions. Social justice is important to the field of education.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080225/doster

Charter Schools

Charter Schools are independent public schools that are supported by state funds but do not follow public school regulations. Charter schools first developed in 1990's. Come to think of it that is not that long ago. Charter schools are ran differently than public schools. What I enjoy about Charter schools is how the run throughout the year. From what I was told from my stepmother who attended a Charter school was students go all year round. That may sound scary to us as students but hear me out, every nine weeks the students gets two weeks off. For Christmas they get a month off, and yes they do get some what of a summer break they get 8 weeks off. Students do not forget that much over summer vacation because the summer is shorter. What interested me in Charter schools was I would not mind getting a two week vacation every nine weeks or so. That is not a bad deal. Holidays I was not sure depends on the individual school I am sure. What I also liked about Charter schools was parents are allowed to get more involved in their child's education. Teachers also have more of a say on what happens and goes on within the school. Teachers always know best when it comes to their students so they should have more of a say on what goes on. Charter schools also reach out to those students who may get lost in the public school setting as well. Charter schools may not be for every child but for many they may just save their education.

http://www.ppionline.org/upload_graphics/ppi_charterschools_fig4.gif

Marie Montessori

Marie Montessori is a woman who should be recognized in the field of education. Not only was she the first woman to graduate from medical school in Italy, but she realized that children who were being categorized as "feebleminded" had potential to learn. Marie's main philosophy was to find different approaches to teaching so that all children can learn. Marie created schools across the world that we call Montessori schools. Her main goal was to give children the freedom in a specially prepared environment for mostly preschool and elementary grade children. I agree with Marie's philosophy because all children should get the opportunity to attend any school that best fits the child. Showing any type of encouragement to students all are willing to learn. By giving children some freedom their ability to learn will expand. The set up the classroom is also important. Marie sets up her schools by having a central room in each class with smaller rooms off to the side. This gives students the choice on where they want to do their work, either in a large group or in smaller ones. Marie was a very smart woman who went against the odds to make changes not only in her life but in the life of children that others would have never given the time or day for. Marie's phiosophies are still being used to day, and with a little bit of research there are more Montessori schools near your home town that you may have not even realized.

www.webster.edu/~woolflm/montessori2.html