This is a post I will be using with the preschool as we introduce the people in your community. This one features the mailman.
[Video] Sesame Street: Ben Stiller Sings About Friends & Neighbors
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
New Literacies Institute
I'm here at the 2010 New Literacies Institute. It's been great. The speakers are dynamic. Lots of information has been disseminated. You can check out the Wiki at: http://newlitinstitute2010.wikispaces.com/
Be sure to check out the resources there.
Be sure to check out the resources there.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Importance of Right Brain Thinking
After reading the following blog entry, The Importance of Right-Brain Thinking, by Kate Canales I was even more convinced of the importance of a well-rounded school curriculum that fosters the development of creativity. This is best served by the related arts. Yet, in our push for standardized-testing and the slashing of educational budgets, it is the arts that are most often cut. We somehow believe that slashing/reducing these offerings will have little effect on the future of education.
It's nice to know that other distinguished people such as Daniel Pink and Ken Robinson believe just the opposite. They speak of the need for fostering creativity. Daniel Pink in his book, A Whole New Mind, talks about the importance of right-brained thinking and how those types of thinkers will rule the future. Ken Robinson gives a thought-provoking talk on how schools are killing our creativity.
Read the blog entry by Kate Canales linked to above and listen to Ken Robinson's 20 minute talk and then decide if eliminating the arts from our schools' curriculum is in the best interests of our students. No one is downplaying the importance of teaching our students the content and skills necessary to be successful in life, but it's equally as important to nurture their creative side. If we don't value right-brain thinking in our schools today, are we truly preparing them for tomorrow? Maybe, it's time to acknowledge the value of the arts in developing the whole child.
It's nice to know that other distinguished people such as Daniel Pink and Ken Robinson believe just the opposite. They speak of the need for fostering creativity. Daniel Pink in his book, A Whole New Mind, talks about the importance of right-brained thinking and how those types of thinkers will rule the future. Ken Robinson gives a thought-provoking talk on how schools are killing our creativity.
Read the blog entry by Kate Canales linked to above and listen to Ken Robinson's 20 minute talk and then decide if eliminating the arts from our schools' curriculum is in the best interests of our students. No one is downplaying the importance of teaching our students the content and skills necessary to be successful in life, but it's equally as important to nurture their creative side. If we don't value right-brain thinking in our schools today, are we truly preparing them for tomorrow? Maybe, it's time to acknowledge the value of the arts in developing the whole child.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Alan November Video Clip
I came across this video clip entitled, "Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom" by Alan November. The clip is very well done for the way it is filmed and for its content. It begins by having the viewer feel like he/she is driving inside a car down the streets of Marblehead, MA. Alan talks about how Marblehead was one of the largest towns before the Revolutionary War. He speaks about how people survived there by trading on the open sea. These people had a sense of being part of a global nation. Alan believes globalization is something many people today don't have a sense of. He goes on to state that schools don't value that kind of thinking. Alan works with schools trying to convince them to globalize the curriculum.
Alan November believes that schools don't do a very good job of developing critical thinking as a skill. He goes on to say that we have to do a better job of identifying the critical skills we want kids to have in school. He states several skills that kids will need to focus on in school. Kids should take on the roles of: global communicator, global researcher, tool builder who works with search engines and internal collaborator who works with Google docs.
What Alan November talks about is that pedagogical paradigm shift where the student becomes a self-directed learner. They become reflective, ask questions, figure out what they have learned over time and what they have to do next. They become lifelong learners.
Alan has some great ideas and if you get a chance, you might want to watch this video.
Alan November believes that schools don't do a very good job of developing critical thinking as a skill. He goes on to say that we have to do a better job of identifying the critical skills we want kids to have in school. He states several skills that kids will need to focus on in school. Kids should take on the roles of: global communicator, global researcher, tool builder who works with search engines and internal collaborator who works with Google docs.
What Alan November talks about is that pedagogical paradigm shift where the student becomes a self-directed learner. They become reflective, ask questions, figure out what they have learned over time and what they have to do next. They become lifelong learners.
Alan has some great ideas and if you get a chance, you might want to watch this video.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Back on Track Again
I've been negligent about posting, so I'm going to try to be a little more faithful about posting some news, thoughts, etc. I have. One of the things that I'd like to share is the link to a wonderful online conference. This K-12 online conference has been held around the same time every year. This year's conference features many wonderful presentations. If you have about an hour's block of time on any given day, listen to one of the presentations. You can't beat learning in the comfort of your home.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)