Over break, my family came across a movie on TNT that had just started. It was called McFarland, USA. We had no idea what it was about and the fact that we were all in the same room on a Saturday afternoon was pretty impressive. My oldest son was quickly drawn into the move and I wasn't far behind. What a great movie!
Here is the trailer for the movie.
Here is the movie in whole from Youtube. I am not sure if this legal but it is on Youtube.
It is a movie about a coach that starts a cross country team. But it is really a lot more than that. It is about how the family and community, which were very different, built relationships with each other.
I recommend watching the movie if you haven't.
Questions To Consider:
1. In the movie, the students/runners, called their coach "blanco" because his last name was White but also because he was one of the only white things around them. How would you adjust to moving into a culture that you could not relate or connect to? What would you do first to build relationships?
2. Coach White took action to get to know his players. He went to their cultural events, learned some Spanish, and worked in the fields with them. Are there ways that we could better assimilate ourselves in building relationships by doing?
3. How could a movie like this be integrated (or some parts of it) into our curriculum? What would you ask our students to think about in regards to this movie?
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Sunday, December 17, 2017
FYI- Two Interesting Articles For You
Welcome to the last week before we get a bit of a break for Christmas. Thanks for your hard work with our kids. Especially thank you for your hard work and caring demeanor with them, that is appreciated.
Article 1
Click here to read an article about last month's Ohio State Board of Education meeting. I would keep an eye on this. The state board can suggest changes in legislation, but the legislators have to enact the change (design it). I have been told by ODE personnel that more movement on some of the information presented will happen at the January meeting.
Questions To Consider:
1. As changes seem to be occurring annually, do we do a good enough job communicating them to you as teachers? Do you care to know more? What can we do differently?
2. Do you see these possible changes as a positive or negative?
Article 2
Click here to read an article about some of the most interesting research that was conducted during 2017 centering on education. Though all of the research is not strictly has a secondary focus, looking at research in general, is productive for all. I feel that to be true because it lends an eye to us towards the pedagogy that is moving research in our field forward.
Questions To Consider:
1. What research was most interesting to you? How can you use it to affect your teaching practices?
2. When is the last time you searched for researched-based assistance with an issue you were encountering in your classroom? Do you know how to do so? If you would like more information about avaliable resources, I would be glad to show you a couple that helps you locate research easily.
Article 1
Click here to read an article about last month's Ohio State Board of Education meeting. I would keep an eye on this. The state board can suggest changes in legislation, but the legislators have to enact the change (design it). I have been told by ODE personnel that more movement on some of the information presented will happen at the January meeting.
Questions To Consider:
1. As changes seem to be occurring annually, do we do a good enough job communicating them to you as teachers? Do you care to know more? What can we do differently?
2. Do you see these possible changes as a positive or negative?
Article 2
Click here to read an article about some of the most interesting research that was conducted during 2017 centering on education. Though all of the research is not strictly has a secondary focus, looking at research in general, is productive for all. I feel that to be true because it lends an eye to us towards the pedagogy that is moving research in our field forward.
Questions To Consider:
1. What research was most interesting to you? How can you use it to affect your teaching practices?
2. When is the last time you searched for researched-based assistance with an issue you were encountering in your classroom? Do you know how to do so? If you would like more information about avaliable resources, I would be glad to show you a couple that helps you locate research easily.
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Posting Objectives or Essential Questions/Discoveries?
I bet you are excited after reading the title for this week.
As I visit our classrooms, I see an array of how our learning objectives are or aren't being posted. Some teachers have shared with students that I feel that learning objectives are important and should be posted. Students let me know about that when I visit the room. It is pretty neat. Seeing some of the objectives posted in very student friendly ways and then seeing that some aren't being posted got me thinking. Why do some teachers post them? How do they interact with them? Why don't some teachers post them? Do they really think it is pointless? Just the ramblings in my little brain.
Then I began to reflect further...does the staff know why I think it is important...Does my reasoning make sense to them....so I began to research (not scholarly research but just reading online).
I found some great articles with cited resources and studies but then I came across this blog. Please read it. It is an easy read, 4 mins max.
My Objective: Readers of this blog will understand why I think posting objectives and interacting with them is important.
Questions to consider:
1. You didn't think the blog would be a negative view of posting objectives, did you? It just proves that posting objectives is not that important. Reflect
2. What was the point of including this blog? If you don't post objectives or if you do-the main objective is students understanding the "why."
3. How can you find out if the students understand the "why" What great informal assessments could you use? Google tools?
4. Do you interact with students and the objectives? Do you talk to students about the "why"
5. I know it is possible for students to understand the "why" without posting your objectives. Do you have a systematic manner in place to do that?
Interacting with my objective: Fill in this exit slip to let me know how we did with today's objectives
Why do I feel posting and interacting with your objectives or essential questions is important?
Do students ever interact with your posted objectives in your room or when you state them to the students?
As I visit our classrooms, I see an array of how our learning objectives are or aren't being posted. Some teachers have shared with students that I feel that learning objectives are important and should be posted. Students let me know about that when I visit the room. It is pretty neat. Seeing some of the objectives posted in very student friendly ways and then seeing that some aren't being posted got me thinking. Why do some teachers post them? How do they interact with them? Why don't some teachers post them? Do they really think it is pointless? Just the ramblings in my little brain.
Then I began to reflect further...does the staff know why I think it is important...Does my reasoning make sense to them....so I began to research (not scholarly research but just reading online).
I found some great articles with cited resources and studies but then I came across this blog. Please read it. It is an easy read, 4 mins max.
PS- I would never want students repeating standards, as is discussed in the article...
My Objective: Readers of this blog will understand why I think posting objectives and interacting with them is important.
Questions to consider:
1. You didn't think the blog would be a negative view of posting objectives, did you? It just proves that posting objectives is not that important. Reflect
2. What was the point of including this blog? If you don't post objectives or if you do-the main objective is students understanding the "why."
3. How can you find out if the students understand the "why" What great informal assessments could you use? Google tools?
4. Do you interact with students and the objectives? Do you talk to students about the "why"
5. I know it is possible for students to understand the "why" without posting your objectives. Do you have a systematic manner in place to do that?
Why do I feel posting and interacting with your objectives or essential questions is important?
Do students ever interact with your posted objectives in your room or when you state them to the students?
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Expanding Your Personal Professional Learning
No guest blogger this week.
I decided we would go a little bit of a different direction this week. This blog is designed to be a professional learning opportunity for you each week in some way. Sometimes it is in the form of an article, sometimes in the form of a video, and sometimes it comes in the form of a peer.
This week lets learn from each other. Here is a document that you can add a recent resource to for all of us to use. It can be a website, book, manipulative, etc...This document can serve as a professional learning opportunity for all of your peers. I have started the document with a few of my own.
P.S. - It only took me about 35 seconds per resource to add it to the document. I think you can do it.
Questions To Consider:
1. What resources can I add?
2. Why haven't I done it yet?
3. Sharing with my peers about some great resources I use feels great.
I decided we would go a little bit of a different direction this week. This blog is designed to be a professional learning opportunity for you each week in some way. Sometimes it is in the form of an article, sometimes in the form of a video, and sometimes it comes in the form of a peer.
This week lets learn from each other. Here is a document that you can add a recent resource to for all of us to use. It can be a website, book, manipulative, etc...This document can serve as a professional learning opportunity for all of your peers. I have started the document with a few of my own.
P.S. - It only took me about 35 seconds per resource to add it to the document. I think you can do it.
Questions To Consider:
1. What resources can I add?
2. Why haven't I done it yet?
3. Sharing with my peers about some great resources I use feels great.
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