I have the fortunate opporunity to work in an actual school while attending classes for my Masters in Elementary Education/Special Education. There have been studies that suggest that music can tame the savage beast. There are some contemporary beliefs within a professional therapeutic setting where music is used to ease aggression, fears, and the common headache. But like many contemporary theories, can music really tame the savage beast in all of us?
It would seem yes, but since this is just a theory it does create some speculation until now. I have a student within school that has some hyperactivity as well as aggression. I have recently begin to see with a new Christmas gift, an MP3 player that when he is allowed to use it during indoor recess, he is much more focused and alert during his afternoon subjects. He quietly sits at his desk listening, with the occassional friend approaching him to hear what he is listening too. When recess is over, I quietly stand in front of him to let him know that recess is over, he never fights me to have more time nor is he too excited for me to attempt to calm down. I believe that there maybe some real potential for this within the classroom. Whether it is during recess with a amplified system or a child is allowed to have one during supervised, non class time is the question. Without a ton of research it seems that the child he tends to learn in an auditor capacity may find the music soothing and calming.
Step 2: find out what is on his MP3 player.
To Be Continued...
Friday, January 16, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Multi-Cultural Project Proposal for HS Students
This is a Graduate Class Project Only
Dear High School Parents,
It is with great pleasure that I announce the addition of several new classes that will be added to our 2009-2010 course selection as Electives in a variety of areas such as Foreign Languages, Home Economics, History, and English. This new subject matter is focused on the diversity within our community as well as our country. Our approach is two fold to introduce a multi-cultural presence within our student body as well courses to allow each student, if they so choose, to enhance their understanding of a new culture.
The board has increased our Foreign Languages to include Mandarin, Cantonese, and Russian which will be added over the next two years. Our history department has added the following electives for students to choose from: Latin American Studies 1 and 2, African Civilizations 1 and 2, and Asian Dynasties 1 and 2; with “1” classes being offered only in the fall and “2” only being offered in the Spring, exceeding New York State Requirements for outlined curriculum with an award of one half credit for each class. Our English department has partnered up with our History department and we are pleased to announce the compliment English courses to the above History courses for student students to choose. These classes are only offered during the “2nd” session and are only during the Spring as a semester long class being awarded a half credit.
The most innovative of our additions (and the one that I am most proud of) is the revitalization of our Home Economics department which has now become “the Cuisine and Culture Department: A mix of culinary expertise with a splash of concepts within each distinct culture. These classes are offered as a quarter elective and will explore not only recipes of the studies are, but will also explore family traditions and customs of the area studied. These classes are made available in the following sequence (recommendation is a 2 year sequence with strong consideration for those to enter into the Culinary field.) First year: Italian, Irish, Greek, and French Cuisine. Second year: African, Latin, Eastern European (Czech, Russian, and Polish Cuisine) and Asian Cuisine. A scholarship has been procured for a graduating senior in the amount of $2,500.00 as an entering freshman into a 2 year culinary institution. This program is with the assistance of the Culinary Institute of America (where their students become our student teachers.)
We must continue to grow and expand ourselves in every way we possibly can, these courses will allow us to give our students an opportunity to expand themselves as well. In addition, we are bringing back our Summer Exchange Program to the following countries: Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Hong Kong* and Africa*. We hope that all students with a grade point average of 85 or higher will make their application for a 6 week journey beyond our borders.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me office at your convenience. I hope everyone is as excited as I am about these new changes and truly hope that this is just the beginning of more things to come.
Dear High School Parents,
It is with great pleasure that I announce the addition of several new classes that will be added to our 2009-2010 course selection as Electives in a variety of areas such as Foreign Languages, Home Economics, History, and English. This new subject matter is focused on the diversity within our community as well as our country. Our approach is two fold to introduce a multi-cultural presence within our student body as well courses to allow each student, if they so choose, to enhance their understanding of a new culture.
The board has increased our Foreign Languages to include Mandarin, Cantonese, and Russian which will be added over the next two years. Our history department has added the following electives for students to choose from: Latin American Studies 1 and 2, African Civilizations 1 and 2, and Asian Dynasties 1 and 2; with “1” classes being offered only in the fall and “2” only being offered in the Spring, exceeding New York State Requirements for outlined curriculum with an award of one half credit for each class. Our English department has partnered up with our History department and we are pleased to announce the compliment English courses to the above History courses for student students to choose. These classes are only offered during the “2nd” session and are only during the Spring as a semester long class being awarded a half credit.
The most innovative of our additions (and the one that I am most proud of) is the revitalization of our Home Economics department which has now become “the Cuisine and Culture Department: A mix of culinary expertise with a splash of concepts within each distinct culture. These classes are offered as a quarter elective and will explore not only recipes of the studies are, but will also explore family traditions and customs of the area studied. These classes are made available in the following sequence (recommendation is a 2 year sequence with strong consideration for those to enter into the Culinary field.) First year: Italian, Irish, Greek, and French Cuisine. Second year: African, Latin, Eastern European (Czech, Russian, and Polish Cuisine) and Asian Cuisine. A scholarship has been procured for a graduating senior in the amount of $2,500.00 as an entering freshman into a 2 year culinary institution. This program is with the assistance of the Culinary Institute of America (where their students become our student teachers.)
We must continue to grow and expand ourselves in every way we possibly can, these courses will allow us to give our students an opportunity to expand themselves as well. In addition, we are bringing back our Summer Exchange Program to the following countries: Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Hong Kong* and Africa*. We hope that all students with a grade point average of 85 or higher will make their application for a 6 week journey beyond our borders.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me office at your convenience. I hope everyone is as excited as I am about these new changes and truly hope that this is just the beginning of more things to come.
Technology creates Connections
It is easier said than done (in the years past) to say, "Lets stay in touch." Far to often we get caught up in the everyday shuffle of life and proclaim at the end of the day, I will call tomorrow. Then tomorrow turns into a month, which turns into a year and then all of a sudden you realize that its just been way too long to call now and then a very promising friendship or any relationship fades into the night. Well I have to say, that is no longer the problem now with Facebook (I completely sound like a late night infomercial) but it is true. I have reconnected with friends that I can not say that I would have ever bumped into on the streets of life. So reaise your glasses everyone to Technology. It is sometimes feared because it seems complicated and other times it is revered as the greatest thing next to sliced bread.
Do not fear the unknown... it is always changing and one who is able to change with it will get the prize inside the cracker jack box. Go with it... incorporate it into your everyday life... you can not hide from it any longer it is here... so get it involved with the children in your classroom... bring it out into the open... and if you do not know something become the student again and find out how... then you can say, I learned something today.
Do not fear the unknown... it is always changing and one who is able to change with it will get the prize inside the cracker jack box. Go with it... incorporate it into your everyday life... you can not hide from it any longer it is here... so get it involved with the children in your classroom... bring it out into the open... and if you do not know something become the student again and find out how... then you can say, I learned something today.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Reflection
More and more we seem to lack the ability to self reflect. It truly is difficulty as humans to point out the areas that you wish you had done better in or had tackled different versus praising oneself for a job well done. One of the classes that I currently take requires just that, self-reflection accompanied with peer evaluation. This weeks assignment I had to truly look at myself hard and realize that I fell short in my responsibilities. Not that I did not complete my part of the project, but when you work within a group it isn't just about doing the work, it is the exploration with your group that gets you to your final destination or project. I missed out on one of the meetings, which means that I was not there for my group. I now slap myself on the wrist.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Nature of Schools
As a future educator one of the things that I must do is to first begin with educating myself. Attending a College or University that works for you is an absolute must, if you do not like it for any reason, you will not get what you need or desire out of the experience. I know this fro personal experience and made it a point when I decided to return many years later to make sure that the school fit me as well as I fit it.
On my journey, there are many classes (required and elected) that I will be taking, one of them is a class classed Nature of Schools which is a philosophical journey of what the Educational system is as a whole, while exploring up and coming trends. These trends can be something as simple as integrating technology (I say simple because we live in an age where everyone has a cell phone) or as thought provoking as keeping an open mind between the traditional methods of teaching, versus those that are much more controversial such as homeschooling.
The class offers an exploration of these different topics, plus the added bonus, each student within the class brings a different position or thought on the same topic, which creates an entirely new level of thinking. More importantly the format that is used is completely "high-tech" so in addition to the material, this forces those that are not so technologically advanced to continue to stretch themselves in their own personal learning and growth.
It is hard to say that one can learn alot of the class, yes there was a great deal of information that was provided and a considerable amount of reading and research. But like anything else the information and theories will change again before I reach the classroom. I believe that the information that I did get from this class was how to obtain new information, keep on top of current trends, how to navigate the information and apply what is pertinent to the classroom, eliminate opinions that have not educational merit, along with a wide variety of technology applications that I had not heard of prior to taking the class.
The class was fun and engaging, meeting furture colleagues that natural became friends was the cherry on top and since the College has a moderate staff, I know that I will take another class with Dr. Smirnova again and I welcome the chance.
On my journey, there are many classes (required and elected) that I will be taking, one of them is a class classed Nature of Schools which is a philosophical journey of what the Educational system is as a whole, while exploring up and coming trends. These trends can be something as simple as integrating technology (I say simple because we live in an age where everyone has a cell phone) or as thought provoking as keeping an open mind between the traditional methods of teaching, versus those that are much more controversial such as homeschooling.
The class offers an exploration of these different topics, plus the added bonus, each student within the class brings a different position or thought on the same topic, which creates an entirely new level of thinking. More importantly the format that is used is completely "high-tech" so in addition to the material, this forces those that are not so technologically advanced to continue to stretch themselves in their own personal learning and growth.
It is hard to say that one can learn alot of the class, yes there was a great deal of information that was provided and a considerable amount of reading and research. But like anything else the information and theories will change again before I reach the classroom. I believe that the information that I did get from this class was how to obtain new information, keep on top of current trends, how to navigate the information and apply what is pertinent to the classroom, eliminate opinions that have not educational merit, along with a wide variety of technology applications that I had not heard of prior to taking the class.
The class was fun and engaging, meeting furture colleagues that natural became friends was the cherry on top and since the College has a moderate staff, I know that I will take another class with Dr. Smirnova again and I welcome the chance.
What if?
I have been contemplating the idea of the What if... ? scenario. Everyone has a sense of the What if...? situations, we face them everyday, both personally as well as professionally. I personally have lived by the philoshophy "Participate, not Anticipate!" What does this mean; it means that I want to participate in life and whatever it throws my way, rather than anticipate what may or may not happen.
So I am not back to the What if...? scenario. I am wondering if my lifes philosophy will be as applicable in the teaching profession as it may with other professions? Don't get me wrong, I sometimes get caught up with the hamster who is spinning upstairs in the brain and over think things; what I am getting at is, How will I make sure that I am well prepared for those What if... moments and will I manage them effectively. Dealing with adults is very different than dealing with children and somehow I feel extra concerned for their well being than I may have in my previous career life.
It is possible that pondering this question, creates a sense of loyaty to the position, it really allows me to look at myself as being as prepared as one can be. I just do not want it to become a wall that I am unable to climb or for that matter fearful of climbing.
So I am not back to the What if...? scenario. I am wondering if my lifes philosophy will be as applicable in the teaching profession as it may with other professions? Don't get me wrong, I sometimes get caught up with the hamster who is spinning upstairs in the brain and over think things; what I am getting at is, How will I make sure that I am well prepared for those What if... moments and will I manage them effectively. Dealing with adults is very different than dealing with children and somehow I feel extra concerned for their well being than I may have in my previous career life.
It is possible that pondering this question, creates a sense of loyaty to the position, it really allows me to look at myself as being as prepared as one can be. I just do not want it to become a wall that I am unable to climb or for that matter fearful of climbing.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Ups and Downs
Any profession can have it share of "ups and downs," but it only takes one down to set you on a path upwards. I was reminded of this recently when a friend (previous colleague) informed me that he had been laid off from work. It is not a good feeling, even though everyone in their life time will have experienced this themselves or know someone close that will. I too was laid off from my employer approximately 2 years ago and now I look back on the last two years in amazement. I offered words of understanding and empathy and simply said, "look for the road less traveled, it is the one that will get you where you want to be."
I think back on the night that I decided to not go back into Finance and decided to take the road less traveled. It seemed like I made the decision in less than a minute, but thinking back it was a decision that I had contimplated for years. It took my "layoff" to set me out on my journey. And well the last 2 years have been something else, in fact it has shown me more now than in past years or situations, how much drive I truly have to succeed. I can not say that I will be good at everything, who could; but what I can say is that I have truly learned a lot in these 2 years, not only in practical use within the classroom, but also about myself. A journey that I have started but not completed and truthfully don't care where I am at on this path, just as long as I am here.
I think back on the night that I decided to not go back into Finance and decided to take the road less traveled. It seemed like I made the decision in less than a minute, but thinking back it was a decision that I had contimplated for years. It took my "layoff" to set me out on my journey. And well the last 2 years have been something else, in fact it has shown me more now than in past years or situations, how much drive I truly have to succeed. I can not say that I will be good at everything, who could; but what I can say is that I have truly learned a lot in these 2 years, not only in practical use within the classroom, but also about myself. A journey that I have started but not completed and truthfully don't care where I am at on this path, just as long as I am here.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Future School Project
"As the teacher compliments the student, technology compliments the subject." Something that came off the top of my head, but reallyhad me thinking how true this statement really is... and how important it is for teachers to grasp this concept sooner than later. As we are full swing into the 21st Century, the differences in my elementary education experience are very different from that of my third class now. Embracing these changes are important. When I tell the kids stories of what it was like "back in the day" which was the 80's not that long ago... they are amazed by the fact that we did not have cell phones nor did we have computers until the mid 80's. These distinctions are going to be there for this class as well, except it will not be 1 to 2 decades, it will be like 2 to 4 years.
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