Interesting connection

Was just reading an article (looking for research on autism) and found it connected to our class. The article discusses autism and treatments and how a celebrity (Jenny McCarthy) has parents running for cover from vaccines and that certain childhood conditions are on the rise in connection with it. It just had me thinking how parents with only hope are going to believe what they read, and how the internet can really send us down a dangerous path. Check it out at (Greenfeld K. (2010). Who's afraid of Jenny McCarthy?. Time. 175(9), 40-45. Retrieved from Academic Search Primier Database.

Website in the classroom

In my setting some would say its like a world unto itself. Most of my parents are living below the poverty line, many do not speak english, and quite a few struggle with personal demons that make it a challenge to take care of themselves and their children on the basic level let alone on an academic one. Many believe they are doing the job by feeding their children and more is asking to much. That being said the classroom website ideea is a good one and I'll tell you why. More than any time we need our teachers to do all they can. The bell ringing shouldn't stop the teaching, and to often it does. Children are screaming for guidance, and we are doing the job in the building and a website would allow us to do outside the room. We can post homework and even lessons. We can talk up fund raisers and other events in the room. We can bring the room into the home, along with our smiling faces. Websites is one more step in the right direction.

What a gorgeous day

All my fellow teachers, and even if your not make sure you are getting outside to enjoy this beautiful weather. There is something so engergizing about a cool crisp spring day. I'm not sure if it is the weather or the cold weather we are finally putting behind us. But I suggest strongly to my teaching friends do not pass this opportunity up. I know this may be against my techonology class but go outside and read under a tree. Write some poetry with the children using senses. Have them take a walk. Speaking from of limited educational needs mother nature has always been a great tool, and the price is right.

Just my thoughts

Did you know that state wide testing starts next week? Did you know this is the testing no one seems to like, from students, to parents, to educators but here it comes again anyways? Did you know we are all supposed to be proficient by 2014 based on this test? This is the same test that has teacher's so scared they teach to the test. This is the same test that people are talking of using to create merit pay for teachers. This is the same test that 6 months after an imigrant gets here he/she takes it weather they speak english or not, and no matter the disability you got it, this test is your too. We speak of holding teacher's accountable and as a teacher I agree we should but this doesn't do that. If this is the best idea we can come up with then we are in more trouble than I thought. All this does is take a snap shot of how well a student takes a test. Forget that all through out college they teach the teachers to teach to the individual learner. Forget that school are so afraid now they cheat, or work to get those that will bring their scores down out. Forget all that and realize that the majority of high school students are unable to find the USA on the map, or gave us the Statue of Liberty, or what are three branches of government are. At the end of the day our children are not learning, and no one is really being held accountable for this.

web search engines

With all the information at their finger tips, and a budding curiousity we need to guide our students, our children. In times of old Native Americans would send out their young to explore and survive, and when they came back they would be considered men. This is not a good idea. To many times they would be eaten by wolves. This may sound a big absurd, and maybe I am going a little over the top but in today's internet world we need to provide the tools and then keep an eye as they learn. Web search engines from askjeeves.com to google are a good thing. A place to search for a our dreams, our goals, our cooking recipes, but they also have no filter, no real rating system, no watch dog, and like the pill popping parties many teens go to today if we dont stop them they'll just shove away and worry about the consquences later. This leads be back to the common theme today of my blog with great power comes a great responsiblity to guide and teach. Don't shut the door but just give them the keys either.

Peridical Databases

The internet is a enormous creature of power. Words can not express how big it is, and the power it posseses. I say this because the information the web is a buffet of knowledge. Children left unwatched will eat and eat and make themselves sick. Periodical Databases really are a tool most children, and adults are unaware of. To make sure what we are looking at is accurate (healthy) is so, so important. We have an obligation to make sure our children know that as great as the internet is when we are seeking information its not a trough of info, we can't just eat whats in front of us like pigs. We have to choose and explore and know where the info is coming from. These databases are largely accurate and based on well researched studies. We as teacher's need to bring them out of the dark. They aren't just importance but in some cases crucial to making sure we are giving our children information that isn't flat out lies.

educational blogs

Technology is everywhere today. I tell my students to be garbage you have to have some basic computer skills. Everywhere you go computer dominate, and that classroom is no exception. Bloogging is not just part of the future is a huge part of the present. I think blogging at some point will be common in every room. Paperless homework assignments will become not just a novelity but expected of a school. The internet connects us, and makes the world smaller, in a way the phone did 100 years ago and now blogging connects us even more. Online journal can allow the shy to be heard and the quiet to be loud. It can bring the teacher right into your home, so I dont understand the homework can no longer be an excuse. This power is immense and I believe that it does need monitoring by the school and by parents. Our children are searching for direction and with such an enormous ability to communicate if we aren't it they will find it. To often schools take time to embrace and before they embrace they run and shut down, this can not be done with blogging. We need to realize the road we are traveling can be great with direction. This is not a time to pretend like the children aren't going down the road. Blogging is a here and we need to embrace and use it in the right way.