So, what is a good reader? Well I believe that it is someone who can read and comprehand what they are reading. You do not have to read at a fast pace, because reading quickly is no good if you have no idea what the words said and meant. A good reader is also someone who uses a variety of techniques when reading. For a chapter in a textbook, you may read from heading to heading and then summarize what that section was talking about. And it also can help to look ahead at all of the pictures, tables, and figures in the chapter. For a short novel, you may find it easiest to sit down and read it in one whole sitting, that way you can let the story really stew in your brain while it is still fresh. For a longer novel, you may find it best to read chapter to chapter, or speaker to speaker (however the book is constructed, depending on the author) to really let the scene develop. For a procedural text, you may find it easiest to read it quickly at first to have a general idea of the procedure, and then go back and slowly read it, going step by step. With any text, you should try to make connections within it itself and between the text and yourself. "Oh, I know exactly what she means", "Yep, been there, done that", "Oh hey, I've done that before", "Almost like the time I.....", "Why did this character just do that? <thinking> Oh yeah!"
Now, am I a good reader? Yes, yes I am. All of the methods I just described are mine. I use these different techniques when reading. I have been reading for quite a while now. I would read National Geographics when I was younger, 10yo-about 14yo and after that mostly short science fiction novels, and as I got older, the novels got longer and longer. At least until I had kids.....
I believe that the best way to teach kids to be good readers is to model it. Keep a couple novels (age approprite, of course) on your desk, some on a bookshelf, maybe one in your purse for you ladies, unless you men are very sure of your manhood, in which case, good luck with that. Ask about what they are reading, not directly as part of the class time, but as an aside, like when waiting for the bell, or in between classes. Show an interest in what they are reading, even if you have to fake it. You parents know exactly what I an talking about.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Post #3
Will I use games in the classroom? Most definately. It may seem a bit difficult for me to do that since I am going to be in the a high school science class. But I can adapt many games to be science oriented, like an electron orbital Monopoly, or a memory game with the elements with their symbols and any other pertinent information(whatever topic we may be covering).
I like to refer to games as interactive learning groups. The students are learning with each other, from each other, and through each other. Learning through a game may be one of the best ways to learn, since you are not directly aware of the learning, you put it to use immediatly and make it meaningful. Associations can be created without you having to force them. Learning and fun? OMG, no way!
I like to refer to games as interactive learning groups. The students are learning with each other, from each other, and through each other. Learning through a game may be one of the best ways to learn, since you are not directly aware of the learning, you put it to use immediatly and make it meaningful. Associations can be created without you having to force them. Learning and fun? OMG, no way!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Post #2
Argh, I thought that I already posted this. I guess not. These couple of weeks have been rather stressful. Anyways....
What is motivation?
I believe that motivation is a desire for accomplishment; a drive to get things done. It is a force that compels you to do something, whether it be to gain some materialistic thing, the newest gadget, a car, a better job, or something intangible, such as your education, quitting smoking, or dieting.
Now what mnotivates me? I don't know really, it is many factors thast determine how motivated I am at the time for something. I remember what motivated me to become an educator. Previously I had been going to college to get a degree in Chemistry, and I was doing quite well. But then I got activated and deployed to Kosovo. While I was over there, we renovated a school, and I rememberhow deplorable the conditions were. The schoolhouse was so dilapidated that you were reluctant to believe that it was in use at all. The roof had big holes in it that let in the rain and snow, and critters as well. The chalkboards were barely recognizable, since they were so worn and scratched that only a couple areas were usable. The students' desks were barely functional at all, and many were simply chairs around a large cardboard box with a piece of plywood on top of it. The walls were thin cement with no insulation at all. But on the plus side, each classroom had its own woodburning stove fro heat during the winter months. But of course they would fill the room with smoke very often during instruction, but they did not leave when it happened. They only went outside when it caught the painted walls on fire, which, sadly, was quite often as well. Basically, the conditions were absolutely horrible.
Nonetheless, the kids were in school. they were there because they wnated to be. Kosovo was, for all intents and purposes, a third-world country, although technically not a country at the time. The children knew that an decent education was their only ticket to success there. They would walk to school through the snow, the rain, the freezing temperatures despite the fact that it was not a safe environment with all the illegal activity there(the opium and human traffiking trade). They WANTED to go to school as bad as things were for them. Then in the afternoon, they would go home to work the fields or at their parents' stores.
It took me some time to realize just why they did it. To create a beter life for themselves and their country. Their education was their "get out of jail free card". Their education was the one of the most important things in their lives. Now what I didn't understand is why we(in the USA) took this gift completely for granted. That is when I decided that I would go into teaching, to make a positive difference in the lives of our children, in our future, even if they did not realize it or want it.
What is motivation?
I believe that motivation is a desire for accomplishment; a drive to get things done. It is a force that compels you to do something, whether it be to gain some materialistic thing, the newest gadget, a car, a better job, or something intangible, such as your education, quitting smoking, or dieting.
Now what mnotivates me? I don't know really, it is many factors thast determine how motivated I am at the time for something. I remember what motivated me to become an educator. Previously I had been going to college to get a degree in Chemistry, and I was doing quite well. But then I got activated and deployed to Kosovo. While I was over there, we renovated a school, and I rememberhow deplorable the conditions were. The schoolhouse was so dilapidated that you were reluctant to believe that it was in use at all. The roof had big holes in it that let in the rain and snow, and critters as well. The chalkboards were barely recognizable, since they were so worn and scratched that only a couple areas were usable. The students' desks were barely functional at all, and many were simply chairs around a large cardboard box with a piece of plywood on top of it. The walls were thin cement with no insulation at all. But on the plus side, each classroom had its own woodburning stove fro heat during the winter months. But of course they would fill the room with smoke very often during instruction, but they did not leave when it happened. They only went outside when it caught the painted walls on fire, which, sadly, was quite often as well. Basically, the conditions were absolutely horrible.
Nonetheless, the kids were in school. they were there because they wnated to be. Kosovo was, for all intents and purposes, a third-world country, although technically not a country at the time. The children knew that an decent education was their only ticket to success there. They would walk to school through the snow, the rain, the freezing temperatures despite the fact that it was not a safe environment with all the illegal activity there(the opium and human traffiking trade). They WANTED to go to school as bad as things were for them. Then in the afternoon, they would go home to work the fields or at their parents' stores.
It took me some time to realize just why they did it. To create a beter life for themselves and their country. Their education was their "get out of jail free card". Their education was the one of the most important things in their lives. Now what I didn't understand is why we(in the USA) took this gift completely for granted. That is when I decided that I would go into teaching, to make a positive difference in the lives of our children, in our future, even if they did not realize it or want it.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Post #1
So how does someone's culture affect their learning?
A person's culture can affect their learning tremendously, especially in the secondary school setting. These are very crucial years for a child. Their peer group, clique, pals, posse, or whatever you want to call them is very influential in their life. These groups are their culture. While a person may not really hold the values of the group, it is the perception of belonging to that culture that is a factor in their learning.
A social group that dismisses the value of education may view studying or paying attention in class as a weakness, and therefore will perform poorly in school, whether or not they posess the capability.
Other groups may perfom similarly, such as the jocks(or simply athletics, if you wish) and those that must work to support their family, albeit for different reasons. These groups may not have time to study appropriately for their classes.
On the other hand, your culture may be a positive factor in your school life. For some groups, such as Asians, or families from a higher socioeconomic status have a tendency to push(encourage) their children to outperform the rest.
Whether good or bad, we must recognize the fact that culture groups are not absolute, and that there will always be individuals that do not completely conform to the groups standards. Our best and brightest students may come from quite unexpected places.
A person's culture can affect their learning tremendously, especially in the secondary school setting. These are very crucial years for a child. Their peer group, clique, pals, posse, or whatever you want to call them is very influential in their life. These groups are their culture. While a person may not really hold the values of the group, it is the perception of belonging to that culture that is a factor in their learning.
A social group that dismisses the value of education may view studying or paying attention in class as a weakness, and therefore will perform poorly in school, whether or not they posess the capability.
Other groups may perfom similarly, such as the jocks(or simply athletics, if you wish) and those that must work to support their family, albeit for different reasons. These groups may not have time to study appropriately for their classes.
On the other hand, your culture may be a positive factor in your school life. For some groups, such as Asians, or families from a higher socioeconomic status have a tendency to push(encourage) their children to outperform the rest.
Whether good or bad, we must recognize the fact that culture groups are not absolute, and that there will always be individuals that do not completely conform to the groups standards. Our best and brightest students may come from quite unexpected places.
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