Meryl Streep, Barnard Commencement Address

This is 28 minutes long, so watch it when you have time. Meryl Streep really is quite entertaining. She makes you feel like you are her best friend and she is just talking to you personally.  She is charming, witty, entertaining, funny, and serious, too.

I know that her talk is not really the type of thing I normally post about here on the site, but I still think it is education related. She explains how her life has developed and how one learns about life, living, and happiness. Those are all things that we all want and need. Those are all reasons that we continue in the field of education and the field of life.

Enjoy your 28 minutes… Share Meryl’s thoughts with those you love and care about. And remember, make your parents proud… And Parents, be proud of your children.

This, too, was presented to me via my blogger friend, Pat H.from Successful Teaching. She really has a good eye for finding the important things in life. Thanks.

Take time to enjoy your life, appreciate your life, and appreciate those around you, those special people.

Technorati Tags: commencement,Barnard,Meryl Streep,Pat H.,Successful Teaching,life

Learning should come from within…

I read a blog post suggested to me by fellow blogger friend Pat H. from Successful Teaching.The blog post, Reversing the Curriculum, was from the blog entitled Special Ed Changes.

The blogger got my interest immediately and I desperately wanted to share the first 2 videos with my readers.

I know I should keep on with my narrative here and make my point, but I don’t want to make you wait longer in your reading to see these two entertaining videos. When you finish them, we will continue with our narrative. (I’m just like a 5 year old!)

Here are those 2 videos.

and the 2nd video …

Watching these 2 engaging videos made me realize that it would be great if children could learn what they wanted, when they were ready, when they wanted, and in the order they wanted, much like the Montessori Method.

View this Montessori video as well. I know it is longer than the other videos, but try to finish it all the way to the end.

The discussion in this blog post centered on ...

When kids come to school at five (if kids should come to school at five in the first place) they have certain fascinations - hearing and telling stories, understanding signs, the physics which make their world work, hot and cold, animal behaviour. And great teachers do embrace much of this, but our school curriculum never does.
Instead of running with this natural learning curve, instead of meeting our students where they are, we focus all of our attention through the age of eight on a certain set of formalized learning systems which disinterest most kids, and are essentially impossible for many. We spend all of our time on complex symbolic codes (the alphabet, the numeral system) and on the operation of those code systems (phonics, spelling, arithmetic).
And, within three years, we have taken kids thrilled to start school and turned them into kids who'd rather be anywhere else.

In this age of technology and ever present information everywhere we are, why can we not let children learn as they are ready?

Why can’t children teach other children, teachers teach children, and children teach teachers?

I know, the tests… the accountability… I STILL think it can work.

See a very early blog post I made concerning my niece and nephew and their early PS-8 Montessori education.

What are you doing in your classroom that encourages creativity and allows children some say in their learning? Leave a comment.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: learning,Montessori,Successful Teaching,Pat H,curriculum,education

How has learning changed? – a nifty picture evaluation

I just “found” Paul Bogush over at Blogush thanks to my friend and PLN member Pat H (aka Loonyhiker) at Successful Teaching. 

You should all follow Pat. She has lots of knowledge and follows the best people.

Anyways, Paul Bogush shows a nifty picture response to class evaluation. See the picture below.

Notice that the student expects to be able to continue after this year’s class with this newer style of learning.
This “evaluation” is just one example of the innovative and creative examples that Paul shows his students in the classroom. 
His students know that (as he states in his Intro to Class -- First Day Song) you might notice that the teacher is a bit different. These kids feel wanted, accepted, and motivated to learn in more creative methods.

Listen here: First Day Song

Sure he could just be blogging about the best and brightest of his class “teaching” experiences, but I think not.  He is a bit shy to boast (So I’ll do it for him!), but I think he is the kind of teacher I’d want for my own children. (My children are all grown up now, but still…you understand what I mean!)

I’m so glad I “found” him and can’t wait to see what new thoughts and ideas and conversations he comes up with on his blog. It will never be dull over there at Blogush!

What do you do that is unique, welcoming, or allows for individual differences in your classroom to make the students feel accepted?

Tell us and show us.

Technorati Tags: loonyhiker,Successful Teaching,Pat H,Blogush,Paul Bogush,education,First Day Song,evaluation

Inspiration to Keep on Teaching… that Fire!

I have to thank my PLN friend, and fellow blogger, Pat H of Successful Teaching AKA the “Loonyhiker” for alerting me to this Wonderful Blog Post by Mike Rush at Teacher Food.

I enjoyed his posts so much, I even wrote him a comment. (I know I should comment more, but I am too shy to comment much!)

He seems to be a relatively new blogger and seems to be a “more experienced” teacher like me. His posts are awesome. He has a great future career as a writer, IMHO. So, therefore, I HAD TO write a COMMENT!

Please go over to his blog and read his posts. Your day will be much brighter after reading just one post!

I decided I had “poured out my heart” to Mike, a bit, in my comment to him, as well as compliment his writing skills. Therefore, for my own benefit, I decided to post my comment to him here on my own blog. I hope it tells my readers a little bit more about me, the person behind these blogs.

Mike,
Your blog is Very Special! You are a GREAT writer! I am completely in awe of what you have written.

I was not sure how long you have been writing this blog. This "starting" post does not have a date.

You have already made a difference in the lives of teachers, at least one (me), and I am sure in many others who have read your words and quoted you.

I am one of those "old farts of teachers" who taught right out of college, then "retired" to have my children and be a stay at home mom (back in the day), and then slowly after many hours of substituting, volunteering, and tutoring, got back into the classroom.

Then I moved into a completely new area of the country. I thought I was "really retired," but the economy took a dive and so did my investments. I need to work in some capacity.

Also, I was missing being "in the thick of things!"

My grown son gave me 1 year of "retirement" before I would get back to work, but it took me almost 2 years!

So far, in this economy, I have not yet gotten a permanent position. I still have "the fire" within me to make a difference and desperately want to be in the classroom. I taught 4th grade, then 1st grade, then computer lab. I am truly a computer geek, despite my advanced years!

I graduated from college and got my teaching certificate 38 years ago. I've only got about 12 years of teaching "credits" and some of those are in private schools, so they "don't count" to some entities.

Nevertheless, I still feel like I've got that "new teacher" fire in me. When most of my peers are retiring and playing with grandchildren, traveling the world, or just relaxing, I want to be back in the classroom.

So I will keep "fighting the fight" to get a permanent position and also know that my work as a substitute, tutor, and interim teacher is valuable work.

I am an excellent teacher and there is a place for me!

They may have to put me in the grave to get me away from teaching in some form!
So keep on with the writing. It helps someone every day to read it!

So, Thanks, Mike, for writing and inspiring me!

Who inspires you?

What keeps you in the classroom, day after day?

Tell us about it, please.

Technorati Tags: retirement,teaching fire,Mike Rush,Teacher Food,education,loonyhiker,Pat H,Successful Teaching