The assignment to create an original synthesis of the material in my SPE-510 Mangaging Challenging Behaviors course inspired this final project. Professor Conklin's choice to permit the project to take any form or format motivated me to seek out a new approach to presenting the course material. The Tools for Teaching textbook is presented in a very casual, accessible format and Dr. Fred Jones, himself, is an animated and humorous presenter. With this line of reasoning, the material from the course and the text easily translates into a humorous, light-hearted animated presentation. I personally found this approach to be pure genius!
Having never created an animation, of any length, before, the learning curve was steep and I found myself well out of my comfort zone. Producing the animation required a significant investment of time, creativity, and persistence, and in the end was incredibly rewarding. Similarly, teachers trying Tools for Teaching classroom management strategies for the first time may find the methods foreign and uncomfortably challenging, but in the end, effective and worthwhile.
Interestingly, while searching for audio to accompany the animation, I uncovered fantastic public domain films from the 1950s that address the very topic of classroom management. Some films are incredibly outdated and irrelevant for our time, but there are snippets of information embedded in these films that precisely align with the Tools for Teaching methods. These snippets made the research and animation project even more gratifying.
Throughout the production process, I reflected on how ‘natural’ teachers simply perform the skills that Fred Jones teaches. They manage a classroom without much difficulty and are often unable to explain what they do to maintain a positive classroom environment. Their innate ability is enviable and rare to be sure. For those teachers who arent blessed with this instinctive gift, providing effective techniques and skills is critical to their success in the classroom. Greater success naturally results in retention of qualified and enthusiastic teachers, thereby benefiting the entire educational system.
As this assignment inspired a burst of creativity in me, so too could the Tools for Teaching inspire creativity in teachers. Through new and innovative teaching strategies designed to support the classroom environment, instructors could find themselves opening the floodgates of creativity and excitement for learning. I created this video so that teachers who might be struggling, but have no idea where to turn, will be inspired to seek out and use the Fred Jones Tools for Teaching methods. Trying something new is always challenging, but the significance of the outcome directly relates to the effort involved in the process of change.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Well, I’m in the thick of the Bay Path Special Education Graduate program, now. Whew.
I am taking three courses this semester, but two concurrently – one on Inclusion and Collaboration and another on Managing Challenging Behaviors. Both courses require a substantial amount of work, but have a totally different “feel” to them. It is a wonderful contrast to experience. I suppose the best description would be to say that the classroom that I hope to one day be a part of should have elements of both – collaboration and discipline; both for teachers and students.
One of the first projects I have been assigned to do (for my Inclusion course) is to observe a co-teaching team. I am so looking forward to this. I was concerned that it would be a huge obstacle, but as it turns out, everything is flowing effortlessly. I plan to observe this week and next!
The assignment for the Behavior course is a little more difficult. I have been assigned 3 papers which are based on personal experience using the strategies outlined in our textbook. Without my own class to actually implement these strategies, it seems a bit unlikely. However, I was given a little gem of an idea from someone outside the program. She suggested that another student in our course who is a teacher in a classroom perform the activity while I observe and record the events. Then we can both work on the paper together – with the bulk of the written work completed by me. I have often said that it takes someone outside of the situation to see the perfect solution. In this case, it seems absolutely true! I am excited to propose this idea to the professor and our class as a positive solution.
Before I end this post I have to mention the film that our Inclusion professor showed us in class. It is a remarkable documentary and I have been looking for it to suggest to others to see. The film is called “Including Samuel” by Daniel Habib. As it turns out, Daniel is a photojournalist (as is my life partner – she knew who he was immediately) and has two sons. His youngest son, Samuel, was born with cerebral palsy. The film centers around Samuels experience in an inclusion classroom. Please check to see if the film is being shown on your local PBS station. If it is not, call the station and request it!
I am taking three courses this semester, but two concurrently – one on Inclusion and Collaboration and another on Managing Challenging Behaviors. Both courses require a substantial amount of work, but have a totally different “feel” to them. It is a wonderful contrast to experience. I suppose the best description would be to say that the classroom that I hope to one day be a part of should have elements of both – collaboration and discipline; both for teachers and students.
One of the first projects I have been assigned to do (for my Inclusion course) is to observe a co-teaching team. I am so looking forward to this. I was concerned that it would be a huge obstacle, but as it turns out, everything is flowing effortlessly. I plan to observe this week and next!
The assignment for the Behavior course is a little more difficult. I have been assigned 3 papers which are based on personal experience using the strategies outlined in our textbook. Without my own class to actually implement these strategies, it seems a bit unlikely. However, I was given a little gem of an idea from someone outside the program. She suggested that another student in our course who is a teacher in a classroom perform the activity while I observe and record the events. Then we can both work on the paper together – with the bulk of the written work completed by me. I have often said that it takes someone outside of the situation to see the perfect solution. In this case, it seems absolutely true! I am excited to propose this idea to the professor and our class as a positive solution.
Before I end this post I have to mention the film that our Inclusion professor showed us in class. It is a remarkable documentary and I have been looking for it to suggest to others to see. The film is called “Including Samuel” by Daniel Habib. As it turns out, Daniel is a photojournalist (as is my life partner – she knew who he was immediately) and has two sons. His youngest son, Samuel, was born with cerebral palsy. The film centers around Samuels experience in an inclusion classroom. Please check to see if the film is being shown on your local PBS station. If it is not, call the station and request it!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Wordle
Wordle is an online tool that transforms your writing into a visual composition - and it's really cool! Check it out at Wordle.net and check out the link to my Jing project to see how to use it!Sunday, September 6, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Kick In The Pants
Sometimes, a good kick in the pants comes to me in the strangest forms...I am a (proud) fan of the Life is Good page on Facebook. Today, the message was, "Life is good.® Don't knock something, build something." So I began feeling guilty for having anything negative to say about any of the online tools that I have signed up for...
I decided to ask questions. I asked my partner, if she would appreciate a daily (or more frequent) Tweet about our son’s day at Kindergarten. Keep in mind, this "day" is 3 years in the future. She responded, "Absolutely! I think it would make for a great start for a conversation with him." My heart sunk, but I tried to keep my composure so she would not know. Then she said, "But, would I want to be the teacher who had to do the Tweeting? No."
In my mind, I had envisioned this idyllic scenario where our son would step off the bus, sun on his face, wind in his hair, running to me (in slow motion) calling out to me as he jumps into my arms, “Mom! I learned so much today! Let me tell you all about it!” I also thought that parents (like-minded with me) would think that Tweets about their child’s day would only ruin the “surprise” at the end of the school day. I am obviously mistaken.
So I will stop knocking Twitter. I will put all of my bookmarks on Delicious. I will post photos on Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa and Facebook, even embarrassing ones...actually those are already there. I will do my best to be a really informed, effective, savvy techie-teacher and be available and encouraging to my students when they need help with this technology. I can see the value that Twitter could bring to some parents. I am humbled. I will Tweet in the morning; I will Tweet in the afternoon; I will Tweet when the spirit moves me.
I am waiting for the spirit right now.
By the way, MyMathLab is the most effective way to learn how to teach mathematics in elementary grades. The format can appeal to more than one style of learning. I am definitely a visual learner. The site offers video lectures, interactive manipulatives, study plans and interactive tutorials. In the homework section, if one is struggling with a particular problem, there is a “Help me solve this problem” button! The student is walked through the problem and the operations involved. When the problem is completed (with the help of the site) another similar problem is posted for the student to solve on his/her own. I wonder if this same style of site is available for elementary students. It is terrific!
I am learning so much, already. In fact, I think most people would be stunned to find the complexity of math that is taught in the K-8th grades.
I guess that’s the spirit in me…
I decided to ask questions. I asked my partner, if she would appreciate a daily (or more frequent) Tweet about our son’s day at Kindergarten. Keep in mind, this "day" is 3 years in the future. She responded, "Absolutely! I think it would make for a great start for a conversation with him." My heart sunk, but I tried to keep my composure so she would not know. Then she said, "But, would I want to be the teacher who had to do the Tweeting? No."
In my mind, I had envisioned this idyllic scenario where our son would step off the bus, sun on his face, wind in his hair, running to me (in slow motion) calling out to me as he jumps into my arms, “Mom! I learned so much today! Let me tell you all about it!” I also thought that parents (like-minded with me) would think that Tweets about their child’s day would only ruin the “surprise” at the end of the school day. I am obviously mistaken.
So I will stop knocking Twitter. I will put all of my bookmarks on Delicious. I will post photos on Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa and Facebook, even embarrassing ones...actually those are already there. I will do my best to be a really informed, effective, savvy techie-teacher and be available and encouraging to my students when they need help with this technology. I can see the value that Twitter could bring to some parents. I am humbled. I will Tweet in the morning; I will Tweet in the afternoon; I will Tweet when the spirit moves me.
I am waiting for the spirit right now.
By the way, MyMathLab is the most effective way to learn how to teach mathematics in elementary grades. The format can appeal to more than one style of learning. I am definitely a visual learner. The site offers video lectures, interactive manipulatives, study plans and interactive tutorials. In the homework section, if one is struggling with a particular problem, there is a “Help me solve this problem” button! The student is walked through the problem and the operations involved. When the problem is completed (with the help of the site) another similar problem is posted for the student to solve on his/her own. I wonder if this same style of site is available for elementary students. It is terrific!
I am learning so much, already. In fact, I think most people would be stunned to find the complexity of math that is taught in the K-8th grades.
I guess that’s the spirit in me…
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Techno Slave
Techno Slave or Not
I have been seduced by the new technology that I am being presented in this SPE 542 course (Technology for Educators). Wikis and blogs and Facebook and (unfortunately) Twitter have been touted as having merit within education. They provide huge potential for communication, expressing ideas and opinions, learning to respect and appreciate diverse viewpoints.
I find myself having to check my Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook and even the course module site at ANGEL Learning constantly so that I don’t fall behind on my reading or postings. I wonder how much of this is really necessary.
Let me be clear, I am not anti-technology. I like having access to so much information and so conveniently. I simply have a lot of questions now that I have been exposed to how quickly technology is shifting, growing, changing and how it will be implemented in the classroom.
I find myself asking,
· “With all my logging into different sites and reading blogs and articles about technology, how am I to assimilate all of the information that I am taking in and translating it to a lesson?”
· “Would a periodic Twitter update help parents to feel involved?”
o “How would these updates affect my time teaching?”
o “Would parents appreciate it?”
· “Would parents like to see their students in front of the computer each evening blogging and posting discussions on-line, knowing their kids are keeping up with the most current technology?”
o “Would parents prefer to connect one-on-one with their kids and see all that they are learning translated into a truly human social connection?”
· “Will all my future special education elementary school students be in class with a laptop in front of them?”
o “Why would we need to meet at a school at all?”
o Is this where we are headed?
I may not agree with Will Richardson’s blog posting on Techoslavery completely, it bears a look by anyone who is interested in this discussion /my personal conflict.
I have been seduced by the new technology that I am being presented in this SPE 542 course (Technology for Educators). Wikis and blogs and Facebook and (unfortunately) Twitter have been touted as having merit within education. They provide huge potential for communication, expressing ideas and opinions, learning to respect and appreciate diverse viewpoints.
I find myself having to check my Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook and even the course module site at ANGEL Learning constantly so that I don’t fall behind on my reading or postings. I wonder how much of this is really necessary.
Let me be clear, I am not anti-technology. I like having access to so much information and so conveniently. I simply have a lot of questions now that I have been exposed to how quickly technology is shifting, growing, changing and how it will be implemented in the classroom.
I find myself asking,
· “With all my logging into different sites and reading blogs and articles about technology, how am I to assimilate all of the information that I am taking in and translating it to a lesson?”
· “Would a periodic Twitter update help parents to feel involved?”
o “How would these updates affect my time teaching?”
o “Would parents appreciate it?”
· “Would parents like to see their students in front of the computer each evening blogging and posting discussions on-line, knowing their kids are keeping up with the most current technology?”
o “Would parents prefer to connect one-on-one with their kids and see all that they are learning translated into a truly human social connection?”
· “Will all my future special education elementary school students be in class with a laptop in front of them?”
o “Why would we need to meet at a school at all?”
o Is this where we are headed?
I may not agree with Will Richardson’s blog posting on Techoslavery completely, it bears a look by anyone who is interested in this discussion /my personal conflict.
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