Comments for Avenue4Learning http://avenue4learning.com Ideas for Teaching Students in THEIR World... Mon, 07 May 2012 22:47:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on When Is It The Right Time by Chris McGrath http://avenue4learning.com/2012/05/03/when-is-it-the-right-time/comment-page-1/#comment-535 Chris McGrath Mon, 07 May 2012 22:47:20 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=375#comment-535 Michelle Following from my twitter tweet just now, I would Just like you to know that this kind of testing and pressure is also the norm in my neck of the woods namely London, England. Here children are tested, and privately tutored out of school hours, from the age of 4 to prepare them for hugely demanding tests at the age of 11. We are no longer accompanying the children in their learning; we are no longer helping them be the people they were born to be; we are just pushing them all down the same narrow path. Keep fighting the good fight. Michelle
Following from my twitter tweet just now, I would Just like you to know that this kind of testing and pressure is also the norm in my neck of the woods namely London, England. Here children are tested, and privately tutored out of school hours, from the age of 4 to prepare them for hugely demanding tests at the age of 11. We are no longer accompanying the children in their learning; we are no longer helping them be the people they were born to be; we are just pushing them all down the same narrow path. Keep fighting the good fight.

]]> Comment on When Is It The Right Time by Lee http://avenue4learning.com/2012/05/03/when-is-it-the-right-time/comment-page-1/#comment-534 Lee Sat, 05 May 2012 02:39:46 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=375#comment-534 Hi Michelle, Thanks for your post and continuing the conversation. I agree with everything you said. The time is NOW and there are lots of things teachers (and especially parents) can do. I've already expressed my concerns with teachers being expected to buck the system but bringing awareness to the right people is something everyone can do. Encouraging their school boards to sign a resolution denouncing the impact of high-stakes testing is another. I'm pleased to say our school board did just that last week. http://alturl.com/m8i99 There's plenty of other things teachers can do; many of which are so eloquently shared by other passionate educators. My problem is with those who are quick to say that's its an easy problem to fix and continue to blame teachers for being part of the problem. Will Richardson and I will be sharing the "stage" to continue the conversation in a Google Hangout hosted by Brian Mannix on May 17. http://www.edhangout.com/ Thanks again for a great post. Lee Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your post and continuing the conversation. I agree with everything you said. The time is NOW and there are lots of things teachers (and especially parents) can do. I’ve already expressed my concerns with teachers being expected to buck the system but bringing awareness to the right people is something everyone can do. Encouraging their school boards to sign a resolution denouncing the impact of high-stakes testing is another. I’m pleased to say our school board did just that last week. http://alturl.com/m8i99

There’s plenty of other things teachers can do; many of which are so eloquently shared by other passionate educators.

My problem is with those who are quick to say that’s its an easy problem to fix and continue to blame teachers for being part of the problem.

Will Richardson and I will be sharing the “stage” to continue the conversation in a Google Hangout hosted by Brian Mannix on May 17. http://www.edhangout.com/

Thanks again for a great post.

Lee

]]> Comment on It Is About The Students by Kandi Stelling http://avenue4learning.com/2012/04/10/it-is-about-the-students/comment-page-1/#comment-533 Kandi Stelling Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:54:37 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=372#comment-533 Nice post Michelle. I would love to hear all about the processes you go through each day! Nice post Michelle. I would love to hear all about the processes you go through each day!

]]> Comment on It Is About The Students by Becky Goerend http://avenue4learning.com/2012/04/10/it-is-about-the-students/comment-page-1/#comment-532 Becky Goerend Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:38:14 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=372#comment-532 Love it! I wish I could see it in action! Keep doing what you do! Love it! I wish I could see it in action! Keep doing what you do!

]]> Comment on It Is About The Students by Barb Freedman http://avenue4learning.com/2012/04/10/it-is-about-the-students/comment-page-1/#comment-531 Barb Freedman Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:16:30 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=372#comment-531 Nice. I would love to see/hear how you keep students on task. How do they design work, manage & track work flow? Any more detail would be great. Nice. I would love to see/hear how you keep students on task. How do they design work, manage & track work flow? Any more detail would be great.

]]> Comment on This Is A LEARNING Class by Mary Linda Krikorian http://avenue4learning.com/2010/07/19/this-is-a-learning-class/comment-page-1/#comment-528 Mary Linda Krikorian Sun, 04 Mar 2012 22:33:05 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=180#comment-528 Michelle, As an Elementary Music Teacher, it thrills me to no end when I reach those children sitting off to the side, seemingly detached from the class...as I inquire about any prior knowledge they may have of Beethoven or the Beatles! Discussion often turns to the countries they were from and the history that surrounded these musicians. It's a reflection of their classroom teachers and of their family members very often. I llike to let them know just how much I learn from their knowledge as well. Michelle, As an Elementary Music Teacher, it thrills me to no end when I reach those children sitting off to the side, seemingly detached from the class…as I inquire about any prior knowledge they may have of Beethoven or the Beatles! Discussion often turns to the countries they were from and the history that surrounded these musicians. It’s a reflection of their classroom teachers and of their family members very often. I llike to let them know just how much I learn from their knowledge as well.

]]> Comment on Saints or Scapegoats by Jessica Boone http://avenue4learning.com/2012/01/16/saints-or-scapegoats/comment-page-1/#comment-525 Jessica Boone Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:55:11 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=369#comment-525 I was also intriqued with this post. I believe that an outstanding teacher works hard when theiy are at school, but they also need their own life too. There has to be a balance between school, family, and other activities. If we do not have that balance then I believe we are not the best teacher we can be. I was also intriqued with this post. I believe that an outstanding teacher works hard when theiy are at school, but they also need their own life too. There has to be a balance between school, family, and other activities. If we do not have that balance then I believe we are not the best teacher we can be.

]]> Comment on Saints or Scapegoats by Bill Ferriter http://avenue4learning.com/2012/01/16/saints-or-scapegoats/comment-page-1/#comment-524 Bill Ferriter Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:33:24 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=369#comment-524 Dude, I've been railing against the notion of uber-teachers for a long time now for the same reasons that you point out! The tireless, dedicated wonder woman approach to school reform and improvement is unfair to teachers. It suggests that if ONLY we'd work a LITTLE harder -- or at least as hard as the super kin that are spotlighted in the local paper -- kids could be saved. That's a setup. Glad you called 'em on it. Good meeting you last week, Bill Dude,

I’ve been railing against the notion of uber-teachers for a long time now for the same reasons that you point out!

The tireless, dedicated wonder woman approach to school reform and improvement is unfair to teachers. It suggests that if ONLY we’d work a LITTLE harder — or at least as hard as the super kin that are spotlighted in the local paper — kids could be saved.

That’s a setup.

Glad you called ‘em on it.

Good meeting you last week,
Bill

]]> Comment on Saints or Scapegoats by Priscilla Stratton http://avenue4learning.com/2012/01/16/saints-or-scapegoats/comment-page-1/#comment-523 Priscilla Stratton Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:16:59 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=369#comment-523 This is an great post. I think you're on the right track when you talk about how educators are perceived today. I don't think it has gotten any better over the last 20 years in terms of what is expected, but only the pile gets larger and larger. The snag there is that we are humans and we need that balanced lifestyle that involves things like family, friends, time for 'you', etc. I have noticed that the word 'tireless' comes up many times in awards for teaching and it is true that we work crazy hours, crazy hard and crazy intense but we do get 'tired' if that school work is all we do! Thanks for the post! This is an great post. I think you’re on the right track when you talk about how educators are perceived today. I don’t think it has gotten any better over the last 20 years in terms of what is expected, but only the pile gets larger and larger. The snag there is that we are humans and we need that balanced lifestyle that involves things like family, friends, time for ‘you’, etc. I have noticed that the word ‘tireless’ comes up many times in awards for teaching and it is true that we work crazy hours, crazy hard and crazy intense but we do get ‘tired’ if that school work is all we do!
Thanks for the post!

]]> Comment on Saints or Scapegoats by Malyn http://avenue4learning.com/2012/01/16/saints-or-scapegoats/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Malyn Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:14:07 +0000 http://avenue4learning.com/?p=369#comment-522 perfect reply to a thought-provoking post, imho. Well done Michelle and Josh. perfect reply to a thought-provoking post, imho.

Well done Michelle and Josh.

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