Education Short List

This past week, I read an article that came from The Week, the magazine, that was a reprinting from Live Science. Below is an excerpt:

Doodling during the morning staff meeting may seem rude, says Live Science, but it’s actually a great way to keep your mind on task. Researchers have found that doodling during a boring talk can boost the listener’s memory of what was said. British researchers forced a group of men and women to listen to a long voice mail message about a party invite. Half the group was given pen and paper and a license to doodle; the other half was told to sit quietly. Later, the doodlers were able to recall an average of 7.5 pieces of information from the message. The non-doodlers remembered only 5.8 pieces. Researchers believe that doodling keeps the mind concentrated by allowing it to wander just enough. “If someone is doing a boring task, like listening to a dull telephone conversation, they may start to daydream,” says psychology professor Jackie Andrade. “A simple task, like doodling, may be sufficient to stop daydreaming without affecting performance of the main task.”

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/090226-doodling-good.html

So what does this have to do with education? And how can it be helpful to educators, families, and students? Well it doesn’t mean that kids have the free reign to draw and doodle during each class session or daydream all day – wish as they might. However, it does show that being able to split your concentration, slightly, can be useful and helpful to retaining more information. The same goes for adults. Personally, I think it shows how each of us may have slight forms of A.D.D, and that’s alright.

As for how to use this article constructively in a classroom? I would read it to my students and get their thoughts on the matter? What do they think? Do they agree or disagree? Why and how could this be used by them? Then, I would allow them to use it during a specific task – test it out per se. For me, I would think writing would make a good opportunity for some doodling. Perhaps the students could draw pictures that deal with their writing, make a unique looking outline – something that could allow their creative juices to get flowing and encourage them to become stronger writers.

This past weekend, while searching the internet for my next blog entry, I stumbled about this phrase, “We don’t ask the world to accommodate you – WE CHANGE THE WAY YOU LEARN”; from a company whose name I feel it inappropriate to mention. When you first read it, you think – wow that sounds great. But really, what is so great about it?

“We change the way you learn” – yes that sounds appealing, help me to learn another way. But that first part “We don’t ask the world to accommodate you” – why not? Why shouldn’t the world accommodate me?

The point of talking about this isn’t to bash this organization – really it’s a non-profit meant to assist people with their learning. Instead, it is to make us take a moment and think about the message that they are sending, the greater implications it presents, and how it is actually failing to be helpful.

By stating that you don’t want the world to be accommodating to a person is to say that the person isn’t good enough or special enough to be part of the world around them. That’s a very loaded statement. Personally, I would be greatly offended if anyone were to say that to me. Then, when you take it a step further and look and who is saying this – an organization whose goal is to help people with learning difficulties, find a place where they can learn – wouldn’t that just make you feel worse about yourself? Haven’t you already beaten yourself up for the fact that you don’t learn like ‘everyone else’, why would you want to get support from someone who really believes that you aren’t good enough?

My main objective in writing about this is to let people know, perhaps ones who are considering starting their own business, to really give deep thought into what your company stands for. By taking the time to develop a tagline or slogan that truly represents the message you are hoping to convey to the greater public ,then you will become more successful.

To all the people, who have a learning disorder, and to everyone in general – don’t worry about making the world accommodating you – you’re worth having someone change their view of things.

Today, March 17th, is a day when people celebrate their Irish heritage, even if they don’t have any. For me, being Irish means a great deal, much more than just one day could ever measure.

Every year, no matter where I was, I would use this day to create teachable moments; and not just with children. I did programs in college, with my colleagues, and everyday folk.

Here are a few links that you could use to create one of your own teachable moments. And realize, that St. Patrick’s Day is much more than drinking green beer and watching Riverdance.

Erin Go Braugh

Links for information

1. Learn Random Facts About Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509487,00.html

2. Ed Helper’s Education Lessons

http://www.edhelper.com/st_patricks_day.htm

3. The History Channel

http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/

4. A Quiz testing your Irish Knowledge

http://www.history.com/content/stpatricksday/all-things-irish-quiz

5. Wikipedia’s History of Ireland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick%27s_Day

In the Sunday paper this last week there was a short article, from the Associated Press, about a school in Yuma, Arizona – and the way this school is working within the confines of the economic recession.

Elementary school asks for supplies
“No money – please donate supplies.” That’s the desperate plea an elementary school in Yuma, Ariz., has posted on its marquee.
Carver Elementary School Principal Debra Drysdale says the message is no joke – and it’s working. She estimates that the school has received $500-$700 in donations from community members, parents and people who happened to be driving by.
The principal says the funds the school uses to buy office supplies and replace equipment and furniture have been depleted. She says teachers are buying supplies for their classrooms and saving money by shutting off lights and returning district-supplied cell phones.

Another article from the Los Angeles Times describes the situation in the state of Oregon and specifically the Siuslaw School District. This school district is going so far as to consider having a shorter school year. The complete article can be found within the link below.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oregon-schools9-2009mar09,0,3717346,full.story

What do these schools and districts have in common? They are the victims of our current economic recession. But the people who are really losing out are the students.

What’s happening in your state, district, school, classroom? Have you found the silver lining for your students?

Recently a friend of mine enrolled in a local university to become a teacher. By talking with her, it automatically made me think of my time in graduate school – first to obtain a teacher’s credential and then my Master’s degree. I gained a great deal of knowledge from the classes that I went through. However, there were some important things I wish I would have known, learned, or done before completing those programs.

Substitute Teach

a. You may really think that teaching 1st grade is the bee’s knees and the greatest thing ever – but once you’re in your room with 30 five and six year olds it could become a completely different story.
b. By taking the time to substitute, you will gain experience and knowledge about what grades you would like to teach, what your specialty could be, meet experienced teachers and administrators, and learn information that can assist you better in your graduate program.

Start buying books

a. Everyone knows if you can’t read, you can’t do anything. Even though you may not know exactly what classroom you will end up in, it’s always a smart move to start collecting books for your future school.
b. Having an array of diverse books for your students to read will encourage them to become diverse readers in turn. Make sure to include authors and stories of different races, cultures, professions, and genders.
c. The books don’t need to be brand new or all in hardback; used books, ones bought at sales or auctions, newer stories or old classics are all greatly appreciated by your students – even your high school kiddos.

Pick your Master Teacher

a. Look for a school, grade, and teacher exactly like what you think you want for one session of student teaching; then choose one the exact opposite. By going to the two extremes you will discover more about yourself and what sort of classroom environment you are rightly chosen for.
b. One of the very best things I could have done was to know and pick my Master Teacher prior to the actual start of my student teaching program. I knew when I met my Master Teacher that I was going to learn a great deal from her; she taught me about developing lessons, scheduling, working with colleagues, and being patient. By allowing my graduate school decide for me, this probably wouldn’t of happen. Not to say that my university would have done a bad job – it’s just that they don’t know me as well as I do. Not only was she a great Master Teacher, she is now a dear friend.

Find your local school supply stores

a. This frustrated me throughout my entire time in grad school. My professors would talk and teach us about what types of lessons plans to make, but we never knew what we needed in the classroom. By starting now to find the right flashcards, name tags, notebooks, wall décor – you are not only learning more about the type of teacher you want to be and you are discovering the valuable resources in your neighborhood. But probably the best part about looking now for those supply stores – is you can save yourself some money.
b. Also realize too that you don’t necessarily need to buy everything from one place – the Dollar Tree, Target, office supply and art/craft stores will give you a lot of creative and inexpensive ways to prepare.

There are a number of times when I have received phone calls from concerned parents and families about their students asking about tutoring services for their child that has A.D.D. More often than not, it isn’t the case. This is NOT to say that A.D.D and A.D.H.D don’t exist and that these disorders don’t provide serious frustration for students, their families, and their teachers. It is to say however that there are times when we believe a student has symptoms of these disorders, when in actuality they don’t.

When I was a classroom teacher and now as a tutor, before I decide that a student through go through the process of being tested, and possibly, diagnosed with A.D.D. and/or A.D.H.D. there are three steps that I ask the families to look into with their home situations. For the majority of situations, changes to these three steps provides the opportunity to adjust a child’s ‘hyper level.’

SUGAR

a. How much sugar does your child consume on a daily basis? This means not just candy and soda, but their breakfast cereals, lunch foods, snacks, juice, fast food, juice boxes, etc. The USDA states that sugars found not from fruits and vegetables, should be used sparingly. For an adult, based upon a 2,000 calorie a day diet it should be no more than 12 teaspoons. For a child, depending on their age and size, you can cut that number in half or in a quarter.
b. By eliminating excess sugar, and caffeine, you can cut down on that ‘zip’ of energy and a child’s inability to focus.

ROUTINE AND SCHEDULE

a. Having a routine. For students in K-12 their lives are dictated by bells from 8am til 3pm. Yet once they get home, they can do what they want when they want. Is it so hard to believe that having to sit in a chair, follow a schedule, and not have a change during the school day would cause several students to act out? By establishing a routine of activities and times of those activities at home, it could ease the frustration a student feels during the school day.
b. Furthermore, where you child does their homework is also an area that could provide some stress. At school, all students know that their desk and their classroom is the place where they go to learn and work. At home if you do your homework on the couch – that is also the place you relax and watch TV; at the kitchen/dining room table – that’s the place where you eat and socialize; on their bed – that’s your private place and space to sleep. By creating an area that is designated purely for homework and school learning, you are mentally establishing a place to learn – nothing else.

EXERCISE

a. Anyone under the age of 18 needs at least 1 hour of rigorous physical activity a day. By rigorous we are talking sweat, pure and simple. Get outside and start sweating. Not only does it have significant health benefits, by sweating and exercising we are strengthening our most important muscle – our brain. It’s especially important to work out before we start any tasks that require us to be sedentary for an extended period of time.

Although there is no easy fix or answer to a student who feels the frustration and discouragement of being labeled with A.D.D. There are several factors that could be affecting the situation and ones that could be adjusted at home. Taking the time to think about it could alleviate that frustration. It also could eliminate the need for testing or medication.