I have not heard back from the professionals I am trying to be in contact with so I have decided to do the alternative option for this week. I decided to listen to the podcast from September 10, 2013 on the #edchat radio station. This podcast was titled The Challenges of Teaching Students in Poverty. This podcast brought many different views and provided me with a great deal of eye opening information about poverty and how large of an impact it can have on students and learning. As they brought up in the conversation it is easy to think of poverty of one type of thing and that all people in poverty are going through the same thing. This is very far from the truth. There are many different types of poverty and in many different types of areas.
One great statement that was mentioned is that poverty is not an excuse, it is an explanation. This is a very profound statement that all educators and administrators need to be aware of. Children that are in poverty have many things that they are concerned about on a daily basis. Some are just in survival mode, not knowing if they will make it home with out being killed or if they will be harmed by someone in their home. When these are the concerns that fill their day, they often times do not have time to worry about hours of school work each evening.
Another issue children in poverty have, especially those in urban areas is a lack of understanding of teachers. Many times teachers are not from middle class and have not had to live a life like those in poverty. It is harder for them to truly understand what the children are going through on a daily basis. Teachers need to educate themselves about the lives of students in their area so that they are better equipped to teacher and help them when needed. The podcast also talked to the fact that teachers need to inform themselves about the different supports in their area for those in poverty. Teachers can help their students get support and resources they may not be aware of on their own.
As professionals and educators we need to do all we can to help children in poverty and be informed about the issues that effect our students and all students.
http://www.bamradionetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1222:jackstreet54&catid=86:edchat-radio-&Itemid=249
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
My Supports
I have many supports that help me through my daily life. Some of these supports include my co-workers and a to-do list at work. Both of these supports help make sure that everything that needs to get done is and that the children are able to be in a happy, healthy environment. One of the most important supports is my family. They support me in many different ways. They are there to offer emotional support whenever I am going though a tough time and need someone to lean on. My parents are a great financial support when I need them as well. This fall I decided to take a job back home, which was 100 miles from where I was living. Without having place to live and not finding anything that was decent, and could afford they have let me stay with them. They also purchased a fixer-upper house that I will rent from them when it is finished. They are also a great support for fun and entertainment when I just need a break from work and school.
One challenge that would greatly impact me if it were gone would be the support of my family. Life would be tough without them. I would have much more work to do on my own. I have relied on my family to help me physically move my possessions many times. Without them I would have had to pay for someone else to do it or would have taken much longer. My current housing situation would be very different as well. I might not have ever made the move back home. That would have been a huge negative for me since I love my current job. If I did make the move I might have had to settle for a falling down house or apartment with very high rent. I am very thankful and blessed to have the supports that I do!
One challenge that would greatly impact me if it were gone would be the support of my family. Life would be tough without them. I would have much more work to do on my own. I have relied on my family to help me physically move my possessions many times. Without them I would have had to pay for someone else to do it or would have taken much longer. My current housing situation would be very different as well. I might not have ever made the move back home. That would have been a huge negative for me since I love my current job. If I did make the move I might have had to settle for a falling down house or apartment with very high rent. I am very thankful and blessed to have the supports that I do!
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Relationship Reflection
I believe that relationships with others are one of the most important things in life. Whether it is relationships with family members, friends or co-workers they all shape how we live our lives. My most important relationships are with the members of my family. We have always been close and will always be there for one another when it is needed.
My family is what has made me the person that I am today. They have helped define who I am and the beliefs that I hold. When making decisions in my life I always look at their opinions or ideas and use it to help make my decisions. Although we are not a perfect family, we still try to help out and support each other. We all make mistakes and slip up on the way, we even get mad at each other, but we always figure out what needs to be done to fix the problem and we go on living for each other.
My Family
Another relationship that is important to me is with my dog, Raymond. A few months ago I was going through a stressful time for many different reasons. I began looking for a home to live in, but didn't want to be alone. So I started looking for a dog. I found one that I really wanted to adopt but soon he was adopted out to someone else. A week later he was returned and once again up for adoption. I knew that I needed him in my life and was able to finally adopt him. It took a while to really build a good relationship and find out what he needs in his life. Since he is a puppy sometimes life can be a little chaotic but I wouldn't trade him for anything. His constant joy and happiness helps to remind me to be happy.
My family is what has made me the person that I am today. They have helped define who I am and the beliefs that I hold. When making decisions in my life I always look at their opinions or ideas and use it to help make my decisions. Although we are not a perfect family, we still try to help out and support each other. We all make mistakes and slip up on the way, we even get mad at each other, but we always figure out what needs to be done to fix the problem and we go on living for each other.
Another relationship that is important to me is with my dog, Raymond. A few months ago I was going through a stressful time for many different reasons. I began looking for a home to live in, but didn't want to be alone. So I started looking for a dog. I found one that I really wanted to adopt but soon he was adopted out to someone else. A week later he was returned and once again up for adoption. I knew that I needed him in my life and was able to finally adopt him. It took a while to really build a good relationship and find out what he needs in his life. Since he is a puppy sometimes life can be a little chaotic but I wouldn't trade him for anything. His constant joy and happiness helps to remind me to be happy.
Me and My puppy, Raymond
Another set of relationships I find to be very important is with co-workers. Being in a teaching field collaboration is very important in every day work. This seems to be a type of relationship that takes longer to build because it is in a professional setting. Each of you have your own set of expectations that you need to meet and a different way of going about them. It takes time to learn what is best for each and how to go about sharing what you have. Building positive relationships is important to how you behave at work and the atmosphere that you work in. When you have great relationships you are able to feel safe sharing your ideas and you are happy to come to work every day. I have been in situations where I did not have good relationships with my co-workers. I dreaded going to work and felt that even though things were not being done how they should, there was nothing I could do to change it. I love the work environment that I am in now and feel like it is a great place for me to keep growing.
These are just a few of the important relationships that you encounter throughout your life. Whether you encounter good relationships or bad relationships they always help you to grow and learn so that you are able to keep going on to a better person.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Things to Remember and Thank You!
Here are some great quotes to remember about children:
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." - Lady Bird Johnson, Former U.S. first Lady
"Children are our most valuable resource." - Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. President
"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear." - Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa
I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues in this course. I have learned many things through your insights and experiences. The blogs have been great way to learn about how others view children and their development as well as learning more about different cultures around the world. I have learned many new things that I will be able to apply to my continued learning and teaching. Thank you and good look on your journey!!
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." - Lady Bird Johnson, Former U.S. first Lady
"Children are our most valuable resource." - Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. President
"Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear." - Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa
I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues in this course. I have learned many things through your insights and experiences. The blogs have been great way to learn about how others view children and their development as well as learning more about different cultures around the world. I have learned many new things that I will be able to apply to my continued learning and teaching. Thank you and good look on your journey!!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Child Assessment
I do not agree with how schools are testing children now days. They are putting way too much pressure not only on the students but also on the teachers. Teachers need to make sure they teach what is going to be on the test so that they can get good scores and not lose funding for their school. While they are busy focusing on this they are not looking at educating the whole child and truly educating them about things that they will need to live their every day life.
While doing research about testing in other countries many I found did the same type of standardized testing. Finland however, is a country that does it differently. In Finland grades are emphasized very little so that children are not competing against one another. Until grade 5 students are only given narrative evaluations instead of grades. After that their grades are based on how well they performed relative to their individual potential. Dr Sahlberg says “It is not primarily what individuals know or do not know, but more what are their skills in acquiring, utilizing, diffusing and creating knowledge that are important for economic progress and social change.” Even without standardized tests Finland has ranked among the top 3 countries in testing done in math, reading and science. This is a country we need to look more to when developing our country's education.
I will leave with one great comment from Dr. Sahlberg, “If there is no standardized testing, students can focus on real learning and teachers don’t have to worry about preparing their kids for assessments.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/canada-competes/how-do-finnish-kids-excel-without-rote-learning-and-standardized-testing/article11810188/
While doing research about testing in other countries many I found did the same type of standardized testing. Finland however, is a country that does it differently. In Finland grades are emphasized very little so that children are not competing against one another. Until grade 5 students are only given narrative evaluations instead of grades. After that their grades are based on how well they performed relative to their individual potential. Dr Sahlberg says “It is not primarily what individuals know or do not know, but more what are their skills in acquiring, utilizing, diffusing and creating knowledge that are important for economic progress and social change.” Even without standardized tests Finland has ranked among the top 3 countries in testing done in math, reading and science. This is a country we need to look more to when developing our country's education.
I will leave with one great comment from Dr. Sahlberg, “If there is no standardized testing, students can focus on real learning and teachers don’t have to worry about preparing their kids for assessments.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/canada-competes/how-do-finnish-kids-excel-without-rote-learning-and-standardized-testing/article11810188/
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Stress in Children
Growing up in a small town in rural Minnesota I was fortunate enough to not be raised with majors stressors in my life. I also do not know personally of anyone that was raised with these kinds of things in their lives. Coming from one of the poorest counties in Minnesota I know it was around but it is not something that was widely talked about among my peers. This being the case it might have been even harder for these peers to not have others that may have been able to help them and make it better for them.
The country I chose to learn more about stress in children is Israel. Children in this country have many stresses in their lives having to do with the war with Palestine. According to the article I read many of the children suffered different kinds of trauma including, tear gas attacks, night raids and family members being sent to jail. The study noted that children with less mental flexibility suffered from issues such as PTSD as well as low self esteem and neurotic symptoms. Some of the ways they have found to help children cope with these stresses is by having them reenact the situations with stuffed animals. By doing this they are able to lessen the emotional impact of the trauma and develop a sense of self control. They also recommend positive interactions with family members. These things help the children to become more resilient and able to handle stressful situations.
http://www.oswego.edu/Documents/wac/Psychology.pdf
The country I chose to learn more about stress in children is Israel. Children in this country have many stresses in their lives having to do with the war with Palestine. According to the article I read many of the children suffered different kinds of trauma including, tear gas attacks, night raids and family members being sent to jail. The study noted that children with less mental flexibility suffered from issues such as PTSD as well as low self esteem and neurotic symptoms. Some of the ways they have found to help children cope with these stresses is by having them reenact the situations with stuffed animals. By doing this they are able to lessen the emotional impact of the trauma and develop a sense of self control. They also recommend positive interactions with family members. These things help the children to become more resilient and able to handle stressful situations.
http://www.oswego.edu/Documents/wac/Psychology.pdf
Monday, November 11, 2013
Children's Access to Healthy Water
Water is one of the most important things for any living creature. Living in the area that I do worrying about the safety of my water or if I will have access to water at all is not a concern that even crosses my radar. It is easy to take something that is so readily available for granted. This is not the case for so many children around the world. According to The Water Project website, around the world, 1 out of every 5 deaths of children under the age of 5 is due to an illness caused by a water related illness. Because of infant and children's weakened immune systems they are especially susceptible to getting diseases that are carried in the water. When a child that attends school gets sick they are not able to attend and get the education that can get them out of poverty. Not only that but when a child is sick another often needs to stay home to care for them. This takes away wages that could be earned.
Not only is this an issue that happens in less developed countries it can also relate to many children living in poverty in this country. When children are living in poor conditions their healthy will be impacted. When they are sick they are not able to attend education classes. Much like the children previously mentioned this interferes with their ability to get out of poverty. As an educator it is my job to help these children. I can help to provide healthy, safe environments to come each day as well as help to educate parents about what kinds of nutrition and environments they should provide for their children. Although this work may be small, children will be impacted by my influences.
I can also take steps to help those in other countries that don't often have access to healthy water. With the money that The Water Project raises they are able to provide safe drinking water as well as sanitation to areas that do not have access to it. Making a small donation can help children have the potential to a better, healthier life.
http://thewaterproject.org
Not only is this an issue that happens in less developed countries it can also relate to many children living in poverty in this country. When children are living in poor conditions their healthy will be impacted. When they are sick they are not able to attend education classes. Much like the children previously mentioned this interferes with their ability to get out of poverty. As an educator it is my job to help these children. I can help to provide healthy, safe environments to come each day as well as help to educate parents about what kinds of nutrition and environments they should provide for their children. Although this work may be small, children will be impacted by my influences.
I can also take steps to help those in other countries that don't often have access to healthy water. With the money that The Water Project raises they are able to provide safe drinking water as well as sanitation to areas that do not have access to it. Making a small donation can help children have the potential to a better, healthier life.
http://thewaterproject.org
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