Education starts with a Foundation and Develops into a Skyscraper

At the very start of life education is all around you, as you learn about day to day life and then begin to attend school.   This is the building of your foundation for the rest of your life.  Every teacher you come across, every students, impacts you in a way that can’t be described.  As you climb each level of education your begin building your skyscraper which does not end until you let it.

The theory of existentialism will be one I take with me and allow students to build on this theory.  I will give them the freedom to be what they want to be, think how they want to think, and choose what they want to choose, and take the responsibility for those choices.   Hopefully this will allow them to continue building their skyscraper.

http://planetpov.com/2011/07/30/weekend-music-thread-the-skys-the-limit/

Everyone’s blogs were real eye openers.  It was great being able to read everyone’s point of view and their own description on what kind of teachers they want to become.  They remained open-minded and were able to express themselves which was able to get me thinking critically about my own educational ideas.  I know that these other students and teachers will be great at what they do and help all our students continue to build their skyscraper.  The sky’s the limit and its endless!

http://fralfonse.blogspot.com/2012/06/mt-51-12-sky-is-not-limit.html

Classroom Diversity

One of the biggest social justices in the diversity in which a classroom operates.  It is clear that the textbooks used come from the dominant culture and are geared towards that view.  I remember myself being in school and we were never taught about anything other than what Columbus founded, and what it meant to be a part of a war.  What about the fact that are classrooms are now so diverse, with students that come from all over the world?  Shouldn’t we feel the need the desire to offer these students the same views they would receive in their own “home”?

http://gazette.gmu.edu/articles/8209

It is important to include every student in learning about the diversity of the world, and the different cultures that they will come across.  One student shouldn’t feel as if they are left out because their nationality is different and have to learn that Columbus founded America.  It is true as we read in the article, the Native Americans were in America first, they “founded” it not the Europeans.  I believe it is important for students to see both sides of all the history we have to teach.

http://musicmagic.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/why-music-is-important/

Students should feel encouraged to explore other cultures and that starts in the classroom.  Teachers have the opportunity to provide different forms of education and there are so many resources out there, especially now with the internet that teachers can acquire materials they need in order to teach that there isn’t only one side to thing and to include every student in the classroom so that no one feels left behind.

Montessori Philosophy

I have researched the Montessori learning theory since this is the one I am most interested in.  Montessori thrives on the freedom of choice in the early years and I personally think this extremely important in helping children to develop their own sense of what is important and self-confidence in what they are going to do. Hand-on learning, being able to see why and how something works allows students to "see"something instead of simply hearing it and trying to process the information.

http://www.claremontmontessori.org/Montessori/tabid/54/Default.aspx

The Montessori philosophy also helps children to see that work isn’t something we should dread as we get older, but something to pursue and become lifelong members to society.  Children are placed in an environment which in conducive to learning without being competitive.  Teachers are able to assess their students using observation instead if competition and tests.  It is also encouraged for students to master their skills with other students in the room, where they are allowed to practice with each other.

http://montessoricandy.blogspot.com/

Children being able to develop their own self-confidence and discipline, while working individually and in groups allows them not only the freedom of choice, but the development of their own character and outlook.  Maris Montessori saw that “providing a hands-on learning environment that valued choice, concentration, collaboration, community, curiosity, and real-world application produced lifelong learners who viewed "work" as something interesting and fulfilling instead of drudgery to be avoided.”  I think she is a brilliant woman and I couldn’t agree with her philosophy more as she was able to establish this philosophy and many schools have embraced it, and life-long learners are an important part to our society.  Children seeking out to consistently learn and grow is such an amazing thing.

Seize the Day

The Existentialism theory is one where the goals of education are simple, “to develop authentic individuals who exercise freedom of choice and take responsibility for their actions” (124).  The idea that a student can freely express what it is that they want to do and carry that through in order not only to solve problems, but even pose problems seem to me a good way of learning.  As we read in the Summerhill school how students are to come and go as they wish and make choices, the students who broke all those windows even took responsibility for doing so, while making the choice he made to break them and to pay for them.

http://wellnesstheeasyway.blogspot.com/2013/01/freedom-of-choice.html

There are “teachable moments” where in more traditional setting a student may be put off track, meaning that what they have to say about something isn’t good enough, and the teacher undermined them for it.  But with this theory this teachable moment can be expanded and thought provoked by encouraging the child to exercise the choice in seeing that particular subject another way.  This moment that they can make the choice to challenge themselves in what they are learning with the guidance of their teachers.

The existentialism theory teaches students independence, and self-discipline instead of relying on everyone else students are able to be themselves and find themselves through this theory.  Don’t you think that is one of the best things in life, finding yourself and making your own choices?  It is important as we are teachers to encourage all children to “seize the day”.

http://8tracks.com/boldasxloveee/seize-the-day

Does inclusion make sense?

            I would say inclusion on the surface makes complete sense, giving everyone a sense of equality and acceptance.  It is supposed to help students with disabilities succeed, yet at the same time it can single them out.  There are certain students who will become the victims of bullying by being involved in an IEP plan, or by having an aid by their side.  It is also a possibility that even with this help students still won’t be able to live up to their potential.  It seems there is a flaw in inclusion but what can be done about that?

http://www.comaat.biz/InclusionPhilosophy.html

            Is there an actual answer to the question or is just a matter-of-fact?  Give the students their rights but allow them to singled out at the same time seems a bit silly.  It may make more sense to have these students who need additional help in a spate classroom.  As we read about Sam we learned that he was able not only to teach another student to remember things she was always forgetting but it also helped him remember what he was always forgetting.  This reinforced both of their behavior and worked out well, but would it have worked in a situation where he was in a classroom the same as everyone else?

            Maybe the answer is to play on the strengths of each individual student and provide them a classroom where they can learn together.  Such as learning whether a student is a visual learner or one who reads to learn and dividing classrooms into which emphasize these teaching styles to better the education of the students.  The teachers can be trained in school before they even become teachers to teach in a certain type of classroom.  This could be the next big thing, allowing students to learn the way they learn best, not the way the teacher knows how to teach best.

http://ayudatec.cl/2011/11/30/opinion-inclusion-e-integracion-no-son-lo-mismo/

ADD stands for attention deficit disorder and effects approximately 10% of children in our school systems.  There is also another part very similar that is called ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  It shows up as primarily by inattention, easy distractibility, disorganization, procrastination, and forgetfulness which can lead teachers and/or parents to be frustrated at the situation instead of understanding that there is an underlying issue at hand.  ADD can be helped with forms of medicine but if possible with lots of encouragement and redirection can be brought under control without medicines.

Some of the issues that students with ADD or ADHD suffer from are daydreaming, problems with completing a lot of their work, paying attention in class, and typically are not good at following directions.  This is a problem many of our students face and they need extra support in the classroom in order to help them maintain their schoolwork and focus. 

The key points to remember when teaching children with ADD or ADHD it is to be patient, creative and consistent.  Doing things such as repeating instructions and saying them one at a time, giving shorter quizzes instead or large tests, using props and visual aids and seating the child away from doors and windows to minimize unnecessary distractions.  All these help the student that has ADD to hopefully learn better and more than they might have.

http://www.dryaun.com/what-we-treat/adhd/

ADD is in at least 1 child/classroom and needs to be addressed so that the whole class can learn, i.e. this child may be the “class clown”.  Teachers recognizing the symptoms and adjusting their routine slightly to accommodate for this type of learning disability is important for both students and the teacher. Remember patience is key.

Nutrition in our Schools

I think nutrition in schools is an essential that should have been put into place long ago.  Nutrition in general is a part of one’s overall health and where students eat breakfast and/or lunch at school 5 days a week it is important for our schools to provide nutritious meals.  Especially elementary school children who do not yet have a full grasp as to what nutrition actually is.

Growing up we had French fries, pizza, and soda at my school mixed with sugary cereals and other fried foods with very little healthy alternatives, as you ate what you were served.  Today’s obesity I believe has a lot to do with schools lunches and/or breakfast as that is approximately half of their entire food intake.

“Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents aged 2–18 years, affecting the overall quality of their diets. Approximately half of these empty calories come from six sources: soda, fruit drinks, dairy desserts, grain desserts, pizza, and whole milk.” http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/nutrition/facts.htm

http://www.myrecipes.com/kids/healthy-kids/healthy-changes-school-lunches-00420000004372/

Children should be better educated on their choices from a young age and in a school setting that should be one of the top priorities.  Now you can’t force a child to eat anything, but only offering healthy options the hope would be that they would not only eventually eat it but as they grow to make more and more healthy choices and choose to live a healthy lifestyle.  The food that is currently offered in schools should only be what we consider to be healthy and even banning unhealthy packed food lunches to be brought in.  As this could cause controversy and as we know from grade school children like to trade things from lunches being brought in.

There is a meal program “National School Lunch Program” that helps schools offer healthy meals and also helps them offer reduced and free lunches across the country.  This program being tweaked over the years and with a society that is becoming more and more health conscious will hopefully eventually implement a permanent healthy school lunch program with the help of the states making their own menu providing only healthy meals.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html

There has been some controversy since a lot of the students don’t like healthier option but unfortunately that does begin at home and we as educators are their secondary education on health and healthy eating habits.  But also as educators we should be putting our best foot forward to promote healthy eating and it seems that slowly but surely (by the time I have children) healthy options in school will be the only option.

"Nothing is more important in our national life than the welfare of our children, and proper nourishment comes first in attaining this welfare." ~Harry S. Truman~