It just occurred to me that I hadn't posted in quite awhile. It is really amazing how quickly the school year gets going, and how little spare time you can find while balancing work, home, and all of the other unexpected events that pop up.
This got me thinking... If I do not stop and take the time to post a simple blog entry, how do our students create the time for all of the homework they are assigned. I have recently met 1 on 1 with many of my students and in most of the cases in which a student told me that they have below an 'A' in a class, the response they gave me as to why revolved around "homework."
Whether it was that they simply didn't do it, didn't get it all the way done, lost it, didn't have time, or in a few cases "didn't understand it once I got home," homework was clearly the number 1 response/ excuse for the bad grade.
I do not know any further details than what I received from a 6th grader, but I am hoping that those homework assignments were intended to further learning, not just to give a student more work because "homework" is something we've always done. My wish for the students is that they carve out more time for their studies, just as my wish for myself is to carve out a bit more time for reflection and sharing through this blog. My wish for teachers everywhere is to be certain that the homework assigned is well thought out and meaningful, and that there is adequate follow-up with each student to be sure that the intended goals were met.
Take care,
Coach Mo
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Project Idea II
I really have no opinion on the replacement referee situation in the NFL. It is what it is and regardless of the referees, I am going to be watching the games because I love football.
The reason I share the video below is that I thought it was clever. It has a great deal of creativity involved, and it is the type of thing that I think a student could do as a project for class. Editing pictures is much easier than putting film together, and rewriting a song with lyrics for a specific topic would show creativity along with understanding of the material.
A project like this would allow the student to make the project their own. A student taking on this project would be passionate about the end product, therefore they would have to dive into learning the material so that they could write the very best lyrics possible.
Educators: Do not be afraid to allow a student to show their learning with something like this. Many students would not only meet expectations/ standards, but they would exceed the expectations because they would become committed to their product, striving for the best they can do, not just for a grade.
Enjoy the video! NFL fans will appreciate the clever lyrics.
Take care,
Coach Mo
The reason I share the video below is that I thought it was clever. It has a great deal of creativity involved, and it is the type of thing that I think a student could do as a project for class. Editing pictures is much easier than putting film together, and rewriting a song with lyrics for a specific topic would show creativity along with understanding of the material.
A project like this would allow the student to make the project their own. A student taking on this project would be passionate about the end product, therefore they would have to dive into learning the material so that they could write the very best lyrics possible.
Educators: Do not be afraid to allow a student to show their learning with something like this. Many students would not only meet expectations/ standards, but they would exceed the expectations because they would become committed to their product, striving for the best they can do, not just for a grade.
Enjoy the video! NFL fans will appreciate the clever lyrics.
Take care,
Coach Mo
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A Project Idea
The family went down to the park tonight and I took along my camera. I intended to take pictures of my son on the playground, my dog swimming in the creek, or whatever else presented itself.
What ended up catching my eye was the "Story Trail" that lines the trail at Friendship Park. The story is told in 12-15 parts that you get to read like pages as you walk along and enjoy the sights and sounds. I share this because as I walked along, I thought about how cool of an idea it is on so many different levels.
I had a handful of ideas that I was thinking of sharing on the blog, but I feel as though I ought to just share the photos and let teachers and/or students that read this blog have ideas of their own. One of the toughest things I find in project-based instruction is coming up with the idea that captures your attention and lights a fire inside of passion and excitement. I often search my twitter feed to see what others in my PLN are sharing and then I take that idea and mold it into something that would fit my classroom. So, here is my contribution... enjoy it, let your imagination go wild, and turn it into an authentic idea that you could pursue in your classroom.
Even though the project uses a children's book as the primary focus, I think the possibilities are endless and appropriate for any level of education or beyond.
Take care,
Coach Mo
What ended up catching my eye was the "Story Trail" that lines the trail at Friendship Park. The story is told in 12-15 parts that you get to read like pages as you walk along and enjoy the sights and sounds. I share this because as I walked along, I thought about how cool of an idea it is on so many different levels.
I had a handful of ideas that I was thinking of sharing on the blog, but I feel as though I ought to just share the photos and let teachers and/or students that read this blog have ideas of their own. One of the toughest things I find in project-based instruction is coming up with the idea that captures your attention and lights a fire inside of passion and excitement. I often search my twitter feed to see what others in my PLN are sharing and then I take that idea and mold it into something that would fit my classroom. So, here is my contribution... enjoy it, let your imagination go wild, and turn it into an authentic idea that you could pursue in your classroom.
Even though the project uses a children's book as the primary focus, I think the possibilities are endless and appropriate for any level of education or beyond.
Take care,
Coach Mo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)