Take care,
Coach Mo
Monday, November 5, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Homework?
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
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
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
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