Week 2 1/28 Part II

Standards and laws are a benefit for schools, including my school. Most teachers adhere to the standards because they follow a teacher's manual which adheres to the curriculum and requires very little individualized out of the box thinking. Although some might argue that standards stifle creativity, standards insure that all children in a particular grade level have some consistency in what they are learning. Without standards, teachers would create and individual curriculum package.

I was not initially aware that there was a move in education to create national standards, but I think it's a good idea. If America is going to survive in a global economy, then we need to be sure that children across the country are being taught the same things.

Week 2 1/27 Part VI

The one event that most keenly shaped my beliefs on teaching was raising my son. From the time he started kindergarten, he was not your typical stay in your seat and color in the lines kind of kid. He was enthusiastic, frequently forgot to raise his hand during a passionate discussion and as he grew older, very opinionated (I have found that teachers and frequently even college professors do not value dissenting opinions). I watched as he thrived in some classes and withered in others. As he moved into high school, I watched as some teachers inspired him (he's a smart kid!) and others wanted him to fit the mold. Through him,I began to understand that students are works in progress and that there is an emotional and social side to them that must be addressed while they are finding their way academically.

What happens to a child who is retained in a grade and is double the size of his/her peers?

What happens to the enthusiastic student who is forbidden to go out at lunch and run around because they couldn't sit in their seats during the day?

Do you really think that other students don't know which students are in BSI or Special Ed? As teachers, how quick we are to refer students to the Child Study Team for testing - even those who who just need differentiated instruction in the classroom.

What happens to the student who is berated by a teacher in front of his/her peers because the teacher doesn't agree with his/her opinions?

What happens to the high school student whose parents won't let him play a sport he loves because he has not yet become serious about grades?

There is so much that teachers need to "unlearn". Teachers teach as they were taught just as parents parent in the same way they were parented. It is very hard to break the cycle. I believe that you cannot be successful at educating a student academcially if you do not educate the whole child.

Who Am I?

I may never figure out how to get back into this blog again, so I figure I better post something now. My name is Elise Miller and I am way too old to start figuring out how to do this. On the other hand, even my techie husband doesn't have a blog, so I'm one up on him.I am a Reading Specialist in the Montville Township School District and will get my Supervisor Certification in May. At some point I would like to be a Supervisor of Language Arts with responsibility for developing curriculum. Teaching is a second career for me. I spent many years in the business end of magazine publishing and never anticpated reinventing myself in education, but here I am. I am married with 2 children - one a freshman in college, the other recently graduated from college. I am taking this course because I need it for my Certification, but hope to learn something I don't know about Curriculum.

Now I'm going to try to add a graphic. This should be interesting.

Wow! I did it! Now I'll see if I can get into other blogs and post!