tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5753632493214860644..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: I Have ThisTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-72589902251770825902012-02-25T11:54:52.594-08:002012-02-25T11:54:52.594-08:00I remember hearing, many years ago, Amelia Gambett...I remember hearing, many years ago, Amelia Gambetti, Reggio Emilia, say, "Forget about being a teacher--think of yourself as a co-learner with the children."Judinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-65792074086422880892012-02-24T13:17:00.458-08:002012-02-24T13:17:00.458-08:00What a thoughtful way of looking at it - I love th...What a thoughtful way of looking at it - I love the prying metaphor. It wasn't until about 8 years ago that I began "re-educating" myself as an early childhood teacher and saw the term "teacher as facilitator" used by Leila Gandini in describing the Reggio Approach. Pretty embarrassing length of time for an early childhood teacher of some 26 years, but I remember saying "that's it, that's it, that's what I'm trying to do! Who are these people?" And now, after re-thinking everything I do and reworking it from the art of creative conversation on up, I can't imagine doing it any other way...Karenhttp://handsfullofgrass.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-75481343767610158342012-02-24T01:40:50.420-08:002012-02-24T01:40:50.420-08:00What an interesting post! This definitely got me ...What an interesting post! This definitely got me thinking about the way we learn. Where would we be able to find the video from Tom Drummond? I had a search and was unable to find it. <br /><br />@ erin: Thank you for sharing the youtube link. I was really impressed by the video! I can't wait to learn more. <br /><br />Thanks again for sharing your blog with us. It is very insightful and thought provoking.willoenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-89530637843950460712012-02-23T18:50:53.048-08:002012-02-23T18:50:53.048-08:00I'm pretty sure you've seen this but just ...I'm pretty sure you've seen this but just in case...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U<br /><br />I teach in the public school system in Ontario and I keep trying to "teach" that way...it is very hard in this system. Often the kids don't want to (the older ones).<br /><br />Sigh. <br /><br />Thank you for the inspiration.Erinhttp://www.urbanmoms.ca/multiplemusingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-34943133906289385922012-02-23T14:03:46.133-08:002012-02-23T14:03:46.133-08:00Sadly this force-feeding of information has been a...Sadly this force-feeding of information has been around long enough that there's a generation or five of children out there who get upset in high school if you don't supply information for them to memorise. I was constantly fighting this mentality, from both parents and students, as a high school music teacher. I refused to hand out notes, asking the kids instead to draw their own conclusions from the music they heard, and boy did some of them fight me! <br /><br />This battle to encourage children not to parrot, but to think for themselves, will be ongoing for generations. I shudder to think what will happen when some of this generation of battery-educated children become teachers.Aunt Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799746597313773030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-28823133698940099752012-02-23T12:49:36.435-08:002012-02-23T12:49:36.435-08:00Direct instruction takes out such an essential par...Direct instruction takes out such an essential part of what builds strong, intelligent children, and that is group problem solving. A group of children who are used to guiding and constructing their own learning are a powerful force. I like the idea of introducing language when needed (like the word "pry"--and how easy it is for them to assimilate into their linguistic toolset when it is in the context of what they are wholeheartedly engaged in). It would be very convenient to just teach without thinking about the results--children's welfare, their self concept and the building blocks of their beings, the future of our society and of course what they are actually learning--but it doesn't really benefit anyone.stephanieleahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09427676919832135865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-26068328899466032692012-02-23T11:29:26.303-08:002012-02-23T11:29:26.303-08:00And I dont think anyone legitimately believes that...And I dont think anyone legitimately believes that standardized testing is the way to grow creative resourceful people. It's just that when someone runs for office, it's so much easier for them to say, "see I pushed for better education in these schools, and now, look their scores are better," than "see I pushed for better education in these schools, and now, look, the children are better learners."<br /><br />There was an essay the other day, I think it was NY Times parentlode column. They talked about how it's becoming more common for preschoolers to have homework. The parents hate it. The kids hate it. The teachers hate it. And everyone knows it DOESN'T HELP KIDS LEARN. But they are still doing it, and it's a rising trend, not a falling one. <br /><br />Maybe this isn't evidence of systematic problems with education so much as it is evidence of systematic problems with our election process, and education is just one of the casualties. We as a country and politicians as individuals frequently and intentionally make decisions that we know are not the best, and sometimes are the worst. But we keep voting for them, because our campaigns are based on soundbites and soundbites are inherently stupid.Meaganhttp://hadesarrow.com/blognoreply@blogger.com