Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
How does your garden grow?
Today I finished up a Prezi on how gardening connects to science, math, and reading standards.
It was a lot of work.
Suffice it to say that you could teach much of what you need to teach in these subjects out in the garden. Plenty of exceptions, sure, but most of the life science and earth science standards are out there. The mistake we teachers make (me included, I confess) is teaching exclusively from textbooks and forsaking the hands-on experiences that make learning real.
Don't get me wrong - I'm an avid reader. For example, I'm on a Bob Marley/reggae kick right now, and I've already consumed six books on the subject. But I also learned a few Marley songs on guitar, and even tried my hand at writing a reggae tune of my own.
So I wouldn't say "Learn not from books," but rather, "Learn not from books alone!"
It was a lot of work.
Suffice it to say that you could teach much of what you need to teach in these subjects out in the garden. Plenty of exceptions, sure, but most of the life science and earth science standards are out there. The mistake we teachers make (me included, I confess) is teaching exclusively from textbooks and forsaking the hands-on experiences that make learning real.
Don't get me wrong - I'm an avid reader. For example, I'm on a Bob Marley/reggae kick right now, and I've already consumed six books on the subject. But I also learned a few Marley songs on guitar, and even tried my hand at writing a reggae tune of my own.
So I wouldn't say "Learn not from books," but rather, "Learn not from books alone!"
Saturday, May 26, 2012
My Other Students
Sometimes I'm so caught up in my work teaching that I forget who my real students are.
Who are the children I teach with every word, act, and omission? Who hears me in the car and from the other side of the bathroom door?
Yep. My kids. So today I took the three of them out to the Forsyth Farmers' Market, then out to lunch, and then the SCAD Mini-Comics Expo. We ran some errands, and then went to mass. They learned a lot, and I remembered that DAD is more important than my BA or MAT or even my cherished TOTY.
Key: BA - undergrad degree; MAT - "Master of the Arts in Teaching," my graduate degree; TOTY - Teacher of the Year, which I earned this year, big fancy pants that I am.
Who are the children I teach with every word, act, and omission? Who hears me in the car and from the other side of the bathroom door?
Yep. My kids. So today I took the three of them out to the Forsyth Farmers' Market, then out to lunch, and then the SCAD Mini-Comics Expo. We ran some errands, and then went to mass. They learned a lot, and I remembered that DAD is more important than my BA or MAT or even my cherished TOTY.
Key: BA - undergrad degree; MAT - "Master of the Arts in Teaching," my graduate degree; TOTY - Teacher of the Year, which I earned this year, big fancy pants that I am.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Audition time
Today I held the second round of auditions for the school talent show. This round was for all who were somewhat or totally unprepared for the first round - more a second chance than a second round. What brutal realities.
Common exchange:
Common exchange:
- Me: So, are you ready to audition now?
- Student: Yeah.
- Me: You have the music for your song now?
- Student: No.
- Me: What song are you singing?
- Student: Hm ... maybe ... um ...
- Me: (Slaps own head.)
Which reminds me of how much we HUMANS want but are unwilling to do for what we want. At least these kids have the excuse: I'm a kid. What's my excuse?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The one time I'm never patient with my students is when we're working on a dramatic production. This week we've been working on an important acting skill: shutting up and paying attention when you're offstage.
Really, it's not like me. My classroom is one of the noisiest in the school, though they're always productively noisy. But when you're rehearsing ... it's different. I think.
Hey, the play is next week. And I have a wicked "IT'S GOTTA BE PERFECT" disability syndrome disorder going on (as usual). But sometimes my behavior approaches that of the evil teacher I portray in the play.
The play's next Thursday, 31 May 2012, if you're in the Savannah area and ... you know.
Really, it's not like me. My classroom is one of the noisiest in the school, though they're always productively noisy. But when you're rehearsing ... it's different. I think.
Hey, the play is next week. And I have a wicked "IT'S GOTTA BE PERFECT" disability syndrome disorder going on (as usual). But sometimes my behavior approaches that of the evil teacher I portray in the play.
The play's next Thursday, 31 May 2012, if you're in the Savannah area and ... you know.
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