Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Reflecting about the Lesson Presentations
I have enjoyed all the lessons, because in every lesson I am learning new things that I could apply in the future in a classroom. Everybody is doing a great job. I especially like the fact that everyone is incorporating some type of Multiple Intelligence, like visuals, music, and videos into their lessons. I liked everybody’s lessons, but what I liked the most was that in Jaclyn's lesson on Tuesday, she introduced the traffic light to aid her in the classroom behavior. Honestly, I thought about misbehaving, but at the same time, I did not want to see my name in yellow or red light. It reminded me of my sophomore field when the teacher used this same method for those students who misbehaved. Just by looking at the traffic light, you could see which were the students who were always in green light and those who were continuously misbehaving. These methods are very significant because they can change the dynamic of a classroom. I remember how the second graders complained about not wanting to move their pin to a different light color once they have misbehaved. It is great that Dr. Luongo has incorporated the behavioral cards, so that we can realize that a classroom can be fun but also challenging. Also this experience can give us a picture of the things that we can expect in a classroom. Personally I am enjoying my education classes because I feel that my mind has awakened to new things. Education can be fun, but it all depends in how we approach the objectives. Being a teacher, is to be continuously learning to fulfill a curious mind that is in seek of knowledge, and new experiences.
Get A Handle on Behavior
I found this article, Get A Handle on Behavior, that I wanted to share with the class since we are doing our lesson plans and I feel that these are good tips that can help us while dealing with the classroom behaviors.
Patience
The first step to deal effectively with inappropriate behavior is to show patience. This often means you'll need to take a cooling period before you say or do something you just might regret.
Be Democratic
Children need choice. When you're ready to give a consequence, allow for some choice. The choice could have to do with the actual consequence, the time when the consequence will occur or input as to what follow up should and will occur.
Understand The Purpose
Why is the child/student misbehaving? There is always a purpose. Do you know what the purpose is? Getting attention? Power? Revenge? Feelings of failure? There is always a cause for a student to misbehave.
Avoid Power Struggles
In a power struggle, nobody wins. Even if you do feel like you've won, you haven't because the chance of reoccurrence is great. I honestly believe that the students’ attitudes in the classroom depend in the teacher’s behavior in the classroom. A child's behavior is most often influence by your behavior, remember this. If you are hostel or mad when dealing - they too will be.
Do the Opposite of What They Expect
When a child/student misbehaves, they often anticipate your response. Do the unexpected. For instance, when you see children playing with matches or playing in an area that is outside of the boundaries, they expect you to say "Stop", or "Get back inside the boundaries now!" However, try saying something like "You kids look too smart to be playing there" (or playing with matches). You'll quite surprise them.
Find Something Positive
For students or children who regularly misbehave, it can be very difficult to find something positive to say. Work at this, the more they receive attention for the positive things, the less apt they are to look for attention in a negative way.
Don't Be Bossy - This Too is Bad Modeling
Bossiness usually ends up with students seeking revenge. Ask yourself, do you like being bossed around? Chances are that you don't. Neither do children. After all if you employ the strategies suggested here, you'll find that you won't need to be bossy. Always express a strong desire and strong interest to have a good relationship with the student/child.
Sense of Belonging
When students or children don't feel that they belong, the result is usually the display of unacceptable behavior. Make sure the student has a strong sense of belonging. Praise the child's efforts to get along or work with others. Praise attempts to follow rules and adhere to routines.
Up, Down Then Up Again
When you're about to reprimand or punish a child. Bring them up first "Lately you've done so well, I've been so impressed with your behavior'. "Why today did you need to be involved with a 'hands on'". (Deal with the issue). Then end on "I know it won't happen again because you've been so good up until this moment. I have great faith in you." You may use different approaches but always remember: Bring them up, take them down, bring them up!
Students want teachers that:
· Respect them
· Care about them
· Listen to them
· Don't yell or shout
· Have a sense of humor
· Are in a good moods
· Let students give their opinions and their side/opinion
http://specialed.about.com/od/behavioremotional/p/handlebehav.htm
Patience
The first step to deal effectively with inappropriate behavior is to show patience. This often means you'll need to take a cooling period before you say or do something you just might regret.
Be Democratic
Children need choice. When you're ready to give a consequence, allow for some choice. The choice could have to do with the actual consequence, the time when the consequence will occur or input as to what follow up should and will occur.
Understand The Purpose
Why is the child/student misbehaving? There is always a purpose. Do you know what the purpose is? Getting attention? Power? Revenge? Feelings of failure? There is always a cause for a student to misbehave.
Avoid Power Struggles
In a power struggle, nobody wins. Even if you do feel like you've won, you haven't because the chance of reoccurrence is great. I honestly believe that the students’ attitudes in the classroom depend in the teacher’s behavior in the classroom. A child's behavior is most often influence by your behavior, remember this. If you are hostel or mad when dealing - they too will be.
Do the Opposite of What They Expect
When a child/student misbehaves, they often anticipate your response. Do the unexpected. For instance, when you see children playing with matches or playing in an area that is outside of the boundaries, they expect you to say "Stop", or "Get back inside the boundaries now!" However, try saying something like "You kids look too smart to be playing there" (or playing with matches). You'll quite surprise them.
Find Something Positive
For students or children who regularly misbehave, it can be very difficult to find something positive to say. Work at this, the more they receive attention for the positive things, the less apt they are to look for attention in a negative way.
Don't Be Bossy - This Too is Bad Modeling
Bossiness usually ends up with students seeking revenge. Ask yourself, do you like being bossed around? Chances are that you don't. Neither do children. After all if you employ the strategies suggested here, you'll find that you won't need to be bossy. Always express a strong desire and strong interest to have a good relationship with the student/child.
Sense of Belonging
When students or children don't feel that they belong, the result is usually the display of unacceptable behavior. Make sure the student has a strong sense of belonging. Praise the child's efforts to get along or work with others. Praise attempts to follow rules and adhere to routines.
Up, Down Then Up Again
When you're about to reprimand or punish a child. Bring them up first "Lately you've done so well, I've been so impressed with your behavior'. "Why today did you need to be involved with a 'hands on'". (Deal with the issue). Then end on "I know it won't happen again because you've been so good up until this moment. I have great faith in you." You may use different approaches but always remember: Bring them up, take them down, bring them up!
Students want teachers that:
· Respect them
· Care about them
· Listen to them
· Don't yell or shout
· Have a sense of humor
· Are in a good moods
· Let students give their opinions and their side/opinion
http://specialed.about.com/od/behavioremotional/p/handlebehav.htm
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Report Cards
Report cards have always made me feel anxious. I always expect to do my best in every class, and I love looking at the letter A in my reports. It makes me feel proud of myself, and it compensates all the effort that I put to obtain the grade. Well, I remember looking at my report cards from elementary school, being an A student. Then in high school, it was pretty much the same way, always expecting to get an A in most of my classes. To get a letter B disappointed me a little bit, because I felt that I could have done better. However, when I was in my senior year in high school, I took AP Chemistry, and Calculus, I really started appreciating those letters B, because those two classes were so challenging and I knew I had worked so hard to achieve a B. You start appreciating things when they are hard to get.
The report cards are a communication between parents, students, and teachers. The report card shows where the student is standing at the point in time. Some students my try to improve, however there are some students who really do not care, how they are doing. As long as they pass with a D, for them is okay. In my case, I always wanted to do better, but I remember some students who only worried about what they parents were going to say about those C and D the day, of parent’s night. Once parent’s night was over, the anxiety was gone and they continued earning C and D. All I can say is that every student is different, and some my get motivate to improve, others will continue struggling to obtain at least a C or D, and some will not care at all what the report card says.
The report cards are a communication between parents, students, and teachers. The report card shows where the student is standing at the point in time. Some students my try to improve, however there are some students who really do not care, how they are doing. As long as they pass with a D, for them is okay. In my case, I always wanted to do better, but I remember some students who only worried about what they parents were going to say about those C and D the day, of parent’s night. Once parent’s night was over, the anxiety was gone and they continued earning C and D. All I can say is that every student is different, and some my get motivate to improve, others will continue struggling to obtain at least a C or D, and some will not care at all what the report card says.
My Lesson Presentation
Teaching my lesson about Thanksgiving on Tuesday was a great new experience. Honestly, I was so nervous because I knew that my classmates had the behavioral cards, and all I had in mind was “what I am going to do to control the students when they start misbehaving?” I knew it was going to be a big challenge, because it was going to be something completely different from what I had experienced when teaching in other classes, where my classmates do what I tell them to do.
I felt like in a jungle! I wanted to have the control, when it was so difficult. For example, some students did not want to do their assignment, others insulted each other, some students did not want to share the materials, another student ripped the materials, the tattle teller, and the student who cut her hair. I went crazy, especially when I didn’t know what to do when, Adalise was calling me all the time, and telling me in detail what was going on around, I didn’t know whether she was telling me the truth or not. I definitely wished having extra eyes to observe. I tried as much as possible, not turn my back to the students, and keep an eye on everyone. I felt like Rachel said, “a robot.”
Wow! A lot of events occurred in so little time. I tried my best and I wanted to be nice and fair. However my classmates did make it a big challenge. Well after a while, I felt like if I was acting. I tried to remain calm and I avoided screaming because personally I hate when teachers scream to the students. I think that that is not the proper way to handle a classroom. Screaming creates a tense environment where the communication between students and teachers become more difficult. I think that there must be causes for students to misbehave, and by yelling at the students, teachers will not resolve anything.
After experiencing teaching in an uncontrollable classroom, I feel a little more prepare to face a classroom. This experience has helped me to learn so much of the things that I should do, and the things I shouldn’t do. I enjoyed teaching my class because I received so much feedback. I am also enjoying my classmates’ lessons because I am learning from them too. I think everyone is doing a good job, especially when we are making the classroom environment a big challenge. Thank you girls, and Dr. Luongo for your advices, I really appreciated them.
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" - anonymous
I felt like in a jungle! I wanted to have the control, when it was so difficult. For example, some students did not want to do their assignment, others insulted each other, some students did not want to share the materials, another student ripped the materials, the tattle teller, and the student who cut her hair. I went crazy, especially when I didn’t know what to do when, Adalise was calling me all the time, and telling me in detail what was going on around, I didn’t know whether she was telling me the truth or not. I definitely wished having extra eyes to observe. I tried as much as possible, not turn my back to the students, and keep an eye on everyone. I felt like Rachel said, “a robot.”
Wow! A lot of events occurred in so little time. I tried my best and I wanted to be nice and fair. However my classmates did make it a big challenge. Well after a while, I felt like if I was acting. I tried to remain calm and I avoided screaming because personally I hate when teachers scream to the students. I think that that is not the proper way to handle a classroom. Screaming creates a tense environment where the communication between students and teachers become more difficult. I think that there must be causes for students to misbehave, and by yelling at the students, teachers will not resolve anything.
After experiencing teaching in an uncontrollable classroom, I feel a little more prepare to face a classroom. This experience has helped me to learn so much of the things that I should do, and the things I shouldn’t do. I enjoyed teaching my class because I received so much feedback. I am also enjoying my classmates’ lessons because I am learning from them too. I think everyone is doing a good job, especially when we are making the classroom environment a big challenge. Thank you girls, and Dr. Luongo for your advices, I really appreciated them.
"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" - anonymous
Monday, November 3, 2008
Portfolio
When I think of the word Portfolio the first thing in mind is a collection of school work. I created my first Portfolio in eight grade, although the teacher was the one who picked all the pieces of work for the portfolio. It was the first time that I created a portfolio. Then in high school, I had the opportunity of picking my own pieces of work for the portfolio, although for the only classes that I had a portfolio were for History and English. Actually, I never thought of Portfolios in a different way, but just as a collection of work that I had to take with me to the next year.
Now thinking about portfolios, it brings me back to all the memories, all the time and effort that I dedicated to every piece of work that back then were just assignments that I had to do. Actually is great to remember all those things because I still have some of the work which I saved do it to the fact that it took me a certain amount of time and effort.
We can imagine many things about someone when we look at a portfolio. A portfolio is an introduction of the type of work, which we can expect from someone. We can even imagine how a person is, but I will always have in mind that “we should always be open to the possibility that people’s work will in a sense change depending on the mood and effort.” Every day there is a new story to tell, so what a better place to save it that in a portfolio. Therefore, as a future educator I am considering the idea of encouraging my students to have their own portfolio, at least in my classroom.
Now thinking about portfolios, it brings me back to all the memories, all the time and effort that I dedicated to every piece of work that back then were just assignments that I had to do. Actually is great to remember all those things because I still have some of the work which I saved do it to the fact that it took me a certain amount of time and effort.
We can imagine many things about someone when we look at a portfolio. A portfolio is an introduction of the type of work, which we can expect from someone. We can even imagine how a person is, but I will always have in mind that “we should always be open to the possibility that people’s work will in a sense change depending on the mood and effort.” Every day there is a new story to tell, so what a better place to save it that in a portfolio. Therefore, as a future educator I am considering the idea of encouraging my students to have their own portfolio, at least in my classroom.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
My Access
My Access is an awesome program to use in the classrooms. I think that this program will really help the students to improve in their written assignments. I am sure that most students would love to be able to use this program to write their essays. This program is great because it helps the students in the process of writing, from the first step of organization, until the last step of giving them a feedback of how well they did by just submitting the essay. When I used it to write my essay, I was a little unsure of what to write, so when I submitted my essay I got a low score. However, when I used the program to revise the essay, I used the prewriting features which in a way guided me in how to write the essay. The amazing thing of it was that when I finished the prewriting, it was posted on the space of the essay. This is great because you do not lose your time rewriting what you just wrote. Actually when I submitted the essay the second time, I noticed that there was an improvement in the score. This program has many features to assist the writers such as a word bank that suggests the use of vocabulary that makes the essay more meaningful. The program is wonderful and if I would have the opportunity of using this program in the classroom, I will welcome it because it is such a great innovation, which most students and teachers would love.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Technology in the Classroom
I do agree with the integration of technology in the classroom because in the society where we are living today, technology has become part of our lives. Students need to be prepared for the use of technology in their daily lives.
I think that in the classroom, there should be a combination of technology and traditional education, where the teacher not only is able to use some sort of technology, but also he/she takes his/her time to use the board and explain a lesson.
I feel that teachers and students should not be too dependent on technology either. It is not that technology is going to go away, well maybe, who knows, but I think that it is necessary to gain some skills without being so dependent on the available technology. For example, in a math class is important that students know how to use a calculator, but it is also important that they can actually do simple math like addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication without depend on a calculator to do all the “thinking” for them.
At the same time, teachers need to know how to apply the technology in the classroom. There are good teachers who teach terrible using technology, while there are teachers who teach fine with the use of technology. PowerPoint is very popular in the classroom. However, there are some teachers who teach using long PowerPoint presentations, which sometimes are boring. While there are other teachers who use PowerPoint, but their presentations are interesting and encourage the students to learn.
Teachers should be aware of the different ways that their students learn. Therefore they should use that information to modify their classrooms. The same method of teaching does not work for all the students, for example, for me to learn math I have to see where the numbers or letters are coming from. I just don’t like to copy what it is appearing in the slide and then have no clue where everything is coming from. I prefer the traditional teacher who writes on the board and at the same time explains me where the numbers are coming from and what they mean. I have been in classrooms where students use the time to copy the PowerPoint presentations, while the teacher is explaining. For me it is very difficult to pay attention, while I am trying to copy all the written material. That is how some students feel in the classroom, they want to copy all the notes, but did they learn something? Well maybe there are students who can copy and listen at the same time, but that is a technique that does not work for all the students.
I had also experienced being in classrooms where the teacher gives the students time to copy the notes and then he/she explains it. If the teacher gives students some time to copy the information and then he/she explains it, it might be a more effective technique. In this way the students are going to have good notes for reference, but also they can concentrate more in the point that the teacher is trying to explain without being distracted by trying to finish writing down the information from the PowerPoint. There are many ways to modify a classroom using technology. Technology is a very useful tool, but teachers need to know how to use it in their classroom. They should use it to do class more interesting, not boring and stressful.
I think that in the classroom, there should be a combination of technology and traditional education, where the teacher not only is able to use some sort of technology, but also he/she takes his/her time to use the board and explain a lesson.
I feel that teachers and students should not be too dependent on technology either. It is not that technology is going to go away, well maybe, who knows, but I think that it is necessary to gain some skills without being so dependent on the available technology. For example, in a math class is important that students know how to use a calculator, but it is also important that they can actually do simple math like addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication without depend on a calculator to do all the “thinking” for them.
At the same time, teachers need to know how to apply the technology in the classroom. There are good teachers who teach terrible using technology, while there are teachers who teach fine with the use of technology. PowerPoint is very popular in the classroom. However, there are some teachers who teach using long PowerPoint presentations, which sometimes are boring. While there are other teachers who use PowerPoint, but their presentations are interesting and encourage the students to learn.
Teachers should be aware of the different ways that their students learn. Therefore they should use that information to modify their classrooms. The same method of teaching does not work for all the students, for example, for me to learn math I have to see where the numbers or letters are coming from. I just don’t like to copy what it is appearing in the slide and then have no clue where everything is coming from. I prefer the traditional teacher who writes on the board and at the same time explains me where the numbers are coming from and what they mean. I have been in classrooms where students use the time to copy the PowerPoint presentations, while the teacher is explaining. For me it is very difficult to pay attention, while I am trying to copy all the written material. That is how some students feel in the classroom, they want to copy all the notes, but did they learn something? Well maybe there are students who can copy and listen at the same time, but that is a technique that does not work for all the students.
I had also experienced being in classrooms where the teacher gives the students time to copy the notes and then he/she explains it. If the teacher gives students some time to copy the information and then he/she explains it, it might be a more effective technique. In this way the students are going to have good notes for reference, but also they can concentrate more in the point that the teacher is trying to explain without being distracted by trying to finish writing down the information from the PowerPoint. There are many ways to modify a classroom using technology. Technology is a very useful tool, but teachers need to know how to use it in their classroom. They should use it to do class more interesting, not boring and stressful.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Homework
Some students have a very negative view about homework. They think that homework is boring, takes time and is not worth doing it. Some students do homework because is mandatory, but they do not see another reason beyond that. Yes, I had been in the position where I have felt stressed about doing homework, especially when I have many classes and each teacher assigns a different homework and all of them are due the same day. However, homework is more than a grade because it helps students remember the material covered in class. The purpose of doing homework is to learn, remember material, practice the skills learned, but also do mistakes and learn from them. I feel that homework is important and I can tell this from previous experiences. For me, mathematics and homework have a special link. In high school and in college, I took math classes that were challenging. The only way that I could tell whether or not I knew how to apply the material learned in class was by doing the homework. If I was able to do the math problems assigned for homework, it was a good sign that I understood what was going on in class. However, if I had too many difficulties then, I knew where the weaknesses were. Any class can become a challenge, however if students would practice what they learned everyday, life would be a lot easier for them especially when they have to take tests.
Homework is meaningful when students do it not when they copy it. Students who copy homework do not learn anything. Yes, some students see only the side of getting a grade for whatever assignment they have to do, but what about the knowledge they can get from doing it?
Homework is very important, but teachers also have to consider the amount of homework that they assign to their students. Some students hate doing homework because that is what they do all afternoon long after they leave school. Some teachers just give too much homework. Yes, students need to practice the new skills, but that does not mean spend all the free time after school doing homework. Then that is just like living in school. Students need to be constantly practicing what they learned, but they also need to rest in order to perform well in class the next day. Otherwise, the lack of rest has consequences in the classroom the next day. Some students go to class too tired, and they barely pay attention in class.
At the same time, teachers should go over the homework. If students do their homework, but teachers do not check it that is not meaningful. Teachers need to let the students know their mistakes because that is the only way students are going to learn.
Students need to remember that homework is just a practice of what they just learned in class and "Practice is the best of all instructors" (Publilius Syrus).
Homework is meaningful when students do it not when they copy it. Students who copy homework do not learn anything. Yes, some students see only the side of getting a grade for whatever assignment they have to do, but what about the knowledge they can get from doing it?
Homework is very important, but teachers also have to consider the amount of homework that they assign to their students. Some students hate doing homework because that is what they do all afternoon long after they leave school. Some teachers just give too much homework. Yes, students need to practice the new skills, but that does not mean spend all the free time after school doing homework. Then that is just like living in school. Students need to be constantly practicing what they learned, but they also need to rest in order to perform well in class the next day. Otherwise, the lack of rest has consequences in the classroom the next day. Some students go to class too tired, and they barely pay attention in class.
At the same time, teachers should go over the homework. If students do their homework, but teachers do not check it that is not meaningful. Teachers need to let the students know their mistakes because that is the only way students are going to learn.
Students need to remember that homework is just a practice of what they just learned in class and "Practice is the best of all instructors" (Publilius Syrus).
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Rubrics
Rubrics are tools that teachers use to grade students. Some of the advantages of rubrics are that they help students to know what the teachers expect in the assignments. Rubrics help students recognize their strengths and weaknesses in their assignments. Rubrics are good tools to grade students because students know where the grades come from, and it gives fewer chances for arbitrary grades. For example, if a teacher is going to grade an essay, he or she needs to know what he/she is looking for in this assignment. It is going to be easier and fairer, if he/she has a rubric rather than just look at an essay and give a grade. Because what happens if she/he just graded an essay, but the next essay it is of a better quality than the previous one?
When I understood the purpose of rubrics, I started appreciating them. I understood what the teachers expected in the assignments, which helped me achieve better grades. I spent more time in the areas which really mattered. As a future educator, I am considering in using rubrics to grade my students.
I found this article, What Students Say About Rubrics where students gave their opinions about rubrics. It is interesting to see that students think that rubrics help them to improve in their assignments. However there are some students who say that "They're (rubrics) not always easy to understand." One of the things that I will consider is the grade level of the students. I do agree that sometimes, there are teachers who give students rubrics to follow, but the students do not have idea of what these rubrics are asking them to do. I will take my time to explain my students what I want in an assignment, but also I will transmit the message according to their grade level.
http://www.middleweb.com/CSLB2CubRub.html
When I understood the purpose of rubrics, I started appreciating them. I understood what the teachers expected in the assignments, which helped me achieve better grades. I spent more time in the areas which really mattered. As a future educator, I am considering in using rubrics to grade my students.
I found this article, What Students Say About Rubrics where students gave their opinions about rubrics. It is interesting to see that students think that rubrics help them to improve in their assignments. However there are some students who say that "They're (rubrics) not always easy to understand." One of the things that I will consider is the grade level of the students. I do agree that sometimes, there are teachers who give students rubrics to follow, but the students do not have idea of what these rubrics are asking them to do. I will take my time to explain my students what I want in an assignment, but also I will transmit the message according to their grade level.
http://www.middleweb.com/CSLB2CubRub.html
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Fairness in Assessment
I found this article, Fairness in Assessment, which highlight the issue of whether it is fair to grade students at the same level or should it be considered the cultural background a factor that might affect the performance of the students. This article, talks specifically about students who are non-native English speakers. Well I am a non-native English speaker, and for me one of the hardest parts of learning English was writing because you cannot translate the language. If you do that, then, it is going to be grammatically incorrect and is not going to make sense at all. It is like adapting yourself to writing in a new fashion. I still have some doubts when writing in English and I am always careful with my grammar. I try to do my best to sound as good as possible when I speak and write. Therefore, sometimes it is a double work, the first part it is putting all my ideas together in English, and the second part is trying to correct the grammatically mistakes that I might had done unconsciously because is a new language, a new culture, a new fashion.
So what is the role of the teacher? Should he/she consider that those students who are non-native English speakers are in disadvantage while writing essays? Should the teacher be harder when grading a native English speaker? I feel that these questions are difficult to answer because the teachers need to be fair with all the students. So what are we talking about when we talk about being fair? Also a truth fact that it is mentioned in this article is that most of the time students compare their works and grades. So what happens if two students think that they did a similar work, but they achieved different grades? This happens all the time in schools, so what can we do to explain them this issue about cultural background difference?
http://www.cs.nott.ac.uk/~smx/PGCHE/fairness.html
So what is the role of the teacher? Should he/she consider that those students who are non-native English speakers are in disadvantage while writing essays? Should the teacher be harder when grading a native English speaker? I feel that these questions are difficult to answer because the teachers need to be fair with all the students. So what are we talking about when we talk about being fair? Also a truth fact that it is mentioned in this article is that most of the time students compare their works and grades. So what happens if two students think that they did a similar work, but they achieved different grades? This happens all the time in schools, so what can we do to explain them this issue about cultural background difference?
http://www.cs.nott.ac.uk/~smx/PGCHE/fairness.html
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What is Assessment?
When I think of assessment, the first thing in my mind is a test. The simple word test makes me nervous because I feel the pressure of performing one hundred percent even though sometimes I don’t perform well. I think that tests do not prove that students know something. From my experience taking tests, I know that tests are not good evaluators. Sometimes I prepare myself for the tests by memorizing the material, word by word without understanding its meaning and then I have no idea of what I “learned.” The purpose of learning is to understand not memorize, but many students do no find other options to pass with good grades, therefore they just memorize information that they will not be able to apply in the future.
I guess that that is one of the reasons why I prefer math, because with math I know I cannot memorize information. Of course you need to memorize the formulas although you need to understand them in other to apply them. On the other hand, English scares me sometimes because is my second language. I remember memorizing vocabulary words for quizzes or tests, but these words meant nothing because if I memorized them it did not mean that I was actually learning them. Many teachers rely on vocabulary quizzes where students write definitions, but this does not necessarily prove that these students know these words.
Assessments remind me of the standardized tests given by the government, which supposedly show how much students know and what they don’t. First of all they are surprise tests. The teacher can teach you anything that might or might not be on the test, but if it is a surprise you have a chance of passing or failing. At the same time, some students do not do well on these tests because they get too anxious. No everyone is good test taker.
There are other ways to evaluate how much students know and is not just by taking tests. They can do projects where they can use their creativity, while at the same time, they are learning new things. Assessments help teachers to know whether students are learning something or not, it is a feedback. Students can have fun while doing assessments. There are creative projects where students can work as individuals or in groups. Assessments do not have to be boring, but they should be methods to encourage students to seek for more knowledge to build their own futures.
I guess that that is one of the reasons why I prefer math, because with math I know I cannot memorize information. Of course you need to memorize the formulas although you need to understand them in other to apply them. On the other hand, English scares me sometimes because is my second language. I remember memorizing vocabulary words for quizzes or tests, but these words meant nothing because if I memorized them it did not mean that I was actually learning them. Many teachers rely on vocabulary quizzes where students write definitions, but this does not necessarily prove that these students know these words.
Assessments remind me of the standardized tests given by the government, which supposedly show how much students know and what they don’t. First of all they are surprise tests. The teacher can teach you anything that might or might not be on the test, but if it is a surprise you have a chance of passing or failing. At the same time, some students do not do well on these tests because they get too anxious. No everyone is good test taker.
There are other ways to evaluate how much students know and is not just by taking tests. They can do projects where they can use their creativity, while at the same time, they are learning new things. Assessments help teachers to know whether students are learning something or not, it is a feedback. Students can have fun while doing assessments. There are creative projects where students can work as individuals or in groups. Assessments do not have to be boring, but they should be methods to encourage students to seek for more knowledge to build their own futures.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Introduction about Myself
Hello everyone!!! My name is Wendy. I am a junior at Saint Peter’s College. I am double majoring in Elementary Education and Biology. Well yes, the Biology is the toughest major of the two because I have to take chemistry. After my experience in the Sophomore Field, I feel that I would like to teach second grade. I loved all the students they were all very cute, and I still miss them! However, I am undecided about whether being an elementary school teacher, or being a middle school teacher. I am considering in taking extra classes to obtain a certification in mathematics.
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