Friday, May 17, 2013
Daddy Told Me These Things
Little things to big people are big things to little people. He reminded me often to listen and address the concerns and comments I heard from children seriously and compassionately as if they were coming from God's own lips.
He reminded me to listen. That it was the most important thing each and every individual needed every day. Like an intense hunger that exist in each human spirit - listen, just listen.
Pressure makes diamonds. He always thought I could do EVERYTHING! but at the same time reminded me what tomorrow was for - "to finish the things you don't get done today".
True wealth does not come on a bank statement, it comes in the eyes of the way your family looks at you.
Take care of the animal and it will take care of you. Dad was a dairy farmer and this was his way to say, "focus on the essential, foundational pieces of your job and everything else would work out fine".
People will try to make you feel less than you are, but only you can allow that.
Small children will cry and it is ok.
Little boys do NOT like to shop - don't torture them that way.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Why do we keep doing things wrong when we know better?
Ok, I am going to be painfully honest here... so if you wear your feelings on your sleeve, then you need to click to another site.
I had a conversation with my brother about flipping his classroom. He said it was working. I asked how he knew, he said, "The kids are doing better". So I began to quiz him. I am very intrigued by the flipped classroom. My son in college took college algebra last semester and made an A. It was another professor who was learning to flip their classroom. I was a happy parent.
Here is Steve's answer to my question, "how does it work?":
It takes time to record the lectures, I lost my voice and boy was that difficult, the lectures only last about 10-15 minutes because you really don't want to spend that much time sitting in front of the computer recording it, I cover just the main points, there is a way I can view who has logged in and how many minutes they were on, there is a short 5 question quiz at the end, they can take it as many times as they want, so even if they don't listen they have to look it up to find the answers and they get the information that way, when we are together in class we start on activities or projects where they are doing things and I am just there to help. I am not giving but one test, a semester final. I don't need them to memorize information, let them use their phone and look it up, as long as they know where to access good information that's what's most important, that's the real world. The kids are coming to class and not missing.
Here is my interpretation:
Lecture - Hey teachers/professors, our stories are boring they don't want to listen to us talk, and when we get in front of them we tend to go on too long anyway. I think we like to hear ourselves talk.
Quizzes - Oh yea! assessment used for LEARNING!!! what a brilliant idea, not as a "gotta ya". There are "do-overs" in the real world.
Activities/Projects - Students learn by DOING!!!! You don't have to explain it all beforehand, just be there to guide. It really does work.
Phones/Collaboration- Let them use it, no one works alone and no one works without help. The key is to show them how to find the "good" info from the "bad" and to know the difference.
Kids are coming to class - Hey guys it's called authentic engagement a.k.a. they like what they are doing, they are getting constant feedback if they are right or wrong.
I looked at my little brother and said, "You are a progressive, transformational educator! I am impressed."
"One more question, what made you change?"
He replied, "$$$, it takes extra time to make the switch" (but you know what, the kids are spending more time on the subject too! sneaky - i like it)
So my challenge to schools- find a way to bring your teachers over, even if it is a small stipend. The benefits will far outweigh the expense. Let's do this right - educate our kids!
I had a conversation with my brother about flipping his classroom. He said it was working. I asked how he knew, he said, "The kids are doing better". So I began to quiz him. I am very intrigued by the flipped classroom. My son in college took college algebra last semester and made an A. It was another professor who was learning to flip their classroom. I was a happy parent.
Here is Steve's answer to my question, "how does it work?":
It takes time to record the lectures, I lost my voice and boy was that difficult, the lectures only last about 10-15 minutes because you really don't want to spend that much time sitting in front of the computer recording it, I cover just the main points, there is a way I can view who has logged in and how many minutes they were on, there is a short 5 question quiz at the end, they can take it as many times as they want, so even if they don't listen they have to look it up to find the answers and they get the information that way, when we are together in class we start on activities or projects where they are doing things and I am just there to help. I am not giving but one test, a semester final. I don't need them to memorize information, let them use their phone and look it up, as long as they know where to access good information that's what's most important, that's the real world. The kids are coming to class and not missing.
Here is my interpretation:
Lecture - Hey teachers/professors, our stories are boring they don't want to listen to us talk, and when we get in front of them we tend to go on too long anyway. I think we like to hear ourselves talk.
Quizzes - Oh yea! assessment used for LEARNING!!! what a brilliant idea, not as a "gotta ya". There are "do-overs" in the real world.
Activities/Projects - Students learn by DOING!!!! You don't have to explain it all beforehand, just be there to guide. It really does work.
Phones/Collaboration- Let them use it, no one works alone and no one works without help. The key is to show them how to find the "good" info from the "bad" and to know the difference.
Kids are coming to class - Hey guys it's called authentic engagement a.k.a. they like what they are doing, they are getting constant feedback if they are right or wrong.
I looked at my little brother and said, "You are a progressive, transformational educator! I am impressed."
"One more question, what made you change?"
He replied, "$$$, it takes extra time to make the switch" (but you know what, the kids are spending more time on the subject too! sneaky - i like it)
So my challenge to schools- find a way to bring your teachers over, even if it is a small stipend. The benefits will far outweigh the expense. Let's do this right - educate our kids!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
To Resolve or Revolt???
My 10 year old daughter has been discussing with me New Years' "Revolutions" for 2013 over the past couple of weeks. One of them is to take better care of her pets. I whole-heartedly support that idea.The first few times I didn't correct her terminology because I was really more interested in "what" she had to say than "how" she was saying it. But yesterday the opportunity came when I felt like it was time to talk about her choice of words. Here's how the conversation went:
"The word is resolution not revolution. R-e-s-o-l-u-t-i-o-n, not r-e-v-o-l-u-t-i-o-n."
"Well, what does resolution mean?"
"Too resolve to do something, not to revolt against something. Like, you are determined, you pledge, you are dedicated."
She was quiet, for just a couple of seconds and then quickly replied, "I think we will get a lot more accomplished if we revolt, I am sticking with my New Year Revolutions."
I got to thinking about all the implications of what she said; if we revolt against the behaviors that cause us to spend too much money, eat too much food, not care about others then maybe we would actually succeed with our dreams for the New Year.
Come on people, join the revolution this year!
"The word is resolution not revolution. R-e-s-o-l-u-t-i-o-n, not r-e-v-o-l-u-t-i-o-n."
"Well, what does resolution mean?"
"Too resolve to do something, not to revolt against something. Like, you are determined, you pledge, you are dedicated."
She was quiet, for just a couple of seconds and then quickly replied, "I think we will get a lot more accomplished if we revolt, I am sticking with my New Year Revolutions."
I got to thinking about all the implications of what she said; if we revolt against the behaviors that cause us to spend too much money, eat too much food, not care about others then maybe we would actually succeed with our dreams for the New Year.
Come on people, join the revolution this year!
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