It’s Friday and a time for a blogging tour of the province. You don’t have to look any further for the good stuff than that created by Ontario Edubloggers. Here’s some of what I read and had stick lately.
We often hear that “students own the learning” and adjust the classroom to honour that. It’s great to read about those who now respect that philosophy and adjust things accordingly. But, the learning is the only thing that happens in the classroom community. There are all kinds of other things that make for a smooth running environment. Aviva Dunsiger itemizes some of the things that come to her mind in this post and then, in Aviva fashion, asks questions and wonders…
I can’t help but wonder (now she’s got me doing it) if this isn’t a good activity for everyone to do with their own classroom. Sure, the students own the learning but who owns every other element for success? Isn’t that part of the learning as well? Why not treat it as such? If there ever was a “call to action” post to refine your classroom, this is it.
Speaking of calls to action, check out Tina Zita’s latest. If you need that shove to get consistent with your blogging or even starting, consider opting in to her 10 posts in 10 days challenge.
It may sound daunting but it really shouldn’t be. She’s not asking you to write the next great epic novel.
Just jot down 10 things and turn them into 10 posts and away you go. You don’t even have to commit 10 days if you are busy. You could write 10 posts in one sitting or spread them out a bit and schedule them to appear for 10 days in a row.
The key is just to do it. It will make you grow as a thinker and blogger. You have that special genius that makes things work in your classroom or you have observed 10 things that you’d like to write about. Why not do it?
It might just be the start of something beautiful.
David Petro shares a very interesting lesson plan for Grade 7s involving a method to visualize linear equations.
In Ontario our grade 7 students are introduced to solving simple equations in the form ax + b = c where the values of a, b and c are whole numbers. We think it’s a good idea for them to start by having some sort of visual representation of each equation. In this activity, students are given 16 cards that correspond to 16 equations represented as strips (the top and bottom of the strips represent the left and right sides of the equations). Students solve for x given the strips and then rewrite the algebraic form equation.
I’ll bet that so many use a graph as the first option when dealing with this topic. This is an alternative that might well turn into a quicker understanding of the concept.
Resources included!
I like the concept for classrooms and it’s a terrific example for all as to how to share resources via Google Drive and FirstClass.
Powerful advice is included in this post from Sue Dunlop. She’s honest and open about her position in life.
The post will hopefully give you pause to think about this topic.
Sue provides a nice collection of relevant links to support her position.
From the KNAER-RECRAE blog, a look at the YRDSBQUEST event through the eyes of Melinda Phuong, an intern with the organization.
If you weren’t able to attend, check out what caught her attention.
- RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF CANADA
- A STUDENT MESSAGE ON REFUGEES
- REFUGEE EDUCATION
- A CULTURE OF “YES” TO BRING BACK THE JOY OF LEARNING
- ISSUE + GIFT = CHANGE
- DEEP LEARNING ON AN INTERNATIONAL SCALE
- ACCESSIBLE LEARNING
- LEADERS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW
Unlike Matthew Morris, there were times when I did get cut from a particular sporting team.
I do remember the teams that I did make though and, if I think hard about it, some of the ones that I didn’t. There were also teams that I just didn’t try out for. They were just not for me. I specifically remember football and the irony that I ended up coaching it at secondary school. It’s a unique sport; I don’t think we ever cut anyone. It’s nice to have big numbers for practices. Where the real issue kicks in is when you realize that you really have to work hard at getting everyone in to play during the season. There are other sports that never existed when I was in school as well. I’m thinking about skipping in particular. A friend of mine has a son who really excels at competitive skipping.
Some sports will take every body that shows up and that’s great for inclusion. But, as Matthew notes, there are some sports where only a limited number make the team. His observations of watching students come to see if they “made it” are a real POV for educators. I’ll bet that he’d appreciate comments about how you handle the situation in your reality.
Do students think we should be using social media in school?
Jennifer Casa-Todd finishes off a post that she’d started earlier. It was about the use of social media in school. She admits that her sample may be skewed but that’s OK. It was interesting to see her statistics and analysis of it. I thought that the comments were interesting.
As I read the responses, I can’t help but wonder if these are original thoughts from students or are they parroting when they hear from their teachers or parents or other media.
There’s a link in the post that is supposed to go to a summary but does go instead to her questionnaire. It’s worth clicking through to see what was asked and, if Jennifer reads this post, hopefully, she’s share the link to results with us.
Yet again, this has been for me another wonderful collection illustrating the great thinking that goes on throughout the province. Please click through and show each some blogging love with a comment or two.
doug -- off the record 
Please share your thoughts here. I’d enjoy reading them.