tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post1478588593549565446..comments2023-12-15T16:37:17.154+10:30Comments on Now where did I put that flaming sword?: In Which I Am Forced To Confront My CynicismArizaphalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11402602175460446158noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-20991684081011087262009-06-23T21:21:55.900+09:302009-06-23T21:21:55.900+09:30That's what I want to know too April!That's what I want to know too April!Arizaphalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11402602175460446158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-67865971598084392602009-06-23T07:06:02.185+09:302009-06-23T07:06:02.185+09:30My father just retired from being a history teache...My father just retired from being a history teacher for longer than I've been alive. I know, especially in the US since the passing of no child left behind, he's felt like education is going down hill. He has to do so much so kids can pass and has to give them chance after chance even when they put in no effort. We're taking away the responsibility of the students to their detriment. How do these kids function in the real world, unwilling to put forth any real effort? I'm curious.Aprilhttp://www.bauerconfidential.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-87941280596044356552009-06-18T00:43:21.604+09:302009-06-18T00:43:21.604+09:30Hey!!!! I helped force someone to confront cynicis...Hey!!!! I helped force someone to confront cynicism?!?! And here I was on vacation... :-) :-) :-) ;-) <br /><br />It is way more complicated than it seems, isn't it? You're faced with a dual problem I guess, lack of motivation and lack of proper skills. It almost seems like they're sort of exclusive, like you have to confront them separately. <br /><br />And it seems like part of the motivation problem can never be removed because education is no longer considered a privilege the way it once was. And something forced on them the way we do will never be as motivating as an education that they undertake on their own. So then we set up all these artificial motivations to get them to work (grades, rewards) that can never be as motivating as them just needing to learn xyz because they need it in order to function or because they have a true interest in a certain subject.<br /><br />Speaking of which, I have to leave now to force my children to go to their guitar lessons... KIDDING!!!!! They both really did want to take guitar...<br /><br />Very interesting topic though!Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10439582294571462742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-51381476087487934072009-06-17T12:37:18.245+09:302009-06-17T12:37:18.245+09:30They aren't going to acquire the basic skills ...They aren't going to acquire the basic skills without going out on a limb now and again. I don't know about middle schoolers, but if forced to put something up on the web for all to see maybe they would be more interested in generating a decent site? I don't know. What I do know is that any gimmick that will force these apathetic bastards to engage is worth a shot. If they're as bored as my uni students, then you've got your hands full.A Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01038930031019179647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-83411545215099483932009-06-16T23:20:45.270+09:302009-06-16T23:20:45.270+09:30Wow, you have a lot of work trying to get those ki...Wow, you have a lot of work trying to get those kids to read Shakespear. I like the idea of Myspace, but understand where you are coming from. If they don't have the basic skills to actually understand the text, how are they to bring it to a modern medium? I see what you are saying about the Y-er's and their "good enough" approach. At least when e-mail was all the rage they actually wrote sentences with *mostly* real words. Now with texting they don't have to do that and have their own little language. It should be interesting seeing how they turn out.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464318343985100834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-52515447595026044762009-06-16T13:45:33.270+09:302009-06-16T13:45:33.270+09:30Great conversation going!!
I read both sides and ...Great conversation going!!<br /><br />I read both sides and think that sinking to - oops - I mean reaching to their level is not always the answer. If students need to be "spoon fed" the very basics then certainly they are not ready to handle such a potentially creative project. <br /><br />It might be a great assignment for an advanced group who does have that internal drive to do the best job possible. Those kids would realize they need to really understand the material in order to get creative.<br /><br />Sometimes the basics are best served up with repetition and practice. Kids should be able to construct a basic essay before they are allowed to use the looser format of a myspace or facebook page. Otherwise they'll never learn how to write a decent essay.<br /><br />I'm probably an ol' fuddy duddy...but there is some discipline involved here, too. Learn how to do it the right way and learn how to do your work well BEFORE you get to "play" with the assignments. <br /><br />Sometimes you just have to do things BECAUSE! :)<br /><br />A - remind me sometime to share the very creative mytholgy projects that are assigned to the advanced 6th graders! Quite creative but definitely must show an understanding of material in order to get a good grade.Elisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7482552275229203298.post-53605875760514161412009-06-16T08:17:54.028+09:302009-06-16T08:17:54.028+09:30As a primary teacher, I always struggle with "...As a primary teacher, I always struggle with "meet them where they are and take them where they need to be." I'm sorry, but there are times when I just CAN NOT meet them where they are. If I struggle with that in a second grade classroom, HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER DO IT? Or an eighth grade teacher? If we constantly use what they are familiar with (myspace, avatar (what is that???)), then are we really doing our jobs? How about S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G them and requiring something MORE from them? I certainly had to perform in uncomfortable ways when I was in high school, doing things out of my comfort zone. I remember one evening meeting at a friend's outgrown playhouse in her backyard and creating a movie trailer for Silas Marner. We had to cram all the important story elements into just a few minutes, convey the nature of the character, etc, not to mention, ACT.nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10758393907259378213noreply@blogger.com