Kaitlyn March 29th, 2008
My job in the morning is usually not complicated. As the kids arrive, we usually just “hang out” before breakfast and the start of school. The other morning was no different. In fact, it was a particularly calm day. Kids kept trickling in… Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn August 4th, 2007
Recently, the school district I work for (the same one I attended as a child) decided to close three of its elementary schools. The administration and school board have been working on the budget issue for quite sometime. Last school year it was announced that the best solution was to close a few schools, since paying salary and running a building are a districts biggest costs. As the process got closer to being final, a local uprising occurred (visit http://www.saveberthavos.com for a closer look).
The push to reevaluate the situation and keep the schools open was a big one. However, it wasn’t big enough. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn June 10th, 2007
Last week, my school experienced a tragic loss. Kimberly Forsyth, whom I worked with closely, passed away last weekend from a long-time battle with cancer. When the students received the news on Monday morning, many didn’t quite know what to think.
In fact, I didn’t know what to think. Our dear friend, and helper to so many families in need, was suddenly taken from us. Last week was rough..real rough. However, if it hadn’t been for the school supporting itself, things could’ve been worse. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn May 22nd, 2007
I first heard about this funding problem in my Intro to Ed class this last semester. And to be honest, I had put it to the back of my mind until I came across a local organization’s website (http://www.citizensforequity.org). Then, last week, I attended Citizen’s for Equity’s (that’s the group’s name) public forum.
What exactly is this “funding problem?” What’s this group’s purpose? The problem lies in the amount of funding schools get per student (some get twice the amount for no reason at all). Citizens For Equity was formed to fight that problem and have equitable funding across the state of Michigan, not just downstate. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn May 4th, 2007
Sorry for not posting anything in the last few weeks. I was preoccupied with finding myself a summer job, and working hard to finish the college semester. Finals and whatnot can be a real pain (anyone who’s in college will understand). But now, it’s summer, and I believe I’m going to have a little more free time. Granted, I still don’t know where i’ll be working this summer, but at least I don’t have to deal with school anymore.
With that said, I wanted to share with you what I’m going to be doing today with “my kids” to celebrate Cinco De Mayo. We would celebrate it on the 5th if we could, but it’s a Saturday. Anyway, Cinco De Mayo is a great opportunity to bring Spanish culture into the classroom (even if the holiday is emphasized more in the US than it is in Mexico). Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn April 11th, 2007
Often times, in daycare and school settings, there are behavior issues. Whether it be just one child or the whole group (because we all know they have their days; watch for full moons), it can be hard to solve those problems.
There are some children who need incentives to behave as is expected; they see no reason to otherwise. Breaking rules gets them just as much (if not more) attention than if they were to obey them. And so, it’s almost essential that there be a system to give those children that extra attention and reward (think positive reinforcement) for good behavior.
And so, my coworkers and I have devised a reward system in which the children themselves are involved in. Last school year, we had a system in place that allowed them to earn a pizza party roughly every month. However, the reward never changed, and the pizza parties were too far spread out. By the middle of the school year, the children had lost interest. This year, we do something drastically different. The students are always work towards a price…on different levels, of which they’ve chosen themselves. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn April 1st, 2007
Growing up, I learned the value of a garage sale or a “free” sign. If you looked careful enough, a real bargain was sure to come your way. The same holds true today, but has moved focus to none other than..the internet. Instead of traveling to garage sales all the time, my family and friends check out our local “Freecycle” group on Yahoo!. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn March 26th, 2007
Recent events have led me to believe that the term “job security,” is much like being in a long-term relationship. The security of a particular job can be assured and promised, much like a well-suited companion. The job, or person, can be a perfect match; never letting you down. However, overtime, as each person grows, they slowly grow apart without even noticing. The relationship seems strong than ever… and then it falls apart and is ripped out from underneath you. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn March 20th, 2007
I work in an after school program that cares for children from preschool up to fifth grade. It is a requirement that we have at least one half hour of literacy time each afternoon. In order to accommodate, I am responsible for finding an activity that will involve all the children, regardless of age, and will allow them to have fun and learn at the same time.
While looking through a lesson plan book one day, I came across a word game that sounded like fun. I tried it with the kids, and it quickly became one of their favorite. The game has players create a new word by changing a letter in an old word. This game, Shifting Letters, allows the young children to learn how to spell and write their letters. However, it also allows the older children to explore with the manipulation of words. Continue Reading »
Kaitlyn March 11th, 2007
We all know the quality of one’s education has a direct influence on his/her success later in life. How do we, as educators and American citizens, ensure every child has a good, high quality education?
The Bush administration believed the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act was the answer to that question. NCLB would hold schools accountable for what their students were learning. It was portrayed as the solution to all of our schooling problems. Successful schools would be rewarded; those that did not test well would have to improve or be penalized. Congress believed it was feasible, and so, the law was approved by both parties, and well all believed great things were going to happen.
Fast-forward six years. The NCLB is continually criticized, specifically by educators. It is true that schools are held more accountable for their students’ education. However, many believe the method, logic, and hidden aspects of the law contain multiple flaws. Continue Reading »
Chalk Talk Weekly
The Insights of A “Teacher-To-Be”.
There are 12 Posts and 2 Comments so far.