Sometimes some things are so interesting that I have to
share more than just one.
On the K12 side, I was very pleased to see this article
because it is something that I truly believe in, as do many teachers; but yet
school policies do not always allow this to happen.
“Suspensions Should
Be Last Resort”
“U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan announced
their new guidelines at Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore,
which is a shining example of a public school that has seen marked student
improvement since it changed its discipline practices and implemented other
reforms to improve student achievement.”
“Every school must create climates where everyone feels safe
and respected and where every child has the opportunity to succeed. Schools
should be safe, welcoming, and respectful, with meaningful professional
development, wraparound services to meet children's health and social service
needs, and alternatives to suspensions. But policies in a vacuum without real
resources and support will not succeed.”
Read the whole thing here: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/op_education/2014/02/on_discipline.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2
The zero tolerance approach so desperately needs to be changed,
because students are not the enemy.
On the higher education side, I found this worth thinking
about, especially since I teach in a non-traditional environment.
“Teaching Nontraditional Students Calls for a
Nontraditional Lesson Plan”
“The takeaway: It’s no secret that the number of
nontraditional students has been trending upwards on many college campuses in
recent years. The economic downturn has brought older adults back to school,
and many institutions are widening their nets to attract older students for continuing-education
programs.”
“But that demographic change comes with a challenge: When
college students bring more life experience to the classroom, professors have
some catching up to do.”
Recommendations for new professors:
“Know your audience. Figure
out how the older adults in your classroom learn, try to get a sense of the
reasons why they’re in college, and be clear about how the content of your
course can be immediately useful to them.”
“Create a welcoming environment. Adult
learners need to feel confident and safe to participate alongside their younger
classmates. Be clear about the learning goals and objectives of your course.”
“Respect that they have different learning styles. Older adults tend to learn at their own pace, not at the pace of their
instructors. Be sure that your teaching practices are in alignment with your
students’ learning, and provide curriculum tailored to the cultural backgrounds
of your students.”
“Recognize that they will likely want to share their own
experiences in discussions. Encourage older students to speak up
and participate in class activities so they don’t feel like the “old man” or
“old woman” pariah sitting in the corner of the classroom.”
“Be flexible and provide support for life-changing events. There’s no getting around the fact that, from time to time, these may
occur in your students’ lives. Remember, they must balance work, family, and
school.”
Read the whole thing here: https://chroniclevitae.com/news/353-teaching-nontraditional-students-calls-for-a-nontraditional-lesson-plan?cid=oh&utm_source=oh&utm_medium=en
Good simple advice and we should constantly be revaluating
as we teach our classes.
Happy Thursday!
Dr Flavius A B Akerele III
The ETeam
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