The first post I commented on was about a letter from a Mrs. Broderick to President Obama regarding our education system across the United States. This blog really showed me that there are teachers out there that are willing to go above and beyond for their students academic achievement. The letter was very straight forward and focused on subject of standardized testing. It was cool to see this debate play out from the point of view of an experienced teacher. She states the understanding and need for testing in the school system. It acts as an evaluation for each individual student, teacher, and school as a whole. Yet, throughout the school year while teachers prepare the students for every little aspect of information on this bulky test, the kids become stale. They are not learning, they are memorizing.
Mr. Crosby's second post was about freedom for creativity in the classroom as well as safety on the internet while doing so. He states the dilemma of wanting to set his students free for research and fun projects but cannot due to the hazards of the internet combined with so little free time throughout the day. This came as a shock to me. Over the years, I have categorized teachers based on what they taught. Some of my classes have been fun and some extremely boring, as many other people can agree. Yet what I never came to realize was that it wasn't the subject matter that made the class dreadful, it was and is the lack of effort coming from teachers who see no reason in having activities or projects in their classrooms. Hands-on experiments, show and tell, acting out stories or equations, these are ways that can keep the class engaged and focused on the material at the same time. However, teachers like Mr. Crosby will have to continue to struggle with managing time to fit in these fun things for there students unless something changes.
"She states the understanding and need for testing in the school system." I am confused by the way you have written this. She opposes the way testing is now being done (which you recognize). What do you mean by the sentence of yours that i have quoted. The entire paragraph needs rethinking and rewriting.
ReplyDeleteYour second commentary is also confusing. You write: "This came as a shock to me." What shocked you? I don't think you understand what Mr. Crosby was saying but I am not sure. What kind of a teacher do you think he is? What bothered him this past year? What are the issues that he wants to address but can't? And for what reasons?
See Carly and talk to her about your writing.