Behind the Blog
My Blog List
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2021 ASCD Summer Reading List3 years ago
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I'm Blogging Again10 years ago
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Philly Teacher has a new home!13 years ago
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Monday, January 31, 2011
Because I'm good at it!
Teaching gifted students, I often spend a few minutes interviewing students in a one on one setting. I usually ask some generic questions just to get to get acquainted. One of the questions I frequently ask is , "What is your favorite subject in school?" Regardless of their answer, I follow up this question with "Why?" It interesting to hear their answers to both questions, but especially the "why".
Yesterday, I was meeting with a new student who said that his favorite subject was math. When I asked him why, he said "Because I'm good at it." Wanting to engage him in more conversation, I asked him, "How do you know you're good at math?" He looked at me incredulously and answered, "Because I like it." Now, you may be thinking that this is a prime example of circular reasoning. However, as I gave this more thought and chatted some more with this student I realized he felt comfortable with math. He enjoyed math. Therefore, he felt "good at it". He didn't offer his test grades or his report card as evidence that he excelled in this area.
It is interesting to see how young minds work. I began thinking of this in the larger context of school/education. Do our students feel comfortable at school? Is school fun? I know some educators that would flat out state - school doesn't have to be fun. In their minds, the learning needs to occur and we just don't have time for "fun". I disagree. There are so many ways to make learning engaging and enjoyable (check out some ideas for activities on the tab "Responsive Classroom" in my blog)!
As educators (both teachers and administrators), we need to keep this in mind. Don't we all yearn to hear our students say, "I love school!" and when asked why, hear them answer, "Because I'm good at it!"
So, what do you feel that you're "Good at?"
Yesterday, I was meeting with a new student who said that his favorite subject was math. When I asked him why, he said "Because I'm good at it." Wanting to engage him in more conversation, I asked him, "How do you know you're good at math?" He looked at me incredulously and answered, "Because I like it." Now, you may be thinking that this is a prime example of circular reasoning. However, as I gave this more thought and chatted some more with this student I realized he felt comfortable with math. He enjoyed math. Therefore, he felt "good at it". He didn't offer his test grades or his report card as evidence that he excelled in this area.
It is interesting to see how young minds work. I began thinking of this in the larger context of school/education. Do our students feel comfortable at school? Is school fun? I know some educators that would flat out state - school doesn't have to be fun. In their minds, the learning needs to occur and we just don't have time for "fun". I disagree. There are so many ways to make learning engaging and enjoyable (check out some ideas for activities on the tab "Responsive Classroom" in my blog)!
As educators (both teachers and administrators), we need to keep this in mind. Don't we all yearn to hear our students say, "I love school!" and when asked why, hear them answer, "Because I'm good at it!"
So, what do you feel that you're "Good at?"
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Thursday, January 6, 2011
To Blog or Not to Blog....
Why do I blog? That is the question....
My husband definitely doesn't get it. Some of my colleagues still wonder what blogging really is. A few of my friends and colleagues actually read my blog. My daughters love it! (BTW, they both have blogs too!)
I'm a pretty busy person - teaching, taking grad courses, completing an internship for my principal certification, and taking care of my hubby and my puppies (not necessarily in that order, but OK, I have to be honest ...sometimes it is).
So, here are some reasons why I choose to blog...
My husband definitely doesn't get it. Some of my colleagues still wonder what blogging really is. A few of my friends and colleagues actually read my blog. My daughters love it! (BTW, they both have blogs too!)
I'm a pretty busy person - teaching, taking grad courses, completing an internship for my principal certification, and taking care of my hubby and my puppies (not necessarily in that order, but OK, I have to be honest ...sometimes it is).
So, here are some reasons why I choose to blog...
- I began blogging because I planned to teach my students to blog, so I thought I'd check it out first and use mine as a sort of "mentor text"
- I want to share my experiences and knowledge with other educators
- It helps me to reflect
- It helps me to refine my ideas about education
- It keeps me abreast of current trends in education
- I love technology (although it doesn't always love me)
- It gives me opportunities to collaborate with other educators
- Perhaps to be a catalyst, creating dialogue or just planting seeds to rethink how we "do education"
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