Education
Readings
By Allan Alach
I welcome suggested articles, so if you come across a gem, email
it to me at allanalach@inspire.net.nz
Why
Do Some Educators Burn Out While Others Seem to Grow More Passionate?
‘When
you listen to someone who is burned out, they often point to circumstances as
the reason for their malaise. There is lack of support, lack of resources,
problems with students, parents, administrators, other teachers, lawmakers, the
department of education, society, you name it. And all of those things might be
true. But others faced with exactly the same circumstances seem to tell
themselves a different story.’
What
creativity really is - and why schools need it
‘Teachers
often have biases against creative students, fearing that creativity in the
classroom will be disruptive. They devalue creative personality attributes such
as risk taking, impulsivity and independence. They inhibit creativity by
focusing on the reproduction of knowledge and obedience in class. Why the
disconnect between educators’ official stance toward creativity, and what
actually happens in school?’
Are
you over-scaffolding?
‘
 |
| Time to leave formulaic conformist teaching |
‘Are
kids learning because they are intrinsically empowered to or are they compelled
to through compliance and conformity? The former results when learners
have a real sense of ownership. There are many ways to empower kids to
own their learning. All the rage as of late is how technology can be such a
catalyst. In many cases this is true, but ownership can result if the
conditions are established where kids inquire by way of their own observations
and questions.’
Who
is for teaching?
‘That
is, why can’t we firstly attract to, and then retain enough high calibre
teachers in the
Contributed
by Bruce
Hammonds:
21st-Century Learning Starting in Elementary School
A group of Georgia schools work together to emphasize
project-based learning and STEM courses from the elementary
years through 12th grade.
‘At
White Oak Elementary, teachers build a strong foundation by alternating between
PBL and more traditional units, typically doing at least one major project
within each nine-week period. Even when teachers are not leading a project,
they emphasize inquiry and use the workshop model for reading, math, and
writing.’
Sparrows And Penguins
Powerful. Any penguins are in your class?
‘This is why I think labels are important. This is why I
think “we’re all birds, let’s focus on our similarities instead of our
differences” is harmful. This is how my autism diagnosis was like breathing,
after holding my breath for 26 years.’
'We need to admit that the job of the classroom teacher
has simply become too big’
New Zealand has the opportunity to escape all this stressful
nonsense.
‘If this doesn’t unite the profession in a concerted
effort to find the right work-life balance, to hold on to our longer-serving
teachers and entice new ones into the fold, then we will continue to see even
more classes taught by non-specialists or a chain of supply teachers, with all
the adverse outcomes for equality of provision entailed.’
Stop the CRAPTIVITIES
‘For children to be CURIOUS about the world around them,
following their own unique style of learning and to be engaged in the joy of
DOING rather than the end result. Too often at this festive time of year, we
feel under pressure to create products for the children to take home, cards,
gifts & artwork. If WE feel this PRESSURE to get these products complete,
spare a moment for the little ones who are sadly on a conveyer belt of
activities of handprints and paper plates or as I like to call them “craptivaties”.’
Scrap age-based classes to boost school achievement
‘Underachievement in schools is commonly attributed to
ineffective teaching methods, low expectations, poor student attitudes and
behaviour, inadequate school resourcing and a culture that undervalues
education. These may all be contributors. But could the explanation also lie in
the way schooling itself is organised and delivered?’
From Bruce’s ‘goldie
oldies’ file:
Learning to be 'creatively rebellious'. The importance of
the Three Ds: being Different, Disruptive and Deviant.
 |
| Sir Ken Robinson |
‘Many people were labelled at school as 'students who challenged
teachers or their learning processes as being" disruptive' and “rebellious”.
As a result such students developed 'compliant behaviours that effectively kept
them out of trouble. Others who rebelled often missed out on the chance to
benefit from a traditional education.’
Educational change and leadership - bottom up!
'
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