Curtail the Trail

It's funny, that I remember engaging in connecting the dots as a child.  The important part to me, was finding the number 1.  That meant that if I figured out where to start, I could figure things out and find my way to the end.  A lot of times, as I reflect about my learning, I found myself in that situation.  If I put my first foot forward, I could possibly figure out how to get going and walk to my direction.  Usually, I would do this on my own.  When continuing to think about the connect-the-dots activity, I was never concerned about the end until I got there.  I could marvel at what I "drew or created" and only then could I see the big picture!  Only until I decided to begin another puzzle and the process started all over again.  I now understand that life is not a bunch of connect-the-dot puzzles that have a route aligned for you.  It is beneficial to look at the big picture to figure things out first.  What is the setting of ...

In Daniel Pink's thought exchange, he presents science backed information that shows that although money is a motivator, it does not promote real improvement or innovation within an organization.  He explains that people want to feel like people.  Pay them enough so that money is not an issue and creativity can occur.  As a teacher in a high need demographic I see the effects of this on a daily basis and I could not agree more with Pink's words.  Furthermore, science has supported this human behavior.  It is evident to me that in order to expect academic success from our students, conformity and linear thinking cannot be the sole motivator in our classrooms (Robinson, 2010).   Students that I have traditionally taught come to school with preconceptions about the world and lenses that have been shaped by their experiences.  Unfortunately, many of these experiences are not positive and have been molded by traumatic instances.  When students com...

Educators know that teaching is a gift of heart.   One important factor that displays how much a teacher cares about her students is the effort she puts into preparing her students to be successful members of society in the future.  There are current educational trends and pedagogies that greatly influence the environment in our classrooms.  It is now time, however, to consider a new way of teaching, or, as Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown call it, “A New Culture of Learning.”  As a teacher, I have been guilty of following unsuccessful traditional learning systems in my class.  Although I made efforts to improve the class environment, there are still some aspects that, across the board, are no longer as effective for learners.  It is our job as educators, to investigate these areas.  We must improve and combat them with useful and updated ways of learning that will most benefit our students.     It is commonplace to believe that the te...