What I Believe…
Jun 17th, 2008 by Janice Stearns
I was tagged several months ago by Jennifer Wagner on a meme started by Barry Bachenheime based on NPR’s This I Believe. I’ve probably broken all the rules by taking so long to respond, but time just slipped away. I thought it was such a good one that I decided to follow up on it, even though it’s long overdue. Thanks, Jen, for the push. Here goes…
I believe that students should have plenty of opportunities to learn in an environment that celebrates individuality, uniqueness, and respect.
I believe that caring for classroom animals, playing with blocks, exploring bubbles, singing, dancing, and watching plants grow are necessary components of a Kindergarten classroom. What has happened lately?
I believe that students should have multiple ways to demonstrate their learning, whether in text, mixed media, video, or audio.
I believe the BEST teachers are the ones that miss their kids on the last day of school and reflect on their practice.
I believe that every educator should build a personal learning network that helps them push their thinking and teaching and learning.
I believe that no matter how much you think you aren’t being heard, you keep pushing. Change begins to happen right before your eyes.
I believe we should never perceive ourselves as experts at anything. We’re all learners and there’s just so much to learn.
I believe that this is a very exciting time to be in education - I feel change for the better is in the air.
I’d like to hear from:
Thanks for the tag. I responded here: http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=330
Thanks for the tag. I have also let time slip away, but here are my thoughts on the subject. I agree that our students need to have freedom of expression and be allowed to use different modalities to express themselves.
It seems that Kindergarten is the only time children have a time to explore and learn by doing. And even that is beginning to dwindle away as we push more standardized testing and assessments for just about anything. Children need to be given their right to be kids. Allow them to learn through exploration, the arts, and through their own uniqueness.
We are living in a time in which we need to embrace technology not as a method of delivery, but as a tool. We are doing a disservice to our children by teaching them in an environment that doesn’t embrace the tools that students are already using. So who are the learners? The students using the technology of the times, or the educators that can’t function without a teachers guide and their students seated in neat rows?