Double Entry Journal #6

In the introduction of this article itsays the the "dominant paradigm" is showing signs of wear. When they say "dominant paradigm" they are referring to all the students learning comes from either the teacher or a textbook. The students will obtain the information by reading, listening to lectures, and discussions. The article says they we are stuck in a way of teaching that was created a century ago. They are saying we need to move from this kind of learning to project-based learning.

Project-based learning is when students complete a complex task and usually result in a real product event or presentation. Learning this way allows students to actually think more and have a product at the end where the traditional approach is just students listening or reading."Generally, research on project-based learning (PBL) has found that students who engage in this approach benefit from gains in factual learning that are equivalent or superior to those of students who engage in traditional forms of instruction (Thomas, 2000)." By students actually doing hands-on activities they will retain knowledge more than just listen to someone lecture the whole time. The article also says that"the students engaged in project-based learning demonstrated a significant increase in scores on a critical-thinking test, as well as increased confidence in their learning (Shepard, 1998). This shows that students are learning more and that the critical-thinking skills are improving as well. "Other short-term, comparative studies of traditional vs. project-based approaches have demonstrated several benefits from projects, such as an increase in the ability to define problems (Gallagher, Stepien, & Rosenthal, 1992), growth in their ability to support their reasoning with clear arguments (Stepien, Gallagher, & Workman, 1993), and enhanced ability to plan a project after working on an analogous problem-based challenge (Moore, Sherwood, Bateman, Bransford, & Goldman, 1996)." As you can see project based learning is a better choice than traditional learning. The students gain more knowledge, they are more involved in their learning, there is a purpose for their learning, and they are gaining more knowledge about real world situations and tasks.

Problem-based learning is kind of like project-based learning. In problem-based learning the lessons usually have an activity that focuses on using reasoning and resources to solve a problem. "In problem-based learning, students work in small groups to investigate meaningful problems, identify what they need to learn in order to solve a problem, and generate strategies for solution (Barrows, 1996; Hmelo-Silver, 2004)." Students are learning how to solve problems by working with others as a team. "Similar problem- or case-based approaches have been used in business, law, and teacher education to help students learn to analyze complex, multifaceted situations and to develop knowledge to guide decisionmaking (see, e.g. Lundeberg, Levin, & Harrington, 1999; Savery & Duffy, 1996; Williams, 1992)." The students are learning to use problem solving to analyze situations that they will use later on in life.It also says that "They also experience larger gains in conceptual understanding in science (Williams, Hemstreet, Liu, & Smith, 1998)." Students will improve in science because problem solving is the basis of science.

Learning by design are lessons that have several features to make them ideal for the subject matter. In a sixth-grade classroom using learning by design they say that "the design project led to better learning outcomes than the traditional approach to instruction (Hmelo, Holton, and Kolodner, 2000)" This shows that tradition learning needs to be used less and use the new resources that we have avalaible to us today. "Researchers also observed that design activities are particularly good for helping students develop understanding of complex systems, noting that the systems can be presented as a united whole whose structure is adapted to specific purposes (Perkins, 1986)." When students have a larger understanding of the subject they will learn about the subject in more of a complex way. Through learning by design studnets build websites and the article says "to date, more than 30,000 students have created more than 550 Web sites through this competition (www.thinkquest.org/library/)."

So to review project-based learning teaches students to explore real world problems and challenges. Problem-based learning is to teach students problem solving skills as well has help to acquire knowledge and skills. Learning by design is a project-based inquiry that deals with reasoning.

In my opinion, the most important learning aspect that is common among the three types of learning is that students are learning knowledge and skills to use in the real world. Students need to learn these life skills that they will use in their everyday lives.

Resource:

Barron, B., & Darling-Hammond, L. (1991). Teaching for meaningful learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/edutopia-teaching-for-meaningful-learning.pdf

Double Entry Journal #5

Reverent listening is when you respectfully listen to what a person has to say. Reverent listening should be used by every teacher who wants to use culturally responsive teaching in their classroom. If teachers respectfully listen to what their students have to say they will learn about the cultures and the backgrounds of their students. This will allow the teacher to learn more about their students and help mold instruction around the cultures and the backgrounds of the students in their class.

"Reverent listening is not to be confused with humiliation and domination by others who force us to listen, and even less so, with the kind of incompetence that wants to be told what to do." This quote applies to a lot of teahers today. They force students to listen of forcefully tell their students what to do. This attitude by the teacher forces students to not listen and makes them tune the teacher out. For example, in 4th grade I had a teacher that made us listen to her all day long and we never really got to talk in class. I never wanted to go to school because our classroom enviornment wasn't welcoming and I felt like I had no say. I never want to make my students feel that way that I felt in my 4th grade classroom. I want my students feel like I listen to them and care about what they have to say.

This artical uses the phrase a "laundry list of value ethics". To me this phrase means that someone has a long list of values ordered in degree of importance. Teachers more than likely will teach their values and culture to the class and not touch on the values or cultures of the other students. This is an exapmle of a teacher being non-culturally responsive because they don't teacher others values and cultures, just their own.

I had an amazing 2nd grade teacher. She was a reverent teacher and really cared for her students. She always gave the students a voice in the classroom and was always there to listen to her students. She always made you feel important and very special. I felt very comfortable in her classroom and it was one of my favorite years all throughout school.

Today there are many schools that have a "toxic" school enviornment. If teachers don't listen to to thier students or give them a voice in the classroom it creates a bad school enviornment. Teachers need to listen to what their students have to say and allow them to talk during instruction so they feel a sense of belonging to the class. Also teachers need to represent a sense of respect in the classroom between teachers and students as well as the teacher respecting the studnets.

"Reverent listening in teaching involves respect." I really liked this quote from the article. In order to reall listen to your students and care about what they have to say they need to respect their students as human beings. In my philosophy of education I never mentioned listening to my students so this quote will change my philosophy because I know see how important it is to listen to your students and give them a voice in the classroom.
I found a video on establishing classroom routines on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_jNR-aGj1w It is very important to have routines within your classroom especially when you have a younger classroom.

Resource:
HepburnsHelfulHints. (Performer) (2012). Establishing classroom routines [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_jNR-aGj1w

Double Entry Journal #4

1.Teachers need to know how to teach their students and help them develop their literacy stills. I learned some helpful hints while reading this article. Most students that grew up in the region of Appalachia are at a disadvantage when taking standardized test becaue their literacy knowledge is different than the literacy that is on the test. So as a teacher you need to practice standardized testing with your students so that they will be familiar with the literacy on those tests. Also as a teacher you need to teach your students that their language is fine to use but they need to know how to distinguish between when to use their regular language and standard english. Also you need to let the students freely write in what ever way that makes them feel comfortable. Many students are afraid to write they way they want because they don't want to be judged by the teacher.

2. Great teachers will use culturally responsive teaching stratigies. This article presented a few stratigies to use for instruction. Teachers need to teach their students to know and praise their own cultures along with others cultures as well. If students get to know one anothers backgrounds and cultures it will build a sense of community in the classroom. By building a sense of community the classroom will have a more relaxed learning enviornment. Also teachers need to use different stratigies that are connected to different learning styles. All of your students are going to learn in different ways so you need to make sure you hit different learning styles so that not every lesson is taught to the same learning style.

3. In elementary school we had to do research on our family for a family tree. This was a good lesson for a cultural responsive teaching stratigy because we learned about each other and were we came from.

Resource:

Epstein, P. (2011, September 15). honoring dialect and increasing student performance in standard english. Retrieved from http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/3655

4.

I really liked this image because it's a reminder that we are all different and no one is alike. We also need to respect each other and understand everyone has different cultures that they come from.

Where I'm From Video

I tried to make it shorter but couldn't find away around it!!!

Where I am From Poem

I am from an old country road where I feel safe, from nights sitting on the front porch listening to the crickets and looking up at the stars.

I am from a home that was built by my father’s own hands.

I am from the hayfields, shale banks, and flowing fields of grain that I use to escape to.

I am from Jennifer and Billy Morgan who taught me values and how to really love. I am from the Shafer’s and the Morgan’s.

I am from a place where the bond between brother and I will never be broken.

I am from a place where Sundays are set aside for church and family dinners around a long, crowded table.

From a place where farming is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life and a way to survive.

I am from a loving Christian home where church was never missed and we gathered around the piano to sing hymns.

I am from a small community where most of my family resides, where I can smell my Mimi Joan’s bread pudding and taste my Mimi Bonnie’s sweet tea.

From the Cherokee tribe that I get my features from.

I am from a place where I learned hard work and respect will get you far in life.

I am from a place where love found me.

I am from a place where God, family, and friends are all that matter.

I am from the beautiful hills of West Virginia.