• Sep172008
    Another tool in the bag: Cornell Notes

    POSTED AT 12:10 AM

    Things have accelerated considerably since the start of school and I have been up to my neck so unable to add to this blog.  However I have been thinking about it and have some things to add today.  I see some light in the next week and can add some more in a day or so.
     
    One of the things I am trying to teach students is the use of tools that can help them with their studies.  When I was a young student I recall being told to "study" and study hard.  This was fine but no one ever taught me how to study.  I basically had two tools for study in my bag, re-reading and flash cards.  Today I see students with the same two tools.  If one is going to construct a house and only had two tools to do it with one might choose a hammer and a handsaw.  These are fine tools but even with the best it would take a long time to build a house and the quality would be poor what with all the shortcuts needed to keep from becoming exhausted.  Have you ever used a handsaw? Talk about sweat equity!
     
    To do the job right you would need more than two tools.  It is the same with constructing knowledge; two tools just won't get the job done.  
     
    One very important tool is the summary.  Summary is a great tool to employ when we want to understand something.  Have you ever heard someone summarize well?  When your doctor can make you understand the results of your blood test in just a few words then you know that he knows what he is talking about.  Ever hear someone summarize poorly?  How about the average congressman explaining what the internet is (see Ted Stevens take his chances at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f99PcP0aFNE )?  When we can't summarize it is a good bet we don't understand.  Teaching students how to use the summary tool will enable them to know when they understand. 
     
    A manifestation of summary is Cornell notes.  More than just 'taking notes' it is a system for study that employs summary to enhance understanding.  When done right students are able to self monitor their understanding.  That is why students in my science classes are learning how Cornell notes work.  This is another tool for them to use as they study, one that will be of value to them in high school and college and in their professional careers as well.
     
    If you want more info about Cornell notes then Google.  I have two links on teacher web to get you going.
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    Aug262008
    The Battle of Kruger

    POSTED AT 10:20 PM

    Some time ago I saw a You-Tube piece that portrayed an attack by a pride of lions on a herd of buffalo in Kruger National Park, South Africa.  It was riveting to say the least and I new it would make a great center piece to teaching cooperation and community among students.  Today we began the lesson by showing the film clip.  We began by discussing the word allegory  and its' meaning.  Students heard that I had two reasons to show the film.  One reason related to the behavior of water buffalo in the presence of lions; strictly science, circle of life, predator and prey.  The real reason to view the film was to analyse the behavior of all animals under stress and to see how animals (humans included) can benefit from social behavior. This of course leads to comparisons to behaviors in the classroom.  If you have not seen the video go here to view and be sure to turn on the sound in order to hear the narration by the tourists that were actually there to witness the Battle of Kruger. 
     
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM 
     
    When you hear your student say "Be the buffalo!" you will understand.

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    Aug222008
    A good week…

    POSTED AT 07:52 PM

    I think we are off to a good start for the year.  There is a diverse set of students in these classes and it will make for interesting dynamics this year.
     
    Today we continued some topics from the previous day.  One of the themes for students this year will be science and technology and the relationship between the two.  By and large many of us buy and use technology but don’t really understand it. It is mysterious and incomprehensible.  I told students that as scientists it would be they to explain technology to the rest of us.  In that spirit we began the demystification process by dissecting a computer and disk drive.  I should have cautioned students to not try this at home without permission but forgot; if you see them near your PC with a screw driver, be alert.
     
    Cooperation during the technology moment and later during the demo of the day was excellent.  The demo of the day involved pepper and water.  Students were asked to repeat the demo at home and to look for effects they may have missed in class.  Be sure to ask them about it and have a look yourself.  It is fun and leads to questioning or inquiry which happens to be the means by which your student will be engaging in science this year (and hopefully every year after).  Inquiry is the basis of doing science and we learn best by doing. 
     
    Lastly, we touched on aspects of cooperation and respect.  Many students at this age struggle with these concepts.  Many students fear punishment and that keeps them in line most of the time but they do not yet understand that managing their behavior is good for the entire classroom and should be practiced for that sake. We began to practice the means by which we would address each other in class and how, if done properly, one can gain what every member of society wants; respect from others. This is a lead in to another major theme for the school year; academic communication.  Academic communication is the way we address authority and challenge it. It is especially true for scientists in that we use academic communication as the convention for challenging the scientific findings of others.  If you want to challenge Einstein, you won’t be able to do it using schoolyard conventions, it just won’t do.  Academic communication is a critical skill that will be of use to students throughout the rest of their lives whether they end up in the lab or the boardroom.  I hope you will hear some of it spoken around your house.
     

    Looking forward to next week.

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    Aug202008
    Ready to roll out of the starting gate

    POSTED AT 10:11 PM

    After several days of cleaning and reorganizing, the room is ready for students.  It took about 12 hours to get the room ready this year.  There was a lot of materials left by previous instructors that had to be moved out and a lot of new text books and equipment to be moved in due to the new CPO textbook adoption.  Many thanks to my son Peter for assisting myself and other instructors with this task. Hard work today but I feel good about the start.
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    Aug142008
    Here is my blog

    POSTED AT 04:24 PM

    As a first year teacher I have to do something called Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment aka BTSA ("bit-sa" if you are in the know).  According to the CCTC :
    "Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment", is a state-funded induction program, co-sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) designed to support the professional development of newly-credentialed, beginning teachers and fulfill the requirements for the California Clear Multiple and Single Subjects Credentials.  In other words, this program exists to make sure rookies like me make it past the critical early years in the teaching profession.  If you want to know more:
     
    http://www.btsa.ca.gov/ 
     
    In any case, one of the many activities is to write about what is going on in the classroom.  Much like a diary, it provides new teachers the opportunity to reflect on the state of the classroom and consider means to keep improving it.  All good stuff but I thought including these reflections in a blog for the parents of my students to read would be of interest.  Like any blog I will also include this and that pertaining to education in general.  This is my first try at anything like this so we can see how it goes and evaluate it's value later.  Hope you enjoy the reading.
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