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[|Let Kids Rule the School] March 14, 2011 The New York Times printed an article about education and kids taking ownership in their learning. This article brought up the nature of high school and questions if it is the best practice for educating 14-18 year olds. It sites a group of students from Massachusetts who designed their own curriculum. Teachers were responsible for monitoring their learning but the students were in charge of topics, choosing books and assignments. What interested me is that this group of students consisted of a diverse group of individuals. The students ended up selecting more books to read in one semester than the school's AP class reads all year. While all of this is very impressive I wonder how practical it is. The article implies that our high schools fail not only at preparing students for graduations and college academics but also adult life. Yet this doesn't mean we should step back completely, but that we should help scaffold students into being life long learners.

WARNING: Math Instruction In US Can Harm Children The other day I ran across an editorial about the way we teach math today. The author was quite opinionated and saw few positives in the how we are currently teaching children. With his assumptions and biases a side, Bruce D. Price does bring up some good points. He comments that "Research has proven that elementary teachers are uncomfortable with math - not only by teaching math but with using mathematical principles in their own lives." This is a scary thing to think about. Those individuals who are teaching the next generation math are uncomfortable using math in their everyday lives. Students easily pick up on a teacher’s love for a subject. Think back to middle school, who was your favorite teacher? More than likely it was the teacher who was energetic about the subject being taught. Price continues talking about how math is to informal and disconnected from life. He brings up the idea that students would learn basic math by games, songs, tricks and even using technology. The truth is, we are trying to advance kids in math before they master the concepts of basic arithmetic. What used to be taught in middle school now is taught in 4th and 5th grade and High school level math has found its way into middle school classrooms. I have to agree with Price when he expresses his concern about how math is taught. Students today are used to having things easily accessible, why know 5 x 4 is 20 when you can use a calculator? I think the next challenge is for math teachers to teach using technology and help students see the life application of what they are learning. In a way, this could also benefit teachers feel more confident in their skills as well.

Cyberbullying: What Teachers and Schools Can Do Growing up with technology and the big technology boom I never really thought about how it affected me, my friends or school. You hear about cyber bullying but how often have you stopped to think what that really encompassed? After reading an article from Instructor titled "Cyberbullying: What Teachers and Schools Can Do" I gained a better understanding of how prevalent cyberbullying is in the lives of children today. As I prepare to be a teacher I want to be ready for all the possible problems these students may bring in to the classroom. I was shocked to find out that 42% of kids have been bullied online and these issues spill in to their classrooms. Caralee Adams says, "The answer isn't forbidding technology, so much as teaching kids right from wrong." The internet, texting and networking sites provide opportunity for students who typically don't bully to partake in these actions. Personally, I believe that education is the key. As teachers (and parents) we need to teach each generation the appropriate way to use technology for both social and safety reasons. This means that we must understand it and familiarize ourselves with the websites and electronics the students are using. We must teach students to stand up for one another and how that looks, not only in the halls, but in cyberspace as well. Our world is changing and expanding with each new invention, sadly, this means that rumors spread quicker, students have access to more personal information and Monday mornings bring on the anxiety and built up anger from cyber-chat over the weekend.

[|Back to Schol/ Do the Math: Latest 'new math' concept -- Starts early and makes it fun]

This article brings up the sad reality that many Americans are unsure of how to calculate mile/gallon or interests on a loan. Our phones can even calculate our tips. Each school year more young students are exposed to a very systematic way of learning math or drills and memorization activities. The author expresses that even starting as young as 3 or 4 students are doing math and beginning to think logically. The importance of talking is stressed as a key component to understanding basic numbers. Students who are unable to talk and use numbers, numbers sense and calculations in everyday life have trouble in school even thought they may know their basic numbers. In the classroom we, teachers, need to keep math interesting and fun. Enjoying and having fun with math is essential to a student’s success. I strongly agree with the author when she says that learning math we have to engage in the real version of it. When working with math it is important to have a rational and real life application. Continuous questioning is also important. Starting with what do you know/ what don’t you know? Then moving on to; how can we find out more? Even though these questions aren’t math equations it requires the students to think logically. I think it is vital for students to learn to ask questions as well as see the world as their school and know that everywhere they look they can learn or use what they learned in the classroom to better understand their environment.

Real world Math: Stop cries of 'When will we ever use this' This article titled discusses ways for students to apply what they are learning to the world around them. It also provides links that may be helpful for each recommendation. The author encourages teachers to use real world tools to enhance learning. For example for statistics, decimals and fractions it is suggested that information from Sports Illustrated or it's website be used. I strongly believe that this would get boys more interested in math worksheets and assignments. Another idea comes with the concept of calories and asks the student to explain how to calculate a active metabolic rate and the amount of calories used per day. It then supplies a website to help the students learn to calculate both of these. I think one of the biggest turn off for students regarding math would have to be lack of rational, they don't feel a connection to their lives. These suggestions can be used in many grades and will defiantly help prompt more uses for websites and real life connections.