Friday, March 15, 2013

Being Progressive

While Orchard is a progressive school, the question the school and its teachers grapple with every day is "How progressive are we--and should we be?"

The reality is every school and every teacher move around on the progressive-tradtional continuum (see below): no school or teacher is "purely progressive".


Traditional-Progressive Continuum

Traditional……………………………………………………Progressive
Behavioralism……………………………………………….....Constructivism
Emphasis on Academics Only………………………………....Emphasis on Whole Child
School Imparting Society’s Values…………………………......School Changing Society
Teacher Centered……………………………………………….Child Centered
Teacher Directed………………………………………………..Student Directed
Teacher-Generated Homework………………………………....Student-Generated Homework
Assessment through Tests/Quizzes………………………..........Authentic Assessment
Breadth……………………………………………………….....Depth
Separate Disciplines…………………………………………......Integration or Interdisciplinary
Set Curriculum for All…………………………………………...Differentiated Curriculum
Tracking……………………………………………………........Flexible Grouping
Individual……………………………………………………......Collaborative
Product…………………………………………………………..Process
Memorization…………………………………………………....Access Information
Isolated Facts………………………………………………….....Conceptual Understanding
Extrinsic Motivation……………………………………………..Intrinsic Motivation
Competition……………………………………………………...Cooperation


Regardless of whether a school views itself as being more on the progressive or traditional side of the continuum,  it does want to equip its students with "21st Century Skills", which include collaboration, character, communication, creative and critical thinking. These are the skills needed to be successful in the today's workplace.

I feel these skills are better developed within a progressive educational environment than a more traditional one.

In the past few weeks, I have seen a number of short videos on ways schools can be more innovative and better develop 21st Century skills in students.

One explains what is meant by project-based learning: Click

The other two are Ted Talks: one focuses on a new way to teach: Click. The other focuses on what education will probably look like in the not too distant future: Click

Each one in its own way is inspirational.

Watch and enjoy!

Joe


Friday, March 8, 2013

Qualities of a Great Teacher

A Google search on "qualities of a good teacher" results in almost 4 million hits--meaning everyone has an opinion and/or list of the characteristics of an effective teacher. 

However,  I recently read a blog from education writer Annette Breaux on what she deems the essentials of a great teacher.

While the qualities below might seem obvious, the reality is that many of us--especially right now in the weeks before Spring Break and before the weather begins to change--can lose sight of what students needs from us. 

As such,  I recommend all teachers keep a list like this one and periodically ask themselves if they are living to them.

"Great teachers truly love children! If you don’t love children, you shouldn’t be in education.

Great teachers are masters at classroom management. They understand the importance of structure. Their management plans consist of clearly stated rules that are enforced fairly, calmly and consistently and of procedures that are practiced until they become routines.

Great teachers are intelligent people who possess a thorough understanding of their subject matter. They use their knowledge to simplify what’s complex and to accommodate their students’ individual abilities and levels of understanding.

Great teachers understand that they are actors on a stage. They are performers capable of entertaining, capturing and enrapturing their audiences every day. 

Great teachers are positive, kind, compassionate, patient people. They handle even the most challenging situations with composure, thoughtfulness and professionalism.

Great teachers do not allow their personal problems to bleed into their teaching.

Great teachers are problem solvers. They don’t play the blame game. They identify problems and immediately get busy finding solutions.

Great teachers don’t endure change; rather, they ensure it — not simply for the sake of change, but for the betterment of teaching and learning.

Great teachers have a sense of humor, and they share it daily with their students.

Great teachers continually strive to make learning fun, relevant, interesting, challenging and engaging. Students are encouraged to question, discuss, debate, experiment, invent and make lots of mistakes.

Great teachers recognize the importance of establishing positive relationships with their students. 

Great teachers have high expectations of all students and truly believe that every student can succeed.

When great teacher make mistakes, they act as good role models do, admitting their mistakes, learning from these mistakes and offering apologies if necessary."