Comments on: Wear Sunscreen – and other Good Advice http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/ Thoughts and Resources for Teachers Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:56:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Danny http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Danny Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:28:44 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/15/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/#comment-458 Another great video, "Web 2.0: The Machine is Us/ing Us" which you may have seen over the past little while: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&eurl= While it may not be a life lesson video, it does show us the power of the web and how it can affect our teaching and our students' learning. Another great video, “Web 2.0: The Machine is Us/ing Us” which you may have seen over the past little while:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&eurl=

While it may not be a life lesson video, it does show us the power of the web and how it can affect our teaching and our students’ learning.

]]> By: Danny http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-440 Danny Mon, 16 Apr 2007 19:31:55 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/15/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/#comment-440 I guess one piece of advice for teachers might be summarized by two words: "Pay attention" to your students - their learning styles, their interests, their needs, and the types of technologies they use in their everyday lives which we as teachers might leverage for the sake of keeping them engaged, keeping them in school, and keeping their learning meaningful. Here's a great video which many of you may already have seen, entitled "Pay Attention". http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=40c570a322f1b0b65909 Give yourself 7 minutes or so to take it in (speakers turned on). I guess one piece of advice for teachers might be summarized by two words: “Pay attention” to your students – their learning styles, their interests, their needs, and the types of technologies they use in their everyday lives which we as teachers might leverage for the sake of keeping them engaged, keeping them in school, and keeping their learning meaningful.

Here’s a great video which many of you may already have seen, entitled “Pay Attention”.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=40c570a322f1b0b65909
Give yourself 7 minutes or so to take it in (speakers turned on).

]]> By: Lisa http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Lisa Sun, 15 Apr 2007 22:16:13 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/15/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/#comment-438 My piece of advice: Teach kids for life! Yes, in the small picture, we're teaching kids to pass a test and get into the next grade. But is that what is really important? I think we need to look at the broader landscape to see what we are setting our children up for. I want to teach my students to LOVE to read. If that means we don't stick to the traditional recommended books and read things they are interested in, then so be it, that's what they're going to do as adults! Of course I try and encourage them to try different things from time to time to broaden their tastebuds, so to speak. When it comes to writing, my students' parents hate me. If they can't print by the time they get to grade 6, I look at different avenues and give up learning to print altogether. We're in a technological world! I teach them to keyboard, and their writing comes alive. I have yet to meet a kid this has not worked for. Math skills are particularly difficult to make meaningful, but I try to tie stories into them as often as possible to show my students why it's so important to know why 23.59 is rounded to 24. I mean, how often do we need to estimate while out shopping to make sure we don't overspend our budget? In science, it's all about the problem solving skills. Without these, none of us will become independent and successful. And then in social studies, it is so important to know where we've come from and where we're going as citizens. My kids have a great appreciation for this, and are eager to help charities around the world to make it a better place for everybody. Yes, the curriculum lays out what we need to teach, but it is really a framework upon which we build everything else. My kids are not going to remember what day the last spike of the railroad was pounded in, but I think they will be a step closer to being able to face adulthood with the skills they need to succeed and make smart decisions. My piece of advice: Teach kids for life!
Yes, in the small picture, we’re teaching kids to pass a test and get into the next grade. But is that what is really important? I think we need to look at the broader landscape to see what we are setting our children up for. I want to teach my students to LOVE to read. If that means we don’t stick to the traditional recommended books and read things they are interested in, then so be it, that’s what they’re going to do as adults! Of course I try and encourage them to try different things from time to time to broaden their tastebuds, so to speak. When it comes to writing, my students’ parents hate me. If they can’t print by the time they get to grade 6, I look at different avenues and give up learning to print altogether. We’re in a technological world! I teach them to keyboard, and their writing comes alive. I have yet to meet a kid this has not worked for. Math skills are particularly difficult to make meaningful, but I try to tie stories into them as often as possible to show my students why it’s so important to know why 23.59 is rounded to 24. I mean, how often do we need to estimate while out shopping to make sure we don’t overspend our budget? In science, it’s all about the problem solving skills. Without these, none of us will become independent and successful. And then in social studies, it is so important to know where we’ve come from and where we’re going as citizens. My kids have a great appreciation for this, and are eager to help charities around the world to make it a better place for everybody. Yes, the curriculum lays out what we need to teach, but it is really a framework upon which we build everything else. My kids are not going to remember what day the last spike of the railroad was pounded in, but I think they will be a step closer to being able to face adulthood with the skills they need to succeed and make smart decisions.

]]> By: Mr. G http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Mr. G Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:07:13 +0000 http://theclassroom.ca/2007/04/15/wear-sunscreen-and-other-good-advice/#comment-437 I figured, just for fun I'd put my version of "Everybody's Free". I like it - but do with it what you want. -- Ladies and Gentleman Use coloured chalk. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, coloured chalk would be it. The attention capturing benefits of coloured chalk have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of youth. Oh, never mind. You will be over run by the power and beauty of youth for the rest of your lives as educators. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked, and how many grey hairs those little blighters have given you. You are not as mean as your students imagine. Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to get one of your grade twos to solve an algebra equation. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blind side you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday (while you're trying to get your students out the door). Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don't allow your students to hurt the feelings of others. Don't put up with people who try to hurt theirs. Floss. Don't waste your time on over planning. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old pictures from students. Throw away your old notes from angry parents. Stretch. Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The B.Ed. is one of the most versatile degrees. Don't be afraid to explore all the possibilities. Get plenty of overhead pens. Be kind to your chalk holders. You'll miss them when they're gone. Maybe you'll intern, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll become a sub, maybe you won’t. Maybe you'll sit behind the principal's desk, maybe you'll dance the Hokey Pokey with your 50th grade one class. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's. Enjoy your pointer. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Teach social dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own classroom. Make daily plans, even if you don't follow them. Do not read government reports on education. They will only make you feel unsuccessful. Get to know your student's parents. You never know when they'll help out on a field trip. Be nice to your peers. They're your best link to your sanity and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that students come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older they get, the more they'll need the people who knew them when they were young. Teach in a B.D. class once, but leave before it makes you hard. Teach in a A.C. class once, but leave before it makes you soft. Read. Accept certain inalienable truths: classes will get out of hand. Principals will want more done. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, classes were well behaved, principals were less demanding, and children respected their teachers. Respect your teachers. Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a large stack of resources. Maybe you'll have a credit on you copy account. But you never know when either one might run out. Don't mess too much with your displays or by the time you're 40 they'll look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth. But trust me on the coloured chalk. * Adapted from Baz Luhrman's Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreen) by Shane Grundy for the Lymburn Student Teacher Cohort of 1999, and teachers everywhere. I figured, just for fun I’d put my version of “Everybody’s Free”. I like it – but do with it what you want.
–
Ladies and Gentleman

Use coloured chalk.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, coloured chalk would be it. The attention capturing benefits of coloured chalk have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of youth. Oh, never mind. You will be over run by the power and beauty of youth for the rest of your lives as educators. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked, and how many grey hairs those little blighters have given you.

You are not as mean as your students imagine.

Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to get one of your grade twos to solve an algebra equation. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blind side you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday (while you’re trying to get your students out the door).

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t allow your students to hurt the feelings of others. Don’t put up with people who try to hurt theirs.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on over planning. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old pictures from students. Throw away your old notes from angry parents.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The B.Ed. is one of the most versatile degrees. Don’t be afraid to explore all the possibilities.

Get plenty of overhead pens.

Be kind to your chalk holders. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll intern, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll become a sub, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll sit behind the principal’s desk, maybe you’ll dance the Hokey Pokey with your 50th grade one class. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your pointer. Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Teach social dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own classroom.

Make daily plans, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read government reports on education. They will only make you feel unsuccessful.

Get to know your student’s parents. You never know when they’ll help out on a field trip.

Be nice to your peers. They’re your best link to your sanity and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that students come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older they get, the more they’ll need the people who knew them when they were young.

Teach in a B.D. class once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Teach in a A.C. class once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Read.

Accept certain inalienable truths: classes will get out of hand. Principals will want more done. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, classes were well behaved, principals were less demanding, and children respected their teachers.

Respect your teachers.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a large stack of resources. Maybe you’ll have a credit on you copy account. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your displays or by the time you’re 40 they’ll look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a
form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the coloured chalk.

*

Adapted from Baz Luhrman’s Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen) by Shane Grundy for the Lymburn Student Teacher Cohort of 1999, and teachers everywhere.

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