Where do social action, art, music, technology, media, pop culture, and most importantly, student needs intersect?
I am a teacher. I am passionate about what I do. I want to be able to empower my students to believe in themselves, believe in their education, believe they can achieve their goals. I try my best to do the right thing. I seek out professional development to better serve my urban students. I read articles and follow discussions to continue to learn how my English language learners learn best. I focus on technology as a means of providing a more equitable education for my 80% low SES kids. I advocate for reform to...
Sitting at a district meeting yesterday, I heard more of an all too widespread and alarming discussion. “Our students aren’t interested in learning like we were.” “The kids today are distracted by gadgets...
For many students, school is the only place where they can be on even ground with the rest of their peers. When implementing digital tools to learn, it becomes more than just a question of engagement and participation. How is digital learning an equity issue?
via cel.ly Inspired by Jeremy Hyler to use Celly in my classroom!
Grant Puts iPads in Hands of English Language Learners Date: January 26, 2012 Summary: North Dallas High School is undergoing a $6 million grant-funded restructuring. At the heart of the work is North Star of Texas Writing Project teacher Janelle Quintans Bence, whose English learners will be using iPads to support their literacy development...
It's common sense. We have to meet our students where they are. We have to know our students and the cultural wealth they bring to our schools. Using what they already know as a method of mediating new learning is just good teaching. So why not meet our students in a mileu that they already know? Using digital tools, thus, capitalizing upon a student's digital literacy, will facilitate literacy instruction. How do we do this? How can we make this a campus-wide practice? How do we sustain it?
via wired.com I cannot wait to get my hands on ours to support learning with my English Language Learners!
via themobilenative.blogspot.com I've been meaning to learn more about this. Looks lie a good starting point.
"That's how I was taught, and I turned out okay." Who hasn't heard that before in schools across the country? Well, that's not going to work. Or more truthfully, it might work for some, but teachers will lose multitudes of teachable moments with that type of mantra. Instead, we would better serve today's students by really considering their cultural wealth. What differences and simiarities do they bring with them to the classroom that can be supported by learning? What types of practices do they have in other...