This article originally appeared in OnlineSchools.org. __________________________________________________________ By the time students reach the end of high school, they will be well acquainted with cognitive skill assessments. Math, critical reading, and fact recall are prioritized in our traditional school systems, subjects that rely heavily on cumulative knowledge and memorization. Standardized scoring systems like the SAT, ACT, and GPA ratings might not provide a full picture of students’ … [Read more...]
Sanity and Humanity
As teachers in a school serving students with special needs, we have a little bit of advice we give one another from time to time. It comes in the form of an acronym – QTIP. When our students let loose on us in their anguish, anger, or misery, and we’re in danger of feeling overwhelmed, our colleagues will remind us to Quit Taking It Personally. If we were to take all our students’ pain and anger to heart we would quickly burn out or become basket cases unable to help ourselves or our … [Read more...]
Measuring Success
I am a wood shop teacher at Dearborn Academy, a special needs school serving Eastern Massachusetts located in Arlington, MA. Like many teachers these days I have been thinking about how to measure success. It is a question that comes up with my colleagues and it certainly appears in the media frequently. As is so often the case in these sorts of discussions, it is important to reach a common understanding of definitions. Success can mean many things. It can be an on going process or and end. … [Read more...]
Encouraging Collaboration
Educating Individuals, Not Classrooms
Engaging 21st Century Minds
For three full days, educators from our three schools did a deep dive into the latest research connecting brain science, technology, nature and learning. Attending the Learning & the Brain Conference in Boston, Shawn Brown (Seaport Academy Science Teacher), Dawn Crowe (Dearborn Academy High School Teacher), Mark Dix (Dearborn Academy High School Director), Stefanie Riegler (Dearborn Academy High School Teacher), Jenn Young (Lesley Ellis School Curriculum Director) and Sara Giffin (Lesley … [Read more...]
Timeless Teaching Practices
In a recent book by Mike Schmoker, titled Focus: Elevating the Essentials To Radically Improve Student Learning (ASCD 2011), he talks about some basic, timeless teaching practices that tend to get overlooked in favor of more enticing strategies that have been the focus of late, like multimodal teaching, "hands-on" instruction, project-based learning, whole-body immersion, and field trip events. These are all important methods but there are some other more hidden practices that are just as … [Read more...]
Woodshop vs. Computers
The other day I was asked by my supervisor whether I thought my students were enjoying shop class as much as they used to. I had to admit that fewer students had been signing up for shop at recess than in previous years. She was surprised. She knew during tours of our school the shop is always a big draw. It’s true. I see the potential students on the tour. They get to the shop and their eyes widen and a look of great excitement comes over most of them. Their parents/guardians too get … [Read more...]
Neuroscience and Learning
At the Learning & the Brain Conference, November 15-17 in Boston, teaching professionals from around the world gathered to hear renowned educators and neuroscientists explore new developments linking the two fields. One such workshop, Common Core and Neuroscience, presented ways that educators are able to meet the pedagogical shifts demanded by the Common Core by understanding the newest research from neuroscience. Jay McTighe and Judy Willis, MD, M.Ed., combined forces, noting that … [Read more...]
Mindfulness in the Classroom: A Growing Trend
MINDFULNESS A recent article in the March 15, 2013 Huffington Post says "some schools have started incorporating mindfulness programs into their curriculums, teaching kids as young as five years old how to use body scans, mindful breathing and attention to their thoughts and emotions to become more focused." NEARI is one of those schools.More and more teachers are introducing contemplative or mindfulness-based practices into their classrooms. By using these approaches every day, they are … [Read more...]
