During a trial in the East Auburn Community School in Auburn, Maine, a group of students were “taught to read and write using an iPad” and “another group of students were taught the ‘old fashioned’ way, using a pen and paper, it was found that in every single literacy test, students using the iPad outperformed those who did not use the iPad by a significant margin” (TabTimes, February 2012).Noting this story is important to the expanded view of student-centered education, especially in the … [Read more...]
Quotes that Inspire Us
During our NISCE Launch and Workshop there were many quotes that stood out.Here are two that reflect on the simple and joyful moments that sustain an educators passion for teaching:Helping a struggling young student (16 years old)to read a clock for the first time, and watching his face light up when he did.I was talking to a student in counseling about him moving from the middle school and how he would be “fine without me.” He looked at me and said, “Are you kidding me?! You are the voice … [Read more...]
Part 2 – Do You Know What Inspires and Motivates Your Students?
In Part 2 of the brainstorming session at the NISCE Launch and Workshop event the focus was on the student perspective.Results paralleled each other in some interesting ways when the educators were asked to take on the role of students and respond to the question of what makes a student feel successful. The following were noted:Positive social interactions during the day Meaningful communication with peers, parents, and educators Having an 'aha' moment when tackling a problem or … [Read more...]
Part 1 – Do You Know What Inspires and Motivates Your Teachers?
In Part 1 of the brainstorming session at the NISCE Launch event the focus was on the educators.When asked to give brief examples of what makes them feel successful after a day's involvement with students:Watching a student truly engage with a lesson Watching students achieve goals they set Watching a student demonstrate self awareness in a tough class projectWhen asked to give brief examples of what helps them feel energized and inspired, they noted the following:Being a mentor to … [Read more...]
Two Stories That Bring Smiles
There are schools around the country which are committed to finding creative ways to help their students embrace the diversity found within their classrooms. Teachers and students from the Morse Pond School (Falmouth, MA) have begun an annual celebration. The Morse Pond School Lip Dub was done by 5th and 6th grade students at the elementary school. A lip dub, which is a type of video that combines lip synching with an audio dubbing to make a music video, was done to celebrate a schoolwide … [Read more...]
Context In Education Is Everything–Being The ‘Coach’ Everyone Loves
The field of education has typically used the term student-centered education to designate specific types of programming and pedagogical technique. Most often, it is applied to classroom activities in which the individual learner takes a great deal of responsibility for his or her own learning. In these settings, the teacher may organize activities and provide resources, but then takes on a coaching or facilitating role as students work cooperatively to solve problems, construct their own … [Read more...]
The Need to Move Beyond Curriculum Standards and Traditional Educational Models
A room full of students is not the same as a room full of children. Typically when we consider a child as a student we have already narrowed our point of view. “Student” is a partial identity, occurring only in the context of classroom and education and leaving out many critical aspects of who the learner actually is.In our more expansive view, however, a teacher gazes out on the rows of faces in a classroom and is immediately confronted with the fact that the children in front of her are … [Read more...]
Launching a Broader Dialogue
With an expertise in developing new educational services and innovative practices, experience in consulting with other schools, school districts and human service providers, and with a history of constantly focusing on ways to enhance the quality and performance of their own four programs, Schools for Children found itself seeking a way to describe approaches and educational practices that would linked all of their schools and programs: Lesley Ellis School, Dearborn Academy, Seaport Academy and … [Read more...]
