Well, mid semester hit and I got so busy that I pushed aside writing in my blog, I have missed it though so I'll start being around again.

I am doing a term paper on climate change and I seem to be feeling excited about it already, so that might become a topic I deal with on here.

An interesting question arises tho....which is as teachers how do we approach controversial issues in the classroom? What approaches or techniques do we use?

Montessori Schools

Montessori schools can be a very good alternative schooling option.

Alternative schools provide parents and students another alternative then public or expensive private schools. Alternative education should be taken seriously as viable and acceptable option for schooling. Montessori may be more useful for self motivated children.

Montessori theory, philosophy, and schools

Maria Montessori ~~(1870-1952) was an Italian physician, educator, philosopher.

~This education philosophy centers around the child and its role within their own education.

-She started "Casa dei Bambini" or Children's House in Rome, early in 1907. She was focused on the self in education process, "spontaneous self-development", students were allowed to develop their own skills at their own pace.

-There is no pressure for students to move (work at their own pace), and therefore, children see their own mistakes and self correct. Emphasis is placed on the child as a student and developing self reliance. Discovery mode is used.

-The teacher is unnoticed and non intruding. They are not the focal point except for the rare whole lesson.

-The school environment is set for the child (child sized furniture and storage solutions). The environment is rich, cultural, creative and stimulating; without being too much stimulation. The environment is full of beauty and art. There are animals and plants to be taken care of (sense of responsibility). Colors are pleasant but subtle.

-The child is viewed as a natural learner.

-Children are seen as having an "Absorbent mind"

-Montessori created numerous self-correcting or self-teaching materials that are still often used in classrooms, also referred to as didactics or manipulative's.

-There is a change in self (a sense of individual accomplishment).

-These kids have lowered impulsiveness and attention issues.

-They learn practical life lessons, such as taking care of themselves.

-There is no group average (assessment is ongoing but no intrusive), there is no external competition (instead internal/self competition) and reaching your own individual standards or goals.

-There is no strict schedule, no start and stop times for given lessons.

Can be useful with children who are unable to deal with a traditional classroom, for example those with physical or mental handicap or those with behavioural issues.

Reading in schools

I am having a hard deciding where I stand about the question ... who should decide what is being read in schools? Should it be teachers, parents, administrators, other school officials and groups like the PTA, school boards and districts, or students?

Should you change Black History month with a more integrated American or Canadian History?

Often in history courses, there is an issue arising which is that we feel we must make up for the mistakes in the past. So we fill courses with First Nations or African studies in order to apologize for leaving these groups out of the history we use to teach.

BUT....in a society filled with immigration and migration there are diverse countries, regions, people, and cultures represented in both Canada and the US. We are multi-cultural nations now, so should we celebrate one group or all groups???? I would like to see a multi-cultural month that could be translated into the classroom into spending a day or a project that could be presented to the class about a different culture or country, in order to examine the diversity that is emerging in Canada and the US.

With knowledge comes understanding and a decrease of racism and stereotyping. We are scared and unsure of what we don't know or understand. Promote multi-culturalism in the classroom.

What is the real goal of education?

Someone I was talking to the other day brought up this idea....what is the real goal of education?

The system has really started to fail students (who should be the focus of education). Education is really about teaching students, teaching kids, who are people. Its about the communication of new information to an audience. The teacher/student dynamic and relationship is the key to this spread and retriving of information.

In this I haven't mentioned standardization or test scores. The system focuses on scores and grades instead of the people involved. Students become reduced to their grade, rank, and score. Where is the humanity in that?
Standardization means the same information is passed from the teacher to each student. What about what the student needs or wants to know?

Hi again,

Hi everyone, sorry the holidays came and took up too much of my time. I will be back to regular posting again.

I have opened this blog up to a little bit more then just education and philosophies but also apartment living, organizing and decluttering.

I think clutter and being more organized is also important for students, parents of kids, and schooling. Everyone needs to learn to be a little bit more organized.