Interesting read on education

[Kcthepouchh8r]

m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6978072?ir=Parents&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000037

[auroraloo]

It's quite hyperbolic, isn't it? Of course that's how points are often made.

[andrewsgal]

Wow that article was all over. It's was like he was trying to make 10 different points and really didn't make but 1.

[NandaB]

Erm. I'm glad its not just my lack of coffee. Uh, I don't think we should eat poor Irish babies either?

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Huh I guess my lack of sleep since Sunday night has helped. I didn't see a bunch of different points but rather the goal of education should be to instill a love of learning and helping kids find passion vs just teaching life skills to poor kids/pushing more privileged kids to jobs where they will be wealthy.

[andrewsgal]

I just read it again to be sure, he is absolute proof that teaching writing in our public schools is failing.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 1, 2015 8:49:29 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Huh I guess my lack of sleep since Sunday night has helped. I didn't see a bunch of different points but rather the goal of education should be to instill a love of learning and helping kids find passion vs just teaching life skills to poor kids/pushing more privileged kids to jobs where they will be wealthy.

See I believe teaching skills to underprivileged kids is where we are failing big time.

[NandaB]

I can't read it again, but can I pick C, all of the above? I think we need to make sure ALL kids, especially those stuck in a cycle of poverty, get the basic skills they need to be successful in life. But, if we don't try to instill a love of learning and desire to work hard to gain knowledge then it won't matter what we teach because they either wont be there, or wontbe engaged when they are.

[lexus]

I think it is critical that students are engaged but it has nothing to do with their happiness. It has to do with making things interesting and relevant to them. Unfortunately, lessons on grammar aren't always as engaging and fun acting out the fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet. Both are necessary. I always try to make my lessons as meaningful as possible and I hate busy work (I don't need more grading any more than they need more pointless crap) but sometimes we just have to do something because it's important, not because it's fun. I think it's just as important that kids learn that sometimes we have to do things we dislike. I don't set out to teach them this lesson by creating boring activities but most of my students usually see that I do what I can to make things interesting for all of us and sometimes we have to write a five paragraph essay even though it isn't fun.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 1, 2015 9:22:56 GMT -5 lexus said:

I think it is critical that students are engaged but it has nothing to do with their happiness. It has to do with making things interesting and relevant to them. Unfortunately, lessons on grammar aren't always as engaging and fun acting out the fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet. Both are necessary. I always try to make my lessons as meaningful as possible and I hate busy work (I don't need more grading any more than they need more pointless crap) but sometimes we just have to do something because it's important, not because it's fun. I think it's just as important that kids learn that sometimes we have to do things we dislike. I don't set out to teach them this lesson by creating boring activities but most of my students usually see that I do what I can to make things interesting for all of us and sometimes we have to write a five paragraph essay even though it isn't fun.

This is a great point, and let's be real life isn't always fun. 

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 1, 2015 9:22:56 GMT -5 lexus said:

I think it is critical that students are engaged but it has nothing to do with their happiness. It has to do with making things interesting and relevant to them. Unfortunately, lessons on grammar aren't always as engaging and fun acting out the fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet. Both are necessary. I always try to make my lessons as meaningful as possible and I hate busy work (I don't need more grading any more than they need more pointless crap) but sometimes we just have to do something because it's important, not because it's fun. I think it's just as important that kids learn that sometimes we have to do things we dislike. I don't set out to teach them this lesson by creating boring activities but most of my students usually see that I do what I can to make things interesting for all of us and sometimes we have to write a five paragraph essay even though it isn't fun.

Very true but speaking of education as a whole in the us the focus is test scores, busy work, and far too much information that will not benefit kids in adult life. The system isn't set up for hands on work, teaching them to love learning and helping them identify a passion that can be used towards a future career. Of course there are amazing teachers that can do it all but the education system doesn't support that model.

[lexus]

Apr 1, 2015 10:40:07 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Apr 1, 2015 9:22:56 GMT -5 lexus said:

I think it is critical that students are engaged but it has nothing to do with their happiness. It has to do with making things interesting and relevant to them. Unfortunately, lessons on grammar aren't always as engaging and fun acting out the fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet. Both are necessary. I always try to make my lessons as meaningful as possible and I hate busy work (I don't need more grading any more than they need more pointless crap) but sometimes we just have to do something because it's important, not because it's fun. I think it's just as important that kids learn that sometimes we have to do things we dislike. I don't set out to teach them this lesson by creating boring activities but most of my students usually see that I do what I can to make things interesting for all of us and sometimes we have to write a five paragraph essay even though it isn't fun.

Very true but speaking of education as a whole in the us the focus is test scores, busy work, and far too much information that will not benefit kids in adult life. The system isn't set up for hands on work, teaching them to love learning and helping them identify a passion that can be used towards a future career. Of course there are amazing teachers that can do it all but the education system doesn't support that model.

I will give you that the US is focused on test scores but I disagree with the busy work comment. If anything, CC is supposed to invigorate learning and push students towards critical thinking. I'm not saying they are perfect but the CCS are not focused on busy work. We aren't pushing students to simply guess the right answer anymore, they need to explain why the answer is correct and how they got to that conclusion.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 1, 2015 9:51:41 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Apr 1, 2015 9:22:56 GMT -5 lexus said:

I think it is critical that students are engaged but it has nothing to do with their happiness. It has to do with making things interesting and relevant to them. Unfortunately, lessons on grammar aren't always as engaging and fun acting out the fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet. Both are necessary. I always try to make my lessons as meaningful as possible and I hate busy work (I don't need more grading any more than they need more pointless crap) but sometimes we just have to do something because it's important, not because it's fun. I think it's just as important that kids learn that sometimes we have to do things we dislike. I don't set out to teach them this lesson by creating boring activities but most of my students usually see that I do what I can to make things interesting for all of us and sometimes we have to write a five paragraph essay even though it isn't fun.

This is a great point, and let's be real life isn't always fun. 

True but how does that old quote go-find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life. We are too busy (as a whole) focused on test scores and not focused enough on teaching kids to love learning and to explore their interests.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 1, 2015 10:47:49 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Apr 1, 2015 9:51:41 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

This is a great point, and let's be real life isn't always fun. 

True but how does that old quote go-find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life. We are too busy (as a whole) focused on test scores and not focused enough on teaching kids to love learning and to explore their interests.

I agree but be honest even in a job you love some days suck. I agree about the test scores. 

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 1, 2015 10:47:38 GMT -5 lexus said:

Apr 1, 2015 10:40:07 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Very true but speaking of education as a whole in the us the focus is test scores, busy work, and far too much information that will not benefit kids in adult life. The system isn't set up for hands on work, teaching them to love learning and helping them identify a passion that can be used towards a future career. Of course there are amazing teachers that can do it all but the education system doesn't support that model.

I will give you that the US is focused on test scores but I disagree with the busy work comment. If anything, CC is supposed to invigorate learning and push students towards critical thinking. I'm not saying they are perfect but the CCS are not focused on busy work. We aren't pushing students to simply guess the right answer anymore, they need to explain why the answer is correct and how they got to that conclusion.

While you are probably right and know a ton more about cc than I do, seeing the common core steps for basic addition makes me think differently.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 1, 2015 10:49:25 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Apr 1, 2015 10:47:49 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

True but how does that old quote go-find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life. We are too busy (as a whole) focused on test scores and not focused enough on teaching kids to love learning and to explore their interests.

I agree but be honest even in a job you love some days suck. I agree about the test scores. 

Oh of course-but when most people are POd at work it's generally related to office politics vs the actual work they do. There are enough organic ways kids get preparation for that in school-having a group project with that kid they don't like, having to learn science from the teacher they don't like. Of course working hard sucks sometime. I truly think as a whole the system does set up kids to dislike school instead of feeling like what they're doing is important. Of course great parents and teachers make a difference. A lot of bright kids will love school solely because it's easy for them. For the ones who have to work at it-it's rough for them.

[lexus]

Apr 1, 2015 10:49:41 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Apr 1, 2015 10:47:38 GMT -5 lexus said:

I will give you that the US is focused on test scores but I disagree with the busy work comment. If anything, CC is supposed to invigorate learning and push students towards critical thinking. I'm not saying they are perfect but the CCS are not focused on busy work. We aren't pushing students to simply guess the right answer anymore, they need to explain why the answer is correct and how they got to that conclusion.

While you are probably right and know a ton more about cc than I do, seeing the common core steps for basic addition makes me think differently.

I haven't spent much time with the primary grade standards. We looked at them to see the progression but dd is only three so I haven't seen them in action as a parent yet either. I have heard a lot of complaints from parents of young children. It is my understanding that the new math standards are supposed to help students explore math and experience several different ways to achieve the answer. Again the idea is that students need to understand the process instead of just memorizing facts or trusting an equation. As a teacher, it is much more difficult to teach my students to explore ideas and foster their confidence as readers and writers than it is to teach them the right answer. At the end of the day though, it is worth it because I know my students will be better people for it. The world needs innovators not sheep.