What makes for the perpetual low test scores in urban areas? What makes the system broken, are there multiple factors at play? | ON PUBLIC EDUCATION This video breaks down some of the issues in public education and why some schools are set up to be more successful than others: and it doesn't have much to do with the individual school. | Has it improved? Does low pay effect the quality of educators and by effect the quality of the education received in K-12 public school education? |
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Matt Beaudreau proposes something radical for the education system in America: treating students as equals in the classroom.
How does it work? Collaboration. What does it mean? Believing in the unique intelligence of children, and teaching from non-standardized concepts and models. Not focusing on age, test scores. Is it practical? Depends how it is executed, and on the individual student's needs. Can they thrive in an environment which requires maturity as well as personal drive in education? Or is the current system more practical at targeting the majority? Find out more in his Tedx talk above. https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/executive-functioning-issues-and-learning-6-ways-to-help-your-high-schooler
Are you a parent of a child with an executive function disorder? Do you want to understand some ways to help your child if they are struggling with one thing or another in school? Are you a teacher struggling to understand what one or more of your students are going through? This article gives some helpful tips for how to help students who have executive function disorders in their overall academic experience. This article is a wonderful introduction in to the world of learning differences.
https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/getting-started/what-you-need-to-know http://teacch.com/educational-approaches/preparing-for-college-tips-for-students-with-hfa-aspergers-syndrome-new-gladys-williams-and-ann-palmer
These ideas have been compiled from our work with students with high functioning autism/Asperger’s Syndrome who were thinking about or attending college. Each student has a unique profile of strengths and needs, so each recommendation should be considered with the specific student in mind. Gladys Williams and Ann Palmer Chapel Hill TEACCH Center Nobody is just a bystander. If you see it, it's your responsibility to help. You can either be part of the problem, or part of the solution, and the choice is 100% yours. SAY SOMETHING. As a parent. As a teacher. As a student. Why does speaking up matter? Prevention. Changing the attitude of student's towards it. Teaching and practicing love, and no tolerance for intolerance of differences. God created each and every human being in His image. That should be the basis of our teaching. Every student is whole, not partial, they are God's child!
Students with learning disabilities are nearly twice as likely to drop out of school, would engaging those students far earlier on bring them a much higher success level?
PBS discusses this in their news hour in March 2012. A well kept secret and universal truth? Students who struggle would rather act out in their classes than admit to having difficulties and be embarrassed in front of their classmates. This short film goes to the extremes, but even so it gets a valid point across. Students who have Executive Function disorders that have not been diagnosed have an even harder time getting the help they need to succeed in school, because they often fly under the radar until much too late in their education. No damage is irrefutable however, making up lost time requires a team effort from both student and teacher, and family members.
Without help and the tools that are available, some students will consistently feel as though they are failures, even when they aren't. Undiagnosed dyslexics go most of their lives not understanding why they are different or why everything is so hard.
Being a parent is a full time job, being a parent of a child with a learning disability is too. Children with LDs must be taught how to interact with others in social situations every day of their schooling, and parents have to be proactive in order to give their child the most tools for success and happiness with their peers. This particular series by Lavoie discusses how parents can help their children to pick up on social cues as well as building the most ideal situation for a "play date" so their child can have friends.
"I've got a leaky brain". She gets a sensation first, then needs to comprehend it, then believe it, give it meaning, then get the concept. When she puts it all together, she receives knowledge. She refers to her brain as a sponge in reference to her ability to pick up knowledge, sometimes the sponge is full and she cannot take it in, sometimes she can pick it all up and keep it. Sometimes months pass before she flashes back to the moment the question was asked. She is also a synesthetic, (which is explained in the video), and adds to the interesting and unique way that she sees the world. She can focus for extended amounts of time, mind maps her entire world thinking in fragments in order to give meaning and consistency to her world, giving her a high awareness of herself.
Her charge is to be aware of the world around us, as there is "So much more going on around than we could ever imagine."
By the time he was in third grade, he was reading at a twelfth grade level. No eye contact, but intelligence off the scale. In middle school, he was bullied and tortured day by day among having difficulties at home. He believed in himself, continually pushing himself, but in high school once more he was struggling with social situations. He was determined to have friends, and determined to excel. At each level of school, he pushed himself and his family pushed him too.
What I take from this is nothing is impossible. No child is without hope, without a chance to move forward. Accepting a child, accepting yourself is a huge part of having the ability to break the barriers that are placed for children with autism. Advocation for these children is a gigantic part of their success. Advocation as teachers, as parents, as family members- kids with special needs can learn.
This is great article on Autism by Melisa Daily, B.G.S., M.Ed., including a brief history and the importance of including students on the Autism spectrum in to the regular education classroom, and why it makes such a difference.
education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/Exceptional%20Learners/Autism/Articles/Inclusion%20of%20Students%20with%20Autism%20Spectrum%20Disorders/ Human connection is vital to deeper, holistic learning that sticks. "Kids don't learn from people they don't like...Seek first to understand, instead of being understood." Apologize. Grow. She makes wonderful points about teaching students to love and believe in themselves first, if the teacher has confidence in them, the students will learn to have confidence in themselves. Focusing on growth can make a world of difference to students, especially those who struggle in one or more areas. "Not a minus eighteen, but a plus two".
Just as we talked about in some of the first classes in exceptional learners, she states that teachers are actors on a high pressure stage where saying the right lines make all the difference. No student can ever know if a teacher does not like them, because it will permanently affect the way the student learns during their time in the classroom. These are clips from "A beautiful Mind", I realize this is inaccurate in a lot of ways regarding Schizophrenia, but it really opened my eyes to how difficult and unique the struggle is for those who live every day without being to tune out the voices in their head. Yes, the way it is dealt with is different now, yes this is a "Hollywood-ized"example, but focus on what can be learned instead of the medical flaws of it. A truly inspiring take on autism and the hope a person can gain from supporting loved ones, faith, and persistence. Grandin gives parents and guardians hope and options for their children living with intellectual disabilities in her talk.
FIVE CRUCIAL ELEMENTS OF A CONFERENCE: |
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October 2016
AuthorHi, I'm Amy, and I'm an educator and lifelong learner. I care deeply about the education system in America and want to spread awareness about special topics. Categories |