The Game Has Changed
"It is the learners who will inherit the future; the "so-called learned'" who think they "know it all" will find themselves frustrated by a world that has passed them by."
Reflections:
What is the role of schools today and how are the roles of teachers changing?
Reactions:
What are your feelings about the topics presented in this chapter?
What are some practical applications for what you're learning?
What do you want to remember about this chapter?
Click on comments to leave your response
What is the role of schools today and how are the roles of teachers changing?
ReplyDeleteThe role of schools and teachers is not directly addressed in the first chapter of the text, Superteaching. Rather, the main topic is how emotion is tied tightly to memory, and memory to learning. This concept can be applied to the role of schools and teachers today. Teachers and other professionals in the school need to recognize and deal with the stressors that are affecting the students who walk into the building every day. Problems that seem to remain constant or increase – everything from pregnancy to drugs to economic and family problems – all affect the emotions of the students. The rapport the teacher maintains with the students also affects the emotions of all the students.
What are your feelings about the topics presented in this chapter?
The thrust of the first chapter is that emotion is related to learning. We tend to remember how teachers made us feel than the acutal data they required us to learn for tests. This is not the first time I’ve read or heard about the importance of having the students feel good about themselves, about their classmates, about the class itself and the teacher, however this is the first text I have encountered where a connection is drawn to the effect of emotion on brain change – that there are measurable, biological changes such as in dendrite size, brain-cell size and other factors.
What are some practical applications for what you're learning?
This chapter serves as a reminder that the emotions of my students are as much of a factor in their learning as what I’m teaching and the way I teach it. Certainly I may not always be responsible for their positive or negative emotions, as each child brings in his/her own world of outside experiences. Still, I could consider more how what I do can make a teen feel a little bit better for the moment. Sometimes it’s just little things. I try to make it a point to greet every student individually as they enter and leave. If I’ve just had to mark a lot of errors, I try to put a positive comment in as well.
What do you want to remember about this chapter?
I hope to remember that this is not just theory or philosophy. I like how the author draws out the connection between what the teachers do and the biological effects on the brain.
The role of schools and teachers today is to not only teach subject material, but to also teach life skills, and to teach these skills in a way that produces good memories in the student. The chapter discusses how student’s memories of school can change his/her life forever. The brain changes with all experiences. It is not enough to get up and read a textbook to a child in these changing times. These children come to us with varied backgrounds (some with experiences we can not even imagine) and we need to help them grow emotionally and intellectually.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that memories have a residual effect on students is not new to me. I can clearly remember how I felt in certain classes growing up yet I have little memory of what actually was being taught in those very classrooms. What I never realized was that the brain actually changes with these experiences. It seems logical that it does, I just never thought about it. The idea that I can help create good memories and hence good experiences to build on will keep me on my toes in the future. I always try to build relationships with my students and this chapter focuses on why this is so important.
The practical applications can be many. It is important to try to meet and greet your students. I am in the hallway as much as possible talking to my students. I talk to them as they enter the class, during the class, after class, and at extracurricular activities. It is important to take the cues the students are giving to you in their speech and body language. I have a student right now who is in the middle of dealing with an incarcerated brother. I watch her during the day to see if she is acting “differently”. She knows to come and talk when necessary, but sometimes just a tap on the shoulder lets her know that I am available when needed. In class I try to find a time in every class period to tell the students what a good job they are doing. They thrive on positive comments. I want them to leave my classroom feeling better than when they arrived. I want many good memories of my classroom.
I hope to remember that what I do for these students makes a difference in their lives. I guess I knew that memories can last a lifetime based on my own experiences but now I recognize how significant I can be in making the memories of my students be ones that will help them through life’s experiences.
The role of schools today has to not only teach the standards, but prepare our students for the future. The impact we have on our students to have great memories is important. The student will remember these memories for the rest of their life.
ReplyDeleteI understand that teachers have such an impact on their students' lives, but I didn't realize how much after reading this chapter. We really do have the power for successful teaching and creating positive emotions and memories within our students. Being a positive, confident, and caring role-model really has such a powerful impact on your students!
I have many practical applications that I do everyday with my students. I greet them every morning at the door and say hello to them. I also listen to them when we do Good News/Bad News and the students share their news that morning. I give positive feedback to them. I also give positive coupons called; Gotcha! and Act of Kindness that help promote positive choices and behavior. We work as a class to earn Fun Friday with our good behavior and compliments from other teachers. My students get to pick what Fun Friday activity or treat they would like to obtain. :)
I want to remember that I have the power to make a positive difference in the lives of my students daily. I hope that I can help make some life-long memories that they remember as great ones in their future. I also hope that I help prepare them for our everchanging world and also help them build the skills that they need to reach their dreams and goals.
What is the role of schools today and how are the roles of teachers changing?
ReplyDeleteI feel that teachers of today are left to deal with many, many things. We have so many responsibilities other than teaching subjects to students.
Reactions:
What are your feelings about the topics presented in this chapter?
I think that memory is a very powerful thing. As a teacher, I know I am going to do my best to teach every student the best way I know how, but when they walk away from the class I want them to remember how I made them feel, and that their presence in our classroom made it even more special and that they were important.
What are some practical applications for what you're learning?
To incorporate different mode of teaching and never embarrass or single out a student in front of others.
What do you want to remember about this chapter?
That memories drive new behaviors.