https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz en-us 2023-01-10 18:11:15 UTC 2023-04-11 17:30:16 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4dd.png torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2442626147 No. The simple answer is no, testing for learning loss is extremely unfair. Not only are we exploiting our students through monetary means, but these tests never show what a student truly knows. During covid there were many students without access to internet, laptops or curriculum. Thankfully we have organizations such as FairTest fighting for some reform in these tests. It has been an uphill battle for the last 40 years as they're competing against giants. There are massive institutions frothing at the mouth ready to make some money off of our children. I do hope to see some change in our testing system as it is crucial to take care of our youth. These tests are extremely harmful and having taken these myself I can tell you they're miserable. I would never want any of my students to endure that pain. ]]> 2023-01-12 17:41:50 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2442626147 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2457933810 This article was all about building up a community. I firmly believe that school should feel like a safe and accepting place because that's when we see the best in people. Teachers and parents should work together for their students/children. We can't let school just become a workplace, it should be a means of transmitting individual culture and sharing ideas. Transparency between the staff and parents makes it easier for both sides to understand. Sometimes you will have to teach the parents. People just lack trust these days and it is crucial to show and build trust with everyone in the school to make it the best possible learning environment. When students feel safe, seen and accepted they will cooperate more. It is something I have not only seen in myself but fellow students as well. When we can talk without the fear of judgement is when the best ideas are created. I plan on making my classroom a place students want to be. Schooling is required by law but that does not mean it can't be fun!]]> 2023-01-26 17:15:29 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2457933810 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2474065023 I think this is a fantastic step in the right direction. It lets teachers be creative and bring in their own hobbies and interests to connect with students. It can teach extremely valuable skills and offers a break from the regular curriculum, which is much needed. It offers a chance to create and problem solve, two things that are usually hammered out of students. I needed emotional support and guidance when I was a hormonal 13 year old and I am jubilant to see some students getting that help/guidance. Middle schoolers do not care about STEM schooling, they're too busy being loud, getting their attention is crucial and this may be the best way to do it. ]]> 2023-02-08 20:17:38 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2474065023 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2490292463 It is no secret that sleep is the key to cognitive function. I used to fall asleep in class nearly every morning. I had awful anxiety and could not fall asleep. Going to pre calculus at 8 A.M. on six or less hours of sleep felt impossible. I failed the class because of it. Now this is in part to my own shortcomings and lack of effort, however any class I had that early I usually did worse in. Better and healthier sleep directly correlates to better brain function. Why cheat our students of reaching their full potential? The students were more willing and enthusiastic with the later starts. Any of the issues parents face picking or dropping off their kids are not insurmountable and there is a work around. Like all educational issues everyone is caught up in their own world and their own issues that they're not even willing to change or adjust. That attitude is what is going to continually make our students suffer and fall short. ]]> 2023-02-21 21:14:58 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2490292463 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2491768254 As someone stepping into the education field it feels like it is against me. I have heard many stories of teachers quitting, I have even see it at the schools I went to. Cultivating a culture in which newer teachers are supported is essential. To have a sense of community and unity is crucial too. Many new teachers can feel ostracized and left out. It is a difficult profession to step into and there is no doubt about that. But it can be made a lot easier through the aid of more experienced teachers. It is also crucial for faculty to make more effort to keep these teachers around. It is not a profession we should be scared to enter. We need to create and maintain good teachers for the betterment of our schools. ]]> 2023-02-22 21:56:31 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2491768254 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2535367624 This article was all about making change in policy and how to go about it. This was a super helpful article to me because I plan on fighting for the best education possible. I believe it should be equitable, fair and full of opportunity to all students. The people in charge making these decisions have little regard for what happens in schools and only care to control the money. Working together and having a common goal and need for improvement will propel our schools forward. I am here to make change, whether it be in my students day to day lives or if it is a long lasting change of structure I am going to make improvements. ]]> 2023-03-28 17:01:57 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2535367624 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2535375651 We are steady approaching the age of AI and it is going to be integrated into our schools. It can simplify lesson plans, add to good ideas and is generally just a good, helpful tool. However I feel it will be extremely difficult to stop our students from using it. There is already a huge problem with cheating as it is becoming easier and easier, with new tools arising every day. AI comes with an endless list of problems and solutions, it is still developing and we wil have to wait and see how it plays out and how it is integrated into our school system. ]]> 2023-03-28 17:07:08 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2535375651 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550435070 It doesn't seem that the students are the issue. It is the systems in place, we nearly set up teachers to fail. They are underpaid, overworked and not appreciated. The public view and treatment of teachers has drastically declined, it used to be a profession held in high regard. Now we have parents scoffing at that idea. The public opinion of teachers is that they really don't matter like they used to. Even more teachers want to leave because of the pandemic. Our legislators continue to demean our educators. Over half of the profession plans to leave in the next two years. It is not the teachers or the students who are the problem. We as a society and country continue to fail our educators. Teachers will stay because they love their students, everything else is what makes it exhausting. We need change now more than ever, before we continue to lose our teachers. ]]> 2023-04-11 16:35:43 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550435070 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550478899 A huge part of teaching is being able to reach your students emotionally. Being an empathetic person is crucial to aiding anybody, your kids should feel safe, welcomed and appreciated in your classroom. The best way to do this is through empathy. Kids are not going to process the world and their emotions the same. You need to be able to slow your world down and step into their shoes. Empathy might be the biggest part of teaching, more than classroom management or subject knowledge. The ability to reach out your hand and touch the hearts of your students is what will make you the best possible teacher. Leading your life with love and empathy will garner only great things. This extends to every aspect of your life. Having a big heart and wanting to help are not bad traits. You just need to be able to protect yourself too. ]]> 2023-04-11 17:10:34 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550478899 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550487496 The article dives into the history and uses for this grading scale. It has been in place for a good hundred years and doesn't really have a place anymore. School is set up to train employees and employees get graded based off of their performance. Deadlines in school are set to prepare you for what the workplace you choose may ask from you. However this article found that roughly 53% of workplaces have flexible deadlines. This already negates the purpose of this grading scale. It is competitive, rigid and unforgiving. All of our K-12 journey is based off of performance and numbers. We then wonder why our students are depressed and disengaged. We need to find a replacement for this system as a 75% average isn't really a fair average. Getting all A+ requires near perfection. Thinking a students has an easy or predictable life is unfair and unrealistic. ]]> 2023-04-11 17:17:37 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550487496 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550496450 We beat the creativity out of our youth. 2-7 is a crucial developmental period for children, it is when they first start to interact with the curious world around them. Elementary education serves to build good habits and develop a love for learning. It needs to go beyond this by showing students that emotional intelligence is important too. The world needs more loving, caring individuals. Showing kids how to care for not only their emotional needs but the kids around them too is crucial. This will create better environments in school classrooms and will follow them for the rest of their life. Elementary is no precursor to "real" education. It is when kids start to learn and get excited about learning as well as life. It is the very foundation for the rest of schooling and education. ]]> 2023-04-11 17:24:30 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550496450 torens37 https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550503554 I think this may be the best approach to teaching elementary students and even beyond. The curiosity of the world and all it has to offer is crucial to success in education. Unfortunately we are seeing less and less of this in our youth. This can spark so much positive interest and learning. Kids need to learn to problem solve and work past roadblocks. This style will do just that. Once they figure out the How, you tell them the Why. This is more of a full picture result. This will leave students with a deeper understanding and even appreciation for the things they're doing. This could even benefit middle/high schoolers as well. It could show them what they really enjoy doing and make selecting a major or career much easier. Some walk the path laid out for them and there isn't anything wrong with that, but this could help clear up confusion for students who don't know where to go. ]]> 2023-04-11 17:30:16 UTC https://padlet.com/torens37/9fr0qoljxa5th2wz/wish/2550503554