https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe Made with whimsy en-us 2016-08-18 16:57:41 UTC 2026-01-06 14:09:43 UTC hello@padlet.com holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/118805630 Pg. 14  '...the educational trend has also been to give teachers less leeway in deciding on the structure and content of the school day.' and 'For teachers and students the world of instruction has returned to a more narrow and prescribed textbook-dependent, workbook-focused orientation typical of other "academics only" cycles during the past fifty years.' I relate to this section, especially the last 3-4 years when we've been given so many new programs to implement. I miss the days when you could do a week long unit on dinosaurs, just because the kids were interested in them. Many of the new modules and strands are so scripted, I feel it takes the art out of teaching and doesn't consider student interest.]]> 2016-08-18 17:54:35 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/118805630 holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/118809300  Pg. 19 'Children have almost no time in their school day to reflect on their learning, to make calm, organized transitions between classes or subjects, or to delve deeply into learning that they love.'  I know this to be true  in our building.  So many teachers get frustrated because there simply isn't enough time to cover what we are required to, much less have this necessary reflective time.  I think if we did, we'd notice a decrease in some of our negative behaviors.]]> 2016-08-18 18:08:23 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/118809300 holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/118810567 Pg. 29 'Today, English is the only language most American schools choose to use or are allowed to use for instruction.  This short-sighted practice must give way to an embracing of bilingual and multilingual education if we are to honor our students' cultural identities and give them the skills to live in a global economy at a time when enhanced international relations is of utmost importance.'  I would love to see elementary schools teach a second language.  I think it is the ideal time, when our kids are young and able to absorb so much.  I have a close friend who teaches in a bilingual K-5 school.  She teaches ELA and SS in English to 2 sections, while her partner teaches math and science in Spanish to those same sections.  I also like the idea of focusing on 2 subjects, rather than trying to be the master of all!]]> 2016-08-18 18:14:38 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/118810567 holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140682225 pg 57 'Today, many of our kindergarten and first grade programs are once more seriously out of balance with the developmental needs of five-year-olds. Too much attention to paper and pencil tasks, test taking, and early reading acquisition is creating a pressure cooker environment for children, teachers, and parents.' This is very evident in our kindergarten classes. By holding kids to unrealistic expectations and not allowing them to learn through play, we are seeing more and more negative behavior problems. ]]> 2016-11-29 22:28:53 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140682225 holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140683065 pg. 75 The importance of friends now rivals the importance of parents and teachers in the child's social development, and children delight in cooperative projects, activities, and tasks. No job is too big, no mountain too high. Their enthusiasms, however, can outstrip their skills, and sixes risk an overpowering sense of inadequacy and inferiority as they tackle new frontiers. Teachers and parents need to remember that at this age, the process is more important than the product.' This definitely reminds me of my son at that age. It was very evident that he was more concerned with the process rather than the product, especially in his writing. He loved to write 'books' that didn't look much like books, but he was thrilled with them. I also find it interesting that at this age their peers become very significant. That is easy to see in the beginning of first grade.]]> 2016-11-29 22:36:00 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140683065 holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140683973 pg. 108 'Nothing is fair to the nine-year-old, who is struggling with the cognitive task of understanding ethical behavior at a new level. Why do children die? Why is there AIDS? Why are there poor people? How come a few people have all the money?' This reminded me of what colleagues and friends who work with or have 9 year olds shared about their children's reaction to the recent anger-filled election. They described their children experiencing a lot of anxiety and fear, and needed much support and reassurance that they would be alright. ]]> 2016-11-29 22:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140683973 holcombek https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140685235 pg. 120 'At ten, children seem to be at their most actively receptive as learners of factual information. This is usually a good time to master the multiplication tables that have been such a struggle until now.' How interesting. I do remember when my daughter was in 4th grade, we used to jog together and we'd work on her multiplication facts. She mastered them quickly, whereas the year before I thought she'd never memorize them]]> 2016-11-29 22:55:29 UTC https://padlet.com/holcombek/holcombe/wish/140685235