There are two parts to your next assignment. The first part is to let me know what you guys think of this? Please leave feedback below. Remember, you have to register for an account if you do not have one. As always, you can email me a response if you can't figure it out (come on! You're millennials though!) or turn in the assignments on a sheet of paper (boooooorrrrrrriinnnnnnnggggg!).
1. I have to critically think in college, but your tests don't teach me that.
2. We learn in different ways at different rates.
3. I can't learn from you if you are not willing to connect with me.
4. Teaching by the book is not teaching. It's just talking.
5. Caring about each student is more important than teaching the class.
6. Every young person has a dream. Your job is to help bring us closer to our dreams.
7. We need more than teachers. We need life coaches.
8. The community should become more involved in schools.
9. Even if you don't want to be a teacher, you can offer a student an apprenticeship.
10. Us youth love all the new technologies that come out. When you acknowledge this and use
technology in your teaching it makes learning much more interesting.
11. You should be trained not just in teaching but also in counseling.
12. Tell me something good that I'm doing so that I can keep growing in that.
13. When you can feel like a family member it helps so much.
14. We appreciate when you connect with us in our worlds such as the teacher who provided us with
extra help using Xbox and Skype
15. Our teachers have too many students to enable them to connect with us in they way we need them
to.
16.Bring the electives that we are actually interested in back to school. Things like drama, art,
cooking, music.
17. Education leaders, teachers, funders, and policy makers need to start listening to student voice in
all areas including teacher evaluations.
18.You need to use tools in the classroom that we use in the real world like Facebook, email, and other
tools we use to connect and communicate.
19. You need to love a student before you can teach a student.
20. We do tests to make teachers look good and the school look good, but we know they don't help us
to learn what's important to us.
Again, in a coherent paragraph (or longer. You know I love to read your writing!), react to a couple of these.
The second part, is to respond to someone else's feedback in a coherent paragraph (remember, you are millennials your like discourse and to engage and discuss, right?).
Thanks
I like all the points this makes about how we learn. We don't all learn at the same rate or in the same ways, and a lot of teachers don't take that into account. Yes, I understand that it can't be an easy task, but some could at least try. Also, all the points about getting on our level, are spot on. I really think it helps a lot. Whether it's like this class, where we spend a lot of time using technology, or some others where it's only a little every once in a while. A little goes a long way, right? When we get to use the technology, we're more in our element, more comfortable. Why not let us use what we're good at to learn instead of struggling to keep us engaged with excessive printoffs and, god forbid, overhead tranparencies? Lastly, number 20. All I have to say is that those test could quite possibly be the most annoying thing about school.
ReplyDeleteIts going to be hard to pick just a few to write about, because they are all true. First of all, in order for a teacher to be successful, they have to understand that every student learns in different ways (number 2), and they have to understand that we grew up with technology. Everywhere we are, we have our cell phone, ipods, ipads, and laptops. How did they expect us to learn if they aren't "on our level." I like when it says that you cant teach out of a book, thats just talking, thats completely true. When teachers just give you a reading assignment and don't take the time to explain what your reading, I feel like they don't care about actually teaching us something. Number 12 and 16 kind of go together, the social "norm" is for everyone to excel in the core classes, but not everyone does. Schools need to have electives that interest everyone, so us teenagers get a better feel for what we are good at. Lastly, number 20. I just took the ACT, 4 hours of you know what, but how our we supose to excel in that test if the longest test we have ever taken was maybe 45 minutes? Either get a better way of testing how smart we are, or have us prepare for longer test like the ACT.
ReplyDeleteI like the first point that says that taking tests doesn't make you think critically. I think taking tests just teaches you to memorize as much of the material as you can so you can pass the test. The score of your test depends on how well you can recall information not how well you can think critically. I also like number sixteen about the electives. With many of taking advanced core classes there is not many openings for electives. I think Lincoln should find a way to allow us to take more electives so we can pursue our interests. I agree with number fourteen. If teachers use more technology in their classroom we will be able to connect with them better which will allow us to learn better.
ReplyDeleteEmily -
ReplyDeleteThe article "20 Things Kids Want the Nation to Know About Their Education" brings up the typical things you hear students complaining about. Not having the proper attention from the teacher, feeling like all the required classes are boring, the teachers just don't "understand" are all things I hear almost daily from my friends. The articles strongest point, in my opinion, is the first. We are required to think critically and use out-of-the-box thinking on our tests. On the contrary, in high school, tests are very cookie cutter. The teacher's will often pass the material out ahead of time so that we know what to expect then they will go over every topic to make sure we know what to do. That dosn't happen in "College Life" so I do not understand why teachers would so that for us. Also, the points made saying everybody learns at different rates is another topic which I believe teachers are very aware of but just decide to look past. Different students need different amounts of help with learning new material. As Laurel stated in her response, "A little goes a long way" and that is so true with teachers helping students. Finally, the biggy, number 20. The tests that everyone does hate but in the long run it is good for students to take them. The material is what is required fr students to know, so myswell learn the crap.
In response to Emily:
ReplyDeleteI like Emily's point about how teachers pass out information that will be on the test. Its not like we are actually learning it, just enough to pass the test then forget about it. Also if doing this it doesn't make us think critically, which we think is nice right now, but when we head off the college the teachers aren't going to baby you. Emily also states the test are dumb, but we have to take then anyways, but I fell that if we are required to take them teachers should prepare us better.
Well first off, all 20 of the comments are 100% accurate, but there are a couple that stand out to me more than the others, and number 2 nails it perfectly. We have been told from the beginning of time that everyone is different in their own way, so we need to be accepting and understanding of this. My comment on this is why don't teachers listen to that and actually open their eyes to see that with multiple students, there will be multiple speeds of learning, along with various styles that work best. I think that teachers need to explore multiple ways to bring across knowledge to us that way we can find the best method that works for us and grow in it.
ReplyDeleteThis brings me to my next remark on number 12. when a teacher notices that a student is doing well with something or a form of learning, they should encourage and lift up the student, challenging them to continue on into deeper things, but still using the method that works best for them. Learning needs to be encouraging, not degrading.
In response to Jake:
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with teachers and their tests. All they do is see how much material you memorize and can recall in a weeks time. After that, its lost. The test have no value to a student and their future. No major skills are being strengthened, and no service is being done. It's just a casual test to make it seem like the teacher is doing their job, by having grades in the grade book.
First off, reading through, I agree with everyone about how these are pretty accurate.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, A few of these really caught my attention. Number Three says, "I can't learn from you if you are not willing to connect with me." It's like talking to someone who doesn't care or isn't paying attention - it doesn't work. Number Fourteen says, "We appreciate when you connect with us in our worlds such as the teacher who provided us with extra help using Xbox and Skype." That is so true! Not only do we learn more, but I think it's safe to say we also respect teachers who put in the extra effort more. Finally, Number Sixteen says, "Bring the electives that we are actually interested in back to school. Things like drama, art, cooking, music." This is important, expecially to those of us who plan on going into those fields in the future.
Wow, this person just put every single comment that some of us students think about during 95% of our classes. Most teachers don't include technology(2) in their class, and we end up on our phones anyway. Why not let us get it out of our systems and benefit from them? Number 12 is a great point. I would love to know what my teachers think is my strong point, because then I could develop that skill even more. Oh and number 20, well all I can say is I have taken only three tests in all of High School that I take to know my own knowledge and not just make the school or teachers look better. They were the hardest tests I have ever taken, and two of them were from Mr. Froiland, who constantly says, "hate me now, thank me later." I will most certainly end up thanking him once I start college finals. There are only a few teachers that I truly liked to learn from, and it is because they are passionate about their jobs, and try to connect with us(3). I would have an easier time learning if schools/teachers did any of those points.
ReplyDeleteLike Kaylee, I just took the ACT and I liked how she said either find a better way of testing how smart we are, as if you can put a number on how smart we are, or prepare us better for the test. We might complain about having to take a hard test, but it will help us out in the long run, a little complaining or hard work for a better knowledge of something in the future is a good trade in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI really liked number four, how it says that teaching by the book isn't teaching. I think that too many teachers just read out of the text book. FYI that isn't "teaching" its reading. Might as well hand us a book on the first day and say "see ya on test day." Teachers need to put creativity and enthusiasm into teaching. Id they don't like what they are doing, why should we? Too often we are just learning how to get an A, rather than learning the material. The grading system wont change, it will still be our goal to get A's, but teachers can make us want to learn by being engaging. Its a chain reaction, first they have to TEACH then we can LEARN.
ReplyDeleteI really like what Kaylee was saying about the ACT. That test is a necessary thing that most highschoolers have to take. It is truly torture sitting there for hours upon hours. Its an endurance thing. we have never tested for that long, and we are suddenly expected to ace this foreign concept of a test? Its ridiculous, the ACT is a fact of life and teachers are supposed to be preparing us for life after HS, wouldnt that include the ACT?
Oh and i tried to submit this earlier, but it wouldnt let me:)
In number 4 it says.. Teaching by a book is not teaching. Its just talking. This has been one of my biggest problems when it comes to teaching because the information taught this way will only be remembered for a short time, or just long enough to pass the test. This kind of teaching (talking) is never engaging and doesn't inspire anyone to dive into a subject. In this case the teachers are definitely at fault, not the students. Teachers need to accept that we learn in different ways and use what we know and love, technology, in the classroom instead of reading us facts and figures that will go in one ear and out the other. Number 10 is very true for almost every student learning today. "Us youth love all the new technologies that come out. When you acknowledge this and use technology in your teaching it makes learning much more interesting." Every one of my classes that use technology are by far my favorite. I put more effort into everything we do in these classes and actually enjoy them. And we know that we all would love if every teacher was as cool as Reynolds and had cell phone quizzes and wall wisher discussions but it's rare and will not happen very often. But, they should at least not BAN cell phone use when its a great resource to tons of information. They should have presentations that incorporate videos, clips, and things of interest. They should demand visual presentations like prezi for when students present to their class. And they should use blogs, twitter, and texting as a way of communication for the class because it is very successful.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kaylee:
ReplyDeleteI Like Kaylee's point about the ACT test. The ACT test determines a lot of things such as what colleges will accept you and the amount of scholarships you are eligible for. If the ACT is so important to colleges why don't we prepare for longer tests or practice the types of questions that are on the ACT. Either there needs to be a better way to test our knowledge or we need to prepare more for the ACT.
Testing us obsessively isn't teaching us anything but how to memorize answers and information; we just forget it all right after the test, anyway. Some teachers need to learn how to make the information relatable to us. If they gave us some kind of connection to our daily lives, or had us use technology to do some type of project, we would be a lot more likely to remember the information. I totally agree that we only test to make the teachers and school look good. Don't these people remember how little tests helped them when they were young?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I agree with what Nathan said, that teachers should have multiple ways of bringing across knowledge to us. We all learn differently, so how is it helping us if a teacher teaches in only one way? I also agree with Taylor's response, "If they don't like what they are doing, why should we?". The thing is, we don't. Usually if teachers like what they are doing, they will get more creative and find better ways to teach us. Then, voila, we like it, too. Mr. Reynolds, your enthusiasm and love for teaching obviously paid off. I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy and learn from your class.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the points made. One thing that stood out to me is number 7. Teachers should be life coaches. They should care about what we are going to do with our future, not just spend the semester waiting for us to be out of the class and never think of us again. They should help us to prepare for college and help direct us towards what we are going to do with the rest of our lives. This would be an amazing school if every teacher felt this way.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Paige, I totally agree with her about teaching by the book. If you are going to read out of the text book word for word and not do anything else, what is the point of your job. I can go home and read the text book in half the time it takes to do the class. You are making your job obsolete. It may be more work to make the class interesting with your own thoughts and ideas, but it could make you an irreplaceable teacher.
ReplyDeleteIn responce to Erin:
ReplyDeleteShe is so right about how different schools would be if teachers really cared not only teach the curriculum but also coach us on how to survive in the real world and push us to go after what we love to do. If teachers were also "life coaches" I believe we would be inspired to try harder.
From Becca -
ReplyDeleteAll of these statements are completely true! I really like 10, 14, and 18. I even used those three in my mulitimedia project! We love technology and we adapt quickly. Older generations don’t do this as easily, but we’re are the ones that are in the process of ‘growing up.’ Why is it so hard to change how they teach to what would no doubt work better for us? In all other fields there are changes and advancements all the time! When really, aren’t the classrooms the most important of all? The base of our future. Where everyone starts out. It’s there we should be up to date in technology and staying ahead of other coutries. It’s no wonder we’re slipping behind when no one is taking any charge in advancing schools. Everyone knows we need to. Everyone wants to or talks about it. But no one has stepped and said we HAVE to.
From Haley -
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that we all learn in different ways and at different rates. If we all learned the same way and at the same rate, we wouldn’t have different classes or different teachers; we would have the same classes, same teachers, same everything. I understand that it is hard for teachers to always adapt to how we like to learn or how some learn best, but if they expect us to learn, they should at least learn to try. Also, the one about the dream is true to some extent I believe. It isn’t their job to spoon feed us, but I do believe it is their job to give us the tools necessary to reach our dreams. That’s why the teachers are there, right? If they did it all for us, we wouldn’t be doing anything or accomplishing our dream on our own. They are there to guide us and help us get where we want and need to be. I do think it is important for teachers to tell you what you’re doing well so that you can continue to grow in that. On the other side, it is important for them to tell you what you need to improve on as well. Praise also is a thing that let’s a student know that their work isn’t going unnoticed. It means a lot and it gives us a reason to keep working hard. I know it probably sounds juvenile, but it really does make a difference. And the thing on the tests. The standardized tests are a joke and I think we all know that. But tests in the classroom to see if you are catching onto concepts or understand are important. Because if you’re falling behind, it gives the teacher a look at what needs to be covered more in class.
From Haley part 2 --
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kaylee
On preparing for longer tests, I don’t think there really is a way to prepare for taking a long test. Sure, you can take plenty of tests that are hours long, but will that really prepare you? I think it would just make you dread the actual ACT more. And there really isn’t a need to have a four hour test for a regular class; it just seems unnecessary. Also, what does the ACT really measure? What general knowledge you know, how well you can guess, how long you can concentrate? Another way to “measure” how smart we are. The thing about teachers getting on our level, I think that would be cool. They don’t have to go full on and be plugged in all the time, but every now in then incorporating some of what we like would be pretty cool. And the fact that they would even try that, I’d give the teacher some brownie points for that. It shows that they are open to new ideas and are willing to try new things. I agree with the thing about the teachers not talking and just assigning. For some things, that’s alright. I understand that it will be like that in college and it’s good that they are trying to get us ready for that, but if that’s all you ever do, you don’t even need to show up to teach. It makes it seem like you’re taking the easy way out, and you all make it clear it’s not okay to take the easy way out. I like the thing about more electives because it would be helpful to have more options available to see what we like and be able to explore what we’re interested in.
From Tori -
ReplyDeleteI think the part about getting more specialty classes back is a good idea, although we have an opportunity to take these classes, some schools don’t. If a person has a passion for cooking, they should be able to take cooking classes along with other general education classes. I also thought the statement that says teachers should encouraged kids passions and help them excel in them. Most peoples passions change slightly throughout life, but a certain passion at a certain time can mean a lot to someone, and if they have a mentor guiding them, it will help tremendously.
From Tori Part 2 -
ReplyDeleteIn response to Laurel “I like all the points this makes about how we learn. We don't all learn at the same rate or in the same ways, and a lot of teachers don't take that into account. Yes, I understand that it can't be an easy task, but some could at least try. Also, all the points about getting on our level, are spot on. I really think it helps a lot. Whether it's like this class, where we spend a lot of time using technology, or some others where it's only a little every once in a while. A little goes a long way, right? When we get to use the technology, we're more in our element, more comfortable. Why not let us use what we're good at to learn instead of struggling to keep us engaged with excessive printoffs and, god forbid, overhead tranparencies? Lastly, number 20. All I have to say is that those test could quite possibly be the most annoying thing about school.”
I agree, that we don’t all learn at the same pace and every individual is different. I think helping kids who are slow learners will really benefit them and everyone around them. When everyone is comfortable, it creates a better learning environment. Teachers who understand us and can not only teach us, but mentor us will help us in the long run. Having an education is fantastic, but having a positive role model and guidance is almost if not more important to growing kids and teens.
From Emily -
ReplyDeleteI like this person and the way that he explains exactly what I think when I am I certain classes and taking the standardized tests. We just don’t learn that way, we all learn through the things that engage us and what we are passionate about. We like things that can get us riled up and excited or angry at ... or at least I do, it forces me to remember the information because I either got excited for it or I strongly disagreed and argued against it. I strongly like point 11 because I frequently have disastors with my stress levels to the point of my head exploding, and having the teachers kind of help counsel me, like Froiland does, helps my stress levels go down a bit. I also like the 17th point, the one about the kids voices helping teach the class because then we can share information that is really important to us about the subject we are learning about , either that or we could have more things that are fun and engaging to the kids and add their voices to it. Getting us involved is pretty much the key to our learning.
From Emily Part 2 -
ReplyDeleteI agree with Safranski with the tests that really don’t help us now but they will later on in life because they constantly force us to think and master the knowledge that is required. Also how they should create tests that are more geared towards us, and how we learn. That would make the ACT and SAT so much more tolerable then they are now. And I also agree with what she said about the teachers using any of those points to create a more inviting and engaging environment. It really does make learning so much more fun and interesting.
From Caitlyn -
ReplyDeletePart One:
I like most of the points but I don't think all of the points hit the nail head on like others are saying. I think point 6 and 16 go hand in hand well. Number six is telling us that we should be brought closer to our dreams in school and sixteen says that we should have more electives for our interests. By having the ability to take classes that enable us to learn more about our interests, we can figure out if a particular thing is what we really want to do. Thankfully Lincoln has the internship program which I have taken twice, both at physical therapy.
I also like when it says that we don't learn anything from your tests. I am absolutely terrible at tests but that doesn't mean I'm dumb. We should not be graded on how well we do on tests, because honestly, a lot of us just don't care.
From Caitlyn -
ReplyDeletePart Two:
I agree with Jake. We don't take tests to help us in life, we take them to get it done with. The material is lost afterwards and will probably never be used again most of the time. If they are going to give us tests, they should give us tests that will help us for other tests like the ACT that many people have been mentioning. That test actually matters and we are taught absolutely nothing about it from our teachers.
In response to Emily!
ReplyDeleteI Agree with her comment about this article 110%. We don't learn to our fullest by just preparing for the standardized tests. She makes a good point by saying we learn the things we get excited about which all students do get excited about a subject eventually. For me, I always get excited in math when I understand it. When the teacher has explained it in a way that applies to me. I also like her point about having student teaching. I usually can understand it right away when a fellow classmate explains it.. just maybe in simpler terms.
From Emalynn --
ReplyDeleteI agree and disagree with some of these points. First of all, I think number 18 is a little bit ridiculous. We don't HAVE to have a teacher bring Facebook and email into a classroom to make it engaging. (And xbox??) We can be engaged WITHOUT much technology too. I had a class at Northland where the only "technology" the teacher used was a white board and marker. We don't have to be babied with JUST technology to learn something. We can't be too wired that we miss out on other things or a different way of learning something. It just depends on how the teacher presents it. Yes, technology can be very helpful in engaging students, (like in point 10) but maybe the teacher isn't good at technology and don't have time to learn how to use it. (Teachers are busy too! Trust me, I live with one. My mom.) Speaking can be very engaging too. Sometimes I miss the old way of doing things. Like, for instance, we haven't written many papers this year in comp. I kind of miss that.
For point 3, I also disagree with it. In some ways, it's true but in other ways it's not. If you aren't connecting with the teacher, you can at least connect with other students and learn that way. We can't always completely depend on the teacher to learn something. Our education is also up to us. There are tutors to help and students to learn from also.