When I was a classroom teacher I worked very hard to be non-partisan, that is, I never gave my political opinion, rather I tried to answer questions and provide information from all sides. My goal was to help my students discover and defend their points of view. I'm sure I was not 100% successful in this, but usually my students were a 50/50 split on my views when they tried to guess.
I feel I should do the same now, as a consultant. That said, I found this article very compelling. While it is clearly taking a position on Palin, it is also positing what I think is a valid argument about merit and its role in politics and society as a whole. I think the debate with students could be very interesting.
http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=15383
Monday, September 29, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Election Workshop, Pool Time and McDonalds
Things that went smoothly:
- The Election Workshop last night, no tech problems!!! Yippee.
- Completing both AM and PM workouts today in the AM.
- Salad for lunch.
Things that didn't:
- Why do I end workshops so early? Seriously, its like I lose steam and splutter to the end. And who puts together some of the junk out there for teachers? I have found terrible material on elections that is devoid of critical thinking, persuasive writing, or inquiry beyond on the end of your nose.
- Do not be the late lifeguard when four tired and angry swimmers have been standing outside a locked door for 10 minutes while you do whatever it is you do in there...
- McDonalds drive thru line was stupid long and they were out of the dressing I wanted. Plus I ordered fried and ate a donut after.
Social Studies is probably the smoothest part of it all. I'm multi-tasking more than I like to, but it seems to be getting done. On the agenda for the next couple of weeks are the E2020 Training (tonight), Bd of Ed meeting (tonight), curriculum editing (wednesday), the Social Studies Council Meeting (thursday), the elementary Election Workshop monday) and a revamp of the MISD Social Studies Web Page. Oh, and the Power Standards thing. That's in the works too.
Go visit www.michiganhistoryed.org to find the Electoral College Prediction Contest. I know you want to win!! Cause you're a dork like me.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Content Expectations vs. Curriculum
Oh, heavens. This one makes me crazy...
They aren't the same thing and can't be used interchangeably. Think of your grade level content expectations as the grocery list. You need to get all of that stuff, but you won't put it all in the same pot and make one meal. The curriculum is your recipe, the directions for using the ingredients. Some ingredients are used more often, or in greater quantity (some people would call these essential learnings...) others are considered nice to have, but necessary.
The Michigan Social Studies Content Expectations are your ingredients. Do not treat them all the same way, use them all in the same proportion or add them to your class in the order they appear in the list.
The Michigan Citizenship Collaborative Curriculum (http://www.micitizenshipcurriculum.org/) is the recipe, placing ingredients together in logical patterns.
All good chefs have their own signature flavor. The same is true for teachers; the content expectations represent the minimum standard we want our children to meet, your years of experience and huge collections of materials are your signature!!
They aren't the same thing and can't be used interchangeably. Think of your grade level content expectations as the grocery list. You need to get all of that stuff, but you won't put it all in the same pot and make one meal. The curriculum is your recipe, the directions for using the ingredients. Some ingredients are used more often, or in greater quantity (some people would call these essential learnings...) others are considered nice to have, but necessary.
The Michigan Social Studies Content Expectations are your ingredients. Do not treat them all the same way, use them all in the same proportion or add them to your class in the order they appear in the list.
The Michigan Citizenship Collaborative Curriculum (http://www.micitizenshipcurriculum.org/) is the recipe, placing ingredients together in logical patterns.
All good chefs have their own signature flavor. The same is true for teachers; the content expectations represent the minimum standard we want our children to meet, your years of experience and huge collections of materials are your signature!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
www.askyourlawmaker.com
I'm working on this election workshop and playing with www.askyourlawmaker.com. I like the site and I don't. I think I've learned more about how much the public doesn't know by reading these questions, whereas I was supposed to be learning about candidates thoughts. The questions range from just plain uninformed (asking members of Congress about state and local issues, demonstrating a lack of understanding regarding federalism) to the obtuse and absurd (asking when Americans will actutally get to choose their presidents). There is a section of questions posed by the public that have been selected by a panel of journalists as 'good questions.'
I'm all for more interest and participation in politics, but sometimes I think these sites are havens for folks with an uniformed agenda, asking leading (and misleading) questions. Use it with your class, but teach them good questioning techniques and have them research the answers themselves.
I'm all for more interest and participation in politics, but sometimes I think these sites are havens for folks with an uniformed agenda, asking leading (and misleading) questions. Use it with your class, but teach them good questioning techniques and have them research the answers themselves.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Why this title?
I considered naming this blog "You want me to do what?". Its a rhetorical question I constantly ask myself. Every time I get an email from my triathlon coach I think this, usually with an expletive added. Sometimes I get calls from folks outside of education that make me think this too. Like the museum administrator who gave me 10 days notice about an exhibit that would happen during the first week of school. As if schools can plan and take field trips that quickly, or during the first week.
To be honest, I even ask this sometimes after talking with teachers and administrators.
The fact is, we are being held to a higher standard in Michigan, higher than most states and we all need to step up to meet the challenge. The content expectations are strong, they demand great work from our students and great work from us. To ignore these, to teach 'what I always have', to teach the same we always have is at best poor judgement and at worst a disservice to our students.
I'm looking forward to the hard work of implementation. I hope that the curriculum projects that I've already worked on will be helpful (hint hint, go to http://www.micitizenshipcurriculum.org/). I can't wait for our students to reap the benefits of a well planned sequence of social studies!!
I know, I know. I'm sort of a dork about social studies.
We could talk triathlon next...
To be honest, I even ask this sometimes after talking with teachers and administrators.
The fact is, we are being held to a higher standard in Michigan, higher than most states and we all need to step up to meet the challenge. The content expectations are strong, they demand great work from our students and great work from us. To ignore these, to teach 'what I always have', to teach the same we always have is at best poor judgement and at worst a disservice to our students.
I'm looking forward to the hard work of implementation. I hope that the curriculum projects that I've already worked on will be helpful (hint hint, go to http://www.micitizenshipcurriculum.org/). I can't wait for our students to reap the benefits of a well planned sequence of social studies!!
I know, I know. I'm sort of a dork about social studies.
We could talk triathlon next...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Lets try this again...
There was a previous incarnation of this blog, that I failed miserably to maintain. This is one is like the last one in that I'll include some information you might find interesting regarding teaching, Social Studies education, and Macomb County schools. However, it is also likely to be a more personal version of that, as I find being the only Social Studies consultant at the MISD leaves me with a lot to say and not a lot of people to say it to!
So here we go, another school year, new content expectations, an election, an ironman race, and clean office.
Fresh Start!!
So here we go, another school year, new content expectations, an election, an ironman race, and clean office.
Fresh Start!!
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