News Article

** University's visa licence revoked **
A university is banned from teaching and recruiting overseas students, leaving more than 2,000 potentially facing removal from the UK.
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/education-19419395 >

Im not sure what my views are about this article?I feel for the innocent students that are effected by this, but it makes me wonder, and ask myself... what kind of institution is this? how do you not know if students are showing up to classes? Do they not take roll call. Maybe they should do participation points so students have to be there and my goodness take roll call it takes 5 mins and your done! i dont think the university should be giving out visas in the first place. isnt that their countrys job? universities already have enough to worry about why throw visa's on top of everything? they shouldnt have been sponsering students if they didnt know what they were doing, they filled those students with false hope. Now they may not even get placed with another school and its not their fault so who do they have to blame? 2,000 students thats a huge chunk. The school was even prewarned over 6 months ago that this was an issue and needed to be fixed imediatly whether that was fixing the problem or find paperwork that was never there? Its really just too bad i feel for both parties mojorly the students but thats alot to handel like i said i dont think any school should be able to give out visas. That should be a governed thing through their government. thats what you pay taxes for, use your resources! Im not sure cause it didnt say in this article, but im wondering were these college paying students with no visas or were the "sponsered"? Because if these intergrated students arent paying for their education and getting sponsered and free visa's while residents are paying max loans and bills, kinda seems unfair to me...?

Speaking In tounges

Speaking In Tounges Video reaction:
All I can saw is WOW. I know i couldnt do what those kids do. Speaking multiple langues at one time, my brain would crash into overload. I guess thats why they do it when their young, when they still have that window of opportunity. But being thrown into a class room where your teacher speaks a different lanuguage then you... tough! How uncomfortable... could you imagine what was going through those kids heads ha ha some of them looked so confused and lost at first. Later throughout the year you saw them getting better though, and speaking almost fluently to the teacher, its amazing what they can pick up on! I would love to send my children somewhere like that, just wish it wasnt so spendy. In the world we live in today though its going to be needed english is becomming less and less of the norm. spanish is on a quick rise to becomming the number one spoken lanuage in this country. So wouldnt it only be wise to enrich our childrens lives by teaching and enabling them the possiblity of learning multiple new languages?

Teacher Strike article

After reading this article and the comments listed on it i have come to the conclusion that if I were a teacher in chicago I may be doing the same thing...
I have to agree with a person who commented on this topic named "AP", she said:

I have this job as a teacher because I love it. I'm not some soulless human who picks a job purely for financial gain. I am good at what a do and I make a difference. I don't expect the taxpayers to subsidize any of my decisions - I'm paying back my loans all on my own, thank you very much. I also work at a private school - so you can rest easy none of your tax money is funding my "poor choices" to become an educated individual.
A lot of people pursue expensive degrees --- it's called becoming an expert in your field. Lawyers and doctors do it and they are commended for their dedication. Why shouldn't teachers be treated the same way??
Sept. 10, 2012 at 5:53 p.m.

I have to agree, why should we not be treated the same?... Yes funds are limited, but the money we paid for school to become teachers, a job we love should be donation enough. Instead were treated badly and being held to such high standards, its hard to keep up. How is one teacher supposed to have a HUGE classroom and still be able to control and teacher EVERY SINGLE child in the classroom. if the test scores arent good the teachers no good , thats not true... Theres just too many kids we cant get to them all and answer every single question they have its impossible. If the politicains really wanna put money somewhere they can put it into our school systems instead of their bank accounts. we cant have "no child left behind" if theres not a teacher there giving them the help they deserve instead their forced to share one teacher with 50 plus kids who need the same attention. Its not our teachers its our politicans and the way their running this country.

Chapter 6 Education Nation

The best way to learn something is to teach it. I love the title of this chapter, " Digital learners carrying change in their pockets. kids these days learn much differenlt they children used to 20 years ago, when it was strictly pen and paper. These days children are learning things constantly technology is always at their fingertips, what kids doesn't have a phone or ipod or laptop? Not many, and it doesn't matter if they don't have one, I'm sure they know where to get thier hands on one. learning is literally at their fingertips. Kids are expressing themselves through technology and learning while doing it. Kids are making music and cutting music and sharing it with classmates as well as posting their videos for the world to see, in one of the most famous videos sites around "YouTube." Children are even gaming and talking with other children on opposite sides of the world, problem solving, and creating stratgeies together building nation wide friendships. It's amazing the things kids learn from technology especially at such a young age. So in order to teach them we need to put the ball in their court in order to play, or in order to teach them effectively. Technology is ever chnging and its up to use as educators to keep up with these things as well as knowing how to use them. Kids can even have virtual feild trips these days, technology has com that far amazing is'nt it?  I think this is great what better way to keep a grasp on your children then teaching them things they are comforatble with already doing. It takes the pressure off and allows them to contuine the eduaction even when not in tthe classroom. Not to mention it's a better way to get other students and even parents involved in their children lives. It's a learnign experience for a everybody and a true win in the feild or education!

Gifted and Talented students

The students both mainstream and EBD, all children have the potential to be "gifted" or learning at a much higher pace then some other students. A student that excels much faster and ultimaly shows the potential to out perform above and beyond what other children their age can do. For alo of these students they have gifted classroom or camps, "certain places for these kinds of children."  The pro's of this included that they were much more inclinded to excel as well as being able to challenge themselves and other classmates they shared the same talents with. However, with any pro, there is a con. The con's included The students being more stressed, more pressure from parents and teachers to excel,  teachers assunming they dont need help or direction, and isolation. It also has been brough to my attention that most teachers, if any are actually trained to teach gifted students. The teachers are ultimatly spread too thin, and not able to have access to both mainstream and gifted children. Most gifted students once they reach higschool go PSEO, its a way to pay for the first two years of college completely free. Unfortuanlty if a student goes PSEO money is taken away from that district and given to the college that student attends. In order to go PSEO you have to be in the top 1/3 of your class with a good track record. Some students however have this oppurtuinty and turn it down because they dont want to leave their friends or miss out on their senior year. For those children that decided not to go PSEO they do have other resources such as summer camps for talented children. It's called SCATS a two week program at a university where students get to choose 4 classes out of 30 options and have actual college professors come teach them. It's extremly expensive, but worth the costs. I also tought it was interesting that gifted students have a harder time graduating then mainstream kids, becaus they usually have other issues with behavior, or they may excel in one subject, but not in another. these children even though they are gifted still have issues. No child is perfect, so we can't treat them that way, but it's definatly something to keep in mind.

Chapter 5 Education Nation

It was brought to the author's attention that teachers are heavily informaed of what they will be doing int the feild once they graduate school with the dgree of being a teacher. They have to take almost as much schooling as a doctor or arcitect, however they don't have the resources those two ooccupations have. teachers take a broad and huge variety of classes, physcology, diversity, education, as well as all the basics, math, science, langaue arts, and speech. The degree seems never ending, and although the teachers were exttremly educated, they were runnign into problems once the hit the job market. They we're realizing that alot of teachers had learned in theory, but not in actual classroom, situations and settings. These teachers, alhtough very smart we're ultimatly unprepared for the job to maintain a classroom. In theory they had been taught how to run a classroom, but not how to actually "teach" a classroom. Thus, came Co-teaching, which they talk about alot int heis chapter. I couldn't agree more then teachers are just getting thrown into situations they are unprepared for and uneducated about. This is why most colleges or universities hav changed the ciriculm to at least one year on the job training or co- teaching. The school actually follows your teaching career for up to 3 years after you have your degree and graduate. Talk about pressure... In all reality however it makes sense even teachers still need to learn, its not just the students we are teaching in the classrooms , but also ourselves, constanly changing and bettering ourselves for the future. What we would change, how we would do things differntly, how to make a bigger impact on the students. After all teachers are constanly getting assessed and it's all about accountability these days so I guess you could say teachers never stop learning it's a full time degree and a full time job that is under paid and ultimatly underappreciated.

Chapter 4 education Nation

Education is everchanging, even more so now then ever. With the internet almost all things are possible these days. The classroom doesn'nt just consist of four walls and a teacher at the front of the class anymore. Now there is online schooling and oppurtunities to learn that we're never possible before. Now instead of learning about the Mississippi River in a textbook students ca actually go on experience it first hand. By being right there in nature, seeing for themselves all they will need to know about this historical landmark. Through technology we are also controling our students behavior. For example in this chapter it talks about how a school from Arizona made their busses wifi compatible. Since students spent so much time every day on a bus, why not let them use that time wisely. Most the time on the bus kids we're just getting themselves into trouble anyways. So insetad of troublemaking, wifi has created a suitable study hall outside of the classroom. I love this idea and I think it's a great idea for all school buses to have this. If it's going to tune down the bad behavior and encourage students to use time wisely by doing homework then why not? i see nothing wrong with this, and i dont think many parents would be objecting. Not to mention if  a student says they didnt get their homework done because of the long bus ride, you could just say well did'nt you use your time wisely? It's a win, win. Students get their work done and have the resources to do so, even if they don't have the resources at home. This chapter also talks about the growing risk of obesity in our young children, with this student and nature based learning we can hopefully put a stop to this rising problem. By getting kids out of the classroom and out in the world walking, talking, exploring, and learning new things we can put an end to this pandemic. I think, It's a great idea and i wish they would have had stuff like this when I was a kid. The best thing about school was the feildtrips, why not make it a regular thing for the classrooms. Why only have them a few times a year why not once a month, or every other week. Any oppurtunity to go out inot the real world and learn things they can't learn inside of their classroom. I know for me thats when I always had the most outcome with learning, was when I was hands on and enjoying what we were doing. I wasn;t afraid to ask questions and our teachers always made it fun to learn the lesson. As a student you don't feel the pressure of the classroom when you ask questions or enjoy what it is you're learning.

Education Nation Chapter 3

I agree that we need to allow our students the same technology we ourselves use as teachers. If we want them to use their brains and resources we need to educate them the same way we educate ourselves. Using technology is just a great learning oppurtunity, its like a book but with more answers on more topics. I agree that one on one books and computers are a better learning device then 8 textbooks or computers to one class room. I also really like the question in the begining of the chapter. Do you use a compter? Would you share your computer? would you give up your computer? I answered the last two with a big fat NO! I need technology. So why wouldnt my students need it as a learning tool as well?  They are known as a "weapon of mass instruction!" They also have tests to prove that middle school students have increased writting and mathematical skills since getting to have the use of laptops. We need to soak our students in educational and digital resoucres to make them more inclined to succeed once they get to college and futhermore out into the real world. Where they are going to have to have the knowledge of digital use, as well as current educational devices. I love the quote in the book "tell me something I can't google"... So true... ha ha i mean you can literally google anything these days. How to raise a dog, how to cut your hair, whats this mean, whats that mean, whose this, what day were they born, anything and everything you could ever think of or imagine, its crazy.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Overseas educational conference attracts delegates from 11 countries

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Overseas educational conference attracts delegates from 11 countries

I liked this atricle, I think beaconhouse made a good choice by having this meeting with teacher, facilitators and 11 different countries. It made alot of sense when you think about it teachers needs to play the role of head honcho in the classroom, however we need to let our children learn from their own experinces and in their own unique different ways. Of course teachers will need to supervise and put p bumpers to lead them in the right direction, but what beaconhouse is saying makes perfect sense. If students dont learn or dont teach themselves the lesson or plan taught won't stick with them or make an impression of them to remeber it. with the right materials and classroom setting with the right teachers and bumpers they could make a great classroom setting. I know in my teaching experinecs i have had so far when the child teaches the class or learns something on thier own they are much more intune and interested, then if the teacher had just told them about it or talked about it through power point. this is a way to enage with your students and teach them with out actually teaching them. It's an experiece that will stick with a child for a lifetime. This way when they go home they can tell mom and dad and other kids about what they have learned in the classrooom all by themselves. I hope all schools and teachers can attend somethign like this, i think it would be very benifical to all who go.

Sebastian Witherspoon- Diversity

Sebastian grew up in Duluth Minnesota, aka Diversity central! grew up a pastors son with 10 siblings 2 of which were killed. He was the only one in his family not to graduate, but soon after got his GED and moved back into education starting at the local tech college at a tenth grade learning level. After being told from his advisor that he wasnt smart enough for 4 year school and that he should take up a two year degree or trade instead he pushed himself harder after alot of schooling he finally found his job he's at currently. He was the exception to the rule, all odds were against him from day one, most black males dont graduate school and if they do they are only in the 50 percentile.All of what you do in life is relational, its commonality. For instance he said " Hi my names sebastian, I like to fish and i like the vikings" if you can make a relationship with someone you've got them. be authentic care about their feelings and lsitento what they have to say, don't just pretend to listen and nod, they know the difference. Invest in the child that your working with and let them know you care. It's be said that newest teachers get stuck with the toughest kids, so it's crucial to invest in those children to correct their behaviors in the classroom by letting them know your availbe to them when they need an eaer or shoulder to cry on. In a typical school only about 32% are colored children. They are also said to be 2 to 3 years beghind the grading level, mathamatically and reading wise.  There is an answer however, academic intergartion or academy a smaller setting school where these kids can get moreone on one and ask more questions then they could in a main stream classroom. This program is also for language barrier children and parents that way their children can learn just as much as the other kids as well without wondering what it was the teacher said. i think this is a grwta program and I think that every school should have one!

Abuse and education

Every ten seconds, otherwise known as 9,000 times a day some sort of abuse is reported. This could be physical, sexual, emotional, or neglectful abuse. As alot of us have seen or witnessed abuse defiantly takes it's toll on childrens grades. Instead of worrying about grades and homework, and tests. These kids are worrying if they will have food tonight, or if they will get to take a bath today. Or "i wonder if daddy's going to get mad and yell at me or hit me again... these are all forms or abuse. which in turn usually lead to lower test scores, depression, lower grades things of that nature. Some signs to watch for would be uneasy, antiscoial, lack of motivation, depression, stressed, eating disorders, aggressive , or fearful of adults. You can also tell by lack of medical attention, not getting medication, going to the dentist, going to the docotor if sick, these are also signs to watch. Things that may lead to some sort of abuse would be young parents, poverty, and or drugs and alcohol. As for us and other educators its our job to report abuse issues in the classroom and be aware and knowledgeabble of the situation. Have a plan of action, do your reasearch, dont second guess yourself, follow up with progress and remain committed. Theres nothing more important then investing in a child and letting them know that you care and that you will be there for them no matter what happens. Some of these kids have little to nothing, i couldnt imagine what thats like...

Advice To The Next President: K-12 Education And Early Childhood Development | Cognoscenti

Advice To The Next President: K-12 Education And Early Childhood Development | Cognoscenti

Great article! I found a few quotes from the article that really caught my eye. For instance " We should invest early during the time of greatest cognitive development."  I could'nt agree more, there's a window of oppurtunity and if you miss that window it only gets ahrder and harder to open with time. There are certain ages where children retain more information then other ages. The younger, the better, the more they can absorb at a younger age the more they will retain. Also " the federal government should not mandate a one size fits all education model." Every child learns differently and at their own pace, with their own strengths and weakness's.  In the article it talks about how President Obama needs to keep working closely with teachers, its the only way to improve school sytems. If our leaders don't know the needs and concerns for the classrooms how can we ever make it better?  It also mentioned in the article that unionized teachers scored better then nonunionized teachers...? Not sure why that is, but it could be because they have more resources and work closer with our government on what the needs are of our children. I also never knew that massachusets was #1 in the United States for best public school. I wouldnt have thought massachusets to be the best schools in the U.S. I wonder what they are doing that we're not? Overall great article, I agree with alot of things they were saying in here, and hope that our world in education keeps growing and creating new challenges everyday.