Comments on: PLC….Continuing the Journey…Doug Reeves http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/ As an educational technologist, I am exploring ways to make learning more relevant, engaging and authentic. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:41:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Laurie http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27551 Laurie Mon, 01 Oct 2007 03:29:11 +0000 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27551 Jenn, good for you! Keep holding those students accountable and when they are successful adults, you will be one of the reasons for their success. My role as Academic Success Counselor at my school is to work individually with students who don't get the idea of "doing school." These students, by virtue, of their own personalities, their educational backgrounds, or home experiences struggle with understanding the importance of follow-through, completion, and most issues of self-efficacy. As I work with them and communicate with their teachers, I am amazed at the polarity of approaches. Some teachers require all work, sooner or later, but are so laissez faire that students don't take the requirement seriously. Other teachers are so rigid that the student must almost bring physical proof of their illness or the death in the family that prevented them from meeting a requirement. Yes, I am exaggerating a bit, but my point is that all students need to recognize the importance of deadlines and accountability and they learn that from their teachers. You, by having clear guidelines and consistent requirements, are helping your students develop a healthy understanding of real life success. Jenn, good for you! Keep holding those students accountable and when they are successful adults, you will be one of the reasons for their success. My role as Academic Success Counselor at my school is to work individually with students who don’t get the idea of “doing school.” These students, by virtue, of their own personalities, their educational backgrounds, or home experiences struggle with understanding the importance of follow-through, completion, and most issues of self-efficacy. As I work with them and communicate with their teachers, I am amazed at the polarity of approaches. Some teachers require all work, sooner or later, but are so laissez faire that students don’t take the requirement seriously. Other teachers are so rigid that the student must almost bring physical proof of their illness or the death in the family that prevented them from meeting a requirement. Yes, I am exaggerating a bit, but my point is that all students need to recognize the importance of deadlines and accountability and they learn that from their teachers. You, by having clear guidelines and consistent requirements, are helping your students develop a healthy understanding of real life success.

]]> By: Jenn http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27542 Jenn Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:59:42 +0000 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27542 I had to reread this a couple of times. There was quite a bit that hit a nerve with me. I teach special education and my students have become accustomed to their teachers not expecting very much and being allowed to not complete work or tasks and still pass to the next grade. I believe this is adding to our lowering of standards. Instead of raisning the standards and encouraging our students to achieve these standards, we are basically telling them that it is okay to not perform, we'll just lower our expectations so you won't have try and your feelings won't get hurt. Every year I have to be a "meanie" to get my students to realize that I have expectations and they will be met. I give homework and if it is not completed or turned in, you will get a zero. I have behavior standards and they will be met or there will be consequences. The real world is not "git ' er done" it is "do it or lose your job." Maybe students today aren't expected to become contributing members to society? I do like the idea of a trohpy case. I wonder if I could get my husband to build one for me? I will tape papers on my walls inside and outside of the room that are shinning examples of my student's work. My students glow with pride when I do this. I also believe in accountability to a point. I teach 6th grade and I must teach all core subjects on a 6th grade level according to 6th grade SPIs. My question is this... Is it my fault that my students aren't performing on a 6th grade level when they come to me at a 1st, maybe a 2nd grade level? Who is accountable at this point? When did we start passing students who could not read, write or perform basic math operations? Just a few thoughts..... Jenn I had to reread this a couple of times. There was quite a bit that hit a nerve with me. I teach special education and my students have become accustomed to their teachers not expecting very much and being allowed to not complete work or tasks and still pass to the next grade. I believe this is adding to our lowering of standards. Instead of raisning the standards and encouraging our students to achieve these standards, we are basically telling them that it is okay to not perform, we’ll just lower our expectations so you won’t have try and your feelings won’t get hurt. Every year I have to be a “meanie” to get my students to realize that I have expectations and they will be met. I give homework and if it is not completed or turned in, you will get a zero. I have behavior standards and they will be met or there will be consequences. The real world is not “git ‘ er done” it is “do it or lose your job.” Maybe students today aren’t expected to become contributing members to society?
I do like the idea of a trohpy case. I wonder if I could get my husband to build one for me? I will tape papers on my walls inside and outside of the room that are shinning examples of my student’s work. My students glow with pride when I do this.
I also believe in accountability to a point. I teach 6th grade and I must teach all core subjects on a 6th grade level according to 6th grade SPIs. My question is this… Is it my fault that my students aren’t performing on a 6th grade level when they come to me at a 1st, maybe a 2nd grade level? Who is accountable at this point? When did we start passing students who could not read, write or perform basic math operations?
Just a few thoughts…..
Jenn

]]> By: audrey http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27526 audrey Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:57:24 +0000 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27526 I'm not sure just why no zeroes for missed work. I don't only evaluate whether or not a child understands something. I teach about deadlines, consequences, accountability... real world skills. In the real world, a deadline is a deadline and there are consequences for your choices (unless of course you're a tenured teacher... then a deadline is really a request and accountability and consequences are only rumors ;-) I’m not sure just why no zeroes for missed work. I don’t only evaluate whether or not a child understands something. I teach about deadlines, consequences, accountability… real world skills. In the real world, a deadline is a deadline and there are consequences for your choices (unless of course you’re a tenured teacher… then a deadline is really a request and accountability and consequences are only rumors ;-)

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27514 Dean Shareski Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:45:39 +0000 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27514 Just giving you a hard time....pretty good that I remembered your post. I kind of agree with you but it's mostly because I'm lazy. Just giving you a hard time….pretty good that I remembered your post.

I kind of agree with you but it’s mostly because I’m lazy.

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27510 Doug Belshaw Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:48:13 +0000 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/09/20/plccontinuing-the-journeydoug-reeves/#comment-27510 Ha ha! Indeed. I just can't see the reason for 'live blogging' unless your audience absolutely <em>needs</em> the information as you're typing it. Otherwise, why not just record your thoughts in a word processor/personal wiki and then put together a coherent post on it later? It's a better learning technique anyway... :-) Ha ha! Indeed.

I just can’t see the reason for ‘live blogging’ unless your audience absolutely needs the information as you’re typing it. Otherwise, why not just record your thoughts in a word processor/personal wiki and then put together a coherent post on it later? It’s a better learning technique anyway… :-)

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