#education--any help?
My final project for my Teaching Diverse Learners class is to develop a 30-60 minute professional development workshop on an issue of diversity to inform our future colleagues about. My group has chosen to cover LGBTQ-related issues—which is a huge topic, with many issues and facets that contribute to how those identities and the perception of those identities affect our students.
If you have any resources you’d be willing to pass on, please let me know. We have to throw this together by Friday. I’d love you all forever and ever (even more than I already do, of course!)
Eighth Graders Play Macklemore's "Same Love" For Gay Teacher
buzzfeed.comTwo students planned a surprise for their teacher during the “YouTube of the Day” part of their class.
I’m not crying, it’s just been raining. On my face.
“A popular practice in many classrooms is the creation and use of folders filled with extension activities and extra practice sheets--exercises designed to occupy students who finish class assignments quickly. I made them, too, in those early years, back when I was stuck in the mode of doing what everyone else around me did. Like warm-ups, these fun folders for the fast finishers has little instructional value other than drill and practice and took hours of time to plan and create. When my students asked me whether they could read books instead of doing the folders, I got the message. When I took a closer look at those folders, it became clear to me that they were simply time wasters, busywork, and, in some ways, punishment for students who were capable. Students hate those supposedly fun folders. My husband, a self-proclaimed slacker in school, figured out that when he finished his assignments earlier than other students, his reward was more work. He began to work more slowly, stretching out assignments that he could have easily finished in order to avoid the extra work.”
—Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer
Her book repeats the idea of using any extra time in class for independent reading—not fluff work that you try to convince yourself is academic. When students are engaged in reading, they reap the rewards tenfold in their writing, speaking, and reading skills—not only in English class, but across the board.
For those who are having difficulty finding a job:
We should brainstorm and start a list of careers or jobs that would work well with an education degree. I know all too well that many have had extreme difficulty finding a job after graduation. What careers can you think of that would be a great “booster” before the final hoo-rah of finding a job? Here’s an ednewsdaily article that lists 20 companies that hire teachers.
I’ll start the our list:
- Tutor - Privately or through a tutoring company
- Nanny - Prin. told me that she looks at experiences like this because it provides a very paralleled experience in the classroom
- After-School Program Councilor - Did it, Loved it, Awesome Experience and definitely provided some of the best experience.
7 Year Old in Wheelchair, Isolated by Photographer in Class Picture
Note:
This is a truly upsetting story. We know its not the teachers fault and she must feel pain for the picture. Just for Miles Ambridge (the child in the wheelchair), if you or your family reads this we wanted to tell you…you’re awesome buddy! Keep your chin up!
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A school photo that depicts a disabled student sitting conspicuously apart from the rest of his classmates was retaken after the boy’s outraged parents brought the issue to the attention of the photography company responsible.
Reports Canadian outlet The Province, the original Herbert Spencer Elementary School class photo shows 7-year-old Miles Ambridge, who uses a wheelchair, separated from the rest of his 22 classmates. As Ambridge smiles for the camera, he strains his neck to be closer to the rest of the group.
When the boy brought the photo home to his parents last month, they were shocked.
Ambridge has a genetic disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which attacks spinal nerve cells. As a result, he cannot walk, and he uses a wheelchair to get around, reports the Toronto Star.
“I couldn’t comprehend how the photographer could look through the lens and think that this was good composition. … [T]his just boggled the mind,” said mother Anne Belanger, according to the Star. “Being picked on and being set aside is horrendous and this was what was happening.”
Upon seeing the photo Miles’ father, Don Ambridge, wrote to the British Columbia school asking that they have Lifetouch Photography retake the picture. Belanger also posted the photo on Lifetouch Photography’s Facebook page.
Lifetouch retook the class photo last Thursday, this time with Miles out of his wheelchair and sitting with the rest of his class, reports the Province.
Although Don Ambridge found the original photo upsetting and hurtful, he said he does not think the photographer meant to discriminate against his son.
“For me, discrimination is a willful exclusion of somebody,” said the elder Ambridge, according to CBC News. “I don’t believe that’s a case here. … I think what it is, is just a circumstantial lack of awareness that resulted in a really emotionally tragic output.”
Belanger, on the other hand, did think the photo was discriminatory.
“Kids can be cruel but this comes from adults, which is even worse,” she told the Province. “Adults should know better.”
Don Ambridge notes that his son did not seem aware of any discrimination when the original photo shoot was taking place.
“He doesn’t carry that perception of any wrongdoing or malice. He’s just trying to be part of the picture and he’s having a great time doing it,” said Ambridge, per CBC News. “I think that’s part of the pain for me. … [I]t’s just so innocent where you start thinking, ‘How dare you?’”
Source: Huffington Post + Toronto Star
