Do You Know Your School Board?

Too often when we think about educational reform or educational policy changes we look to the school district administration or the legislature to bring about these changes. What we often overlook is the role that school boards play in setting educational agendas, measuring student achievement, and overseeing fiscal responsibilities.

School board members are elected officials and school board meetings are open to the public. School boards are charged with:

  • Creating the educational vision of the district. The educational vision is reflected in the learning environment by the quality of teachers, the measurement of student learning, and the effectiveness of the school/ community collaboration.
  • Establishing educational goals.  School boards rely on community input to their elected officials to set educational goals that meet the concerns of parents, students, and the community.
  • Developing policy.  School boards develop district-wide policies that govern student discipline, student assessment, teaching practices, and much, much more.
  • Allocating resources. School boards ultimately make the tough budget decisions.  In an ever tightening economy, school boards decide which programs to keep and which programs to cut.
  • Assuring fiscal and educational accountability.  School boards, as an elected body, are accountable to their electorate for the financial and educational decisions they make.

As parents and as a community we have a lot at stake in the educational outcomes of our school district. Becoming more involved with our local school board is one way to be sure that our students are getting the best education for the tax dollars we spend.

To find out more about your school board visit your school district’s website and find the current list of school board members and the date of the next school board meeting.

Filed Under: Education, Private School, Public School Tagged With: , ,

Cell Phones–An Educational Tool?

For the last several years, as cell phones became an appendage to teenagers, teachers and educational administrators have struggled to keep cell phone use out of the classroom. The reasons were sound.  Ringing or vibrating cell phones cause constant interruptions to the learning process.  Students that are texting one another are not paying attention to the educational tasks at hand.  Students, already hooked on gaming, are given even more opportunities to stay unconnected to real world activities.

In 2011 these are still valid reasons to limit or qualify cell phone use in the classroom. However sound the reasoning, educators have found that by invoking a zero-tolerance policy for cell phones in the classroom, they have inadvertently installed a barrier between teachers and students.  Rather than enriching the educational environment by reducing distractions, students are restless and disengaged.

Today more and more teachers are finding ways to incorporate cell phone usage as part of their lesson plans and the results have been mostly positive.   Some of the ways teachers are using student cell phones in the class room are:

  • Photographing white boards for future use
  • Using the cell phone as a stop watch to time experiments and free writing
  • Transferring files between home and school
  • Creating short movies for school projects.

Teachers who allow some uses of cell phones in the classroom report that students are more engaged in the educational process.  In addition, students are more tolerant and respectful toward some cell phone restrictions in the classroom when it is not all or nothing.

The pocket computing capabilities of cell phones is the wave of the future.  As the technology improves, educators can find even more classroom applications.

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Melding Students and Technology

Students across the country are being exposed to a new form of learning in the form of online education. This new method of education includes not only classes taken from home, but also those taught in a classroom setting that utilize technology in new and unique ways. There are a lot of educational systems online like earnmydegree.com who are guaranteed to be credible sources of education.

Understanding the impact of technology and online learning on our students is critical for teachers and administrators who hope to develop successful online learning programs. Traditional online learning was developed to answer a need for students who needed access to educational materials in their home. Home schooled students, those interested in higher education but unable to attend traditional classes and those interested in continuing education at a distance found online courses to be a good solution. This still holds true today; however, teachers are utilizing online course material in new in unique ways to educate students even in a classroom setting.

Integrating technology into a traditional classroom setting is the new definition of online learning. Teachers who utilize online courses, resources and technology are meeting the needs of their students in a more effective way. Consider the science teacher who uses an online class resource to help students better understand anatomy. This may be done through the use of videos, lectures or even discussions with other students.

Students often relate better to online resources – especially students who feel that they are technologically advanced and rely on technology and computers for every aspect of their life. By integrating technology, online courses and the drive of our students, fish teachers have a better chance to educate the whole student instead of simply teaching them a lesson.

As technology continues to develop we’re likely to see continuing changes in the form of online classes. Who knows? Students 10 years from now maybe using ebooks for textbooks, emailing reports and assignments and taking tests online.

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Montessori Schools and Methods

Montessori is both a teaching method and a type of private school.  Some public schools have Montessori classrooms.  The schools were started in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori.  Maria Montessori originally trained as physician.  It was from this interest in science and scientific inquiry that she developed her method by observing children as they learn.  The basis of her method is that the pace of student learning is as variable as the student.

Age Groupings

In Montessori schools and classrooms students are grouped according to age.  For instance one group is 0-3 years, the next group is 6-9 years, the third group is 9-12, etc.  The varying ages within a group allows each child to learn at their own pace.  In addition, it allows each child to teach another.

Free Range Learning

Classrooms are set up to accommodate learning centers for each subject.  Students can move freely around the room, working first on one subject and then moving on to the next.  In the course of a school day the student will spend time on every subject.

Interwoven Learning Modules

Rather than teaching subjects in isolation, the Montessori method takes a theme for the day or the week and explores that theme through history, math, science, music, reading and writing.  This method allows the student to have a greater understanding of the topic.

No Grades

In Montessori schools and classrooms there are no grades.  Learning is measured by the student’s portfolio of work and the teacher’s observations.

According to recent statistics students taught using the Montessori method score above average on standardized tests and perform well in college and life. There are more than 4,000 Montessori schools in the United States.

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Is School Violence Ordinary?

Is school violence so ordinary that every day in every school instances of physical and psychological violence go unreported and unheeded?  Unfortunately, the answer for most schools and most students is yes.  It is not until some extraordinary act of violence occurs that society and educators begin the back tracking that reveals patterns of violence, abuse, social isolation and shaming that ultimately lead to an extraordinary act.

Not every student victim or perpetrator of small acts of physical and psychological violence goes on to commit an extraordinary act.  Yet every victim and perpetrator is changed by the violence, some irrevocably.

Our role has parents and educators is to create a learning atmosphere where every student feels accepted by their teachers and by each other.  Our goal for education should be more than the acquisition of a prescribed volume of knowledge or the passing of standardized tests.  Our goal should be to prepare students to learn fir  understanding, to learn to find meaning, and to learn tolerance and how to live together.

Addressing small violences as they occur is everyone’s responsibility.  It must be addressed at home, at school, in the community, and in the media.  It begins with information.  What is a small act of violence? Is it pushing? Shunning?  Is it cruel speech?  It begins with modeling the behavior we want to see, not just in the classroom, but everywhere we interact with each other.

Violence of any kind should never be ordinary.  A great society only flourishes when every member is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.  Can we change the wave of violence if everyone steps up to the responsibility?  Parents and educators can change themselves and influence changes in children. Isn’t it worth a try?  We have so much to lose.

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Student Requirements

There are rules placed in schools that are intended to help students focus on schooling as well as developing healthy citizenship. This means that dress codes, codes of conduct, and rules of school property are all intended to help students become better adults in the community they live in, when they complete their schooling. For many schools, there are stiff consequences if students are not able to adhere to the prescribed rules, and they find that they are serving detention, being suspended, or worse, expelled from the school that they attend. It is the schools job to ensure absolute safety for all the student body, and if a student is not willing to acknowledge the rules set into place by the district, they are potential creating a situation that can cause harm to other students.

This might sound odd, but it is truly the students full-time job to be at school and participate in learning. The rules and requirements that are set in place are no different than what a student would see in a work place or with a higher education institution. Students are not just being educated while at school, they are being trained in what it takes to be a member of society once school is completed. A willingness to follow the guidelines and rules shows that a students understand the concept of respecting others, respecting themselves, and respecting the rule that were put in place regardless of the reasons. This will carry on in their lives, in their workplace, and with their own families later on in life. For those that struggle with their requirements, they may find that they have a tough transition into the real world, and that they are not treated like what they had expected.

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Preparation for Student Loan Payment

Student loans can be a great tool for those attending college, since it can be very expensive when factoring in housing, books, tuition, and other living expenses. Since the interest rates are lower than those on standard loans, and payments usually don’t have to be made until after graduation, these loans can sometimes feel almost like free money. However, students must remember that these loans will have to be paid back in full, plus interest, as soon as schooling is completed. Graduation can be an exciting time, as the possibilities for new jobs in the desired field loom on the horizon, but suddenly owing thousands of dollars can put a damper on this excitement, especially if a job isn’t obtained right away.

There are several ways to avoid this sudden surge of debt while still in school. First, when applying for a loan, calculate how much is really needed. Extravagant expenses like vacations, excessive amounts of clothing or dining out, and other costs are not necessary and should not be included in the budget. Only list what is truly needed, such as groceries, rent, utilities, books, and tuition.

Living on a budget is a great way to limit the amount of debt that will be incurred. Another way to save is to work while in school; even a part-time job during evenings or on weekends can help to pay off the loan sooner and avoid some of the extra interest that can accrue. Learning about an available debt consolidation service in the area can be a useful tool, as it helps to combine all outstanding loans that can be paid with one payment at a lower interest rate. Being prepared for the expenses that come with graduation can help students to be more aware of what is coming and help them begin to save money in order to make the loan payments in a timely fashion.

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School Property

School property is also the property of the tax payer. This means that the libraries, school grounds and buildings, and even the equipment is eligible to be used by the public. In fact, many elementary school playgrounds are tied to a public park so that children can play on the equipment after school hours are over. This was part of the initiative with the New Deal that allowed for parks to be placed in the middle of the city for urban children. What many do not realize is that the structure of the school property, and public access was put together so those that were disadvantaged would have some form of resources if they needed assistance, technology, or books. It is considered taboo, however, for some random stranger to go marching through the school, and many schools will object to this. It is wise to make reservations, or to notify the school of your plan prior to arriving. This way they can ensure the safety of the students. For many towns and areas though, the school library is also the public library, and the computer lab is the only place in town that has computers that are readily available.

The other aspect to school property is that is must be respected and taken care of. Allowing students to vandalize or ruin school property does nothing other than create an ugly mark and cost tax payers money for repairs. Parents should encourage their children to help maintain and take care of the schools they attend so that the remain beautiful and ready for the next set of children preparing to attend. By teaching them to respect their place of academics, hopefully they will being to respect other public areas and their own homes as well.

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Keeping it Sharp

Have you ever looked down at your machete, and seen that its edge had gone dull in the midst of all your mad hacking and slashing? It doesn’t matter whether you prowl a lake looking for sinful teenagers or you’re just slaughtering the foliage that dares to get in the way of your lawn being beautiful; your machete had better be as sharp as humanly possible. And in pretty much the same way, you also need to keep your mind sharp. While you won’t be using your brain to hack down foliage or slaughter enemies (unless you have some sweet psychic powers), keeping your mind sharp is still important for hacking down the mental foliage in life.

Think about it. Going back to school may not just be great for your career; it may also be a great way for you to sharpen up your mind, like a whet stone for your synapses. While going to grad school may seem like the “late night infomercial blade sharpener” version of honing your mind, it can be extremely effective. Not only will you expose yourself to some seriously different concepts, grad schools know that you’re going into a profession – so they won’t just let you skim by on mediocrity. The whole thing is a challenge, from day one until you graduate.

Business doesn’t let up, and that GMAT class online will only give you so much of an advantage. You have to really want this if you’re going to get it. So will you let your mental machete get all dull, so you basically end up bludgeoning your problems to death like a house wife with a frying pan? Or will you hack and slash your way through the problems of business (and life) like a Samurai gardener? You have the opportunity to go far, and to do so much, so take it!

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Public Education

Public education was founded on deeply religious principles. In fact, the first text book was the Bible. This was during a very puritanical America, and many felt that all children should know the religious basis for our country’s development. The idea behind public education was not to secularize information, but rather make a public the option for students to learn to read and to write, and for families to receive it free of charge. Of course today things look much different than the little school house and hands getting smacked with rulers. Today there is a ground fundamental that all children have the right to a solid education, and that it is the obligation of every parent to ensure that their child is in school.

Today teachers are well versed in their particular area of study, and have mastered very detailed aspects of different topics. This is why students change classrooms for different subjects because the information is so detailed that is could not possibly be taught by one person. This is the case with science and foreign language. It would be impossible for one teacher to know the deepest details of mitosis and be able to teach Spanish, Calculus, American Literature, and History to the depth of what students are required to know these days. Public educators are masters at their particular area of study, and that is of a great benefit for students as they are provided a well-rounded and deep education.

For the beginnings of public school, many students were taught to read and to write, and they were also in a tiny room of students that were from grades k-12. Many students did not remain in school until they reached the 12th grade, as many of them had to help with the family. We are so fortunate to have a system that allows us the ability to be educated without pressure of taking care of a family at the same time.

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