My Squirrelly View of Education

I just asked my students to write their final blog post for this semester. I am having them reflect on what they have learned and what they would change about this class. So I thought I should do the same. Here I

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go:

• I learned that JW is physically attached to both his hat and his cell phone. Removal of either item seems to result in physical pain and mental anguish. However, if I want to hear him whine, I now know how to get him to do it.  (Yes, Jay, I wrote that just for you.) (PS. I just discovered that Jay knows how to use the spell check feature on this site. Will wonders never cease?
• My Sophomores strengthened my belief that they can accomplish more than they think they can when given the proper tools. Each and every student writes more than he/she did in November. That in and of itself is a victory.
• I discovered that once my students started using technology, they easily saw how these web 2.0 technology could and should be used in every class.
• I learned that having laptops in my own classroom is more effective than having to traipse to a lab.
• I learnedthat the Michigan State Department of Education doesn’t have any understanding of the challenges faced in high school special education programs with the Michigan Merit Curriculum and the contradictory documentation and other requirements of IEPs and IDEA.
• I rediscovered my passion for learning new things, new gadgets, and new ideas.
• I learned that I need to ignore the minutia of education and concentrate on the kids.
• I learned to love my job again.
• I learned that even though my Aspie son is a legal adult and in college, he still acts and reacts like a middle school kid. He will continue to need our support and guidance for quite a while.
• I rediscovered my friendship with my husband. He may not believe it, but I truly revel in his presence. He is doing a wonderful job with his consultant business in these tough economic time.
• I learned that teaching with technology is not passive. It requires more energy and more of my focused presence than the traditional “sage on the stage” style of teaching.
• I learned that ongoing professional development via the web is necessary for both my personal and professional development.
• I learned that blogging is necessary for me to reflect on my life and my profession.
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• I learned that having a real audience of educators truly helps clarify my thinking and helps me to formulate new ideas.
• I learned that I’d rather “tweet” on Twitter than update my Facebook page.
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• I also learned that regardless what I say or do, my dear husband will never see the benefits of Twitter.
• I learned that the more I write, the better I get. Go figure?!

What would I change?

• I would learn how to really multitask so that I could accomplish more.
• I would make the day twice as long.
• I would blog at least twice a week.
• I would have one laptop for every student in my class.

This is just a partial list. I learned so much more, and I have more things I’d tweak.

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Okay. I’m a mom. What can I say? I got a few spare seconds and decided to look at my 18 year-old son’s blog that he is required to keep for his Freshman Comp class. He has always had problems with writing. (He got a 4 on the ACT writing; 25 composite. Yikes!) Language issues are part of the disorder. So I was pleasantly surprised at the coherence of his writing. Now if he’d just proof it before posting… I’m beginning to think, no, believe that blogging can be an effective tool for ALL of our students. I thought a real world example might help.

College Anxiety Blog