Richard Villa
“Reconstructing for a Caring and Effective Education”
Richard Villa gave a compelling and inspiring presentation about the future of education. He spoke of need for all of our students to gain independence, generosity, belonging and mastery. He spoke about how schools should belong to everyone not just teachers or administrators, but to the students and community as well. I particularly liked his statement about needing to educating students to be humane individuals over students who are just proficient in academics. The last group of students to be desegregated into our schools has been students with special needs. He stressed the need to create a “Culture of Artistry” in our schools where students are encouraged to use their hands, head, heart and soul.
I was already looking forward to attending the credential program here because of the COE’s commitment to social justice, multiculturalism and the high caliber of instructors I have encountered thus far. After Richard Villa’s speech, I am even more confident in my decision to work with the special education program. Their philosophy about education is very much inline with my own in regards to the need to work with the whole student and foster positive growth physically, emotionally, and socially before any academic growth can be accomplished.
What is the goal of education?
My answer to this question was for us as teachers to guide our students in becoming happy, healthy and successful individuals.
How do we create a culture of Care and Artistry in our schools?
I feel this can be accomplished by making sure we are meeting all of our students needs and by not focusing just on academics. We need to focus on the student as a whole person. Striking a balance between mastery, generosity, independence, belonging and by always respecting our students and their needs.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Journal 2
McFarlane, S. H. (2008). The laptops are coming! the laptops are coming!. Rethinking Schools Online, 22,
Retrieved July 22, 2008, from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/22_04/lapt224.shtml
This article addresses the issues of integrating technology into the school/curriculum/class culture. At first, all the students having laptops was a welcomed addition. The use of technology in the classroom introduced a new approach to doing things that was accessible to all student s regardless of their first language, skill level etc.
Eventually the infiltration of and reliance on technology in daily life became more of a distraction and nuisance than a blessing. Technology trainings and complications took over the campus and lessened the “face to face” interactions between students and staff.
Does integrating technology into the classroom add to or detract from instruction?
I think the key here is moderation. Students should not be using laptops and technology for every assignment in every subject. There still needs to be “paper and pencil” activities, “face to face” discussions, and projects that are hands on and improve verbal communication.
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
I feel that regular access to technology can improve and build upon lessons while giving students alternative avenues for self-expression and communication. However, you can’t live your life on a computer. Again, the key is moderation or balance between hanging out in cyberspace and kickin’ it old school.
Retrieved July 22, 2008, from http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/22_04/lapt224.shtml
This article addresses the issues of integrating technology into the school/curriculum/class culture. At first, all the students having laptops was a welcomed addition. The use of technology in the classroom introduced a new approach to doing things that was accessible to all student s regardless of their first language, skill level etc.
Eventually the infiltration of and reliance on technology in daily life became more of a distraction and nuisance than a blessing. Technology trainings and complications took over the campus and lessened the “face to face” interactions between students and staff.
Does integrating technology into the classroom add to or detract from instruction?
I think the key here is moderation. Students should not be using laptops and technology for every assignment in every subject. There still needs to be “paper and pencil” activities, “face to face” discussions, and projects that are hands on and improve verbal communication.
Do the benefits outweigh the costs?
I feel that regular access to technology can improve and build upon lessons while giving students alternative avenues for self-expression and communication. However, you can’t live your life on a computer. Again, the key is moderation or balance between hanging out in cyberspace and kickin’ it old school.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Journal 1
Shifflet, R, & Toledo, Cheri (2008). Extreme Makeover: Updating Class. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved July 15, 2008, from http://jheil65.googlepages.com/Journal1.pdf.
This article was about using technology in the classroom to revamp your lesson plans. It gave an over view of different online tools that can be very useful. These include collaborative writing tools, blogs, social bookmarking, photo sharing and building reference resources. While I feel this technology is amazing and very useful for students to use, I’m not sure how much of it I will really use in my classroom as I intend to teach special education students. However, I will most likely continue using the bog and social bookmaking to collaborate with my future colleagues.
How much of this could I use with special education students?
Well, it depends on what population I work with. I would like to teach a preschool SDC class, but I could very well end up with older students. I know that no matter what grade I have my students will be using the class computers frequently. Using the collaborative writing tools and blogs would be a great way to keep older students engaged and interested in writing assignments. It would also help them to feel connected to each other and hopefully foster friendships out side of the classroom.
Mader, J, & Smith, B (2008). Blogging right along. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved July 15, 2008, from http://jheil65.googlepages.com/Journal1.pdf.
Blogging right along focuses on having students use a class blog to keep up on class events and topics. Some of the advantages to this are that students can access important information easily and it chronicles class events. It also allows student s to collaborate and share ideas. Homework assignments, directions and examples can be posted on a class blog and students can work together on the assignment. Again, I feel this really has a place with older students maybe middle school and up. I would really love to try a class blog for my students though, one that parents would access too! How great would it be to start an online community for parents to network and share resources. Maybe there could be class volunteer sign up sheet online and the parents could organize class events!
How could I get my room parents involved in something like this?
I would introduce the blog and how to use it during back to school night. I think this would be a great way to get the parents involved in the class and school! There could be some difficulties though. Some of my families might not have computers at home, speak different languages or be busy single parents. That would be one great thing about having it online though. There are several different translation databases where parents or myself could translate posts and having it online would mean it was always accessible to busy parents. I could also make sure to inform parents with out computers at home where to find public access, maybe there would be one in the parent volunteer center?
This article was about using technology in the classroom to revamp your lesson plans. It gave an over view of different online tools that can be very useful. These include collaborative writing tools, blogs, social bookmarking, photo sharing and building reference resources. While I feel this technology is amazing and very useful for students to use, I’m not sure how much of it I will really use in my classroom as I intend to teach special education students. However, I will most likely continue using the bog and social bookmaking to collaborate with my future colleagues.
How much of this could I use with special education students?
Well, it depends on what population I work with. I would like to teach a preschool SDC class, but I could very well end up with older students. I know that no matter what grade I have my students will be using the class computers frequently. Using the collaborative writing tools and blogs would be a great way to keep older students engaged and interested in writing assignments. It would also help them to feel connected to each other and hopefully foster friendships out side of the classroom.
Mader, J, & Smith, B (2008). Blogging right along. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved July 15, 2008, from http://jheil65.googlepages.com/Journal1.pdf.
Blogging right along focuses on having students use a class blog to keep up on class events and topics. Some of the advantages to this are that students can access important information easily and it chronicles class events. It also allows student s to collaborate and share ideas. Homework assignments, directions and examples can be posted on a class blog and students can work together on the assignment. Again, I feel this really has a place with older students maybe middle school and up. I would really love to try a class blog for my students though, one that parents would access too! How great would it be to start an online community for parents to network and share resources. Maybe there could be class volunteer sign up sheet online and the parents could organize class events!
How could I get my room parents involved in something like this?
I would introduce the blog and how to use it during back to school night. I think this would be a great way to get the parents involved in the class and school! There could be some difficulties though. Some of my families might not have computers at home, speak different languages or be busy single parents. That would be one great thing about having it online though. There are several different translation databases where parents or myself could translate posts and having it online would mean it was always accessible to busy parents. I could also make sure to inform parents with out computers at home where to find public access, maybe there would be one in the parent volunteer center?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
The Introduction Letter
I grew up in Escondido, CA. I went to Oak Hill, Hidden Valley MS and Orange Glen HS. After high school I attened Palomar for several years and tried to figure out what I wanted to do. While I was there, I worked as a tutor for AmeriCorps and realized that whatever I did, I wanted to work with kids in some way. I am currently an undergrad at Cal State San Marcos, majoring in Human Development with and emphasis in counseling. After working as an instructional assistant in special ed. for the past four years the thought of going into education/teaching has really grown on me. I hope to start the credential program next summer and get my special education credential. One part of the COE mission statement that speaks the most to me is the commitment " to diversity, educational equity, and social justice" I feel that anyone wanting to be a teacher needs to be committed to these things and really be an adovacte for children.
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