November+16,+2009+class+notes

Discussion of readings (Nell): You have to know your kids Create a 10-15 question survey that you want to give to your kids about what you want to know about them

Duane: who do you live with? where do you go after school? what holidays and special events do you celebrate? who comes? what family get-togethers do you have and what do you eat? what is on your ipod right now? what is the last song you listened to? what are you good at? what do you like to do? where is the farthest you have traveled? Where would you like to go? what super powers would you like to have? where do you do your homework? what could you teach? how many texts do you write a day? (and when?) Want to know about the community they're in, who influences them, what they like/dislike, what they're good at, what they feel they're good at, what they feel like they can teach. Get a sense of their understanding of the world around them--if they've traveled. if they haven't. What's their frame of reference? A big part of a person's culture: what they eat. Text message: how active they are contacting other people?

Linda: How old are you? What do you do for fun? Pets? Where are you from? What holidays do you celebrate? Which is your favorite? How far from the school do you live? How do you get to/from? Any after school activities? What are an expert at? What do you hope to cover in this class? What do you want to do for a living? Where do you do homework? Do you have access to the internet at home? If not, do you go to the library? What type of internet access (dial up?) It would help to know what home situation and circumstances they have to know whether my expectations can be met. If they don't have the time or the space to be working on homework in a safe place, or it takes them forever to get to/from school--to gauge what I can

Nell: What is your after school routine? 2-3 things that you're great at? Who lives at your house? Do you have career interests yet? Technology that you have Favorite TV shows? Do you like talking/reading in front of a group? in group projects, what kinds of roles do you take on? What form would your ideal project take on? what do you struggle with in school? How can I help with this? What would embarrass you if I did it in the classroom? What do you want to know about me? Family traditions, songs, texting, what do you want to learn about in school/biology? What can I explain better? Do better? We're starting a second semester--things that we haven't covered that we can work in. Kids are really curious about teachers. Knowing about their routine and family life is important. Know what kinds of projects they want to do--there hasn't been a big variety yet. What do you struggle with? How can I help? Kids felt touched that Ts cared.

relationships first, then business if they trust you--there has to be a connection there before people start working with you

//what behaviors have you seen in a classroom that can tell you about that student?// students who are really quiet in the classroom--need to give them individual attention and they engage student who doesn't stick up for herself: need to give her equitable access to equipment, resources, etc student who comes off really tough, emotionally closed off with angry outbursts--maybe feeling like he isn't being heard

//are our classrooms allowing our students to be themselves? Are they putting on a mask?// what do we mean by "themselves"? for some of the people, the dynamic of the classroom suits them well--but for other people, they can't sit through a lecture or read--that doesn't work for them getting a translator for Hispanic kids in the class--there is a wall between the two groups of students no real effort on the part of the teacher to make inclusive environment

Life-wide, life-long, life-deep life-long: the first time you learn anything; life-wide: adapting what you learn to different situations life-deep: customizing to your learning; the code you live by, how that influences your learning

//Think of each one of these pieces--can you think about an aspect of your life that corresponds to each of these?// Life-deep learning is not set in stone (even for adults) It's taken a while to get to the beliefs that you have, they evolve we're slower to change our views

//Think of your students and what would be happening in their lives// As an adult, situations may seem simple to us, but to youth, it is traumatic or very challenging--we can't discount the struggle Students' identities, sense of who they are are still developing--life-deep learning is still being developed Can feel like life-deep is set in stone More easily change their beliefs and perspectives--more dramatic changes

//Do you find yourself speaking differently when you're teaching vs. at school, at home, etc//

kids who are different between classes who your kids are

"You can have any color you want as long as it's black"

no competition