education & tech

Seema Mehta writes an article in Los Angeles Times about taking sink or swim out of 9th grade. The article states that ninth grade determines a student’s success in high school. If a student does poorly in the first year of school they are likely to drop out of high school for the 10th grade.

"A study released last week found that if students don’t start taking college-prep requirements in freshman year, they are less likely to meet the requirements for admission to California’s public universities", writes Mehta.

We think the idea of building ninth grade schools or have programs to help ninth graders adjust is great. Helping incoming ninth grader adjust to high school will definitely curve the dropout rate among ninth graders. At the age of these ninth graders so much is going on with them physically and mentally because of the effects puberty that extra guidance and attention would help the transition. As educators, we do think this could be costly and maybe hard to implement in all school districts nationwide but this could work, definitely. You as a parent, would think that in this effort student, teachers and administrators will work together more closely to assure that student achieve and adjust so they will continue through school.

All these efforts are great and should be tested and possibly adopted, but it need work on how to make sure that students are not only getting the attention they need but also the things they need for academic success. Will next Secretary of Education, be able to cope with this matter?

There are some questions that flow in my mind, though, what happens when they enter the tenth grade? How are they introduce to the tenth grade without the support of the teacher and administration they previously had? Would that be the same as entering the ninth grade but in the tenth grade? How would that transition work?

Can you make up to any of these questions? Glad to hear it and read them all.

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I was invited to attend the first parent-teacher-conference this year and I though it 'll be useful if we can jot down some advise for parents who have to be confronted to the brevity of such conferences.

Imagine, the letter I received says that I have been scheduled for a parent-teacher-conference on Nov. 2Oth from 1:15 -1:20. And it's due to "an overwhelming positive response" from parents. With such a short time, neither the teacher can present a complete review of your child's academic progress, nor a parent can ask some concerns beyond reviewing his child's schoolwork and textbooks.

Considering all these aspects, we want to suggest some of the ten questions we think are the most interesting we you met your child's homeroom/lead teacher to exchange information and so develop a good working relationship. Remember thought, parent-teacher-conference is a two-way exchange of information. Cross off what questions you'll pick for your next meeting at school:

1. Do you give test or benchmarks on a regular basis? - It's important to learn about the frequency so you can help at home. Is he doing accordingly?

2. What is your homework routine? - Ask about what it'll be the time students should spend on homework each evening and what is expected from parents in helping your son in this kind of activities.

3. What are the topics students are learning in science and social studies? Our school this year started mixing Language and Social Studies in the same class, but science is part of the core of curriculum same as math.

4. Does my son appear anxious about any aspect of school? - Be sure not always they walk out home happy to go to school, so might be something they don't like at this place. Be careful with bullying inside the school bus.

5. What are his academic strengths and weakness - We adults find some things easy to learn and some others more difficult, like us, kids have their own strengths but of course the parts where you should offer support.

6. What about his academic skills, how does he compare with his classmates academically? - Don't accept the typical "he's doing good". Ask the teacher how he compares with other students not only in the classroom but other classroom where other students interact. Is he above, at, or below grade level?

7. Is he having any behavioral or social difficulties? - This is a elementary school scenario but remember some kids get to puberty a bit early. Ask the teacher whether he/she considers unusual this difficulties for this age. Has the teacher noticed any sudden changes in his behaviour or mood?

8. What are the school programs your son can benefit? - My son takes Sport Clinics and enjoys to be enrolled on swimming clinics. It might happen that your school also offers academic programs like gifted and talented, after school tutoring, instrumental music or help with homework hotline.

9. How you as parent can help at home? - We all are busy persons but when we talk about your son's education, you have to make some room for it. If he needs reinforcement of any skills, ask for a tutor suggestion or what would it be the materials, activities and strategies the teacher suggests.

10 Best time to contact teacher during school schedule - Should I set an appointment? What is the procedure to be followed in case I have to pick early my kid. Can I reach you by phone and at what time. Most teacher find impersonal communications as the e-mail works better.

Article written taking the advise from a psychologist in Mercer School, NJ., Dr. Kennet Shore.

I've found the paper written by Mark Fettes,enlightening, because it gave us a clearer picture of how Indigenous communities might approach education. Not much has been written about this 'community education' explained on the basis of the model of cultural negotiation (by Arlen Stairs) Being an educator myself, I have never set foot in an Indigenous classroom, not even in my home country where we have many Indigenous communities, but now I may be able to start compiling information just in case I do visit one in the future here in the States or back in Ecuador.

The 22-page paper consists of information that helps in defining how Indigenous education has been influenced by four fundamentally different concepts of community. The author's paper cites David Corson to say that 'although the point of community education is sometimes to question taken-for-granted structures that oppress people, it usually leaves these structures in place'. We think Indigenous Education and the Ecology of Community is well suited to work towards a redefinition of Indian education.

It is interesting to note that the author of this paper has no background in any Aboriginal culture, neither a practising educator, nor tied closely to a community in the traditional sense of the word, which under our understanding, makes his reflections more objective.

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I’m biased but I see the Obama Education Policy as one of the best proposals I’ve heard. The reason, I suspect, is the President Elect’s ability to listen. Listen to kids, and they will teach you how to teach them.

A challenging student came to class tardy, annoyed, and using a disciplinary referral as a pass. Because of his exceptional E.Q. I deferred as the student took over my role. Remember middle school? he challenged a class of sophomores.

"Yeah! It was wild ... A fight every day! Yeah, middle school was great.

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We're all in the Connected Generation

Almost every economically active individual today is “connected”, so the fact that it is only youth that are connected, is a myth.

Is the paperless school in sight?

Direct your students either towards using Photoshop Elements, which has most of the features they use in school or to an open-source alternative called The Gimp. For free software, Artrage is one of our favourites, along with Blender for 3D enthusiasts, Open Office and Audacity for audio.

New Classroom 2.0

Do the new classroom technologies represent an educational breakthrough, a threat to teaching itself, or something in between?