Montessori Method of Education

The ability to just watch children learn is one of the most rewarding things about life. How they interpret knowledge and use their own intellect to understand the world around them is ingenious. As an educator one of the most rewarding aspects about teaching children is when they can use their own interests to teach themselves. This capability comes through the educative teaching plan set by Maria Montessori. Maria was an Italian educator who through her studies discovered that, "children have an innate drive to learn, and that all on their own they are capable of amassing an incredible amount of information and wisdom about the world around them". http://www.nndb.com/people/189/000108862/
"Working with institutionalized and inner-city youngsters, Dr. Maria Montessori was struck by how avidly the children absorbed knowledge from their surroundings. Given developmentally appropriate materials and the freedom to follow their interests, they joyfully taught themselves.
The goal of Montessori education is to foster a child’s natural inclination to learn. Montessori teachers guide rather than instruct, linking each student with activities that meet his interests, needs, and developmental level. The classroom is designed to allow movement and collaboration, as it also promotes concentration and a sense of order.
Unique learning materials beckon from accessible shelves, inviting small hands to take on new challenges, 1 concept or skill at a time." https://www.amshq.org/Montessori%20Education.aspx
I find that this method is extremely appealing especially since I want to teach elementary education. Giving my students the freedom to explore their own interests and learn in their own unique way is so important to help students find an interest in learning. I found that this method of education helps students be engaged in learning for not just their elementary ed. years but for the rest of their education. I feel that if I can use the methods that Maria taught, my students will be better prepared to learn in the future.

 

Thanks to Christopher

I can always remember celebrating Thanksgiving during elementary school because we would all bring in snacks and do arts and crafts. Teachers taught us the story about how the pilgrims needed help when they first came over from England so the Native Americans taught them how to harvest corn and because of this they all celebrated together with a big feast. Now many years later, I know that this is not the truth. I feel that telling children the truth about how cruel the pilgrims were to the Native American population is not the best route to go, but introducing them in a positive light is the best approach for a teacher. The article "I is for Indian" introduces many ways for a teacher to approach the subject of teaching about the Native Americans. The article "What Not to Teach" does a very good job at addressing the idea that Native Americans have a culture that is still around today and that many of the stereotypes of Native Americans are not true. Teaching students about the culture of them and not necessarily the relationship between the pilgrims and the Native Americans is a better idea. I also feel that there should be a redefinition of Thanksgiving Day. It should still be a time of celebration for people to come together and learn from each other but it should not be about the Pilgrims and Native Americans.

 Similarly I also feel that the same should be done for Columbus Day. The truth should be taught to students that Christopher Columbus did not discover American and that the Native Americans inhabited America long before he came. The massacres that occurred by Columbus and his men should be taught to students. This topic is touchy because I don’t feel that violence is an okay subject to teach to elementary level students, but they should still know about the culture of the Native Americans. I don’t feel that celebrating Columbus Day is okay because it represents so many horrors.

Social Justice in the Classroom

When approaching a topic such as social justice in education one main question that comes to mind is: Can students handle discussing controversial topics?
The research that I found states that students are capable of discussing these topics when provided with real life examples that they can see and with these examples see how they are affected. The website "Using Their Words" includes the work of Dr. Bree Picower. She has conducted research on the actibities that teachers can provide for their students to adress soical justice issues. One research includes the Six Elements of Social Justice Education.

1.Self-love and knowledge:
2.Respect for Others
3.Issues of Social Injustice
4.Social Movements and Social Change
5.Awareness Raising
6.Social Action
Through these six elements students and teachers can adress social justice in a safe enviornment. The teacher is allowed to show the students that diversity is a great thing for everyone to learn from. The students are not only learning from the teacher but they are also learning from their peers. The teacher is able to explore the studnets thoughts on social issues, how they can help prevent issues from arising and how to help the issues in their communities.
http://www.usingtheirwords.org

Voting and Education

When looking at the ballot for the first time many thoughts come to mind when making that very important decision. What are my reasons for choosing either Obama or Romney in terms of freedom, money, and more importatnly to me as a teacher, education?


"The National Education Association generally advocates the Democratic Party. "Listen to the candidates talk about education and two distinct visions quickly emerge: President Obama positions public education as the cornerstone of a thriving middle class and healthy economy, while Candidate Romney often refers to education as the exclusive domain of those with the means to attain it"

The Ryan/Romney budget plan would slash education funding by $115 billion over ten years–hurting the neediest students, causing class sizes to increase, forcing elimination of programs aimed at providing a well-rounded education, and actually reducing the number of educators in classrooms. The Romney/Ryan plan also would push 2 million kids out of Head Start and slash Pell Grants for more than 9 million students seeking a college education.
“Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have made it abundantly clear that they support the interests of corporate America and the wealthy over America’s students,” said Van Roekel.

 President Obama’s annual budget proposals have consistently increased funding for education, and his college tax credit has helped more than 9 million students and families pay for college. The president also recently pledged to recruit 100,000 math and science teachers over the next decade in order to prepare students for the 2.7 million new technology jobs expected to open up by 2018."  In short the NEA   thinks that Romney is going to screw the education system."
http://educationvotes.nea.org/2012/10/15/obama-vs-romney-two-visions-for-education/

As a develeping teacher it is improtant to analyze all sides of the candidates. These men are the ones who are going to affect not only our lives but also the lives of our future students. As future teachers it is our job to ensure that our vote is not just for our benefit but for all students and educators. That being said Happy Voting!