11.08.07 choice blog

In this article “Teens' risky actions grow in high school” from the Denver Post talks about the number of dangers and suicide attempts in high school students. A survey was conducted with Denver teens and results scared adults. Also last year a survey was conducted in Abraham Lincoln High School and Half of the 11th-graders surveyed at Abraham Lincoln said they had been in a car with a person who had been drinking, 45 percent of the 88 freshmen queried said they had tried to kill themselves in the past year, and just 30 percent of 10th-graders felt they had adequate parental support. Later in the article the school’s district says that they figured out where to put their efforts in to save lives. For the sake of these teens parents Denver put together a video of these statistics to show how dangerous this subject actually is. The video was viewed at a recent “parents advisory committee” at ALHS to show these families that “its in the parents mind power.”

After reading this article all I can say is WOW. I had no clue that this many teens were wanting or attempted to commit suicide last year. And I can only imagine how the numbers have changed from the past year to this year. I think about if that survey was conducted at my school how the number would come out. And if maybe someone I know may be included in those numbers who have tried it. I agree with the city, that school should enforce the importance suicide and how much it can affect the other people around you. I believe the earlier that kids/teens are taught that this can be shared with other people to prevent it the more the number will decrease for teen deaths. Also I agree with the people saying that the risks of life become more extreme in high school because the number of people doing these bad things is greater. And those big numbers of people put more pressure on teens. There isn’t one teen that won’t be offered a chance to “rebel” while in school whether it be in middle or high school. Everyone is faced with decisions and they have the ability to make the good decision as long as mentors among them have lived a good lifestyle and taught them good things. It also hurts me to hear that some modern day teens feel that there life isn’t important or no one feels they are important. EVERYONE is important in the world and should be taught that their life isn’t meaningless and shouldn’t be taken for granted. I recommend reading this article because I think that the more adults/teens who are informed about this very serious subject the more aware people will become about their family/friends.

PLN Choice 11-1-07

Not Your Parents' Parent-Teacher Conferences

In this article Mr. Fisch talks about how having parent teacher conferences are almost pointless when the parents only want to discuss their child’s grade. Many teachers agree with him because when the parents know that their child’s grades are accessible online and they can talk to their kids they still come in and discuss it with their teacher. So one teacher this year took a different approach, she decided to sit down with each of her students and ask them to do and answer the following:

• Assess your learning in class so far this semester. Look at your participation, growth in writing, comprehension, etc..
• Where, in terms of your learning, do you want to be at the end of the semester?
• How are you going to get there?
• What can I do to help?
• Write a message to your parents.

Once the student’s did this they were supposed to bring their “learning assessment” to their parents to view.

After reading this article I think about how it makes a difference of who is asking me to view my grade and tell what level I want my learning to be at by a certain time. I truly believe that having this come from someone besides a parents really shows that it isn’t just the kid’s parents that care about what’s going on with their school work. Whenever I am asked to sit down with one/any of my teachers and discuss my grade I truly never worry because I don’t have bad grades. But when I think about how others feel when they have to sit with their teacher and discuss their grade when it isn’t good, it makes me wonder what is going through their head. I also like how the teachers take successful kid’s advice and disperse it to the kid’s who may need help. In the end I think student-teacher conferences are better than parent-teahcer conferences.

PLN 10.25.07 Education

Did you know? - PE version

In this video/blog posted on the Fischbowl by Karl Fisch a professor poses the question of "what skills do students need to be successful in the 21st century?” Mr. Fish’s students then later, based of this question, were given a homework assignment. The assignment consisted of answering the question posed above and making their own “Did you know” video. The video that was posted on Mr. Fisch’s blog was about the amount of exercise teenagers get and how little school emphasize on it. Schools make it seem like that “If it’s not tested it doesn’t count.”

After watching this video I felt like jumping on the tread mill and running till my legs fell off. In the video the amount of exercise that is done by teenagers today was discussed and debated. I fully agree that if a school does not feel that a certain subject of knowledge (such as Physical Education) is necessary they won’t test it therefore it isn’t important. I believe the when I am fit/exercise that I can concentrate better and I am able to think with a clear mind and to take away that privilege to exercise would almost be as if the schools are wanting test scores to drop and have students do worse in school. I believe that to make us-kids- able to function in society when we become adults, we need to be taught good habits when we are young and we need to get into a good routine of working out. Obesity is taking over quite a bit of teenagers today and can easily take others so to prevent this we need to keep our PE systems in schools today.

PLN 10.25.07 Choice blog

"Human calculator" awes kids

In this article posted in the Denver Post by Kieran Nicholson kids at Goddard Middle school were amazed by the abilities of one man’s mind. Mike Byster’s mind can solve large numbered problems in his head using memorization techniques, as fast or faster than a calculator. His abilities amazed these students and made them feed of his knowledge. He stood in front of multiple classes of six graders doing problems after problems showing his techniques. He also showed the students some steps he has used to achieve this great knowledge and how to solve massive problems not usually done in the head. The principal of Goddard Middle School was also amazed herself. She was happy that the students had got exposed to such a great talent/ability.

"They saw somebody who is passionate about math, that is great for kids to see" said the school's principal Amy Oaks. "They saw somebody who is amazing and that made it fun."

After reading this article I was blown away that someone could possibly do such problems in one’s head. I can’t even imagine how the kids at Goddard felt in his presence. I think about this and how it could be relevant to the world today and I believe that these techniques he used could/should be taught to middle/high school kids to better their learning. Using these simple memorization skills students of Colorado and across the U.S. could improve their test scores greatly. Mike Byster should come into schools and teach what he has learned and should inspire kids of my time. I personally would have loved to see this man’s mind at work and hear his techniques. His area of research should be spread across the U.S. and used in every school. I think that teachers and parents would see dramtic increases in school and home life. Kids who are taught to think like this would always be planning ahead and showing how smart they really are.

Education PLN 10-11-07

Even More on Filtering

I this article, posted on the Fischbowl by Mr. Fisch, he talks about how more and more filters are being set up in schools for inappropriate sites found on the internet today, and how many sites are being blocked when there is nothing wrong with them. In our school today all Google and Youtube videos have been blocked because of the potential danger online. He says “Our philosophy is to have high expectations for our students, to educate them to behave ethically, responsibly and safely and then expect that they will do the right thing. When they don’t, they know we’ll have a conversation and try to learn from the mistake, but we don’t assume they are going to screw up. In other words, our philosophy has been to educate, not ban.” He also references many other teachers who have either commented on his blog or sent him an e-mail regarding his blog, agreeing with them. They say that students should be trusted to make their own “good judgment” in internet preferences.

I also agree with Mr. Fisch and his previously mentioned bloggers who responded to him. I think that teenagers should be able to make their decision on whether a web site is safe or not. Although I do believe that there are some students who shouldn’t have that freedom among their hands. I knew of many teachers who, in middle school, used Youtube to show a piece of a video that was then later annotated as a class. I think some video sites should be allowed to be viewed for educational purposes. Some teachers may not have funding to be able to provide a video for class viewing, which is not found in the library, and might have to find an online edition to show. If that is the case now as far as I know they won’t be able to view any of those videos. In the end I think certain sites should be allowed for the benefit of the teacher and class, as long as it is viewed by school “officials,” and is approved.

Local News PLN 10-11-07

ACLU protests school search of cellphones

In this article, from the Denver Post by Kieran Nicholson, the ACLU of Colorado is accusing the Boulder Valley School District of “committing felonies.” They say that they are committing these felonies by searching students cell phones and transcribing them. They school district say they’ve searched phones when they have suspected cheating on tests or drug use. After reading some of these text messages sent and received by students many other kids are being pulled down because of what has been said. Before the cell phone confiscation occurred the district says that they contacted the districts legal system and they were informed that it was fully legal for them to take this action. The ACLU says that confiscating and going through the students’ phones is an invasion of privacy and is violating the kids’ rights.

After reading this article I think of friends who have had their phones taken and read after being in trouble, and how they felt about it. They said it felt like someone was going through your drawers and making everything in your life public. I think that this relates to our school and schools across the U.S. because kids need to know that they have their own rights and that those rights will be respected within their lives. Adults look down upon kids/teenagers because we aren’t as filled with knowledge as they are, and some adults think they can use that power to a great extent. A show of that power would be confiscation of phones or any other personal device. I don’t think this is fair of them to do because our personal lives are own our phones, laptops and other personal items. The only reason that it might be acceptable for a phone to be taken and read might be when an administrator has witnessed drugs or illegal acts being done/committed. This situation applies because they have worthy reason to back up what they have seen done. Plus I don’t think administrators or teachers would like us to go through their stuff and read it all. Overall I think these “cell phone readings” are not fair to teenagers right and it is violating our own privacy.

PLN #2 (10-3-07)

Speaking From the Soul By Karl Fisch’s Fischbowl.

In this blog Mr. Fisch refers to Ms. Gerlich’s poem that she decided to share with her class. She wrote this poem with her class of freshmen English/History students and didn’t think she would be sharing it. Later her co-teacher convinced her to share it. She thought, “If 9th graders could share their writing, if Lary could do birdcalls, I could take a chance and share my poem. So I did.” In her poem she talks about her past and the life she grew into. She talks about the dry land of the earth where she lived.

While reading her reaction on how she felt about sharing to her class it made me think about how nervous I get to share writing to my fellow students. I didn’t think that teachers got so nervous about sharing poems. Though I don understand that her poem was very personal to her life. Ms. Gerlich’s poem makes me think of how my life is and how I can relate to what she is writing. I like how in hr poem she shows a lot of emotion and description. These things can help me to form a mental picture. After reading her poem I am truly inspired to be able to get in front of a class and read my writing. She has showed me that not only do high school students get nervous to share their work but also do teachers.