Inviting Students to Learn; 100 Tips for Talking Effectively With Your Students by Jenny Edwards
Reading Assignment: Chapter 1, pages 1-21
Assignment: Read the synopsis below and comment on the question that follows.
This first chapter of this book discusses the importance of knowing what you believe about students. That is, what you truly believe. Do you know if you presuppose anything about your students? Do you value students? Do you believe that your students have untapped potential? Are you willing to try to tap into that?
This book is based on what Edwards calls "invitational education." Before you begin the path of empowering students, you must first be able to determine your beliefs about what you truly value in your students.
On page 11, Edwards talks about metaphors. She notes that "all people have metaphors for living and metaphors for learning whether they are aware of them or not."
- What is your metaphor for living and learning?
OK. Here are my metapors:
ReplyDeleteLife is clay. You can shape and mold your life (or your current circumstance) into whatever you want it to be. I believe that with the right attitudes and the right actions, we can make something beautiful out of any "ball of clay" that comes our way.
Learning is the blood of life. It it the key to our growth, our happiness, and to our ultimate survival. Without continuous learning, we simply wither and die!
Life is a flower. We start out as a mere "seed". We are constantly evolving as we grow and learn into an amazing beautiful flower. Every flower is beautiful, as we are each beautiful gifts from God.
ReplyDeleteLearning is an exciting road. We wander along it and ponder as we come across forks. Those forks, when taken, enhance our knowledge and maturity as we learn something new and exciting!
“Every day is a good day to change”
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the metaphors I tell the students to make them feel better with their tomorrow. If I see them doing something that can harm them, I said: “Where ever you are, measure danger.”
I am a person full of metaphors. Life is a metaphor itself for the purpose of the Lord. I value life, and I value the life of every human being, that’s why I am usually happy in the classroom, with all these tiny flowers, enlightened souls in my destiny. I wish they can reach a fabulous destiny.
I am not sure about my metaphor. At this point after working at Dowling for 1 1/2 years I can't stand students. If I had to pull a metaphor from my gut it would be: "While life is an unfinished novel, Teaching is just another way to lead the lambs (teachers) to slaughter". Maybe I'll get better during Spring Break.
ReplyDeleteI like MBT's comment about life being a ball of clay. Our job is to shape and mold the student. The skills we bring to the classroom will either shape/mold in a positive or negative way.
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ReplyDeleteTesting
ReplyDeleteI have different metaphor for living and learning for diifferent ages.
ReplyDeleteBefore 30, I was studying hard and learned much academic stuff as they say, "Education is the easiest way for a poor family to improve their standard of living."
Before, 40, I was continuing my academic education and experiencing job layoffs and changing jobs. I continued learning and looking for a career.
Now 44, I have been a teacher for three years. And I am working hard to be an effective teacher. I think my job is very important. I have so much to learn. So my metaphor for living now is: "How can I change myself to be better?"
So I agree that everyone has a metaphor for living and learning and I am sure everyone has more than just one sentence like "Life is a gamble." I would say your metaphor changes from time to time as you grow older.
My metaphor for Learning is
ReplyDelete"Learning is a road trip and the adventure is best served through discovery"
Maps are helpful, but sometimes that unexpected detour can make all the difference. I'm thinking about those teachable moments when our students have that wonderful moment of discovery.
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ReplyDeleteLife and learning are forks in the road....it's the choices you make that lead you down the path to fulfillment....
ReplyDeleteFor those of you who do not see the joy and satisfaction in what you do have simply gone down the wrong path. Backtrack...rewind....try to remember WHY you chose teaching in the first place....
Life is an experience of learning. From the very beginning we are experiencing learning and making adjustments based on our experiences. Who we are is based on our life experiences. As we interact with our students, who they are now and who they will be in the future is a part of what they learn from their interactions with us as teachers.
ReplyDeleteMartha: You are so right! Change can occur right now. If you make a mistake, start over. If you have a bad day, tomorrow can only be better. I love your positive attitude! See you Saturday. Marlys
ReplyDeleteKathy: Keep your head up. There are times when we have difficult years. We used to say "Must be something in the water this year because these students..." Teaching is not easy. I hope you have someone at your school to talk to. If not, lets talk Saturday. Enjoy your Spring Break!!! Marlys
ReplyDeleteLife is a roller coaster ride. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. You just need to shake off fear and enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteLearning is a never ending story. A single day doesn't have enough hours to do or learn everything I want to. I'm curious about many things and I'm trying to make my students feel the same way.
Thanks for the words of encouragement Marlys. I would love to talk more about this. I wish everyone a lovely Spring Break.
ReplyDeleteI feel that my metephor regarding life can change depending on the circumstances. However, for the time being, my metaphor is, "Life is a game. It's not whether you win or lose but how you play that makes the difference."
ReplyDeleteWell said Marlys. Life is full of ups and downs. Once we have weathered those storms and overcome those obstacles, it is important to look back and say to ourselves, "I made it". There is no shame in falling down from time-to-time. It's staying down that can be problematic.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts on life's metaphor changing as you grow older. But I would like to add that age may not be the only defining factor. Experiences are just as powerful. From what you've described, the various experiences you were having at different stages of your life seemed to have shaped your thinking and ultimately your actions.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly see how the combination of age and experiences have brought me to how I think and act today. I grew up in my 20's and matured in my 30's. Each day, I am living and learning both personally and professionally. I see the changes that have taken place in me as a person and as an educator. Hopefully, they will all work together for the better.
I agree fully with Marlys and Colts -life is game and it depends how you play it. Yes,there will be success as well as failure too. It's importance that you don't give up on the failure because it will be the next step for the success. It is very important to keep positive thought during failure. While reading through the page-5-7, these simpe words- valuing students, thinking positive thoughts about students,smiling -makes lot of difference in a class atmosphere and student's behavior.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read Metaphors for learning page 13, I beleive I use all of them in one or other way in my everyday life. To be successful in any field one has to have most of these metaphors for learning in their lives.
ReplyDeleteSorry! I am new in these stuffs. I hope I am doing this well.
ReplyDeleteLearning and life become holding their hands. Life is an everyday opportunity to make choices, either you make a right or wrong choice, you win. If your choice is right you advance in your purpose. If your choice is wrong you gain experience and knowledge that help you do better choices later. Learning is a whole life process that enable us day by day to make right choices. As teacher we have the opportunity to help other to learn how to make right choices and take advantage of the wrong ones.
ReplyDeleteTo RSheinberg,
ReplyDeleteI like your metaphore. I love those moments when students discover or "get" something. That makes our trip through life really unique and worthy.
My metaphor is: "Life is a battle". I tell my students that we must battle the TAKS and defeat it. In preparing for "battle", students can train their classmates through the use of think-pair-share, buddy reading, partners/group work, etc. Our collective goal, as a class, is to defeat the TAKS and "leave no one behind".
ReplyDeleteI really like the metaphor "Life is clay". We can mold students to become the best they can be. Sadly, I have had "clay" that no matter how hard I tried, it could not be "molded" in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the metaphor "Life is a rollercoaster". With all the new changes in HISD, I have experienced this metaphor firsthand. I miss the stability.
ReplyDeleteLife is a roller coaster but also a carousel. With all of the ups and downs, you feel like you are just going in circles at times.
ReplyDeleteLife is a mountain climb.
ReplyDeleteMy 6 year old daughter introduced me to "The Climb." This song has such a powerful message of inner strength and faith.
Reaching your goal in life is not always easy. Sometimes you may hear "a voice inside your head saying you'll never reach it." Nevertheless, you keep your head held high and work hard to achieve your dream.
Life is like a deck of cards. When playing the game, cards are often dealt face down. We have no idea what they are until we pick them up and group them accordingly. We may or may not get a good hand but we must play the hand we are dealt. I believe that in life, if one has right attitude and mindset he/she can still succeed and remain in the game even if he/she is not leading in points.
ReplyDeleteLearning is like the cell membrane of a cell. It's function is to control what goes in and out of the cell just like a screen door holds things in but let's air out. Learning is ongoing. We process information and keep what's most important for growth.
La fatalidad del destino vs__________.
ReplyDeleteI believe I am the paper that fills itself with the wind. I love learning. I confess, "I do not do well at all." Might be the absence of mentor.
HISDMRCHOU has the potential to transmit a message of reflexion on her writing, but writes on "my paper-self."
RAQUEL points strongly -Maps! Discovering. Denis trips you into the dark tunnel of life echoing into the hearts: "Why you chose teaching in the first place?"
I swear, I just need to become Ms. Hearts (methapor), " inviting students to learn (100 tips for talking effectively with your students) -I have not finished reading the book :( but, I will.
Happy Easter :)