The video by Sir Ken Robinson is one that I have watched many times. I find it fantastic the way he talks about our education system and the flaws that he sees. The points that Sir Ken Robinson bring up are ones that make sense to me. The way he talks about the way kids are separated by age has been a confusing characteristic about school for a while. Especially when kids are struggling and seem to get pushed through due to the year they were born. The second problem he arises is the quick diagnosis of ADD within our students. I am inclined to agree with him because many of kids these days have the diagnosis of “learning disability” or “ADD”. The numbers have increased significantly since even I was in elementary school. I think the kids having fun in school or being bored too often gets mistaken for other things and are quickly diagnosed from school board.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Summary of Learning
This is my Summary of Learning Project. While creating and then re-watching I realized that I can not fit everything I have learned into a short video. This class was one I would recommend to all ED students. All the resources and different ways of thinking about technology in the classroom. The biggest thing I took away from the class was don't block and limit students, but just teach them how to properly use technology.
Follow @DurstMcKen #ECMP355
Follow @DurstMcKen #ECMP355
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Internship
This blog post may seem dry to some people that read it but Internship was a great experience and not one that can be put in words easily!
From September to December I was at Cornerstone Christian School (CCS) in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan for my internship. I had only been there a few times and once was for grade 8 basketball and another time was to say hello to my high school football coach and to meet the vice principal because my brothers said I needed to. Grade 8 basketball we were just in and out, but when I went back as a high school graduate to meet the staff and see my old football coach I felt instantly welcomed. I was there at lunch and I ended up staying for the full 40 minutes just talking and asking questions about teaching. I instantly got along and felt a good connection with the people I have met. Later on at my brothers grade 8 grad who attended the school I ran into Berhns (Vice Principal) again and we began talking how I was a couple years from my internship. The idea was brought to my attention that I could potentially go to CCS for it. I began thinking about it and the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea.
When it came time to sign up for internship again I called in and asked if I could still do it there and I was given the “ok”! I went through a lot of back and forth with placement, but I finally got into the school. A few reasons I chose to move back to Moose Jaw was first off for my family. My brothers who are in grade 10 are going through that awkward stage in their life and I felt like as their older brother I should be there for them and I’m glad I had the opportunity to do so. My sister who is 5 years old and in kindergarten is growing up so fast and I don’t know where I will be after I graduate and get a job and I want her to know who her brother is. My parents, I’ve just felt like the 3 years I was in university I was really distant from them and I just wanted to be able to build a closer relationship with them. My grandma which was who I was going to live with during my time in Moose Jaw again I have just been distant and wanted to be there for her and repair a relationship I feel I was part of the downfall of.
All that being said I get to school for the first prep days and see my cooperating teacher Lucy Dalgarno and instantly we get along and I can tell it is going to be a good year. I also found out I would be working with Brett Young and Al Block who was my football my grade 12 year. Although a little nervous having this group of teachers to work with excited me more than anything. Although these were my 3 main staff I would be with there were several others in the building who were always willing to talk to me and help me out no matter what. There was not a day that I dreaded going into work because the people were just so awesome. If ever I was having a bad day someone in the building would always take a minute to talk to me and just give me encouragement to keep going.
If I wrote about my whole experience it would take forever so I will just get to my class. I mainly had a grade 8 class and I taught mostly every subject. I had 31 students which included 20 girls and 11 boys. I think at the start they wanted to test me and see how far they could push me like any grade 8 class would. I think early on we got into a good routine together and as time went on I became more consistent. By November the thought of leaving this group of kids upset me because I knew it was fast approaching. They would always say, “you should teach here” and tell me not to leave. All their statements I wish were true and I wish I could have stayed there with them. They through me a little party on the last day which they themselves set up and I was just so happy that in the end of all the obstacles we went through together they were going to miss me and me them. I pushed them to do their best and I never let anything rest, if there was a problem I would bring it to light to see if they would make a change on their own and they would.
My last day I was brought on stage in front of the whole school where I got a little choked up saying my goodbyes. Saying goodbye to the students was a weird feeling because every day for 4 months we were together majority of the time. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t the toughest day of internship. Later on went for lunch with all the staff and had our good byes. It was tough to say bye to such a wonderful staff as well. The part that really got me is when I went back to the school and cleaned out my desk and everything there just fit into a little bin. The bin wasn’t even that heavy and I thought how could 4 months of great memories just fit into this little bin. I stood in the classroom for a while and my only hope was that something I said will one day make a positive difference in one of the students lives.
Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Internship for the staff and students. I wish I could go back and hang out more than I have. I owe the staff at that building a huge thank you for helping me through tough times, school and life.
Obviously this blog post could go on to fill a decent sized book, but I just wanna give thanks to everyone at that building who made internship awesome!
Special Thanks to (in no particular order): Lucy Dalgarno, Brett Young, Al Block, Rodger Gregor, Carrie Hlady, Lee Behrns, Dwight Cameron, Janis Schultz, and Christina FlamandFollow @DurstMcKen #ECMP355 #Internship
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