Is music the universal language?

Has music ever moved you?  Have you ever thought about the brain connections between music and learning?  Read this article about how one school is implementing a music program in their early education program. 

After you have finished the first article, Read this article about how one innovative teacher transformed a poverty stricken village in Paraguay.  Watch this powerful video Landfill Harmonic.


PS - the full version of the Landfill Harmonic is on YouTube.  It is awesome if you haven't seen it!

After you have finished reading both articles and watching the video, reflect on your experiences with music in education.  Was it meaningful?  Do you wish you could have pursued it further?  Do you feel we have enough fine arts and music in our curriculum?  Your thoughts. 

Your writing should reflect higher order thinking skills.  Grammar and process are important when writing.  Follow the rubric for best results.  This blog will be due on Friday, February 28 in class.  This blog will be shown on the screen so do your best work.  We will be peer grading the blogs this week.  Be creative with your title this week. 

7 Myths About Rigor

The Thinker Statue at Columbia University

Have you ever heard a teacher say that something wasn't rigorous enough?  Often, AP classes are said to contain rigor.  Just what does it mean?   Read this article "7 Myths About Rigor" and see what it says about rigor.  When you have read the article and based on your own personal knowledge, explain in your own words.   How do you think you could inject rigor into an assignment or a curriculum?  Ask yourself the questions that are outlined in the link.   Give clear thoughtful answers.

Follow the Rubric for the best grading results.  Blog is due on Monday, Feb. 10. 

Creativity Counts!

Creativity!

Use headphones to listen to the video below.   Some of you have probably heard this before, but it bears listening to again!  Sir Ken Robinson is a well renowned author and educator.  His TED Talk should offer you some perspective.  This video is always a class favorite!

I thought this was an appropriate time to show this video from Sir Ken Robinson while you are contemplating what you will be teaching your own students.   Creativity should always count!  

You are to answer the following using complete thoughts and phrases.  

You should give intelligent well thought out answers.  You should also write in complete, grammatically correct sentences.

What is Creativity?
Why does Creativity matter in Education?
How do we fix this?

Sir Ken Robinson's Website.  Click here

Sir Ken Robinson on TED Talks

The name of your Blog post is Creativity Counts.
Remember to follow the Rubric.  This blog post is due today, Monday, Feb. 3.  

The future of teachers in Texas

Here are two articles for you to read.  

After you have read both, reflect on what you have read.  Give well thought out ideas and statements.

1.  An article and graphic from Texas Monthly.  Click here

2.  Great Teachers:  Great Texas a plan proposed by State Senator Wendy Davis (Richland High School graduate) and candidate for Governor of Texas.  Click here and read about her proposal to strengthen teachers in Texas.

This blog is due on Friday, January 24.  As always, use the rubric for best scoring results.  We may be reviewing your blogs on the big screen, so do your best!

It's a New Year!

Happy New Year!

I hope you are looking forward to 2014

If you are a Senior, at the beginning of the new semester, you will have 18 weeks of school left.
If you are a Junior, at the beginning of the new semester, you have one year and 18 weeks of school left.

Some of you are well positioned for success after High School.  Some of you haven't thought about it yet.  Junior or Senior, you should be making plans. It's never too late to begin.  Don't let things just happen to you, make things happen that you want to happen.  

As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

This week, you will choose three things that you can do to positively impact your second semester.

The title of your Blog this week is - My Year Ahead
You should  list at least three things you want to change or improve on.
Number them and remember to address:

• What you want to change
• How you will do this
• What you hope the result will be

Number them 1. 2. 3...   Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I will be putting it on the screen to share with your classmates next week.

An Example:
 1.   I want to make better grades during the second semester. In order to accomplish better grades I will need to study more,  spend less time on meaningless social networking.  I will focus my efforts on things that matter.  By focusing my time on what matters and meeting deadlines, my grades should improve. If I improve my grades, I will have an easier time getting into college and will have a more enjoyable second semester.

Don't embarrass yourself by not doing your blog this week!

This blog post is Due in class on Friday, Jan. 10. Always follow the blog rubric.

Perot Field Trip

This is an example of what your Perot Field Trip assignment should look like.  Embed your Prezi when you are finished.  Sign in or set up an account on Prezi.  Save to Public.  Give a brief description of what your Prezi is about.  Your blog post is due on Monday, Dec. 9.  Click here for a link to the Prezi rubric.  

Please visit my virtual field trip to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.  My Education and Training classes recently visited the museum and learned about many different things that would make for interesting lessons and activities inside a classroom.

Procrastination?

Procrastination?

This is a repost of a blog from past years. 

It seems ever so appropriate again this year!

If you are a victim of procrastination this six weeks and have less than a 70 cumulative grade for your blog test grade, you may do this blog as a sort of redemption.  It will count as one of your zero's.  Get busy and don't procrastinate. 

 

If you have faithfully been doing your blogs and have completed all three blogs from the 2nd six weeks, you do not need to do this blog. 

This Blog is Due:  Friday November 15

What is Procrastination?

Have you ever procrastinated?

I think I probably know the answer to both of those questions. Do you?

Click on this link and read about Overcoming Procrastination.

The Title of your blog this week should be: Why Do I Procrastinate?

1. After you have read the article, choose at least one of the bullet points under "Why do students procrastinate?" and address how it relates to you. If you have never procrastinated, you can use someone you know as an example, but don't use names.

2. When you have completed part one, look over the "How to overcome procrastination" suggestions. Choose at least one of the bullet points that you will honestly try and write your comments in your post about how you will try to overcome procrastinating. 

• Your post should be well thought out and you should use complete sentences.
• Less is more. I would rather read three well written and thoughtful sentences than three rambling paragraphs!
• Restate the chosen topic, then write your comments.

 

Refer to the Rubric if you are in question of how your blog will be graded. This is the same rubric that is used every week. Click here to view blog rubric.