I love this story:
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers,
"Those who can - do... Those who can't - teach."
To stress his point, he said to another guest, "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make?" She paused for a second, then began, "Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental... You want to know what I make?" She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.
"I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize, and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write, and then I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
Bonnie paused one last time, and then continued, "Then, when people judge me by what I make, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention, because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make?
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?"
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Music education is Essential to Development!
I like this article from www.marionstar.com because it brings up the important fact that music helps develop the left side of the brain; the part of the brain that processes language.
Singing English is an easy way we can make sure we are including music in our daily teaching.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
Music education is not an extra. Music education is essential.
Some will argue that the problem with schools is that they don't spend enough time on the basics and that music is something parents should provide.
Music, we say, provides so many benefits that are applicable to the more traditional academic subjects, that it is a basic.
Consider this:
Studies show that musical training physically develops the left side of the brain. That's the part of the brain that processes language.
Students that study the arts learn to think creatively. That makes them excellent problem-solvers.
Music study teaches the value of sustained effort. Excellence is only achieved through hard work.
John Sykes, who was the force behind VH1's "Save The Music Foundation" said, "in every successful business ... there is one budget line that never gets cut. It's called 'Product Development' - and it's the key to any company's future growth. Music education is critical to the product development of this nation's most important resource - our children."
We could not agree more.
Singing English is an easy way we can make sure we are including music in our daily teaching.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
Music education is not an extra. Music education is essential.
Some will argue that the problem with schools is that they don't spend enough time on the basics and that music is something parents should provide.
Music, we say, provides so many benefits that are applicable to the more traditional academic subjects, that it is a basic.
Consider this:
Studies show that musical training physically develops the left side of the brain. That's the part of the brain that processes language.
Students that study the arts learn to think creatively. That makes them excellent problem-solvers.
Music study teaches the value of sustained effort. Excellence is only achieved through hard work.
John Sykes, who was the force behind VH1's "Save The Music Foundation" said, "in every successful business ... there is one budget line that never gets cut. It's called 'Product Development' - and it's the key to any company's future growth. Music education is critical to the product development of this nation's most important resource - our children."
We could not agree more.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The Girl Effect
This video is a powerful reminder of why we need to continue to reach out and support families around the world.
Thank you to all who helped raise money at the Annual SeaCowHead Fun Run in PEI this summer! We look forward to seeing you next year and raising even more than this year for Atsikana Pa Ulendo -helping girls in Malawi reach their dreams!
www.thegirleffect.org
Watch it, send it to someone else to watch, and then donate!
Thank you to all who helped raise money at the Annual SeaCowHead Fun Run in PEI this summer! We look forward to seeing you next year and raising even more than this year for Atsikana Pa Ulendo -helping girls in Malawi reach their dreams!
www.thegirleffect.org
Watch it, send it to someone else to watch, and then donate!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
FREE LESSON VIDEO
Have you watched it yet? If not, click here.
You will be asked to fill out name and e-mail information so that we have permission to send it to your e-mail address. You will receive and e-mail within the next 24 hours asking your to confirm that you would like to receive information from Singing English Education. As soon as you click that confirmation link, you will receive the link to watch the video!
It sounds complicated but we want to make sure we have your permission to send it to you! We all hate receiving spam!
Please feel free to write a comment below once you have watched the video to let others know what it's like!
Bonnie
You will be asked to fill out name and e-mail information so that we have permission to send it to your e-mail address. You will receive and e-mail within the next 24 hours asking your to confirm that you would like to receive information from Singing English Education. As soon as you click that confirmation link, you will receive the link to watch the video!
It sounds complicated but we want to make sure we have your permission to send it to you! We all hate receiving spam!
Please feel free to write a comment below once you have watched the video to let others know what it's like!
Bonnie
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
ESL Canada
We've just been featured on the ESL Canada Blog. Check it out!
http://teachenglishblog.blogspot.com/
If you are looking for a ESL teaching job or would like to post your resume, the http://teachers-in-canada.blogspot.com/ looks like it could be quite useful!
http://teachenglishblog.blogspot.com/
If you are looking for a ESL teaching job or would like to post your resume, the http://teachers-in-canada.blogspot.com/ looks like it could be quite useful!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Creativity-Where does it belong in education?
I am so excited to have my new website and blog up and running. This blog is for anyone interested in conversations about literacy, language, and music. I will be posting articles and links to interesting videos and websites. If you have questions, suggestions, resources, or links, please share them with the SEE (Singing English Education) community of learners and post them on this blog site.
To start the sharing, here is an interesting video about creativity in education. It's 20 minutes long, so set some time aside to watch it. Write in and let us know what you think about it. Do you think the arts are as important as math?
I look forward to some good discussion around this video!
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
To start the sharing, here is an interesting video about creativity in education. It's 20 minutes long, so set some time aside to watch it. Write in and let us know what you think about it. Do you think the arts are as important as math?
I look forward to some good discussion around this video!
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)