Folks, seriously check out the curriculum of the Ocean and Thoreau school! (Previous Post) Admittedly, I am VERY impressed...also, the rationale on the first page of the Thoreau school, about creating a model of assistance for public schools is awesome, and helps with my feelings on not wanting to abandon "public" education. I think the schools very creativly use both methods (although Ocean is very much combining a public school/waldorff) Thoreau seems to combine all three and multiple intelligence theory....The garden focus of Thoreau, would need some different space planning for sure! I hope you all can make it on the 17th! I think we are up for a lively discussion!
Some things to think about:
What "role" do you feel technology should play in our school?
When do you feel reading emphasis is appropriate?
How important are manipulatives in the classroom?
How much emphasis should there be on individual/whole group work?
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2 comments:
I think language activities are important to have in the classroom at every age and all the time, as integrated as possible. Kids learn to read at a wide variety of different ages, which is why "reading by 1st grade" doesn't work for everyone. My kids were reading on their own over the summer, but when they started kindergarten and Jolly phonics, they stopped reading and it set them back. The teachers are so structured in by the box the school has them in that they can't think outside it. When I told them my kids were reading and asked them what opportunities they had in school to read, they responded as if I were an alien. Ways to learn reading need to be available on many levels, and reading learning needs to be individualized in some ways as much as possible. I can't tell you how sick I am of our 3rd-grader bringing home worksheets, and how boring they are for her. When I was a kid I loved worksheets and I even loved (and still do love) standardized tests. But manipulatives and hands-on, multi-dimensional learning is crucial. Read Montessori, she talks a lot about how differently the information goes into the brain when the learning is hands-on. I think both individual and group opportunities should always exist in the classroom. I think kids should be able to choose (as much as possible). I really believe in Montessori's concept that kids need long, uninterrupted periods to really "get into" and explore their work. They develop concentration and thinking skills that you cannot teach them. They learn this by having these chances to explore it their own way. Thanks, Amy
Hi Amy,
I'm not very knowledgeable on Montessori yet (though I'm working on it). I also agree that kids need "long, uninterrupted periods to get into and explore their work," but what does Montessori say about students who have difficulty with sustaining attention? Thanks, Alicia
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