Singing English Blog

Shouldn't your professional development be fun?

2009-11-06T23:42:00.001-08:00

Singing English Picture Video

2009-11-03T22:16:00.000-08:00

CRISIS IN THE KINDERGARTEN

2009-10-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting news that I received from the BCTF E-News today:

A report published by The Alliance for Childhood in the USA warns of the dangers from the change taking place in Kindergarten towards didactic instruction and standardized testing. A powerful statement calling for a play-based approach to learning opens the report which examines extensive research evidence into the negative effects of scripted curriculum, testing, and arbitrary imposed standards and expectations on the ability, achievement, and development of young children.

"The withering of imagination in childhood is a looming catastrophe.... Just as decisive action is needed to reverse the process of climate change, we must change course now to restore child-initiated play and learning to our schools and communities."

The full report can be downloaded at www.allianceforchildhood.org.

The Serious Need for Play

2009-09-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

Free, imaginative play is crucial for normal social, emotional and cognitive development. It makes us better adjusted, smarter and less stressed....
read the full article here! Do you agree? Do we provide enough time for children to just play?

Student-Centered Classrooms Are What, Exactly....?

2009-02-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

What exactly does a teacher mean when he or she says that they have a student-centered classroom?

I remember throwing this phrase around when I started teaching and now, years later, I wonder if I really knew what I was talking about! Here is a detailed definition described by Leo Jones, an internationally recognized authority on English language teaching.

'A student-centered classroom isn’t a place where the students decide what they want to learn and what they want to do. It’s a place where we consider the needs of the students, as a group and as individuals, and encourage them to participate in the learning process all the time. The teacher’s role is more that of a facilitator than instructor; the students are active participants in the learning process. The teacher helps to guide the students, manage their activities, and direct their learning. In a student-centered class, the teacher is a member of the class as a participant in the learning process.'

The above exert is taken from a paper called:
The Student-Centered Classroom ©Cambridge University Press

This article also addresses:
Autonomous Learning
Classroom Management
Motivation
Fluency and Accuracy
Teacher as Facilitator
Different Kinds of Activities

Please see the PDF below to read the whole article.

Do you agree with the above definition of a student-centered classroom? Do you have a student-centered classroom? I think I thought I did but to be truly honest, I don't think I achieved it on a regular basis. My first instinct as a new teacher was to have as much control as possible, which at the time meant teacher-lead activities. I think it takes more energy and planning to have a student-centered classroom, but in the end, I think it better learning environment for children.

Check out this 20 minute video called: How Kids Teach Themselves. This researcher proves how learning occurs naturally among children without the presence of a teacher.

Let me know what you think!

Jones-Student-Centered.pdf

What Teachers Make

2008-11-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

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?"

Music education is Essential to Development!

2008-10-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

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.

The Girl Effect

2008-10-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

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!

FREE LESSON VIDEO

2008-06-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

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

ESL Canada

2008-06-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

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!

Creativity-Where does it belong in education?

2008-06-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

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