Wab Kinew

     It takes a specific set of skills in order to be an effective public speaker. I'm not talking about the teacher who stands in front of their classroom kind of public speaker, although that takes some skills as well! I'm talking about the kind of public speaker who can stand in front of a diverse group of people, deliver a powerful message on what can be a controversial subject area and have the audience hanging off their every word. This is exactly the type of public speaker Wab Kinew is.

     Last night my fiance and I were lucky enough to attend Wab Kinew's talk at our university. As the host of the documentary series 8th Fire, a reporter/producer for CBC News Winnipeg and a celebrated hip-hop artist, Wab Kinew addressed aboriginal stereotypes, the importance of education for all youth and the new relationship that needs to occur between Canada and the Aboriginal community. I cannot begin to write a full break-down of Wab's presentation as he covered so many good points that I know I can't explain as eloquently as he did, but here are some of my thoughts:
   
     Wab spoke directly and openly about many of the stereotypes surrounding Aboriginal people in our society: lazy, don't pay taxes, criminals, outcasts, etc. Growing up on the Onigaming First Nation Reserve in northwestern Ontario, however, Wab's vision of his people was that of a proud, hard-working, determined people. How do we address this drastic difference in perspective? Wab's personal stories strongly reminded me of Chimamanda Adichie's TED Talk on the "Danger of a Single Story" and the misunderstandings and discrimination that can occur when we are only presented with one story about a person, or group of people.

 This video is a bit on the long side, 19 mins, but I strongly recommend it!!

     With a background in history and geography, I recognize how important perspective is when it comes to teaching any subject, but especially social studies. For example, did you know that after graduation Aboriginal women earn more, on average, than Aboriginal men with the same education? Did you also know that Aboriginal people are entering entrepreneurial opportunities 3x faster than non-Aboriginal people? Those stats definitely do not mesh with the common stereotypes of Aboriginal people as lazy or not able to positively contribute to society.

     It is our responsibility to educate ourselves and our children on the importance of seeing the world through other people's eyes and learning history from all sides of the story, not just that of the victor. George Santayana stated that, "Those who cannot remember their past are condemned to repeat it". If we, as teachers, do not address Aboriginal perspective in our classrooms we are being as close-minded as our descendants who placed Aboriginal youth in residential schools.

     As I start my last year of my education degree I realize that I will soon be approaching certification and, hopefully, getting a teaching position. That means that I will be a part of the team that is responsible for teaching the youth of Manitoba, many of which are coming from Aboriginal backgrounds. As such, it is increasingly important that I consciously include Aboriginal perspective/culture into my classroom as opposed to presenting information solely from the perspective of the Europeans, which is historically how our education system has been set up. In addition to attending talks such as Wab Kinew's, I am also taking an Aboriginal Studies course this semester which I hope will assist me in this area. I know that I will definitely be following Wab Kinew as I move forward in life and whole-hardheartedly recommend that you attend one of Wab's talks if you have an opportunity!

Photo Credit: CBC

Thanks for your insight Wab, I left your presentation feeling inspired!

 

To learn more about Wab Kinew and follow his projects:
http://wabkinew.ca/
https://twitter.com/WabKinew
http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/8thfire/index.html

Resources To Start Off Your Week 34

     My first (VERY short) stint of student teaching is now completed and I am back at university for regular classes until mid-October. It is a really exciting feeling to be starting my last year of school before I become certified as a teacher... in EIGHT shorts months I will be graduated and can start searching for teaching positions!! Hopefully, I can then use some of these great resources that I found. As always, I will be adding them to my lists of resources under the Fav Websites heading.

1 ) Science Bob
- Science Bob is a fun website that houses a lot of neat science
   information including videos, experiments, science fair ides,
   featured science questions and more. This is a great website
   to add to your science resource repertoire!
- I really like that Bob is committed to making science appeal to
  students and parents. He even has a "Random Act of Science"
  initiative which is a great idea!
- http://www.sciencebob.com/index.php

2 ) Creswell Crags: Virtually The Ice Age

- The Creswell Crags Museum & Education Center has put together 

   an online learning resource to help students learn more about

   The Ice Age and the Creswell Crags archeological site in Northern

   Britain. This resources covers everything from virtual survival tests 

   and geological timelines to excavation techniques and cave art.

- This website could be a great subject to include as a specific case

   study about the Ice Age or even as supplementary material. 

   Designed with education in mind, the website offers a lot of great

   learning resources that can easily be implemented in the classroom!

- http://www.creswell-crags.org.uk/Explore/virtually-the-ice-age.aspx

Happy Monday everyone!

Student Teaching Schedule

     Today was the first day of school for student's in our school and it was a busy one! During the first 3 periods of the first day of school, our entire school does a "trial run" of a full day's schedule so I met all 125-ish of my Cooperating Teacher's students in about an hour! To say it was a bit overwhelming would be an understatement but it definitely was interesting to see how our school began their first day with students.

     I also had my schedule change THREE times today... which makes that a total of FIVE times this week! When I first posted that I was student teaching again I mentioned that my cooperating teacher, taught History and French. Since I don't speak French, I sat down with the principal and we came up with a schedule that would give me plenty of experience with different grade levels. I now officially have FOUR cooperating teachers and will be covering four different subjects and five different grades.

 

Here are my teachers:
"Ms. R" - She is actually my fiance's cooperating teacher (he is teaching
                   Phys-ed when I am with her) who has taught for over 20 years
                   in Canada, China and Africa.
                 - I will be with her in Periods 1-2 to teach Grade 11/12 World
                   Issues. We are still determining what units I'll be teaching when
                   I return. 
"Mr. L" - He has been teaching Industrial Arts for over 20 years and is
                  now teaching an ICT class as well.
                - I will be with him in Period 3 to teacher Grade 9/10 ICT and
                  will be covering Publisher software.
"Mr. O" - My original cooperating teacher who has been teaching for
                  about 18 years.
                - I will be with him in Periods 4-5 to teach Grade 11 Canadian
                  History. When I return in October I should be teaching
                  Canadian Confederation and the Metis Resistance.
"Mrs. P" - In her third year of teaching, I hope that she can provide me
                   with tips on the hiring process since she has just gone through it!
                 - I will be with her in Periods 6-7 to teach Grade 4 Social Studies
                   and will be starting with a unit on Nunavut.

     I am really excited because I have only ever had male teachers for cooperating teachers and, with this new schedule, I am now with two female teachers as well. I am also pleased to have teachers with such different backgrounds. I can't until October when I come back and will actually be teaching!!

Whole Brain Teaching Wednesday! Certification Videos & 5 Step Lesson Plans

      So today was my second day student teaching. Our day consisted of staff meetings, individual meetings with the principal and prep periods alternating throughout the day. I am going to provide an update tomorrow, as my student teaching schedule has changed DRASTICALLY (in a good way).

     In the mean time, I have exciting news!! Our principal, "Mrs. R" has told me that I should be able to film my class when I come back to student teach in October! :) Our school has a letter that goes home to all students at the beginning of the year for parents to sign which gives teachers permission to take photos/videos of their students that can be used on the school website and around the school itself. She is going to discuss it with her team and see if we will send home another letter explaining that a student teacher will be filming the students but we aren't sure yet. No matter what needs to be done, the good news is that it will all be done and good to go by the time I return in mid-October!

     So, in addition to working on my university courses (which start on Monday) and prepping for the four grades I will be teaching, I also need to start fine tuning those WBT skills for my certification video. (Yes.... for those of you who caught that, I will now be teaching four different grades... tune in tomorrow for that news). So after snooping through the forum and through the certification notes, here are some requirements and tips for certification videos:
CERTIFICATION VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
- At least 5 to 7 minutes in length
- Uses Class - Yes
- Uses Teach - Ok
- Uses the Scoreboard

CERTIFICATION VIDEO TIPS

- Uses the 5-step lesson plan
- See Farrah Shipley's video for an example

**Remember that this video is filmed in a Kindergarten class and is not an example of how I will be teaching students at the High School level, it is just meant to show the use of different WBT strategies**

     Although I am still working out exactly what units I will be teaching in October I feel more than confident in regards to the Manitoba curriculum. I also feel very confident about implementing "Class-Yes" (can't teach without that now!), "Teach-Ok" and "The Scoreboard" in the classrooms I will be in. One area I need to work on, however, is creating lesson plans that resemble the 5-step format promoted by WBT while also meeting the lesson plan requirements of my ed degree which follows a 3-step format. Essentially, I think I can use the 5-step format within my existing 3-step format. More specifically, I will be using the 3-step format that I am familiar with to organize the content of my curriculum and the WBT 5-step format to organize how I present the content to my students. When I have a sample prepared I will make sure to post it for clarification..... but first what is the WBT 5 Step Lesson Plan?

 “There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that just gives you a little prod behind and you jump to the skies.”
― Robert Frost

    Think back to when you went through the school system, or even through your university degree, how many times can you remember when you zoned out during a class? Did you ever find yourself day dreaming? Doodling? If you used a laptop in your university classes, did you find yourself on your favourite websites instead of following the lecture? Face it, the longer we are at the front of the room talking, the more students we lose due to boredom or confusion. Our classrooms have many different students in our classrooms with many different needs and many different intelligences. If we are talking for long periods of time what happens to our kinesthetic learners? Our inter-personal learners?

     The WBT 5 Step Lesson Plan is specifically designed to ensure that we, as teachers, are not spending an entire classroom period at the front of the room talking while our students are left with no opportunity to be an active part of their own learning. To clarify, the 5 Step Lesson Plan does not shorten how MUCH content you cover with your students, it just changes how your DELIVER the content. If you check out the format below, the 5 Step Lesson Plan obviously begins with the WBT attention getter "Class-Yes". Once you have the attention of your students you begin your lesson and pass the learning onto your students using "Teach-Ok". The basic format is repeated again and again as you make your way through your content; ensuring that the time you spend talking is reduced into small portions that are separated by times where your students are teaching, reviewing and clarifying with their partner.

Biffle, Chris. (2011) Whole Brain Teaching: Lesson Design & Delivery. pg. 18

     To use the 5 Step Lesson Plan to its full potential, ensure that you also understand the WBT strategy of "Teach-Ok" which will be used to break up the time the teacher spends delivering content at one time. To read one of my first posts on "Teach-Ok" click here. The following describes the "Teach-Ok" content as it is stated by Jeff Battle on the Whole Brain Teaching website.

Teach-OK works like this: Divide your class into teams of two. One student is a One, the other member of the team is a Two.You want students to do a large amount of the teaching. Present a small amount of information, complete with gestures. When you finish, look at the class and clap two times, say “Teach!” Your students clap twice and respond “OK!”  Look at our Power Teachers videos for examples of this approach.

Teach your students to copy your gestures (kinesthetic) and mimic the emotion in your tone of voice (limbic).  As your students teach each other, move around the room listening to what they are saying.  This is an excellent opportunity to monitor student comprehension.  Then, call them back to attention with the Class-Yes!  If you are not convinced your students have understood your lesson, repeat it.  Otherwise, go on to the next small group of points.

     "Teach-Ok" has a lot of potential in the classroom. When "Teach-Ok" is often shown in WBT videos, students are almost always only repeating the exact words the teacher has stated. Although this may be needed/beneficial in younger grades or for specific examples such as definitions, the basic strategy of "Teach-Ok" can be used to have students summarize the content in their own words, relate information back to previous lessons, evaluate background information on the content, or what ever else you may require in your classroom! Whatever you use "Teach-Ok" for, remember, you want to ensure that you are presenting information in shorter chunks and encouraging visual, verbal, mental and physical engagement!

     So while I will continue to use my required 3-step lesson plan format to organize what content I am presenting to my students, I will be trying my best to use the 5 Step Lesson Plan to organize how I present that content. I will be consciously trying to shorten the amount of time I spend talking and increase the amount of time my students spend actively reviewing the material using various intelligences (visual, kinesthetic, interpersonal, etc). In the past I would use "Teach-Ok" a few times in a class and would often make a big deal of it. I am hoping that this time, however, I will be able to incorporate it smoothly into our regular routine so it becomes second nature. Wish me luck!



To learn more about the 5 Step Lesson Plan, check out the FREE e-book download, Whole Brain Teaching: Lesson Plan and Delivery, on the Whole Brain Teaching FREE e-book page. (You will need to register if you haven't already)

To watch a FREE webcast on the 5 Step Lesson Plan, check out Program 535: Oh So Simple Lesson Plans on the Whole Brain Teaching website. 

Check out the Whole Brain Teaching website to see Jeff Battle's instructions on "Teach-Ok" in context or check out Chris Biffle's YouTube channel to see this strategy in action

September Currently

     So after seeing "Currently" posts every month on many A LOT of the teaching blogs I follow I decided to join in on the fun! I am so excited about it that I am breaking a blogging rule and posting twice in one day (I can't help it!).

     If you haven't encountered a "Currently" post before, it is just a fun post at the beginning of each month that serves as a way to share what is Currently going on in your life! You can link up and share your own "Currently" post by visiting the wonderful Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Last "First Day of School"

     Today was my last "First Day of School" as a student!! 18 years ago I started my first day of Kindergarten and today I started my first day of my last year of university. From now on, my "first day of school" experiences will be as the teacher as opposed to the student, what an interesting thought!

My VERY first day of school: Kindergarten 1995 (I'm on the left, my younger sister is on the right). Don't you love the work boots and the plaid pants?

     Although students aren't back in school until Thursday our student teaching placement at "S-School" began today with a PD day on the new Standardized Provincial Report Cards that our division is piloting this year. These new standardized report cards will be hosted through our school's online platform, Maplewood, and are designed not only for consistency but as a means to provide clear and "jargon-free" communication between schools, parents and students. 

     I found the session, presented by our school's principal "Mrs. R", really interesting as I feel that assessment is an area that I don't have a lot of knowledge in. (I am, however, taking our university's Assessment & Evaluation course this fall which I hope will remedy this.) I had been previously introduced to these new report cards briefly during one of my classes at university so the format was not a surprise to me but I enjoyed the discussion started by the teachers who have had the experience of using multiple report card formats over the years. 

     Although "Mrs. R" did a wonderful job of explaining the new report card system, I don't feel comfortable doing a FULL review/critique on them until I have completed my Assessment & Evaluation course and am more knowledgeable in the subject. Make no mistake though, I will be revisiting this topic within the next two months as it is something that I need to work on before I graduate and prepare for teaching interviews this spring. Until then, you can learn all about the Manitoba Report Cards in the Manitoba Report Card Support Document: Partners for Learning, Grades 1 to 12 (Draft June 2012). 

Resources to Start Off Your Week 33: Back to School Edition!

I can't believe that it is already SEPTEMBER, this summer seriously flew by! 

..... In one day I start my last year of university

..... In three months I am off on my first warm vacation ever to the Domincan Republic

..... In six months I start my last student teaching placement ever

..... In nine months I graduate with my Bachelors of Education (after degree)

..... In ten months I get married!

Yes the countdowns have officially begun and I couldn't be more excited. To celebrate I have put together a super list of resources to not only Start Off Your Week but to Start Off the School Year as well. As always I will be adding these to my lists of resources under the Fav Websites heading at the top of the page.

1 ) Math Dictionary

- This simple to use math (and science) dictionary can be used by clicking

   on a specific letter and searching through a list of words from there. There

   are about 100 words provided and it may not be suitable to some higher

   level math concepts so you may to preview it to make sure it has the words

   you are wanting for your students.

- This could be a great resource for students to be introduced to new

   concepts, to review concepts or could be used in part of a webquest

   or other assignments.

- http://www.webquest.hawaii.edu/kahihi/mathdictionary/

2 ) SciStarter

- SciStarter is a website designed to share science projects, lesson plans,

  field trip projects and collaborative project opportunities. You can search

  ideas based on specific activities (at home, at school, outside, etc) or by

  topics (biology, chemistry, food, etc). There is also an advanced search

  option as well that allows you to narrow it down my cost, age level and

  much more.

- This could be an interesting website to get inspirtation for your classroom,

  look for new and interesting ways to introduce science in your classroom

  or consider having your students explore the site and see what interests

  them!

- http://scistarter.com/

 

3 ) Cybrary Man's Catalogue of Educational Websites

- This is a site I should have included when I featured my Best

Resources for Finding Resources.

- Cybrary Man aka Jerry Blumengarten is a former teacher extrordinar

  from New York who has been working since 1999 on compiling

  lists of resources for educators. 

- You can search by who you are (parent, teacher, student) but you

  can also search by grade level, subject area, classroom organization

  and much more!

- http://cybraryman.com/

4 ) Math Moves U

- Math Moves U is a really cool interactive online math game site that
   is designed to engage students and create fun learning opportunities.
   Designed around a middle school setting, there are three levels of difficulty:
   under Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8+.
- Students can play various games that focus on math concepts, enter
   different contests, participate in live events, apply for scholarships and
   a lot more!
- Watch the intro, it does an amazing job of explaining the vision behind the
   website.

- http://www.mathmovesu.com/#/home

5 ) Lesson Planet

- Lesson Planet or, "The Search Engine for Teachers" features more than
   400,000 lesson plans and curriculum resources that have been reviewed and
   approved by other teachers. Their resources feature lesson plans, videos,
   images and presentations.
- This could be perfect if you are looking for a new way to present information,
   add a new element to your existing plans or if you are in a rush and need a
   lesson plan in a snap!

- http://www.lessonplanet.com/

6 ) My Histro

- My Histro is a fun website used to create interactive timelines that can
  include text, maps, images and videos. Once created, users can view the
  timeline and click on various events to open up the text, images and video
  that may be attached to it.
- You could create a specific timeline to share with your class to explore a
  certain event or have your students create their own as a project! This could
   even be a fun way to share your class outline.

- http://www.myhistro.com/

7 ) Gauging Your Distraction: Driving Game

- This driving game simulation requires the "driver" to focus on specific lane
   changes while reading and responding to text messages that appear on a
   cell phone on the side of the screen. This is a great simulation to show how
   quickly things can happen on the road and how distracting cell phones can
    be.
- If found this really eye-opening, I could barely respond to any messages
   without driving through the barricades. It would be a good addition to a
   Driver's Ed classroom.

- http://www.nytimes.com//interactive/2009/07/19/technology/20090719-driving-game.html?ref=multimedia

8 ) EcoKids

- EcoKids is an environmental science website that includes teaching
  resources like lesson plans, graphic organizers, ESL/FSL resources,
  colouring sheets, classroom activities and more!
- Students can access homework help, online games, contests,
   articles and more. There is also a "Take Action" section where your
   class can begin a collaborative project to make the environment a
   better place.
- You need to register to access the teaching material (I did and I
   would recommend it) but you can access student material without
   registration.
- Extra points for being Canadian!! 

- http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/index.cfm

9 ) A+ Click Math Skill Tests

- This math website has a trove of over 2000 math problems
   designed to help students practice their math skills in one minute
   WITHOUT the use of calculators.
- One of the best features of this website is its easily searchable
   interface that features problems organized by grade level and by
   math concept.
- This could be an easy source for activating strategies if you have
   a math problem on the board at the start of every class or it could
   be an easy review tool.

- http://www.aplusclick.com/index.html

10 ) World History For Us All

- Put together by San Diego University, this is a complete online World
  History course that includes readings, worksheets, and maps!
  Documents are in PDF form and can be accessed by anyone. 
- Teachers could use portions of this website or the entire thing if they
   wanted to!

- http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/
 

Happy Monday everyone!