Monday, August 31, 2009
I get bullied a lot in school...
Watching this, it is easy for us to understand the emotional strain that one goes through when targetted by bullies. The negative self-perceptions, the negative social experiences, the suspicions of others' motives being with ill-intent, lack of self-belief, etc, all converge in a growing mind.
Nevertheless, we can start by saying, "Andrew, you are better than you think you are!"
Perhaps you can be someone who builts another up. So, go ahead, be an inspiration!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Bobby McFerrin playing the audience like an instrument
WOW!
Try this during one of your school's assemblies for a change...
Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?
I guess I do agree with him.
Watch and experience how Sir Ken Robinson disarms you with his wit and wisdom. A truly remarkable talk given by a remarkable man.
I loved the story he told about Gillian Lynne. That really provoked me deeply to consider the tremendous power I have in helping my students fulfill their destinies. This power is a double-edged sword. You have this power too.
And also, the thought of how all education systems apply the same hierarchical valuation in terms of subjects was a tremendous revelation. Imagine all the breakthroughs in educational research on Multiple Intelligences, Learning Styles, Brain Research, etc had SO LITTLE impact on the education world!
What would it take for you and your school to do the right thing?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Steve Levitt - Why Financial Incentives Don't Work
One of my favourite authors---the only one who made Economics fun enough for me to read!
Anyway, are you wondering what this video has got to do with you as an educator? Am I saying that you should not be drawing a higher salary?
Well, no. I think that teachers are providing an important function to society and should be financially incentivised generously. Having said that, what am I trying to say with this video?
Simple. Perhaps we can apply what he has said to how we run the class room. Do our students actually think that what they are doing is the most important thing in the world? Or are they working for extrinsic motivations?
If you went "huh?!" after reading that. You have either not watched the video or you need to watch it again.
Keep your school Bully-Free!
My school is running a two-week emphasis on Bully-free education. Research has shown that some cases of absenteeism are related to victimisation as a result of bullying.
Be on the look out for the following tell-tale signs that your student may be bullied:
The anatomy of a bullying experience:
The following video is a stark reminder that bullying cannot be taken lightly. Parental guidance is advised.
I believe that one of the most effect ways to create a bully-free environment is to make bully-free look cool. In this way, it is likely that victims are well-informed on proper responses to bullying and bullies have full expectations of the consequences of bullying. Schools must also take up stringent measures to curb bullying and mete out harsh punishments for school bullies. However, having said that, the most powerful kind of incentive is the moral incentive. We must educate our students that all forms of bullying are inhumane to say the least. After all, they wouldn't want the same (form of bullying) to be done to themselves, would they?
A few more videos to help you with your quest to make your school bully-free!
And finally, a link to help you and your students go deeper into this campaign:
Be on the look out for the following tell-tale signs that your student may be bullied:
- Drop in grades to poor school attendance
- Loneliness and poor social relationships
- Physical ill-health
- Lowered self-esteem and depression
- Suicide talk or tendencies
- Self-harm
- Revenge leading to violent juvenile behaviour
The anatomy of a bullying experience:
The following video is a stark reminder that bullying cannot be taken lightly. Parental guidance is advised.
I believe that one of the most effect ways to create a bully-free environment is to make bully-free look cool. In this way, it is likely that victims are well-informed on proper responses to bullying and bullies have full expectations of the consequences of bullying. Schools must also take up stringent measures to curb bullying and mete out harsh punishments for school bullies. However, having said that, the most powerful kind of incentive is the moral incentive. We must educate our students that all forms of bullying are inhumane to say the least. After all, they wouldn't want the same (form of bullying) to be done to themselves, would they?
A few more videos to help you with your quest to make your school bully-free!
And finally, a link to help you and your students go deeper into this campaign:
Many thanks to Khusni for inspiring this post!
Striking 4D (Part 3) --- Dysgraphia
Understanding the learning disabilities in our students will go a long way in helping them, as well as helping us in helping them. Having poor or no understanding about learning disabilities will certainly enable teachers to contribute to negative outcomes in our students' lives.
There is NO advantage in being ignorant.
Remember, your contribution to early detection will help your students MORE than the contribution of the specialist providing late intervention.
Late intervention will cost more. More monetarily, and more emotionally.
So, what exactly is dysgraphia?
The following video may be a little difficult to digest at first, but the final two points can help you to better understand how you can help a student with dysgraphia:
How do some forms of disabilty go undetected in schools? Watch the following video to see how gifted students compensate for their disabilities.
Finally, we need to motivate students who have struck 4D which success stories that can spur them towards making one of their own.
From my reserach into this topic of learning disabilities, I have begun to realise the complexity of detection and intervention towards these disabilities. Detection really requires one to sit down and read into the discrepency in student performance, or rather, their under-performance. Any such discrepancies can be viewed as due cause that warrants a thorough investigation into the possibility of learning disability. An educator well-informed of learning disabilities is more likely to be able to detect the gift and provide the necessary intervention. Therefore, it is hoped that you will join the ranks of well-informed educators with the viewing of this post.
I have not been able to surface more relevant videos concerning Dysgraphia from Youtube, hence I will provide some links for your reading pleasure below:
All you need to know about Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia for students
There is NO advantage in being ignorant.
Remember, your contribution to early detection will help your students MORE than the contribution of the specialist providing late intervention.
Late intervention will cost more. More monetarily, and more emotionally.
So, what exactly is dysgraphia?
The following video may be a little difficult to digest at first, but the final two points can help you to better understand how you can help a student with dysgraphia:
How do some forms of disabilty go undetected in schools? Watch the following video to see how gifted students compensate for their disabilities.
Finally, we need to motivate students who have struck 4D which success stories that can spur them towards making one of their own.
From my reserach into this topic of learning disabilities, I have begun to realise the complexity of detection and intervention towards these disabilities. Detection really requires one to sit down and read into the discrepency in student performance, or rather, their under-performance. Any such discrepancies can be viewed as due cause that warrants a thorough investigation into the possibility of learning disability. An educator well-informed of learning disabilities is more likely to be able to detect the gift and provide the necessary intervention. Therefore, it is hoped that you will join the ranks of well-informed educators with the viewing of this post.
I have not been able to surface more relevant videos concerning Dysgraphia from Youtube, hence I will provide some links for your reading pleasure below:
All you need to know about Dysgraphia
Dysgraphia for students
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Striking 4D (Part 2) --- Dyscalculia
Understanding the learning disabilities in our students will go a long way in helping them, as well as helping us in helping them. Having poor or no understanding about learning disabilities will certainly enable teachers to contribute to negative outcomes in our students' lives.
There is NO advantage in being ignorant.
Remember, your contribution to early detection will help your students MORE than the contribution of the specialist providing late intervention.
Late intervention will cost more. More monetarily, and more emotionally.
So, what exactly is dyscalculia?
And if you are wondering how it might affect you if you had it? Watch the next few videos.
Indeed, after watching these videos, it is a mistake to call Dyscalculia a type of Maths Dyslexia. I am beginning to wonder if my students have a combination of both. Perhaps they have dyspraxia and dysgraphia too?!
However, if you are anything like me, understanding that our students may have learning disabilities help me to be more observant and patient with them. At least, now I do know what I should be looking out for. Do you agree?
Well, here are some successful (and famous) Dyscalculics:
Having explored Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, I wonder if I should discuss Dysgraphia or Dyspraxia next?
Stay tune for 2 more chances to strike 4D!
There is NO advantage in being ignorant.
Remember, your contribution to early detection will help your students MORE than the contribution of the specialist providing late intervention.
Late intervention will cost more. More monetarily, and more emotionally.
So, what exactly is dyscalculia?
And if you are wondering how it might affect you if you had it? Watch the next few videos.
Indeed, after watching these videos, it is a mistake to call Dyscalculia a type of Maths Dyslexia. I am beginning to wonder if my students have a combination of both. Perhaps they have dyspraxia and dysgraphia too?!
However, if you are anything like me, understanding that our students may have learning disabilities help me to be more observant and patient with them. At least, now I do know what I should be looking out for. Do you agree?
Well, here are some successful (and famous) Dyscalculics:
Having explored Dyslexia and Dyscalculia, I wonder if I should discuss Dysgraphia or Dyspraxia next?
Stay tune for 2 more chances to strike 4D!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Striking 4D (Part 1) --- Dyslexia
Understanding the learning disabilities in our students will go a long way in helping them, as well as helping us in helping them. Having poor or no understanding about learning disabilities will certainly enable teachers to contribute to negative outcomes in our students' lives.
There is NO advantage in being ignorant.
Remember, your contribution to early detection will help your students MORE than the contribution of the specialist providing late intervention.
Late intervention will cost more. More monetarily, and more emotionally.
So, what exactly is dyslexia?
And you can motivate your student with dyslexia by showing them the following videos:
No one hopes to strike 4D when 'D' is for Disabilities.
In subsequent posts, I will be discussing Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and Dyspraxia.
This post is dedicated to SH, AT, ES, MI and M. They are my brave students with the gift of dyslexia. It is my hope that they will learn to cope and excel in their lives!
There is NO advantage in being ignorant.
Remember, your contribution to early detection will help your students MORE than the contribution of the specialist providing late intervention.
Late intervention will cost more. More monetarily, and more emotionally.
So, what exactly is dyslexia?
And you can motivate your student with dyslexia by showing them the following videos:
No one hopes to strike 4D when 'D' is for Disabilities.
In subsequent posts, I will be discussing Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and Dyspraxia.
This post is dedicated to SH, AT, ES, MI and M. They are my brave students with the gift of dyslexia. It is my hope that they will learn to cope and excel in their lives!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Cyberbullying
It is increasing. It is rampant. It is...stoppable!
Do your part to educate and empower your students how they can ward off attacks from peers or strangers.
VISIT http://stopcyberbullying.org/
If not, the following video could be a reality for someone near you:
You can teach them to:
- Stop cyberbullying.
- Not write it.
- Not forward it.
- Save evidences.
- Report the cyberbullying or cyberbully.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture: Achieving Your Chilhood Dreams!
It's 2.45am. And I had just finished watching this. Nevermind that I have to reach school later early in the morning, I just couldn't stop watching this. Thoroughly moved! Thoroughly inspired!
Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.
Watched by over 10 million viewers, this video of Randy, who was dying of pancreatic cancer, contains tremendous inspiration and wisdom. It was the last lecture of a dying man. Be inspired by his life and the strength by which he lived it. Watch it!
If you are a school leader, teacher or student, there are lessons that could be learnt from Randy. He talked about life's brick wall, head fakes, helping others achieve their dreams, A.L.I.C.E. and the most important things in life.
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