Week of November 23

Learning, learning, learning. . . . . I can really see the value of social constructivism and the theory we studied this week. Last year I was doing observations in various media centers and I saw such a great example of this theory in action. I was at Washington High which is the alternative school in Ogden. Students who attend this school have been through disciplinary action at other schools, have family circumstances that haven't allowed them to attend traditional schools, or have drug abuse issues. With students who have such diverse backgrounds and needs, it would be so easy for the teachers in this school to throw busy work at these students. The teachers don't do this though. Students have projects that they work on as a group. When I visited in November, students were just finishing a Veterans Day project. Students went to a nursing home and presented a Veterans Day program. Students in English classes wrote and researched topics to write speeches. Students in social studies classes wrote newspaper articles about various time periods in war. FACS classes sewed individual pillows to give to Veterans at the program. Students were incredibly motivated to take on these huge tasks. The tasks were above their ability and comfort level, but with the help and support of the teachers and classmates, they were able to make great things happen.

Learning is effectuated by teacher vision. Teachers must have the foresight to understand that no two classes will be the same. Students need different levels of support and challenge. When teachers have appropriate vision, students can achieve well beyond original expectations.

Week of November 16

I really liked Bruner's ideas and I think that they are very applicable to learning. The idea of spiral learning is very powerful. Spiral learning takes place in our classrooms, but also from year to year. I have taught so many students who have really benefitted from previous teachers and the concepts taught in those classes. It would be so great to coordinate with teachers of different grade levels to plan a scope and sequence. Our district use to devote an entire day for teachers to get together and make such plans. With budget cuts in the last few years, we don't have a day to gather and plan in subject areas across various age groups. I'm really disappointed that we don't have time to plan and coordinate curriculum; I think that students could really benefit from this planning and sequencing.

Learning can best be effectuated by spiral learning. Students learn best when they have the opportunity to build on prior knowledge and learning. Teachers can act as a catalyst of learning by coordinating with previous learning and curriculum.

Week of November 9

The readings this week really made me think about learning in my classroom. I really like the idea of authentic activities and I try to utilize those activities as much as possible in my classroom. In the past my students have published picture books for elementary students at different schools, written letters to parents and administrators and created poetry books to help other classes understand the elements of poetry. I think that students learn so much more when they are actually "doing" the subject matter. I do think that sometimes it is scary for a teacher to plan such activities. Last year my students made picture books for students in an elementary school. I was really stressed with the results of the product. It's one thing for my students to fail in the context of my classroom, but when a student fails to produce a great picture book, or a picture book at all, the elementary students suffer. Cognitive apprenticeships are great for students, but sometimes I think they can also be more stressful for teachers.

In order to effectuate learning, teachers need to step out of the classroom, take chances, and realize that learning is messy. Cognitive apprenticeships may be complicated and challenging, but the student learning is powerful and lasting.