Thing 4

Our assignment for "23 Things" was to reflect on how teaching and learning have changed since I was a child and how they are the same. I know we are to compare then vs. now, but a wave of nostalgia has swept over me. I remember teachers who made an impact, good and not-so-good. I remember Mrs. Canary, my beloved kindergarten teacher. Isn't that a great name for a kindergarten teacher? I remember Mrs. Dyer, my junior English teacher at Redford Union High school who taught me how to write and how to read literature. When I took ATL at MSU it was the same curriculum. Thanks, Mrs. Dyer.

My reflection also would have to admit that in many ways schools have remained unchanged since I was a public school student. Desks still are lined up in rows. In many cases, the teacher stands at the front of the room and lectures while students take notes. Many assessments are still multiple choice tests.

There are many changes, too. The use of computers has changed education in ways we can see and probably in ways we don't even know yet. Just this week I was helping a student write a research paper and he didn't have enough information. The information was just a click away. Create a works cited page? No problem--another click and we are at Easy Bib. Even the typing part was so much easier when on a computer. Does anyone remember erasable bond paper?

I do believe at MHS we are so focused on meeting MMC benchmarks in core curriculum areas that many of the skills needed for the 21st century are not being taught. We do not teach "depth over breadth." We are focused on making AYP in English/language arts and math. And we have to focus on that because we haven't made AYP in several years. As a special education teacher, I especially feel the pressure of this. One of the subgroups who hasn't made AYP is students with disabilities. What do we do to help kids with disabilities improve reading, math, and written language skills while also teaching 21st century skills such as global awareness, financial, economic, business, and entrepreneurship literacy, civic literacy, health literacy, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, and communication and collaboration? Somehow, we have to integrate 21st century skills into teaching of core subjects. That is the challenge.