Allison’s blog

Response to Sir Ken Robinson's speech on "Does Education Kill Creativity?"

2009-11-22T06:40:03Z

Sir Ken Robinson defines creativity as “the process of having original ideas that create value”. He reiterates that it is a process and not a random act of inspiration, and that it needs to prove its worth. He points out that creativity is not t...

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Response to Secretary Arne Duncan's "Teacher Preparation: Reforming the Uncertain Profession"

2009-11-22T06:24:10Z

There are several points in Arne's Duncan's speech of which I dissent, however the overarching purpose: a plead to realize the urgency through which educational reformation must take place, is immediately and timelessly relevant. “B...

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Second Year Success

2009-11-01T04:19:40Z

Even in my second year, 'successful' is not an adjective that I would use to describe my teaching practice. 'Effective' is the more contextually appropriate word, but neither can this be absolutely claimed. Teaching continues to be trying, streng...

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Upholding Realistic Standards, not Lofty Expectations: Response to Gary Rubinstein

2009-10-25T16:37:22Z

Response to 'High Expectations? Not so fast. :http://garyrubinstein.teachfor.us/2009/08/30/high-expectations-not-so-fast "The idea is that students will rise to whatever your expectations are, no matter how high they are." This sentimen...

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Classroom Management

2009-10-04T04:36:26Z

Student-Centered vs. Teacher Centered This year, I've made a deliberate effort to observe the personality dynamic of my classrooms, I’ve been able to strategically pick students helpers that will both self-regulate their individual sense ...

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Response to Ruby Payne's Understanding Poverty

2009-09-20T01:41:43Z

As a case study, Ruby Payne’s “A Framework for Understanding Poverty, is well-researched and topically comprehensive. As a sociological handbook with ‘practical yet compassionate strategies for addressing impact on people’s lives’ it is more...

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Back to School!

2009-09-01T12:18:34Z

It has been said time and time again that the second year of teaching is infinitely better. For whatever reason, I never did believe that this generalization would apply to me. Three weeks into teaching at the same alternative middle school, I ...

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Failure

2009-06-26T13:02:11Z

Once, I had a self-satisfyingly blithe perception of failure as a constructive and inevitable part of life. It was through failure, that I was prompted to rise up and overcome, forbidden to become complacent, and strengthened in the areas that I...

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Summer School: An Oppurtunity for Reflection & Improvement

2009-06-03T21:03:41Z

Among the several aspects of my teaching practice that need to be improved the three foremost are: 1) Differentiated Instruction 2) Assertiveness and consistency 3) More accurate and innovative assessments What I currently do well: The sing...

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School District Project

2009-06-03T20:53:30Z

While I don't believe my school district project is particulary radical or truly innovative, it is innovative in its ideals and perhaps overly idealized as it is appropriately named "Pleasant Valley." Everything that is funded, planned, and init...

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