I'm considering writing a pocket pronunciation for living in Utah. The following are some of the entries:
Ank-Shent - belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence; old. Commonly spelled "A-N-C-I-E-N-T."
Mao-En - large natural elevation of the earth's surface, rising rather abruptly from a flatter plain. Commonly spelled "M-O-U-N-T-A-I-N"
Buh-En - a small disk or knob fastened to fabric to hold clothing together by pushing it through a reinforced slit. Commonly spelled "B-U-T-T-O-N"
Breh-Uhn - older brother of mine. Name actually spelled "B-R-E-T-T-O-N"
Accrost - from one side to the other. Commonly spelled "A-C-RO-S-S"
Kelt-See - my current roommate. Name actually spelled "K-E-L-S-Y"
Ellts - an adverb meaning in addition to or besides. Often used in the phrase 'what else?' Commonly spelled "E-L-S-E"
...To be continued, expanded, added to and enlarged. Suggestions welcome...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Rise and Shout!
Can I just tell you how AMAZING the football game was this afternoon?
BYU beat UCLA
59-0
And I was there. I loved it. Go Cougars.
BYU beat UCLA
59-0
And I was there. I loved it. Go Cougars.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Some Thoughts on Education
I work at a high school. I absolutely LOVE my job and this year I have a classroom!!! Yay! no more traveling room to room!
This is a picture of my sweet calendar invention that takes up a whole wall in my room. Having used it for a couple weeks, it works really nicely, if I do say so myself!
But more importantly than the calendar hanging on my wall are the things I'm learning as I work in the field of education. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a "teacher meeting." (joy of joys) It was a special training to teach teachers how to create a cookie cutter classroom that would somehow accommodate the needs of every student. Boy howdy, do I have quite the opinion on that training.
Reader BEWARE. I'm about the vent.
I understand the idea behind the training. In a class full of students with differing strengths and abilities, one might struggle to meet all intellectual needs. It is important to challenge those that need challenged and assist those who need assistance. I appreciated this part of the training... but here are the things I took away from our meeting that day:
1. TOO MANY people teach to the test! The woman that 'trained' us kept answering all questions and concerns with regards to the UBSQT (a Utah standardized test). It was as though she felt that it was the end-all say-all to all educational issues. And it made me SICK. Education is more than passing a state-mandated test. It's more than passing a class, or even getting an "A." It's about learning and developing and creating a wealth of information and knowledge that will help in life experiences for decades to come.
Education is NOT about filling in bubbles on a scantron after twelve years of schooling. Education IS about learning to THINK critically, SYNTHESIZE information, APPLY principles learned, EXPERIENCE growth, and form OPINIONS independent of society.
I wish someone would teach all the state employees with Ph.D's that life is more than bubble sheets and report cards.
2. One can go through years and years of schooling, specifically learning about education or even special education, and still no absolutely NOTHING about teaching a special education student. Okay, so maybe she does know something... but she was teaching us all the wrong things. For example:
Did you know that after years of working with special education children, it's still possible to think of them as "low-level" or "low-IQ?" And what's worse... did you know that someone with a Ph.D. and years of experience can and will label special education children as such? And the same 'highly educated' person will say that there is no way possible that many of these students will ever get a better job than the local Jiffy Lube?
I wanted to punch her in the face. The students to whom she was referring definitely have their own sets of challenges. But they're not lower level. They are at a different level. They have different strengths. These students may not be ready to learn advanced Calculus at a breakneck speed, but they are certainly capable of holding a job requiring more skill than flipping hamburgers. My students struggle with academics, but they try. And I'd like to see all of the accelerated students show as much love and dedication to others as the special ed students do. I'd like to see someone who can complete a chemistry problem in their sleep doodle with greater skill than Van Gogh. My students may have a hard time capturing their thoughts on paper, but I'll be darned if the next Steven Spielberg doesn't walk through my classroom doors everyday.
3. No matter how well and efficiently I do my job, there are still other teachers that ignore all of my efforts, and ask stupid questions that have already been answered. Go figure.
On a slightly happier note: Thank you, Mrs. Fairchild, for reading that note and putting forth the effort to help those students that struggle to be successful in an academic setting.
This is a picture of my sweet calendar invention that takes up a whole wall in my room. Having used it for a couple weeks, it works really nicely, if I do say so myself!
But more importantly than the calendar hanging on my wall are the things I'm learning as I work in the field of education. Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a "teacher meeting." (joy of joys) It was a special training to teach teachers how to create a cookie cutter classroom that would somehow accommodate the needs of every student. Boy howdy, do I have quite the opinion on that training.
Reader BEWARE. I'm about the vent.
I understand the idea behind the training. In a class full of students with differing strengths and abilities, one might struggle to meet all intellectual needs. It is important to challenge those that need challenged and assist those who need assistance. I appreciated this part of the training... but here are the things I took away from our meeting that day:
1. TOO MANY people teach to the test! The woman that 'trained' us kept answering all questions and concerns with regards to the UBSQT (a Utah standardized test). It was as though she felt that it was the end-all say-all to all educational issues. And it made me SICK. Education is more than passing a state-mandated test. It's more than passing a class, or even getting an "A." It's about learning and developing and creating a wealth of information and knowledge that will help in life experiences for decades to come.
Education is NOT about filling in bubbles on a scantron after twelve years of schooling. Education IS about learning to THINK critically, SYNTHESIZE information, APPLY principles learned, EXPERIENCE growth, and form OPINIONS independent of society.
I wish someone would teach all the state employees with Ph.D's that life is more than bubble sheets and report cards.
2. One can go through years and years of schooling, specifically learning about education or even special education, and still no absolutely NOTHING about teaching a special education student. Okay, so maybe she does know something... but she was teaching us all the wrong things. For example:
Did you know that after years of working with special education children, it's still possible to think of them as "low-level" or "low-IQ?" And what's worse... did you know that someone with a Ph.D. and years of experience can and will label special education children as such? And the same 'highly educated' person will say that there is no way possible that many of these students will ever get a better job than the local Jiffy Lube?
I wanted to punch her in the face. The students to whom she was referring definitely have their own sets of challenges. But they're not lower level. They are at a different level. They have different strengths. These students may not be ready to learn advanced Calculus at a breakneck speed, but they are certainly capable of holding a job requiring more skill than flipping hamburgers. My students struggle with academics, but they try. And I'd like to see all of the accelerated students show as much love and dedication to others as the special ed students do. I'd like to see someone who can complete a chemistry problem in their sleep doodle with greater skill than Van Gogh. My students may have a hard time capturing their thoughts on paper, but I'll be darned if the next Steven Spielberg doesn't walk through my classroom doors everyday.
3. No matter how well and efficiently I do my job, there are still other teachers that ignore all of my efforts, and ask stupid questions that have already been answered. Go figure.
On a slightly happier note: Thank you, Mrs. Fairchild, for reading that note and putting forth the effort to help those students that struggle to be successful in an academic setting.
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