This is my first blog and I would like to use it so that teachers can discuss their beliefs about ESL. So to start do share with us what you believe would be an ideal classroom environment.
Hope we'll be talking and sharing a lot.
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22 comments:
Hi Angela,
what a cool blog!
I loved the picture you used and the theme is also quite clean, something which I am very found of.
Great, not it all about posting. II am actually about to post something on mine ;-)
http://www.knowmansland.com/learningpath/
What a beautiful start -- the cartoon caught my eye immediately, and the stated purpose -- the concept of that illusive perfect classroom environment -- made me examine it even more. I love this exercise... and will TRY to make myself come back and answer in greater length another day; for now will say that student-centered would be at the top of my description. Holly (Charlottesville VA)
Hi Angela, I like your blog very much, the cartoon is an excellent key to call attention. I wanted to tell you that I'm also interested in the theme. Good start!
Great start, Angela, I loved the picture! I also liked the fact that you started your first post with a question, inviting people to contribute.
I'm looking forward to the next posts!
Monica (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
Angela,
I could say you're a natural blogger! You've already added a catchy image, asked a question that led to discussion and got many readers and commentators to your first post!
Excellent job!
Just one detail, the tag for our session should be altogether "blogging4educators".
Way to go!
Cheers.
I'm the little boy looking out of the window . . .
Hi Angela,
Congratulations on the blog! As the previous bloggers said the image is quite appealing, not only because of the colours but also because of its friendliness. Besides, the picture perfectly serves the purpose of our blog.
Concerning your question, whenever I think about that, the word engagement pops straight away. Students and teachers should be motivated. In fact, I believe that teachers play the most important role, because their involvement reflects the students’ motivation, don’t you agree?
All the best,
Patricia Soares
I love the cartoon + the nice, clean layout! It is very inviting.
Gina
http://webgina.edublogs.org/
Your blog is really off to a great start! In addition to all the feedback you have already received, I would add that the profile box on your blog is super! By including a picture and a little about yourself, you not only add a personal touch to your blog, but also let the readers know who is responsible for this wonderful new blog. Keep up the great work!
Mary
The Blogging Team
Angela, this is a very nice blog and the idea is just creative and much fun. I hope we can link our blogs so that teachers can express their beliefs on one (yours) and their fears and doubts on the other (mine). That would make blogs more communicative.
What do you think?
Great idea, Lilian.
Let's do that.
I've just linked your blog, which is beautiful, by the way.
Hello Angela
Great start!
In an ideal classroom...
* students feel safe to ask questions
* the teacher does not do most of the talking
* students ideas are respected
* students help one another
* the teacher is not extremely tired when the class is over...
Well I could go on forever talking about the ideal classroom environment. I dream of it every night.
Erika - I can envisage the first 4 of your points but I've never experienced the last one!
Michael
Michael,
I loved your first comment that you were the boy looking out of the window. :)
About feeling tired after classes, do you teach young children?
Great beginning, Angela!
You will definitely have a great success with your learners at your blog. Hope to come back soon and enjoy reading and learn a lot from you.
Hugs,
Nina
Angela,
It's something my teacher said to my Mum at a parents' evening when I was 11 - "I can't understand how he's done so well - he's always looking out of the window".
A second (or is he third? or fourth??) cousin of mine even wrote a song about it. He's Leon Rosselson - he's a few years older than me, but went to the same school, same teacher, clearly the same History Lesson!
[I'll try to put up a post on my MIcalet blog (http://blog.michalska.net/) about this - I want to include a couple of links but can't see how to in a Comment.]
I teach at a university, and have also taught in secondary schools - HE (in the UK at least) has its own stresses and strains, but nowhere near what secondary teachers have to put up with, and primary teachers are from another planet!
But I think that anyone who stands - or sits - in front of any group of people and tries to get (persuade? encourage?) them to do something new - or differently - is going to be tired at the end of it. You are performing, rather in the same way as an actor does, but you are not there to entertain or to be admired; you have to be aware of everything going on around you, to take micro-decisions at any moment - whether, when, how to respond to a question or interruption, or a perceived lack of understanding. And at the same time you have a tremendous responsibility towards your students/pupils - they trust you, and you have to repay that trust.
No wonder we're always exhausted. I am, now, I can tell you. It's midnight here and I'm off to bed to recover.
'NIght all.
Wow, Angela. What a success!!! It is the blog from this session where I have found the most comments!!! Amazing what an inviting and colorful illustration and a thought-provoking question can do ... two of the elements that will certainly be present in your future entries. Congratulations!!!
As to the topic, I guess there is not a perfect situation but the one that is closest is that which allows students "to learn to learn" in a sociocultural environment according to their learning styles, preferences, needs and objectives, be them kids like in your cartoon, or adults.
Warm regards from sunny Caracas,
Berta
Hi Angela and partners
I agree with comments about the blog and answers to the question. I would like to add that intrinsically motivated students would make a big difference in the classroom and that would lead to independant work, which takes a lot of pressure away from the teacher.
Consuelo
Hello Consuelo,
I couldn't agree with you more.
But do you think that this motivation is basically intrinsic or extrinsic. If it is mainly extrinsic, what could teachers do to make their students more motivated?
Thanks for sharing,
Angela
Hi Angela,
Just wanted to say Ive added you to my blogroll.
xinhos
PatSoares
http://pen08.edublogs.org
and
www.mimar-te.blogspot.com
Angela,
Congrats on your blog! When I read your question "If it is mainly extrinsic, what could teachers do to make their students more motivated?", so many things come to my mind since it's one of the issues I've been dealing with for a couple of years --as many teachers do.
When it comes to human being, I know that nothing is perfect, i mean, there is no ready-made or precise prescriptions. But i think this is what makes us again human being. Each individual is unique, with different abilities, interests, fears or with many many other characteristics. then how can we as teachers make all these different learners motivated to learn? This is a big challenge.
I think the most important thing is to make the learning meaningful to them. Once they feel that they are learning something they are in need of or something relevant to their lives, and also once they feel that they are both respected and acknowledged, then they will be more motivated to learn..
But the question is how to make the learning meaningful and relevant to our learners. Actually this is one of the questions that I had in mind when I study brain based learning. I got many valuable insights into several issues we are struggling with and would like to share with you through blogging :))
Looking forward to your next posts...
And your comments and suggestions at http://brainenrichment.blogspot.com
Thanks for thought-provoking Qs,
Warm Hugs,
Sibel
Hi Angela,
Wonderful blog! I think that most of the blogging educators will pay you a visit.
Well, I think I always wanted to be a teacher. I remember having acted in a school performance and of course I had the role of the teacher of English:)
Nevertheless what is important for me is not how I started but how I continue. Being around young people every day has never made me regret a moment for my decision.
The word 'job' cannot capture the feelings that we teachers have for what we do.
Hugs from Eleni, Greece
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