The following is a response to the Ed Weekly article titled, "College for All Confronted" by Catherine Bewertz in volume 30, issue number 20.
This article looks at Harvards report on diverse academic paths and if the college for all program is worth while. The article explains that a college preparation program should be atarted in elementary school and continue through high school. Ideally, a college prep program looks at the interests of the child and their career interests and then designs an individual program that puts them on track toward that career. For example, a student who want to be in the medical field (we'll say nursing), will begin their track by focusing on and completing higher level science, health and math during high school. They may even be able to complete some college coursework their junior and senior year of high school. After High school, their track may suggest they begin working on their associates with certified nursing assistant coursework along the way. Once they have finished their two year LPN program, they may continue with their bachelor's and work toward their RN license and after that they may go on to a master's or a nursing specialty. One thing this college prep program talks about is that every student does not want or is not capable of completing a traditional four year degree. This is very important to recognize, that each student has individual needs, goals and abilities. Another example, may be a freshman student in high school who wants to be an electrician. Their track would look very different than the one mentioned above. This student may shadow a couple electricians in the community first, and then they could research aspects of the career to see if it is right for them. They may look into the union and ask other prefessionals specifics about the job, such as pay, benefits, work load, supply and demand, where the jobs are, who the jobs are with etc. This student would also take the higher level math and science courses at school. Then, right thereafter, they can begin to apply for apprentiships and a trade school that will give them the credentials they need to work in the field. A good college prep (or career prep) program gives the student more than one option or path and clear expectation of the time committment for each path. Overall, society, including president Obama suggest everyone spend at least one year post high school training for a career in order to be employable and to make a living wether they go through a traditional four year college program or not.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Ed Weekly Blog #6, 2-15-11
The following is a response to the article titled "How to help Transfer Students Adjust" from article number 18, volume 30.
This article focuses on 'the new kid' and how important it is for them to feel comfortable and welcomed when they first come to a new school. The beginning of the article talks about a young man who was struggling with being the new student at Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska. His frustration led to him shooting and killing the assistant principle, wounding the principle and later fatally turning the gun on himself. Those around the situation blame his not fitting in at his new school for the tragedy. From this stemmed a need for a program and procedures to help new or transfer students feel comfortable in their new school environment. This procedures include assigning a welcoming group of peers to the new student. The new student and their family should receive a transfer student handbook that outlines the important and neccesary aspects of their new school, including schedules, teachers, classes offered and activities during and after school. Another part of the transfer procedure is assigning a transfer committee to address all new students progress, iondividual physical and emotional needs. Once a month each new student should meet with the school counselor to talk about their adjustment, including how they are doing socially and academically. Lastly, it is suggested there be special activities planned each semester to give transfer students identity and comfort.
I can really relate to this article because I have been a transfer student about ten times in my academic life pre college. I went to 5 grade schools, 3 middle schools, 1 high school and 6 colleges. I would have appreciated a program during my school years to help me adjust. All I could depend on was my personality and all I was concerned about was making new friends. I became very gregarious in elementary school and am to this day. I can morph comforatbly into new situations with new people. But, there are many students out there who are shy or just not extraverted and they struggle tremendously with transfering schools. This is when the transfer program talked about above would be essential.
This article focuses on 'the new kid' and how important it is for them to feel comfortable and welcomed when they first come to a new school. The beginning of the article talks about a young man who was struggling with being the new student at Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska. His frustration led to him shooting and killing the assistant principle, wounding the principle and later fatally turning the gun on himself. Those around the situation blame his not fitting in at his new school for the tragedy. From this stemmed a need for a program and procedures to help new or transfer students feel comfortable in their new school environment. This procedures include assigning a welcoming group of peers to the new student. The new student and their family should receive a transfer student handbook that outlines the important and neccesary aspects of their new school, including schedules, teachers, classes offered and activities during and after school. Another part of the transfer procedure is assigning a transfer committee to address all new students progress, iondividual physical and emotional needs. Once a month each new student should meet with the school counselor to talk about their adjustment, including how they are doing socially and academically. Lastly, it is suggested there be special activities planned each semester to give transfer students identity and comfort.
I can really relate to this article because I have been a transfer student about ten times in my academic life pre college. I went to 5 grade schools, 3 middle schools, 1 high school and 6 colleges. I would have appreciated a program during my school years to help me adjust. All I could depend on was my personality and all I was concerned about was making new friends. I became very gregarious in elementary school and am to this day. I can morph comforatbly into new situations with new people. But, there are many students out there who are shy or just not extraverted and they struggle tremendously with transfering schools. This is when the transfer program talked about above would be essential.
Ed Weekly Blog #5, 2-5-11
Response to article entitiled "Researchers Look for Ways to Curb 'Mean Girls' and Gossip" from issue number 19, volume 30.
I found this article to very interesting. Not only that this issue is finally being talked about, but that there is a program to help eleviate the problem. This article by Sarah D. Sparks talks about bullying in school and how gossiping, starting rumors and isolating other students is one of the most severe types of bullying. It states that the school shootings that have occured have most likely been a product of such emotional abuse by other students. Middle school and High school are the towe environments where this type of bullying is seen the most. I can remember this bullying all the way back to grade school. I was often the new kid because my family moved a lot, and although I wasn't picked on often, I could always identify the long standing 'clicks' of friends and then those students who were ostricized, made fun of and given mean looks, sneers and comments. I think that 20 years ago, this was looked at as a right of passage and that everyone went through it. Truth is that is something the popular kids and their most likely popular parents said. isolating a student and making fun of them was a normal process and aside from being disrespectful very few people addressed as a bullying situation. Interestingly, this type of bullying still occurs in the adult workplace. Many times in an office situation for instance, co-workers form clicks and often engage in gossip about other workers, as well as participate in isolating them from co-worker functions.
I am impressed that there is a program now to deal with this and to me it sounds like it would absolutely work. The intervention is one in which students who see another being ridiculed are taught to refuse to be a bystander and even offer support to that individual. The results of this program have shown a huge decline in this type of bullying.
I believe this intervention, needs to be a regular part of the curriculum done every year at the pre-school, elementary and middle school level. I know first hand this bullying behavior can start very early. My four year old's Head Start teacher pulled me to the side two months ago and explained that he and two other students were pushing another student around and excluding him from playing with them. Being in education, I was very surprised by this. One that my son was a part of it and two that it happens as early as pre-school. I delivered my own intervention of course in the form of discussion and punishment. My son and I continue to talk about what happened and the responsibility of being a classmate includes never bullying, offering support to the person being bullied if he sees it and talking about problems or concerns at school not just acting on them. I believe this is the perfect age to address this issue because like my son and the others in the group they are unsure 'why' they did what they did. They just know that they were laughing together as they participated and didnt see the hurt they were causing.
I found this article to very interesting. Not only that this issue is finally being talked about, but that there is a program to help eleviate the problem. This article by Sarah D. Sparks talks about bullying in school and how gossiping, starting rumors and isolating other students is one of the most severe types of bullying. It states that the school shootings that have occured have most likely been a product of such emotional abuse by other students. Middle school and High school are the towe environments where this type of bullying is seen the most. I can remember this bullying all the way back to grade school. I was often the new kid because my family moved a lot, and although I wasn't picked on often, I could always identify the long standing 'clicks' of friends and then those students who were ostricized, made fun of and given mean looks, sneers and comments. I think that 20 years ago, this was looked at as a right of passage and that everyone went through it. Truth is that is something the popular kids and their most likely popular parents said. isolating a student and making fun of them was a normal process and aside from being disrespectful very few people addressed as a bullying situation. Interestingly, this type of bullying still occurs in the adult workplace. Many times in an office situation for instance, co-workers form clicks and often engage in gossip about other workers, as well as participate in isolating them from co-worker functions.
I am impressed that there is a program now to deal with this and to me it sounds like it would absolutely work. The intervention is one in which students who see another being ridiculed are taught to refuse to be a bystander and even offer support to that individual. The results of this program have shown a huge decline in this type of bullying.
I believe this intervention, needs to be a regular part of the curriculum done every year at the pre-school, elementary and middle school level. I know first hand this bullying behavior can start very early. My four year old's Head Start teacher pulled me to the side two months ago and explained that he and two other students were pushing another student around and excluding him from playing with them. Being in education, I was very surprised by this. One that my son was a part of it and two that it happens as early as pre-school. I delivered my own intervention of course in the form of discussion and punishment. My son and I continue to talk about what happened and the responsibility of being a classmate includes never bullying, offering support to the person being bullied if he sees it and talking about problems or concerns at school not just acting on them. I believe this is the perfect age to address this issue because like my son and the others in the group they are unsure 'why' they did what they did. They just know that they were laughing together as they participated and didnt see the hurt they were causing.
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