Serenity

Serenity
The Breachway

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Not Just One Corner

I am a holistic teacher and strongly believe that we need to get rid of data driven teaching. That why I am passionate about kids with exceptionalities. We need to bring back all the arts. They reach so many different corners. We need to bring back recess at all levels, not rely on gym class to get kids moving. We need to bring back  solid foundations in all four core subjects, not competencies that align with the latest common core, frameworks, every child learns, and no child left behind.  
When we speak of a "well rounded education," this does not mean the square pegs of ever changing data driven curriculum. It means "rounded," reaching every learner, at every level; learner's who might need music to learn fractions, art to learn geometry, recess to learn socialization, videos and documentaries to enlighten history. How about reading or being read to....now that's a novel approach. Ask your high school kids to see their common core English textbooks. They are being required to dissect lovely works of poetry and prose into cold, clinical, data driven, tests with assigned accountability.
Let's start the day with a song, throw in some movement, paint the sky with every color in the rainbow. Let's measure the shadows in the room, let's chart the sun across the sky. Let's teach the whole child, not just one corner.

Not Just One Corner

I am a holistic teacher and strongly believe that we need to get rid of data driven teaching. That why I am passionate about kids with exceptionalities. We need to bring back all the arts. They reach so many different corners. We need to bring back recess at all levels, not rely on gym class to get kids moving. We need to bring back  solid foundations in all four core subjects, not competencies that align with the latest common core, frameworks, every child learns, and no child left behind.  
When we speak of a "well rounded education," this does not mean the square pegs of ever changing data driven curriculum. It means "rounded," reaching every learner, at every level; learner's who might need music to learn fractions, art to learn geometry, recess to learn socialization, videos and documentaries to enlighten history. How about reading or being read to....now that's a novel approach. Ask your high school kids to see their common core English textbooks. They are being required to dissect lovely works of poetry and prose into cold, clinical, data driven, tests with assigned accountability.
Let's start the day with a song, throw in some movement, paint the sky with every color in the rainbow. Let's measure the shadows in the room, let's chart the sun across the sky. Let's teach the whole child, not just one corner.