KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

7 February 2012                     Tips for Effective Exposition of Language Arts Prepared by:                           K. D. Womack Interviewed Educator:          Dr. J. Haviland Years of Experience:             9 years teaching secondary education students Teach writing through universal design to benefit all learners. All students need the opportunity to practice skills for future mastery. Provide multiple models across learning styles. Use the Ralph W. Tyler method: Anything you want to teach needs to be taught through repetition with increasing expectation for increased sophistication. (For instance, each time the Diamante Poem is a part of the lesson pla...

Being an educator is a rewarding profession. How many times have you heard that statement? Today I found myself chanting this as encouragement. However the internal monologue was stimulated by my recently concluded one-on-one teaching session. Some days are certainly better than others. Earlier today I was teaching my ELL, who has made great progress in our numerous sessions. My student is dedicated, yet at times it is obvious she does not study after completing homework assignments. I find both of us getting frustrated when we end up working on a previously learned word for longer than sixty seconds. Naturally, I encourage all my students to take breaks and revisit the material they may find difficult. More often than not a reset occurs once students return refreshed and they are able to establish the/a resolution. Things did not go as smoothly as I would have liked during our session. I am questioning what I can do to enhance my students learning. Recently I have added more revie...

I often hear the phrase "common sense" being thrown around by many thoughtless people. Everyone should use their words wisely and think carefully before blurting out insults and "know-it-all" retorts referring to someone's intellect, which is based on the insulters’ OWN perceptions. I do not take the phrase lightly, nor do I believe in a so-called universal COMMON SENSE. When I hear these words spoken I am aware of the judgment and bias involved. Please keep in mind, now more than ever, the billions of people on Earth do not originate from the same continents, cultures, religions, educational experiences, etc. Therefore, how can one expect another to be well or even quasi aware of native concepts?! If I was born in New Guinea, Africa; did not have the opportunity to go to school in my formative years; and migrated to another country in my thirties with limited language skills would I know the meaning of (certain or any) national symbols specific to that country?...

I just finished reading CoRregidora by GayL JoNES and I feel inspired to listen to Sheryl Crows " We Do What We Can " as I write. An unexpected, but good read to conclude this wonderful year. The book is a quick read of less than 200 pages. It exposes the thoughts and silence a girl develops as her painful life experiences push her into young womanhood, and finally into becoming a wise woman. A relatable tale for many of us to cry about or perhaps a reflection that offers permission to share (verbally or in written form) your sorrow with others - free from judgment and full of empathy. I believe many men and women of color would benefit from hearing the historically tragic stories family members silently carry with them amongst generation to generation. Anywho (<---- one of my favorite fictional words), the novel certainly provoked the sorrow that wants to lie dormant within me, but actually exists on my surface. Therefore the song I am playing is fi...

Today's topic for current and future educators is...you guessed it (from the title) something DIGITAL!! The notion was recently posed to use cameras in the classroom for personal and academic learning. Personally, I think using a digital photography in the classroom is a great idea for many reasons. The images can serve multiple purposes. For instance: images can be used in the class newsletter for parents, projects, student of the week, and virtual field trips. One of my favorite assignments posted online is the self-esteem project . Summary of instructions : Each student will make a bookmark for one classmate. Students will use the camera to take pictures, in the classroom, of the student who will receive the bookmark. Teacher will assign every student a classmate to make a bookmark for. (This will work with an odd or even number of students. I do not plan on pairing the students. Example: Amber will make a bookmark for Katie, Katie will make a bookmark for Douglas, and ...

I ♥ e-learning! Check out this link http://www.e-learningforkids.org/  for numerous interactive lessons for various subjects: language arts, math, technology, life skills, health, environmental skills, science, and English language. The site has easy to maneuver and understand activities for ages 5 through 12. Here's a review on the Language Arts - Introduction Microsoft Word 2003 activity. This is a well organized presentation with written and audio instructions accompanied by highlighting and blinking symbols to guide all learners. The narrator provides clear step by step instructions on how to use the MS program.  Instructors can use this guide in and outside of class. The lesson includes many useful tools for students to learn independently. For instance, there is an instructional key that incorporates several command selections (ex. arrows point to the location of the ruler, scroll bar, and empty text ...

Today, I taught a lesson on Conflict Resolution to 24 Philadelphia high school students. It felt great being in front of (and walking around) the classroom. Of course I was nervous before stepping foot into the school, but I was well prepared and focused on the ultimate goal - which was to teach students how to handle on the job conflict constructively. The education course I am enrolled includes teaching a lesson to high school students, with a classmate (or coteacher). We had three major points we wanted to drive home: 1. Prevent conflict We briefly discussed how clear communication as well as considering cultural differences to prevent conflict. 2. Avoid conflict When a coworker is pressing an issue and appears to want to engage in a confrontation, try listening to their perspective and problem. Sometimes just listening can make a world of difference, for the person who is upset and the other parties involved. 3. Manage conflict In the midst of conflict, suggest taking a...