Murray,+Carol-Ann

Hi, I'm Carol-Ann and I teach 8th grade English at Bayan Bilingual School. I am in my 9th year of teaching internationally. My degree is in Geography but I have been teaching English for 7 of those 9 years. This is my 3rd course in the Buffalo Masters program and I'm looking forward to discussing and learning new and practical tools to use in the classroom. I think that my favourite aspect of these courses being able to put into practice, almost immediately, the different things I am learning.

Personally, I love to read and travel and feel that planning a trip is one of the best parts of the trip! I also used to be a travel agent before I went back to school to become a teacher. ;)

[|Kohlburg Presentation]

=__**What is a Learning Community?**__=

A group of people who share similar characteristics, idealistic, active learners, sharing knowledge, ideas accessible and reachable with team work. Ie: Schools, families, friends, internet

Safe, motivational, cooperative environment for learning and teaching. Safe = risk takers can share, mutual trust respect and tolerance Motivational = extrinsically motivated to create intrinsic value. Excite students to become inquirers and teaching with the end in mind. Cooperative= socially connected invested in each others success. Physically and emotionally present and ready and willing to teach and learn from each other

=__**Turning Hopes into Goals**__=

__Hopes and Dreams__

1. My hope for 8A/8B is that all students feel successful and valued no matter what their academic levels are.

2. My dream for 8A/8B is to have all students participate during seminar.

3. My dream for 8A/8B is to have students to be able to think critically and for themselves.

__Actualization of Hopes and Dreams__

My goal is for all students to feel successful and valued no matter what their academic levels are.


 * I will praise and encourage even when an answer is wrong.
 * I will find some positive feedback to give along with the coaching points.
 * During PTC conferences, I will continue to remind parents that their child’s efforts and processes are more important than just the grade.

My goal for 8A/8B is to have all students participate during (graded)class discussions.


 * Conversation monopolizers will be told they must limit their talking points to 3 times to allow for everyone to speak as well as invite non participating members to speak. (temporary fix until more students are included)
 * I will give the students less comfortable with seminar/discussion, possible discussion prompts to help to have an opportunity to share their thoughts.

My dream for 8A/8B is to have students to be able to think critically and for themselves.


 * I will use moral dilemma (type) lessons to promote discussion and thought about non subject related skills/material.
 * I will attempt to create meaningful activities that are less teacher directed and give students more autonomy within the classroom.


 * __ Routines __**

//__ Preparing for seminar or class discussion __// (Fishbowl seminar: inner circle and outer circle.)
 * 1) Students read the text and guiding questions and take note of their own ideas for seminar
 * 2) Students get with a partner to have time to discuss and share their ideas to gain new understanding. Partners choose to be either #1 or #2
 * 3) Students move desks into inner and outer circles
 * 4) Students are assigned inner and outer circles based on their number.
 * 5) General seminar question is posed by teacher
 * 6) Inner circle students discuss while outer circle students listen and take notes only.
 * 7) Half way through or at a natural break in conversation, inner and outer circle switch.
 * 8) New general seminar question is posed to the new inner circle.
 * 9) New discussion and ideas by inner circle while outer circle listens and takes notes on new ideas.
 * 10) Finish with a whole class wrap up with any final questions or unanswered issues.
 * 11) 15 minutes to write an informal seminar reflection including new ideas/understandings and self reflection on their participation in seminar

=Problem Child =

Greg Heffley Greg is 12 years old. Reads at a grade 5/6 level.
 * // Behavioural Issues include: //**
 * Blurting out in class
 * Class clown, other students laugh at him

Article Summary - "Boredom and its Opposite: Richard Strong, Harvey Silver, Matthew Perini and Greg Tuculescu

The article “Boredom and its Opposite” takes a look at 4 ways we can overcome students’ reluctance to learn. The article outlines the four natural human interests that drive learning and should drive our teaching. They include “the drive toward mastery” which includes modeling research strategies, giving demonstrations and hands on learning. Secondly, “the drive to understand” can be facilitated by helping students know how to collect, organize and value ideas. Lessons also need to be thought provoking and rigorous. The “drive toward self expression” includes allowing individual creativity and choice and making sure there are many samples available for students to study. Finally, the “need to relate” section of the article emphasizes that as humans we hope our work will mean something and that we can interact with others. Allowing students to work on assignments that have a personal or even local interest to them, gives them the opportunity to relate to others around them and work collaboratively on a common interest.