" Blackkklansman" Movie Showing

"Blackkklansman" is a movie about a black policeman trying to work in the South during the time of the KKK. After the movie I stayed for a conversation about the movie. This was marketed to the students as something that would be beneficial to the class we were taking. The conversation was all about how the movie made people feel, lighting and  screenplay rather than application of the movie to educational topics. It was more designed for film students rather than perspective educators. 

While the movie would be somewhat beneficial to high school history teachers, it wasn't a movie that would be allowed to be shown due to the rating of the movie. For myself as a science major, it did not aid in anyway to my educational career. I went into the showing of the movie expecting to have an in-depth conversation about education but instead was met with a completely different topic. As an educator it is my job to make sure I am choosing meaningful assignments and requirements for my students. The assignments that I choose should work towards meeting a goal or standard that I will make known to my students. Assignments done outside of class time need to be directive to the same goal or students will not get anything out of it. To avoid assigning busywork I will make sure to ask myself what goal the assignment meets. If it does not fully meet the goal I want met I will need to rethink my assignment. No matter how cool or awesome I think something would be to show the students, if it take up their time but doesn't meet any goals of the class than it should not be assigned.

Along with assigning meaningful work, the expectations of an assignment should be known to the students. If students are assigned work to do and they do not know why they are doing it they will get nothing out of it. In my classroom I want to have a progression of standards for a unit up on my wall. Students will know what they are working on, what they have succeeded at, and where they are going next. I believe that this is essential for student growth and learning. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Current Atmosphere for Students in IEP and 504 Plan Meetings

While taking to a high school principal in a local area, he mentioned that IEP meetings are ran by teachers.  Teachers and other faculty are the ones who create the IEP and often the parents do not know the jargon or the legal terms that are involves so they really have no say in the IEP process. The same happens in 504 meetings, that is, if a meeting even takes place. In a 504 plan no meeting with the parents, student, and teacher is required. Unlike an IEP, a 504 plan doesn't have to be a written document an no meeting is necessary. The school has to inform the parents that there will be changes made to their students learning but unless parents know that they can ask for a meeting nothing will come of it. Teachers can make these plans with no aid from the student or the parents (Educational Advocacy).  I had the opportunity to speak with a student who has a 504 plan for ADHD and Anxiety. His parents are advocates for his learning but they have not taught him how to be an advoca
Read more

Student Led IEP and 504 Plan Meetings

An article by Christine Mason, Marcy McGahee-Kovac, and Lora Johnson outlines the need and the benefits for student lead IEP meetings. "Student led IEPs teachers students to take ownership for their own education and to demonstrate that ownership at an annual IEP meeting," (Mason, 2004). While a student lead IEP meeting is incredibly beneficial to the students they can not be expected to be put in that position of power all of a sudden. Students require scaffolding to get them to the point where they can be a self-advocate in a room full of adults. Mason,  McGahee-Kovac, and Johnson outline an excellent way to prepare students for an IEP or 504 plan meeting. They suggest a number of preparation sessions either individually or in small groups to identity what needs to happen in an IEP meeting. They go through about six sessions of preparation. The session will outline IDEA (1997) and the students rights in the school environment. Students will get copies of these law
Read more

How to Prepare Yourself and Your Child for an IEP or 504 Plan Meeting

The first 504 or IEP meeting you attend can be a daunting task but there are many resources and tips available to help you help your child to succeed. "ADDitude" is an online magazine that provides excellent resources for parents whos children have ADD and ADHD. There are two articles posed on their site that aid parents in preparing for an IEP or 504 plan meeting. The first article is written by Karen Sunderhaft and lists 12 tips that will help you prepare for and succeed at the IEP meeting. I will not go though all 12 steps but the one that I feel is the most important is that you need to put your child first ( Sunderhaft, 2017).  If you feel your child needs something in the classroom that the teachers are not willing to give, push for it and have reasons that support your belief of why specific accommodations would be helpful. The parent knows the child best and they have more of an understanding of what will work for the students. Parents, no not take this as an excus
Read more