Lpowell's Weblog

Techlearning > > Terror in the Classroom: What Can be Done?, Part 4 > December 5, 2007

lpowell — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:12:55 +0000

Techlearning > > Terror in the Classroom: What Can be Done?, Part 4 > December 5, 2007 I was searching for some material to read when I came across this article. I agree that most parents aren’t involved enough in their teenagers’ computer use. I have two teenage daughters who both have a MySpace account. I personally have never been on MySpace but several people I work with have accounts and are actively involved with the site. The things I hear about this site is usually not bad but not something I really want my children involved with, but I try not to evade their privacy much. I have expressed my concerns about MySpace and I am repeatedly told I need to trust them. I do explain that it isn’t them I don’t trust it is everyone else. They do allow me to monitor their sites and they keep me informed of anything that they think is strange.

About a month ago my niece was on her MySpace page and this other girl, who is now dating my niece’s ex-boyfriend, was leaving nasty comments on my niece’s page. I didn’t get involved until one night she left a comment stating she knew where my niece lived and wouldn’t it be a shame if the house was to catch fire. This young lady left details about the house and how horrible a house fire would be for her family. There is a bully or harrass button that you can click on the page that immediately sends the designers of the page the threat or comment. Within minutes of sending this out we got a response that the young lady’s page had been discontinued and she would not be able to set up a new one. I was still not comfortable with the situation and contacted the authorities to have them talk with the girl’s parents. I never heard back from them, but we really had nothing to go on.

So this article really hit home with me. Back when I was younger threats made my teenagers were just merely threats, but today volience is how they cope with daily situations. I do believe parents need to be more educated and need to evade in their child privacy some. I think if parents and children are educated together and parents let the child know that they will not be punished for coming to them about the bullying, children would be more comfortable talking. These kids don’t want to lose the privelege so they keep secrets. They think they can handle it or that it is really nothing to worry about, whatever it takes to keep from freaking out thier parents and having the priveleges taken away.

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Children promised rubbish lessons

lpowell — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:12:33 +0000

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Children promised rubbish lessons I like this idea. It is good for children to learn ways waste hurts the environment and what can be done to help reduce waste dumps. It is like anything else the earlier you start teaching and get a routine started the more likely they will carry with them into adulthood. These types of field trips at least have some educational value whereas going to the movies or Chuck E Cheese, explain the reasonign behind those outings.

Is There a Point Where You Can’t Go Any Farther? « Life Would Be More Interesting If Everyone Was Animated!

lpowell — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:08:12 +0000

Is There a Point Where You Can’t Go Any Farther? « Life Would Be More Interesting If Everyone Was Animated! If we were to ever reach that point what we do with ourselves? How would we occupy all the time that we saved by creating new advances? Our society continues to develop gadgets that save time and make life easier, if we reached a point where we could no longer improve on those gadgets, there would be so many without nothing but time to work on finding new improvents. So I do not think we will ever reach a point where we are done improving.

You Better Smile Before Christmas! | So You Want To Teach?

lpowell — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:00:49 +0000

You Better Smile Before Christmas! | So You Want To Teach? This is probably one of the most helpfule articles I have read for some time. I often worry about classroom management because I am too easy going and tend to me nice. I too like to laugh and have fun with everything. I think learning is more fun that way, I don’t think learning should be boring and doesn’t have to be. I always worry that I won’t be strict enough. I think I should concentrate on being myself and find what works best for me. I think a lot of new teachers struggle because they are trying to follow what others do. It is good to have some base plan but I think being yourself works in the end.

Adventures in Educational Blogging: For Your Listening Pleasure…

lpowell — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:17:23 +0000

Adventures in Educational Blogging: For Your Listening Pleasure… This kid truely is amazing. I was sitting here trying to get through the rest of this long work day when I came across this. It is kids like this that proves that what we do isn’t for nothing and they are so inspiring.

Techlearning > > Online Training: What’s Really Working? > May 15, 2004

lpowell — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:07:01 +0000

Techlearning > > Online Training: What’s Really Working? > May 15, 2004 I think it is great for teachers to have this online professional development and group for resource, but typically what happens with these types of things is that they are thrown together without enough research and the right tools. When whoever sets up these online courses or seminars they need to take into consideration who will be using, how many and need to be prepared for technical difficulties as well as ready to train on the use of the equipment and sources. I agree that the oversite of these things is what leads to failure or non use of these programs.

Causes of ADHD

lpowell — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 18:30:12 +0000

Causes of ADHD I have been subbing for a special ed class for the last couple of weeks and I have found that I have never enjoyed teaching and working with students so much before. One of the Aids in the class asked what I thought at the end of my first week and I told her it was the most exhausting and fullifilling week I have had. Working with those kids is very hard and difficult but it is very rewarding and emotional. I always thought that I would not be able to do that type of work due to the emotional side, but I do believe I enjoy it so much that I am looking into adding that to my cerification.

I have a daughter that is ADHD and I am writing a paper on this for my other class. When she was younger the school wanted to test her; my husband and I decided against it. I wish we hadn’t because without medication or any treatment she had difficulty early on in school. She is now in high school and has learned to deal with it for the most part, she does function better in school, but because she got such a rough start she has and is still planning catch up.

We were lead to believe that doctors were just using ADHD has a way to medicate kids with bad behavior. I still think that ADHD is overdianosed, which has parents afraid to even test their children. After reading this article I understand ADHD a little better and with all the research I have been doing I have learned that I really did my daughter an injustice by not treating her at an early age.

Checking in… « Gnewsome’s Weblog EDUC 685

lpowell — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:45:48 +0000

Checking in… « Gnewsome’s Weblog EDUC 685 That was a good idea to talk with your students about the MUD. Did he like playing? How have you done with it? Do you think it has educational benefits. I can see the Langauage and typing benefits. I must admit I am not into video games and therefore I gave up shortly after creting my character and getting started. I didn’t have a clue as to what to do, expect that it did require good typing. I am going to have my daughter check it out she is a great typist and she likes games.

How good are your eyes? « Madscientist’s Log

lpowell — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:37:29 +0000

How good are your eyes? « Madscientist’s Log I thought this sounded interesting so I tried it out. It was realy neat. I too went to find out why. I think your students will enjoy doing this.

Is honesty the best policy « Rccola’s Weblog

lpowell — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:28:24 +0000

Is honesty the best policy « Rccola’s Weblog This is a something I have often wondered about myself. I know of some teachers who actually openly discuss going out and other things that maybe should not be discussed with students. Then the other side is do we want to hide from them things that they may find out and later come back to bite us in the butt so to speak. Like the occassionally drinking, should you hid in resturant or just choose something else to drink to prevent a student from seeing when you are not doing anything wrong. I think if you are asked such questions, the answers should be drinking occassionally within controllable limits when you are old enough is not bad. Letting them know that all things are not bad as long as they aren’t uncontrollable. I think if you lie to them and then they catch you in a lie that is much worst, you lose creditablity with them, which is more important. Students like honesty, if you aren’t cofortable sharing with them, then say so. Tell them this is not the place or time for such discussions.