(Oct. 12 in-class writing): What makes you feel welcome or less-than-welcome in a class or subject?

Oct. 12 in-class writing

What makes you feel welcome or less-than-welcome in a class or subject?

As a teacher, I always do welcome to my students in my biology classroom. I believe that welcoming students always inspiring and increases willingness to participate in the classroom.

If we( as a teacher ) will not welcome to the different cultures of students than students decrease their affective filters. We know that school is full of multicultural students. A student comes from different parts of the countries. They have their own culturally specific experiences and thoughts. We have to respect their self-efficacy as a belief and their cultural specific experiences.

According to Piaget different students have their own cultural experience and belief. As a teacher, it is very important to give the space to share their knowledge and ideas in the class. Vygotsky also stated that every student has their own cognitive abilities. For example, ELLs students have their own learning capabilities. most second language learners take time to adjust to the new system. They need time to understand the academic language therefore,  we need to give them wait time and listens to their thoughts. However, being a teacher it is a responsibility to ask students about themselves to share their ideas and always welcome in the classroom.

Thank you

SADHANA

Exit Slip- SEP 7, 2017 Controversies about Math & Learning (Raffaella Borasi)

Exit Slip- SEP 7, 2017

Controversies about Math & Learning (Raffaella Borasi)

It was a great discussion and interaction with all of us on September, 7 in the class. I would like to discuss the first TWO statements

“it is not good trying to reason things out your own”

“Second statement – staying too much on the problem is a waste of time”

I strongly agree with this statement. If we learned anything very promptly than we can correct the problems successfully and manage the life. As a teacher, it is very important to learn and understand correctly in the right manner. So,  that we could deliver the right information to our students. If we could not learn quickly we could not able to solve the problems in a timely manner and if we skip the problems than we could not able to manage the time and it's going to be more problems collected at the end.

Pay attention is directly proportional to more problem-solving. Therefore, more pay attention in the classroom increases able to solve more problems. For example, if students do not listen to the teacher properly it is going to be more problem or contradictions, a dilemma to the students, however, it is better to pay attention and discusses with the teachers and peers instead of thinking and figuring out the problems alone.

 If the students have problems related to science and math or any other problems, thinking alone cannot help out him/her self. It is better to find the exact solution of the problems and discusses with specialized persons like teacher/doctor etc.  The doctor has a correct solution to the specific disease. Similarly for example if the student has problem-related to bullying than the only teacher can help in the classroom. Like for example in math, there is a specific formula to solve the equations. In the real life, there is a specific person to talk or discuss regarding the problems, Therefore, discusses the problems with specialized persons always help. However, staying too much time on one problem is completely waste of time.  

THANK

SADHANA 

(Oct. 26 entrance slip): Embodied learning -- Henderson & Taimina paper

Entrance Slip- Embodies learning

OCT, 25

Art vs. Mathematics

This paper sparks my interest towards the shapes of the geometry through the drawing and painting. Painting is a mathematics and mathematics is a painting. The paper by Henderson & Taimina was very interesting as it is relevant to our approach as teachers. I never realized the painting its self a math. It’s a thing that non-mathematicians don’t realize or observe very carefully.  They talked about how math is used in a different variety of ways and it’s the great experience by an individual using their body, movements, and gestures.

I remember that when I came the first time in the math lab. I found that there is a lot of different shapes and geometry made by the students. I realized that how they created different shapes through a different variety of things like pins, pencils, playing cards etc. I am really impressed by David’s story from art to Mathematics. When he was making drawing he did not know that art self-mathematics. He did not realize that the art that he was experienced was mathematics or even through its called geometry. I would like to share mY EXPERIENCE

 ·         We all know that Taj Mahal (Great Monument) one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

 Now what is Taj Mahal – It is a white marble mausoleum located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in INDIA city of AGRA. (Hey I am from that City ….great ..)

It was built by the Mughal Emporer Shah Jahan (1628-1658) in the memory of third wife Mumtaz Mahal. When you will look closer (upper picture) that will find the line symmetry –with two lines, one vertical down the middle of the Taj, and one along the along the waterline showing the reflection of the prayer towers in the water.

If an object is reflected in water many people believe that the image has a line symmetry. But it is really a “mirror image” in the case of Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan has built it with perfection to complete his love for Mumtaz.

I am attaching the YouTube video, the teacher FROM Ontario explaining the facts about the mathematics behind the Maj Mahan.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVax4j87Ukw

HAVE A HAPPY READING !!!!

Oct. 19 entrance slip): Reading on marks in math or physics (Boaler or Sarte et al paper)

Entrance Slip - What do marks do in school?

Oct 19, 2017 

I really enjoyed this article because the authors raising questions about the grading system. According to my perspective grading criteria is not only one thing that you could assess the students. Another thing native grading sometimes creates a negative effect on students which sometimes lead to the mental health problems. Negative grading also daunts the students towards the career. 

We found several articles related to motivation and the impact of rewards on motivation and not support the learning criteria. Students sometimes lose their self-efficacy by negative grading Self-efficacy is a more specific form of confidence. Increasing self-efficacy in students results in the perseverance and resiliency power towards their career. I am strongly agreeing with Kohn finding of the grading. They are interested in shifting the focus away from grading and towards learning. This interest raised a number of questions in our minds. What motivates students to work well in school? Are they motivated to learn or only to achieve certain grades? What are the effects of grades on motivation? Are grades punishments or rewards? How can teachers promote student motivation? How do intrinsic and extrinsic motivators affect learning? 

I would like to share my experience. I was very weak and troublemaking student in high school. My teacher graded me and it was not even passed marks. I underwent long drawn depression. The negative marks decreased my motivation level and I decided not to take math in future. Nobody motivated me towards the math. I was also thinking kind of punishment in my life and that affects my mental health causing increase anxiety.  

The outcome may result is a decrease in learning. Similarly, according to Butler, grades tend to focus students on their performance relative to others, rather than on the task itself. When marks are removed, students are able to value the task itself and gain satisfaction by demonstrating their competence in completing an activity. Therefore, as a teacher, it is very important to not to give a negative grade based on their formative assessment but also look summative assessment, their participation, interaction etc. 

Finally, I want to say If teachers avoid using grading as an extrinsic motivator and focus on engaging the students in learning, they will promote intrinsic motivation in students and improve their feelings of success in the course.

Thank you have a happy reading!!!

Sadhana

(Oct. 19 exit slip): Revisiting inquiry project ideas

Exit slip: Thoughts about the inquiry project
OCT 19, 2017 


Inquiry topics possibilities 

Topics: (1) “Hands-on” experience with outdoor education
            (2) Bullying  control in  classroom 

Examining classroom through Field trip with particle applications with the lens of environmental Justices. The new things I would like to incorporate in my previous inquiry project is Vancouver aquarium wet lab visit at Vancouver aquarium with the most amazing field trip.  Students will be able to conspicuously familiarize with real-world amazing creatures and in this way, they could get the chance to touch, feel and ask a curious question about the aquatic fauna.  I had a field visit recently at Vancouver aquarium.

 I really learned tones of new things about the awesome marine life. There I touched, feel and keenly observed the marine environment. Learned some facts like how do marine animals protect themselves from Tsunami and Earthquake. How we could protect endangered species.  Therefore as a teacher, I would like to create a  hybrid space" where all students will learn the fun way and interact with their peers. Also, would like to increase the "self-efficacy" as a belief among students towards the science career. 

I  would like to Inquire about the bullying  in the classroom or outside the classroom. my  questions is how can I create a sense of empathy in my students and prevent them from being involved in bullying situations in school and /or related to school(i.e. the bus, playground and after school group?how my student involved in bullying situation bullies victims or by standers?  Do they(my students)  know how to act to stop the situation?  Can a once or weekly class meeting can create a SENSE OF EMPATHY in my classroom? will that sense of empathy carry over to others who are not in our classroom(on the bus etc.) 

THANKS

(Oct. 12 exit slip): Role models and equity in the classroom

EXIT SLIP
OCT 12, 2017

Role of Media in classroom 
Role models and Equality in the classroom 

Media plays a very important role in the classroom. As teachers, we have a wealth of information from which to choose for our classrooms. We could communicate with other students from other countries through media and technology. We could bring the history, science, music in our classroom through media and technology.
As a teacher, it is very important to bring the motivational videos (Role models in the field of math and science. i.e. the math guru video which we saw in the classroom motivated me toward the Science.  These kind live motivation examples might generate curiosity and interest towards the STEM. Students are no longer limited by the walls of a classroom or the knowledge of a single textbook. The world is available to most classrooms, even when students do not have their own computers.


 The teacher needs to create a hybrid space towards the STEM. So, media provides a variety of opportunities for learning. I did not know that most of the women’s are involved in the math but after watching the video I realized that women getting interested towards the math. I read the article that there is a lack of women’s in the field of the STEM. But according to my perspective if we show motivational and inspiring stories that students will defiantly gerent the interest towards the math.




HAVE A HAPPY READING !!!

(Oct. 5 exit slip): Reflections on UBC Orchard Garden experiences

Exit Slip 

OCT, 5  ORCHARD GARDEN

Today I spend most of the time outdoor in the orchid garden. I really feel fresh and energetic but after I got finish my school  I was totally tired because I stood long hours and my legs were hurting. Anyways,  I enjoyed a lot. I learned how math, science, and other subject related to nature.

When we were making the art, I realized the shape of the leafs and complex structures that the leafs were containing veins in random directions and were not of definite shape and directions. l. We observed the nature and man-made things. We discussed how 90 degrees (right) angle appears in nature is frequent, like when we stand, our body, during yoga, earth equator etc.

I liked how we beautifully started our outdoor class with music. I was hearing the bird's sounds, which made me happy. We had a wonderful snack. Thank you so much for the healthy snack.  The most important thing I learned to make beading while dancing and music. How beautifully we were dancing with the music and beading the colorful ribbons.  We laughed a lot and that was a perfect morning exercise for all of us. Totally, I had a wonderful day.

Thanks and have a happy reading!!

Sadhana

(Oct. 5 entrance slip): Amy Cutter-Mackenzie article on multicultural school gardens

Entrance slip

1 Oct,  2017

Multicultural School Gardens: Creating Engaging Garden Spaces in Learning about Language, Culture, and Environment

This article really sparked my interest to become a botanist educator. In this article, I learned that how they developed a program called multicultural school gardens for teaching and learning English as a second language a particular focus on the new immigrants like me and refugees.

I was impressed with their research project where family and students were engaged in designing and constructing the gardens, which created a best outdoor sense of wonder for all community members, teachers, and their families.

This strategy is perfect for the all the multicultural students like ELL and ESL. We have the chance to do study, research, photography, and converse with each other.  Yes, I strongly agree with the statement of Lekis and Sheavly (2007) there are a lot of benefits associated with the outdoor learning include positive influence on the student health and wellbeing, environmental attitude, physical activity and social skills.

Outdoor learning also develops and promotes the good mental health in the society. This multicultural school garden program also covers the core competencies which include the listening, critical thinking and social and emotional abilities.

The garden as a space program is not only for the children’s but also for their families (“Garden buddies”) to interact and connect with each other i.e. share their stories and information about the gardening, food, culture also helping with English speaking.

In this article, they conducted the research program qualitatively and quantitatively where peoples could mangle with each other and redesign abandoned garden beds. They also interviewed the ELL students one student commented that all the “students were very happy gardening because it was the first time teachers were teaching students this way it meant that “the garden is defiantly good for the school. they found the relax environment called “ slow down”

Wattchow (2008) argue that experimental pedagogies must time and space, particularly slowing down time through carefully conceived of, planned for, and manage experiences. Through this program, children’s were helping the environment by growing food, rather than knowing food.

This article memorizes my own story I would like to share my story. When I was doing my B.Sc, I had a subject gardening work experience (In Botany). We used to go to the botanical garden (In India) to do work (planting plants), research and for lectures, I used to feel a sense of wonder. I was amazed to study with close to nature. 

I favor this kind of inquiry programs because it is useful for everyone including ELL and ESL students.

 Have a happy reading!!!

(Sept. 28 exit slip): Praise, blame, mindset and student engagement -- Alfie Kohn & Jo Boaler

Exit slip: Personal thought on the praise, blame multidimensional  in teaching
Sep 28, 2017

My perspective towards praise is somewhat neutral. Being a teacher it a very important to give the acknowledge instead of praise. As a teacher, it is good to give the warm approval but approval should be in the form of motivational so,  that students would motivate and he/she generate curiosity, interest towards the math.

Dweck mentioned in the video that we call math is a big elephant so the idea is some student good with math and some not. Giving praise in the form of motivation is kind of provoking or generating interest towards math.   Acknowledge the students either written or verbal is essentially important.  I also agreed with my peers that social praise is equally important instand of only teacher's praise.  It provides social communication and helps among the peers. The multidimensional strategy is most effective that one-dimensional strategy because it develops the student's skills including questioning, asking,problem-solving and reasoning representation and also helps to engage the students in the classroom. I like the statement  Dweck(2010) “ praising students for the the-the process, they have engaged in the effort they applied, the strategies they used, the choices they made, the persistence they displayed, and so on –yield more longterm benefits than telling them they are “smart” when they succeed.” (p.18) . Encourage and reward the student for trying, and your praise is specifically and judiciously offered.(Strategy no. 55 by Jodi Reiss).

Have a happy reading!!!  

(Sept. 28 entrance slip): Max van Manen on the tact of teaching

Entrance slip – Max Van Manen on “tact in teaching”                          Sep 25, 2017

First quote:

“It is important that teachers understand the positive as well as the possible negative consequences of praising students. A compliment should be meaningful and should not be granted indiscriminately because, if given too readily and freely it may lose its significance”

According to my view as a teacher, it is very important to reward the students in the classroom and rewards should be meaningful and provoking. No matter students are wrong or right in the classroom. It is the teacher responsibility to create a safe, healthy and positive environment where both effective teaching and learning can take place. In the absence of positive environment, both teacher and students would suffer. It is a teacher responsibility to understand the negative and positive results if he /she are not respecting the students. In the classroom, there should be a mutual bond between the student and teacher,  to create the healthy learning atmosphere. If this kind of tact does not involve in teaching, teacher, student and parents would suffer.

Second:

 “Reflective thinking is important not only as a tool for teaching but also as an aim of education, said (Dewery, 1964).”

The aim of education is to deliver the right information to the future students. If the teacher is delivering right information than the future students will get successes that reflect the hard work and critical thinking of teachers.  Reflective thinking is a powerful tool used in the teaching to help develop a higher order of learning.

Third:

“The study of the practice of teaching would need to be sensitive to the experimental quality of practice knowledge:  the acknowledgment that much of this tact, this instant knowing what to do, ensues from one’s body and from the things and the atmosphere of one’s world”.

I would say as a teacher practical knowledge always surrounds. As a biology teacher practice aspects encourage the student’s curiosity and interest towards the hand on experiments whether the practice is  In -situ or In –vivo, this practicality also generates the interest towards the nature around the world. In order to have this tact of teaching,  the teacher should focus on the practical things instead of theoretical. Practical knowledge always acknowledges it is important to think what to do? where to do?  The intact practice ensures from teacher to students in the atmospheric world. 

Have a happy reading!!!

 More pics of Rock garden :These pics made up of waste ceramic plates.

The Rock Garden is a Sculpture garden in Chandigarh. The interesting fact about this garden is the that it’s entirely built on industrial and home waste and discarded items. Sculptures are made using bottles, glasses, bangles, tiles, ceramic pots, sinks and electrical waste. These pics are made up of glass bangles.

(Sept. 21 exit slip): Flipped classrooms

 EXIT SLIP       Sep 21, 2017
Title: Flipped class model in classroom

Flipped classroom debate for the education in today's classroom was very interesting. I believe in this world everything has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here is my perspective:

The biggest advantage for flip classroom model it creates a lot of help to lean at home and school.  Through watching the small video and online tutoring also provide some sort of help to revise the topics (i.e. math and science etc.). This model helps students to learn their own pace and time.

Technology is changing day by day with aver fast speed  People s accepting faster and easy things to learn and understand the skills also to communicate with others. This technology like online tutoring, you tubes videos, presentations and video recording is accepting in the classroom very rapidly. But some school district has some policies or limitations. As an educator, it is important to accept or respect those policies for education. 
The most important thing for online learning that teachers could track every student's performance.  flip classroom model help students to become learn, what, where, when and how. It gives you self-paced learning. 
  Disadvantage:  It proved that working or studying long hours with the computer screens create lots of physical and mental problems but yes we could not change the modern scenario.  I like the concept of Khan's. academy where millions of students taking studying online. Thank you, god we do have a state- of the art facilities but think of those poor countries where electronics and media are still far away from them. Still those students studying with minimal resources.

Thanks 

(Sept. 21 entrance slip): Entrance slip- Grant & Zeichner article on being a reflective teacher

 Grant & Zeichner article: On becoming a reflective teacher

Entrance slip

Sep 19, 2017

This article speaks to me of new prospective teachers in Vancouver 2017, even though this article was written in different time and place but few of the aspects in this article have similarity with this state of Vancouver. I agree with his line stated that “As you processed with your professional education you will be confronted with the numerous choices about the kind of teachers you want to become. Prospective teacher candidates don’t have the choice what teaching strategies you could involve during classroom Vancouver state has an authority to design different teaching strategies (i.e. 120 strategies for English language learners) that include the class management, planning conducting, what to include in the course content and rules of practice.

Teachers cannot teach based on their own assumption, teachers have to follow the B.Cs curriculum core competencies Similarly, Grant and Zeichner gave one example in the state of Wisconsin it is required that teacher teach the history of their own state. However they gave the guidelines of teaching what to teach in the history subject in grade 4, but this strategy does not familiarize the student’s world background knowledge on history that seems irrelevant to me as a teacher. 

According to my prospective state should include world history in the grade 4 so, they would aware of that concept. Mathematics and science are same in the whole world, their formulas and process are same teach in very grade so, why not history worldwide. I would like to share my experience. When I was teaching in grade 4 I had been instructed to teach guideline areas of contents of history. So, I had an authority to choose which subject I wished to teach.

These criteria still exist in many parts of the countries. As a science teacher, we have some Guidelines governed by state how to teach and what to include in teaching etc. The teacher should follow the educational and ethical guidelines.  As future educator teacher has a responsibility to deliver the right information to the future student. What you are going to teach also reflect the human reflection as teachers. 

“Dewey defines the reflective action which defines the way of meeting and responding the problems” one of the main important part of education how much time you spend with observing and working with teachers and administrations during practicums. Prospective teachers should have three an attitude to reflect actions and behavior that include open-mindedness, responsibility, and wholeheartedness. Teachers must have the active control over their education. Reflective teachers should aware of their actions and their consequences.

(Sept. 14 exit slip): Frank McCourt and teacher inquiry

Exit slip
Sep, 2017

After watching MacCourt's video . I really impressed by this quote" if you are not teaching than you are not learning and you are no teaching".  Teaching is  a noval profession of learning it could be consciously and unconsciously. Learning reflects in your teaching if you are learning well than you could be able to deliver the knowledge effectively.  Teacher need to learn everything about the culture of adolescent   Promote students to learn and develop their own critical thinking  inquiry. Teacher should understand the level of teenagers social, mental and physical status to develop the bond between the students and teachers. According to him teacher should be hunger for leaning and knowledge. Being a teacher I would also encourage students towards  critical thinking , learning, communication,, personal and social competencies that  require to develop the inquiry projects.