I was very intrigued by the notion described in this article. I do agree that our education system needs a major overhaul. However, I am not convinced through this article alone that this two-system approach is the best. I was especially confused by the notion that people could work as entrepreneurs for $1 per year. This, while noble, is not practical in today's society, nor can I imagine any person wanting to work for $1 unless they have a large amount of savings.
Although this particular system is confusing to me, I do agree with a different type of two-faceted system. After studying at Oxford and getting to know several British students, I was very impressed with the European tracking system. It makes perfect sense to me to identify a 'track 'for each student, based not only on their academic ability, but also on their interests. However, I do not think this 'track' should occur until a student has reached 10th grade. By that time, it is increasingly obvious which students will be on a college track, and which simply want to gain knowledge for a trade. When I taught high school, I had several students who would have benefited from a track in which they learned a trade. One student, in particular, struggled academically but was brilliant with cars and engines. He wanted to go into mechanics, but was forced to spend his time failing his academic courses. I would have loved to place this student on a track to learn a trade. This would have been much more beneficial to his future, and could have helped him to be more successful. In the same light, by tracking students on a college course, we can ensure that all students are taking the classes necessary to be college eligible and successful in higher education.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Happy to be happy!!
I really enjoy the topic for this post. I like to think of myself as a very optimistic, happy person. I don't like negativity, and refuse to surround myself with individuals who have a negative persona. That being said, I think that happiness can be defined in many ways. As an individual, I have many ups and downs per day, but I always feel best when I am thinking positively and happy! My students will be the first to tell you...I can be upset at their behavior one minute, and in the very next, be smiling and joking. They actually laugh at me for this.
I like the idea of purposefully setting aside time per week and setting goals to do things that make me happy. This week, although I'm sick, I decided to book a flight back to NE for a weekend in April, to see several of my college sorority sisters at an alumni event. While I tried to talk myself out of this (for economic reasons...), I ended up thinking about how happy it would make me to see my closest friends on that weekend. So, I put my doubts aside and booked the flight! I now have a very exciting weekend to look forward to, and this makes me very happy.
I like the idea of purposefully setting aside time per week and setting goals to do things that make me happy. This week, although I'm sick, I decided to book a flight back to NE for a weekend in April, to see several of my college sorority sisters at an alumni event. While I tried to talk myself out of this (for economic reasons...), I ended up thinking about how happy it would make me to see my closest friends on that weekend. So, I put my doubts aside and booked the flight! I now have a very exciting weekend to look forward to, and this makes me very happy.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
BASIS-a good fit for me?
After hearing for years that the U.S. is so far behind China and India (and the rest of the world) in education, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the number one school in the world (as thought by some) is right here in the U.S. Even more surprising was the fact that this particular school was a charter school right here in Arizona, where we have one of the worst educational climates in the U.S. The BASIS charter school is an intense program, and I was very impressed with their ability to lead their students to such high achievements.
As a student, I feel like BASIS would have been an extreme challenge for me. I was like the students in the video, always at the top of my class. However, in high school I didn't even take a Calculus class, and I never took Physics or Anatomy. In addition, my high school was a small town school, and we didn't even have the opportunity to take AP courses. I feel like although I would have been challenged at this school, I would have rose to the challenge and been successful. I firmly believe in the power of surrounding yourself with high-achieving people (part of the reason that TFA has benefited me so much), so I know that even though I would have struggled in some classes at this school, I would have been successful.
I would love to send my children to a school like BASIS someday. This school is the wave of the future, and should be looked to as a model of education in the United States. The U.S. education system needs an overhaul, and schools like BASIS who simply increase the rigor and set extremely high expectations have the right idea in how to achieve this.
As a student, I feel like BASIS would have been an extreme challenge for me. I was like the students in the video, always at the top of my class. However, in high school I didn't even take a Calculus class, and I never took Physics or Anatomy. In addition, my high school was a small town school, and we didn't even have the opportunity to take AP courses. I feel like although I would have been challenged at this school, I would have rose to the challenge and been successful. I firmly believe in the power of surrounding yourself with high-achieving people (part of the reason that TFA has benefited me so much), so I know that even though I would have struggled in some classes at this school, I would have been successful.
I would love to send my children to a school like BASIS someday. This school is the wave of the future, and should be looked to as a model of education in the United States. The U.S. education system needs an overhaul, and schools like BASIS who simply increase the rigor and set extremely high expectations have the right idea in how to achieve this.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Self-Actualization
1. Name five of your core values—in order of priority if possible—and describe why they are important to you.
1. Integrity: I always want to be the best person I can, in all areas of my life.
2. Family: I value my family and know that they are the ones who will always be there for me.
3. Friendship: My friends mean the world to me. My best friends are still the friends that I played with in diapers, made it through the awkward teenage years with, graduated high school with, and now, will be by my side on my wedding day. I feel blessed, since I know friends like these are rare.
4. Honesty: Honesty is always the best policy.
5. Perseverance: I always try to do my best, and never give up until I have succeeded.
2. How do you bring your values into your professional and personal lives? How good a job do you feel you are doing at living your values?
I believe all of the above values are essential to incorporate into not only my personal life, but also my professional. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to be role models for our students. Thus, I like to show my students my core values and attempt to pass these on if possible. Overall, I know there are some days where I do this better than others, but it is always something to strive for.
3. What really interests you? How do you (or could you) actualize your interests even more, whether at work, in a community setting, or as a hobby?
Something I am really interested in is other cultures and countries. I love to travel, and I love to experience new people and places. Thus, this interest is very easy to incorporate into my social studies classroom. I try to teach my students about the world around them, and how important it is to be accepting of others, no matter how different they may be from you.
4. How much time do you set aside each week to do what truly interests you and how significant is the reward you receive?
To be honest, I don’t have a lot of time each week to read and do other things I am interested in. My job and ASU take up the majority of my time. However, I love my job, so it is easy to devote the amount of time necessary to my students.
5. What are the key skills you bring to life?
I think the key skills I bring to life are teaching and friendship. I know the extreme value of each of these, and I strive to be the person who exemplifies these on a daily basis.
6. How fully are you able to express them at home? In the workplace? In your community?
I believe I can express these skills in every aspect of my life, especially the skill of friendship. The world would be a much different place without true friends, and I know I express my gratitude towards my friends daily.
7. Describe how well you do at accepting yourself and others unconditionally.
Sometimes it is very difficult to accept someone unconditionally, especially when they are doing something you may not agree with. However, it is important to remember that everyone is allowed to make their own decisions, and in turn, their own mistakes. All I can do is offer my support and love, and be there for others when needed. In addition, I am trying to follow this same philosophy when it comes to myself. I am my toughest critic, but I am coming to realize that mistakes are what makes me the person I am today.
8. Name some circumstances where you have found yourself expressing awe and/or gratitude.
I am constantly finding situations in life to which I express gratitude. Most recently, I had several family members donate money to my students who are trying to raise enough to take a trip to Washington, D.C. It means so much to me that my family would support not only me, but my students in this endeavor.
9. Briefly discuss the level of trust and depth you experience in your personal relationships.
I jump whole-heartedly into trusting people in my personal relationships. This has gotten me ‘burned’ in the past, but I don’t think there is any other way to really live.
10. When and where in your life do you feel creative or inventive?
I feel very creative in life when I am teaching. I love to find new ways to get the material across to my students, and new ways to help my students express their creativity.
11. Do you feel that your life path is leading you to live up to your potential?
Yes. When I am teaching, I feel completely assured that I made the correct career choice. I know I am meant to be a life-long teacher, and work with my students to help them become better, more informed individuals.
12. What else seems important to you as a part of this reflection?
Over the past few years, I have learned to trust in my decision-making abilities and myself. I know that everything happens for a reason, and I am learning (slowly) that in order to be completely happy in life, you have to accept your mistakes and learn from them in order to move forward.
1. Integrity: I always want to be the best person I can, in all areas of my life.
2. Family: I value my family and know that they are the ones who will always be there for me.
3. Friendship: My friends mean the world to me. My best friends are still the friends that I played with in diapers, made it through the awkward teenage years with, graduated high school with, and now, will be by my side on my wedding day. I feel blessed, since I know friends like these are rare.
4. Honesty: Honesty is always the best policy.
5. Perseverance: I always try to do my best, and never give up until I have succeeded.
2. How do you bring your values into your professional and personal lives? How good a job do you feel you are doing at living your values?
I believe all of the above values are essential to incorporate into not only my personal life, but also my professional. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to be role models for our students. Thus, I like to show my students my core values and attempt to pass these on if possible. Overall, I know there are some days where I do this better than others, but it is always something to strive for.
3. What really interests you? How do you (or could you) actualize your interests even more, whether at work, in a community setting, or as a hobby?
Something I am really interested in is other cultures and countries. I love to travel, and I love to experience new people and places. Thus, this interest is very easy to incorporate into my social studies classroom. I try to teach my students about the world around them, and how important it is to be accepting of others, no matter how different they may be from you.
4. How much time do you set aside each week to do what truly interests you and how significant is the reward you receive?
To be honest, I don’t have a lot of time each week to read and do other things I am interested in. My job and ASU take up the majority of my time. However, I love my job, so it is easy to devote the amount of time necessary to my students.
5. What are the key skills you bring to life?
I think the key skills I bring to life are teaching and friendship. I know the extreme value of each of these, and I strive to be the person who exemplifies these on a daily basis.
6. How fully are you able to express them at home? In the workplace? In your community?
I believe I can express these skills in every aspect of my life, especially the skill of friendship. The world would be a much different place without true friends, and I know I express my gratitude towards my friends daily.
7. Describe how well you do at accepting yourself and others unconditionally.
Sometimes it is very difficult to accept someone unconditionally, especially when they are doing something you may not agree with. However, it is important to remember that everyone is allowed to make their own decisions, and in turn, their own mistakes. All I can do is offer my support and love, and be there for others when needed. In addition, I am trying to follow this same philosophy when it comes to myself. I am my toughest critic, but I am coming to realize that mistakes are what makes me the person I am today.
8. Name some circumstances where you have found yourself expressing awe and/or gratitude.
I am constantly finding situations in life to which I express gratitude. Most recently, I had several family members donate money to my students who are trying to raise enough to take a trip to Washington, D.C. It means so much to me that my family would support not only me, but my students in this endeavor.
9. Briefly discuss the level of trust and depth you experience in your personal relationships.
I jump whole-heartedly into trusting people in my personal relationships. This has gotten me ‘burned’ in the past, but I don’t think there is any other way to really live.
10. When and where in your life do you feel creative or inventive?
I feel very creative in life when I am teaching. I love to find new ways to get the material across to my students, and new ways to help my students express their creativity.
11. Do you feel that your life path is leading you to live up to your potential?
Yes. When I am teaching, I feel completely assured that I made the correct career choice. I know I am meant to be a life-long teacher, and work with my students to help them become better, more informed individuals.
12. What else seems important to you as a part of this reflection?
Over the past few years, I have learned to trust in my decision-making abilities and myself. I know that everything happens for a reason, and I am learning (slowly) that in order to be completely happy in life, you have to accept your mistakes and learn from them in order to move forward.
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