http://mizmercer.edublogs.org Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:22:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Sometimes I worry that all the emphasis on direct instruction, comprehensive curriculum, and teacher-proof texts has beaten the last bit of initiative out of the latest generation of elementary school teachers. Here's some background... First, let me go into the way back machine to how things were in the old old ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/22/ive-watched-a-generation-of-my-peers/ I like to think this blog is pretty ecclectic (although this may be self-delusion on my part). I've gotten positive responses to a variety of different posts over the last few weeks from ones where I blogged about brain science and the education of children in poverty (wow, that sounds ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/21/ms-mercer-i-love-your-week-in-lab-posts-but/ This is a weird couple of weeks because we have parent conferences (with minimum days) backing up onto the Thanksgiving Holiday. My district is one of the few in the area that still has kids come in during Thanksgiving week, so there is this funny 2-day dog-leg of a week. ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/20/week-in-the-lab/ I was going to write a lot more when I did this post, but I got sidetracked by something I read here in the Bracey Report 2009. I was arrested while reading the account of a child who died for want of dental care, but it was the following paragraphs ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/19/no-excuses-for-drain-bamage/ Thank you very much for having me in your IB Theory of Knowledge Class on Tuesday. Here were some of the things that I saw while I was in your class: You started with warmup which was to write down three main points for creating a good presentation for an upcoming ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/18/dear-theory-of-knowledge-students/ The title comes from a trope of jokes about the hilarity that results from dissimilar groupings of people (usually a rabbi, a priest, and a minister). Sometimes the joke is how alike they all are and sometimes, the dis-congruity of groupings makes that joke. That's how I like to think ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/17/finland-singapore-and-the-u-s-are-on-an-airplane-thats-about-to-crash/ The next edition of the ELL/EFL/ELD Carnival will be...right here! Any blog posts, including examples of student work, that are related to teaching or learning English are welcome. You can contribute a post by using this easy submission form. The last edition of the Carnival hosted by Jennifer Duarte and Michelle ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/15/ell-carnival-for-december-2009/ As I'm starting new units, one of them has offered examples of both success and failure, and some lessons for me. This isn't one of those big "ah ha's" but one of those smaller moments of enlightenment that make up the day-to-day practice of teaching, and improving that practice. The unit ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/15/week-in-lab-success-failure-and-the-lessons-learned/ Between a bought with a cold and new units to set up at work, I've gotten behind in my posting, and for this I apologize. Lot's of interesting things are taking place. Self-Control Unit for upper grade I will come back to this unit over time between other units.  The latest thing ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/13/week-in-lab-catch-up-edition/ Thanks for letting me chat with your class tonight. Lots of great questions. I'm sorry I was under the weather and unable to stay long. If you have further questions, please send me a comment below. Also, it would be a great help is you share with me resources or ... http://mizmercer.edublogs.org/2009/11/02/curriculum-and-instruction-489/