in Chicago the board of education started a new program to expand free breakfast to all students in elementary schools. Prior to this program is was only students from low income house holds that received this benefit. Some of the complaints that arose from the start of this program is that 10-15 minutes a day will be spend eating and not learning. The other is where the $41 million will come from to fund this new program.
I believe that this program of offering free breakfast to all students is a step in the right direction for learning in the classroom. Psychologist Abraham Maslow states in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that food and water are 2 important keys of the foundation of learning. If a student has not eaten then the chance of that student being able to learn according to Maslow is significantly decreased. By providing food for all students allows you as a teacher to know tat your students are well feed and have more potential to learn. Think about when your hungry, how do you function?
Friday, February 11, 2011
Education Weekly #10
Grade fixing has started to become a large issue in schools around the country. A few reasons that attribute to this problem is that school administrators are being pressured to produce test scores and grades. When test scores and grades do not meet standards administrators are then brought into question about what reforms they plan to make and even can be fired. With these expectations of administrators to fix the problem of low test scores and low grades you could see an increase in grade fixing in the future.
I feel that a lot of pressure is put onto administrators for this issue. As teachers it is our job to educate the students and prepare them for the next grade level. Give them the foundation to succeed in the future. I believe that this can be accomplished with effort and time spend with students. One big issue that hinders teachers from accomplishing this goal is the No Child Left Behind Act. This act says that students will be pushed on to the next grade level. The problem with this is teachers are receiving students who are not up to grade level or even state and national standards. This is doing a disservice to students and teachers alike.
A solution to this problem is taking the time to build a foundations of important concepts, even if it means holding them back or making them spend valuable summer time to learn the information. This will assure that students know the material before they move to the next grade level. It could also intrinsically motivate students to want to learn because of the social issues of being held back.
I feel that a lot of pressure is put onto administrators for this issue. As teachers it is our job to educate the students and prepare them for the next grade level. Give them the foundation to succeed in the future. I believe that this can be accomplished with effort and time spend with students. One big issue that hinders teachers from accomplishing this goal is the No Child Left Behind Act. This act says that students will be pushed on to the next grade level. The problem with this is teachers are receiving students who are not up to grade level or even state and national standards. This is doing a disservice to students and teachers alike.
A solution to this problem is taking the time to build a foundations of important concepts, even if it means holding them back or making them spend valuable summer time to learn the information. This will assure that students know the material before they move to the next grade level. It could also intrinsically motivate students to want to learn because of the social issues of being held back.
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