Konrad Glogowski's Comments

1. Take a moment to review DR.CROSS. Then, consider the following questions: a) Are these characteristics of education for the new millennium present in your classroom? If so, provide specific examples. If not, how can they be best implemented given the specific context in which you teach (subject matter, class size, availability of resources, curriculum, institutional constraints)? b) Are any of these characteristics more difficult to implement than others? Why? What is needed to overcome these challenges? 2. Take a moment to review the Aspects of Good Teaching. Then, think of how you would help less experienced teachers implement them in their classrooms. What kinds of activities would you suggest? Which one of these aspects would be most challenging to implement by teachers in your country or region? Why? What can be done to change this?

Please take a moment to reflect on what the following concepts mean to you and how they manifest themselves in your classroom: 1. Classroom management 2. Curriculum 3. Learning 4. Instruction

How do you plan to deal with the following in your classroom: 1. Disruptive students? 2. Fear, flight, and fight? 3. Student boredom, frustration, and low self-esteem? a.Are there any strategies or theories in Course Two that can assist you with this? b.What can be done to ensure that the possibility of these challenges appearing in your classroom is minimized at the very beginning of the school year? c.What can you do as a classroom teacher to ensure that students are engaged, supported, productive, and empowered?

How would you describe the methods and approaches of a teacher who is assessment literate? As a mentor or teacher leader, how would you encourage and help develop this kind of literacy in your colleagues and at your school?

Think back to the last time you provided your students with feedback. What did it look like? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

What do you do to help make students visible in your classroom?

Building the right culture and climate in classrooms and schools takes time. What do you think is needed to create a strong professional community and a strong learning community at your school? What kinds of questions need to be asked? What kinds of practices and attitudes need to be in place to support this?

What is your vision of education in the future? What is your vision of teachers?

Please take a moment to describe your classroom. What are some of the things that you like about it? What are some of the things that you dislike? Is it an inviting and supportive learning environment? How do you ensure that students feel comfortable and engaged in your classroom?

What is the connection between the curriculum and student engagement? Should teachers be allowed to modify the curriculum if they find that it is out of date or not relevant? Some would argue that a good teacher can make any material engaging. Where do you stand?

Please take a moment to introduce yourself. Tell us where you live and share a few words about your professional role. If you are a classroom teacher, please tell us the subjects and the age group(s) that you teach. If you are not a classroom teacher, please describe your professional role.

Please take a moment to introduce yourself to your cohort. Tell us where you live and share a few words about your professional role. If you are a classroom teacher, please tell us the subjects and the age group(s) that you teach. If you are not a classroom teacher, please describe your professional role.

Please take a moment to introduce yourself to your cohort. Tell us where you live and share a few words about your professional role. If you are a classroom teacher, please tell us the subjects and the age group(s) that you teach. If you are not a classroom teacher, please describe your professional role.

Please take a moment to introduce yourself to your cohort. Tell us where you live and share a few words about your professional role. If you are a classroom teacher, please tell us the subjects and the age group(s) that you teach. If you are not a classroom teacher, please describe your professional role.

How do you define good teaching and good teachers? What does it mean to be a good teacher?

How do you define good teaching and good teachers? What does it mean to be a good teacher?

How do you define good teaching and good teachers? What does it mean to be a good teacher?

How do you engage students in your classroom? Do you have any tried and tested strategies that you tend to rely on, or do you vary your classroom practice depending on the content or your students? What advice would you give to your less experienced colleagues on how to ensure student engagement?

How do you engage students in your classroom? Do you have any tried and tested strategies that you tend to rely on, or do you vary your classroom practice depending on the content or your students? What advice would you give to your less experienced colleagues on how to ensure student engagement?

How do you engage students in your classroom? Do you have any tried and tested strategies that you tend to rely on, or do you vary your classroom practice depending on the content or your students? What advice would you give to your less experienced colleagues on how to ensure student engagement?

We all learn differently, and yet not many schools, curricula, or teachers take that into account when attempting to engage students. Do you? If so, how? What advice would you give a less experienced colleague interested in differentiating instruction?

We all learn differently, and yet not many schools, curricula, or teachers take that into account when attempting to engage students. Do you? If so, how? What advice would you give a less experienced colleague interested in differentiating instruction?

We all learn differently, and yet not many schools, curricula, or teachers take that into account when attempting to engage students. Do you? If so, how? What advice would you give a less experienced colleague interested in differentiating instruction?

Please take a moment to describe your classroom. What are some of the things that you like about it? What are some of the things that you dislike? Is it an inviting and supportive learning environment? How do you ensure that students feel comfortable and engaged in your classroom?

Please take a moment to describe your classroom. What are some of the things that you like about it? What are some of the things that you dislike? Is it an inviting and supportive learning environment? How do you ensure that students feel comfortable and engaged in your classroom?

Please take a moment to describe your classroom. What are some of the things that you like about it? What are some of the things that you dislike? Is it an inviting and supportive learning environment? How do you ensure that students feel comfortable and engaged in your classroom?

Please take a moment to introduce yourself to your cohort. Tell us where you live and share a few words about your professional role. If you are a classroom teacher, please tell us the subjects and the age group(s) that you teach. If you are not a classroom teacher, please describe your professional role.

How do you define good teaching and good teachers? What does it mean to be a good teacher?

How do you engage students in your classroom? Do you have any tried and tested strategies that you tend to rely on, or do you vary your classroom practice depending on the content or your students? What advice would you give to your less experienced colleagues on how to ensure student engagement?

We all learn differently, and yet not many schools, curricula, or teachers take that into account when attempting to engage students. Do you? If so, how? What advice would you give a less experienced colleague interested in differentiating instruction?

Please take a moment to describe your classroom. What are some of the things that you like about it? What are some of the things that you dislike? Is it an inviting and supportive learning environment? How do you ensure that students feel comfortable and engaged in your classroom?

Welcome Ingrid!

With so many teachers around the world leaving the profession, it's encouraging to read a story about the opposite - someone leaving the business world to become a teacher because of her passion for teaching, guiding, and linguistics. Welcome to the largest professional group in the world - there are almost 60 million of us worldwide!

I should put you in touch with my wife - she's a TEFL instructor and researcher interested in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. In fact, I know she'd love to read your paper on World Englishes (as would I). Please forward it if you can.

Finally, a question: How old are th children you're working with currently? Do you have any plans to work as a classrom teacher or is pursuing your PhD your priority for now?

Welcome aboard!

- Konrad

 

Daniel,

So, what is this other field that you worked in before becoming a teacher? :-) Could you tell us a bit more about your current professional role?

You are absolutely right about that list of responsibilities ... we'll look into some key ones in this course, but, as you said, the list is really endless. Working with young people is a challenge and an opportunity, isn't it?

I'm looking forward to your contributions in this course.

- Konrad

 

Floyd,

Welcome to the CTM! I do hope that this course will be an opportunity for you to connect with other teachers, including teachers from contexts similar to yours, so that you can discuss challenges, ways of addessing them, and also the opportunities that wait in the classroom every day.

I'm interested in learning more about the education system in St. Kitts - the lack of formal teacher certification protocols is not out of the ordinary, but it certainly presents some challenges to the education system. I hope that in your assignments you will try to connect your local experiences and the content of the CTM course. It would provide an interesting glimpse into your classroom, your country's education system, and your professional practice.

Enjoy the course and welcome aboard!

- Konrad

Julie,

Welcome aboard!

I love the mission of Girls Learn, and I hope that one day we can collaborate on a joint project between your organization and Teachers Without Borders. Perhaps we could focus on a professional development opportunity for teachers in the field of Human Rights? 

I am sure your work at Girls Learn provides an intereting glimpse into a variety of educational settings around the world, and I look forward to seeing how that experience manifests itself in your reflections in this course.

I hope you find value in this course and in connecting with others.

- Konrad

Quoted from Julie Salthouse, written on 2011-03-07 20:39:26

Hello everyone!  My name is Julie Salthouse, and I am an educator based out of northern New Jersey/New York City.  I have a BA in English and secondary education, an MA in Women's and Gender Studies, and currently work as U.S. Chapter Director for Girls Learn International, Inc. (www.girlslearn.org) in New York, a nonprofit dedicated to universal girls’ education.  I work mostly with girls in U.S. middle and high schools, and our program is based on having students learn about human rights, advocate, fundraise on behalf of international Partner Schools we work with that support girls’ education, and create cultural exchanges with Partner Schools. 

 

On the side, I am also co-editor of an online, open-access journal called Films for the Feminist Classroom (http://www.signs.rutgers.edu/ffc_home.html), which publishes film reviews of (mostly) documentary films that university-level teachers can use in their own classrooms.  I love to travel, read, knit, bond with my dog, and hike.  I am very much interested in girls’ leadership, youth activism, and human rights education, and am looking forward to meeting fellow peace educators from around the world. 

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Julie,

Thank you for sharing! I will forward these resources to our Peace Education Program Coordinator, and we'll get back to you soon with some ideas.

- Konrad

 

 

Quoted from Julie Salthouse, written on 2011-03-08 16:54:32

Hi Konrad,

I look forward to sharing my experiences working with girls in the U.S. and abroad very much.  Working at an education-based nonprofit certainly has given me a whole different perspective on what education is and means, particularly when it comes to nonformal education outside of traditional classrooms.

I think a collaboration between TWB and GLI would be great.  For you and anyone else reading, I have posted a sample exercise that we use with U.S. students as part of the GLI human rights curriculum on my e-portfolio, under the My Documents section.  You're welcome to take a look, and hopefully I'll be able to post additional materials in the coming weeks.  Two great resources we use a lot at GLI to teach about social justice issues and human rights are Free the Slaves (www.freetheslaves.net), a nonprofit dedicated to ending modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and the Public Broadcasting Service (www.pbs.org), both of which have posted lessons and videos on their sites for teachers.  I encourage everyone to check out both sites, they're great!

Julie

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Hello Varun,

Thanks for a glimpse into your context - it sounds like a very diverse environment. I look forward to your contributions to our discussions and reflections on your blog.

- Konrad

Vera,

There's so much wisdom in your words - thank you for reminding us how important teachers are in the lives of young people around the world and to the growth and success of our communities and societies.

You are absolutely right that challenges in the professional life of a teacher never end, but that our lives are also filled with opportunities. 

I agree that teaching is first and foremost about learning!

Thank you also for participating in the other cohort introductions.

- Konrad

 

 

 

Quoted from vera obiakor, written on 2011-03-08 19:58:00

 

Hi fellow Airlings.....

My name is Vera and I am a Nigerian. I am also an Airy Cohort, and Hi to you all. I have 15years teaching experience. I now teach senior Secondary Students (14 to 19years old) i teach Mathematics/Further Mathematics. I am also the ICT co-ordinator of the school. 

Being a teacher has shown me that you can never have enough knowledge and you can never get to the top of the ladder. As you get to the top, more steps are created. And I have found out that I am a teacher and learner because while I am teaching you, I will also learn from you. Teaching is a challenge and one of the most interesting, time-consuming and hardest job on earth. And worldwide teachers are the most educated, most patient and simplest human beings; so tell me what else will I want to have as a career. When i look at that president, laurete winner, best doctor etc and I remeber they were once my students, what more should I ask for. That is why I love and will always want to be a teacher.

Enrolling in this program for me is to learn and improve my knowledge since the world changes every minute; we change with it (by acquiring more knowledge). Exchange of ideas, projects and practice is the basic aim of my attendance.

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Please take a moment to reflect on what the following concepts mean to you and how they manifest themselves in your classroom: 1. Classroom management 2. Curriculum 3. Learning 4. Instruction

Please take a moment to reflect on what the following concepts mean to you and how they manifest themselves in your classroom: 1. Classroom management 2. Curriculum 3. Learning 4. Instruction

Please take a moment to reflect on what the following concepts mean to you and how they manifest themselves in your classroom: 1. Classroom management 2. Curriculum 3. Learning 4. Instruction

Please take a moment to reflect on what the following concepts mean to you and how they manifest themselves in your classroom: 1. Classroom management 2. Curriculum 3. Learning 4. Instruction

What does it mean to be innovative as a teacher? Do you consider yourself an innovative teacher? How open are you to trying new approaches, strategies, and resources in your classroom? Should teachers be expected or even required to be innovative?

What does it mean to be innovative as a teacher? Do you consider yourself an innovative teacher? How open are you to trying new approaches, strategies, and resources in your classroom? Should teachers be expected or even required to be innovative?

What does it mean to be innovative as a teacher? Do you consider yourself an innovative teacher? How open are you to trying new approaches, strategies, and resources in your classroom? Should teachers be expected or even required to be innovative?

What does it mean to be innovative as a teacher? Do you consider yourself an innovative teacher? How open are you to trying new approaches, strategies, and resources in your classroom? Should teachers be expected or even required to be innovative?

What is the connection between the curriculum and student engagement? Should teachers be allowed to modify the curriculum if they find that it is out of date or not relevant? Some would argue that a good teacher can make any material engaging. Where do you stand?

What is the connection between the curriculum and student engagement? Should teachers be allowed to modify the curriculum if they find that it is out of date or not relevant? Some would argue that a good teacher can make any material engaging. Where do you stand?

What is the connection between the curriculum and student engagement? Should teachers be allowed to modify the curriculum if they find that it is out of date or not relevant? Some would argue that a good teacher can make any material engaging. Where do you stand?

What is the connection between the curriculum and student engagement? Should teachers be allowed to modify the curriculum if they find that it is out of date or not relevant? Some would argue that a good teacher can make any material engaging. Where do you stand?

How do you plan to deal with the following in your classroom: 1. Disruptive students? 2. Fear, flight, and fight? 3. Student boredom, frustration, and low self-esteem? a.Are there any strategies or theories in Course Two that can assist you with this? b.What can be done to ensure that the possibility of these challenges appearing in your classroom is minimized at the very beginning of the school year? c.What can you do as a classroom teacher to ensure that students are engaged, supported, productive, and empowered?

How do you plan to deal with the following in your classroom: 1. Disruptive students? 2. Fear, flight, and fight? 3. Student boredom, frustration, and low self-esteem? a.Are there any strategies or theories in Course Two that can assist you with this? b.What can be done to ensure that the possibility of these challenges appearing in your classroom is minimized at the very beginning of the school year? c.What can you do as a classroom teacher to ensure that students are engaged, supported, productive, and empowered?

How do you plan to deal with the following in your classroom: 1. Disruptive students? 2. Fear, flight, and fight? 3. Student boredom, frustration, and low self-esteem? a.Are there any strategies or theories in Course Two that can assist you with this? b.What can be done to ensure that the possibility of these challenges appearing in your classroom is minimized at the very beginning of the school year? c.What can you do as a classroom teacher to ensure that students are engaged, supported, productive, and empowered?

How do you plan to deal with the following in your classroom: 1. Disruptive students? 2. Fear, flight, and fight? 3. Student boredom, frustration, and low self-esteem? a.Are there any strategies or theories in Course Two that can assist you with this? b.What can be done to ensure that the possibility of these challenges appearing in your classroom is minimized at the very beginning of the school year? c.What can you do as a classroom teacher to ensure that students are engaged, supported, productive, and empowered?

What is effective feedback? Think back to the last time you provided your students with feedback. What did it look like? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

What is effective feedback? Think back to the last time you provided your students with feedback. What did it look like? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

What is effective feedback? Think back to the last time you provided your students with feedback. What did it look like? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

What is effective feedback? Think back to the last time you provided your students with feedback. What did it look like? Do you think it was effective? Explain.

What kinds of questions do you ask your students when you want to engage them in learning or check their understanding?

What kinds of questions do you ask your students when you want to engage them in learning or check their understanding?

What kinds of questions do you ask your students when you want to engage them in learning or check their understanding?

What kinds of questions do you ask your students when you want to engage them in learning or check their understanding?

What strategies do you use to assess your students and provide feedback? Do these strategies inform your classroom practice?

What strategies do you use to assess your students and provide feedback? Do these strategies inform your classroom practice?

What strategies do you use to assess your students and provide feedback? Do these strategies inform your classroom practice?

What strategies do you use to assess your students and provide feedback? Do these strategies inform your classroom practice?

How would you describe the methods and approaches of a teacher who is assessment literate? As a mentor or teacher leader, how would you encourage and help develop this kind of literacy in your colleagues and at your school?

How would you describe the methods and approaches of a teacher who is assessment literate? As a mentor or teacher leader, how would you encourage and help develop this kind of literacy in your colleagues and at your school?

How would you describe the methods and approaches of a teacher who is assessment literate? As a mentor or teacher leader, how would you encourage and help develop this kind of literacy in your colleagues and at your school?

How would you describe the methods and approaches of a teacher who is assessment literate? As a mentor or teacher leader, how would you encourage and help develop this kind of literacy in your colleagues and at your school?

Please take a moment to reflect on the following concepts: 1. Multiculturalism 2. Inclusion 3. Diversity 4. School culture. What do they mean to you as an educator? How do they manifest themselves in your classroom or school? Be specific.

Please take a moment to reflect on the following concepts: 1. Multiculturalism 2. Inclusion 3. Diversity 4. School culture. What do they mean to you as an educator? How do they manifest themselves in your classroom or school? Be specific.

Please take a moment to reflect on the following concepts: 1. Multiculturalism 2. Inclusion 3. Diversity 4. School culture. What do they mean to you as an educator? How do they manifest themselves in your classroom or school? Be specific.

Please take a moment to reflect on the following concepts: 1. Multiculturalism 2. Inclusion 3. Diversity 4. School culture. What do they mean to you as an educator? How do they manifest themselves in your classroom or school? Be specific.

Is Multicultural Education part of the curriculum in your country, region, or school? If not, can it play a more prominent role? Would it be easy to implement? If it is an approach that is currently used, how can it be made more effective? What is needed to help teachers make it an integral part of their practice?

Is Multicultural Education part of the curriculum in your country, region, or school? If not, can it play a more prominent role? Would it be easy to implement? If it is an approach that is currently used, how can it be made more effective? What is needed to help teachers make it an integral part of their practice?

Is Multicultural Education part of the curriculum in your country, region, or school? If not, can it play a more prominent role? Would it be easy to implement? If it is an approach that is currently used, how can it be made more effective? What is needed to help teachers make it an integral part of their practice?

Is Multicultural Education part of the curriculum in your country, region, or school? If not, can it play a more prominent role? Would it be easy to implement? If it is an approach that is currently used, how can it be made more effective? What is needed to help teachers make it an integral part of their practice?

Do your students have opportunities to define, explore, and share their own cultural identities in your classroom? Do students have opportunities to explore other cultures and ethnicities? If so, describe these opportunities. If not, how can they be brought into the classroom?

Do your students have opportunities to define, explore, and share their own cultural identities in your classroom? Do students have opportunities to explore other cultures and ethnicities? If so, describe these opportunities. If not, how can they be brought into the classroom?

Do your students have opportunities to define, explore, and share their own cultural identities in your classroom? Do students have opportunities to explore other cultures and ethnicities? If so, describe these opportunities. If not, how can they be brought into the classroom?

Do your students have opportunities to define, explore, and share their own cultural identities in your classroom? Do students have opportunities to explore other cultures and ethnicities? If so, describe these opportunities. If not, how can they be brought into the classroom?

What do you do to help make students visible in your classroom?

What do you do to help make students visible in your classroom?

What do you do to help make students visible in your classroom?

What do you do to help make students visible in your classroom?

Building the right culture and climate in classrooms and schools takes time. What do you think is needed to create a strong professional community and a strong learning community at your school? What kinds of questions need to be asked? What kinds of practices and attitudes need to be in place to support this?

Building the right culture and climate in classrooms and schools takes time. What do you think is needed to create a strong professional community and a strong learning community at your school? What kinds of questions need to be asked? What kinds of practices and attitudes need to be in place to support this?

Building the right culture and climate in classrooms and schools takes time. What do you think is needed to create a strong professional community and a strong learning community at your school? What kinds of questions need to be asked? What kinds of practices and attitudes need to be in place to support this?

Building the right culture and climate in classrooms and schools takes time. What do you think is needed to create a strong professional community and a strong learning community at your school? What kinds of questions need to be asked? What kinds of practices and attitudes need to be in place to support this?