Pulse
Raising a Generation that Has a 4.0 in Problem Solving: An Inspiring Talk
My generation will not need to be good test takers or be able to read 300 words a minute or be able to get stellar scores on the ACTs or SATs or LSATs. My generation will need to be innovators, thinkers, and above all: "Solutionaries." I recently saw a video from a TEDx talk that was uploaded onto youtube. The speaker's name was Zoe Weil, and she talked about just that -- how we need to be raising not just students, but solutionaries for what our world has...
Here I am, it is 12:20 in the morning on January 13th 2011, and I am doing homework. Today was a snow day, and I, instead of staying home and doing homework all day, made the somewhat irresponsible decision of going out to my friend's house and having a snowball fight and making a snowman and laughing the whole day away. And now I am mad at myself for it. But, before I fall into such a pit of self loathing, I have to ask myself, why? Why is it so dreadfully important that I, a social fifteen-year-old, stay home out of the beautiful snowy weather and study? And at what point did I become so deeply involved in school that I would be so disappointed in myself for something that we should really all do a lot more of?
Ready, teachers? I am going to give you the key to every...
Hello IDEA community,
I think I will be taking an official hiatus from the blogging team. I have been preoccupied with trying to comprehend my college life. Time really isn't an issue as much as a lack of motivation and access to news media is. My de-motivation derived from the constant feeling I have that continuing to receive formal education is neither relevant to nor financially viable for me. Not given the chance to get over burnout from my last stretch of k-12 schooling, I am beginning to feel that this isn't worth it if I am always confused, stressed, and tired. Yet at the same time I LOVE learning and a college (or a library) has ready-made learning opportunities that aren't taken by force (for the most part).
Additionally my school is really small, and it's in a very small...
Tonight, I write in remembrance of four young men: Justin Aagerg, Billy Lucas, Asher Brown and Seth Walsh. Justin and Billy were fifteen and Asher and Seth were thirteen. These were boys about my age who took their own lives this past week because they were bullied by their peers -- people they should have been able to trust -- due to...
Here is a great resource on how to use wikis in education that he and the folks at EduTopia offered up.
Lucas is one of countless young dogs across the US in training to become a seeing-eye dog for the blind and visually impaired. I have been raising Lucas since April and we have grown together in his...
Imagine you live in a world in which you are not trusted, just for existing and making decisions. You always have to be on guard or you risk being screamed at for your actions, or glared at with a contempt so disheartening it makes your stomach drop. People will get in your face and talk you down so that you can “get in line.” You will be interrogated over small things, like where you go or what you say.
It happens everywhere.
Say you're at a buffet restaurant and you drop a dish. Out comes the manager at a slow pace, grimacing, and then he or she just yells, “What is WRONG with you, huh!” A fellow customer then walks up to you and slaps your hand, “Get your food and GET back to your table, you understand?” When you return to your seat your family just glares at you in silence. After...
I never intended to take a band class, but I had heard the teacher was awesome and well loved. So I decided to do it. I play percussion, so I don't always have much to do, but it's great fun just to sit and watch the teacher interacting with the kids, making them laugh and smile, all the time creating great music. It's...
Posted on Jan 21, 2011 - 01:32 PM by Claire Russell
What are the issues we're all trying to solve right now? World hunger, wars against other nations, a failing economy, just to name a few. It can be so depressing and infuriating to be a kid of just almost sixteen and know that my generation has so many sorrows and woes to deal with that have been laid down by generations long gone.My generation will not need to be good test takers or be able to read 300 words a minute or be able to get stellar scores on the ACTs or SATs or LSATs. My generation will need to be innovators, thinkers, and above all: "Solutionaries." I recently saw a video from a TEDx talk that was uploaded onto youtube. The speaker's name was Zoe Weil, and she talked about just that -- how we need to be raising not just students, but solutionaries for what our world has...
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A Fifteen-Year-Old’s Perspective on TestingPosted on Jan 13, 2011 - 12:18 AM by Claire Russell
Hello Everyone!Here I am, it is 12:20 in the morning on January 13th 2011, and I am doing homework. Today was a snow day, and I, instead of staying home and doing homework all day, made the somewhat irresponsible decision of going out to my friend's house and having a snowball fight and making a snowman and laughing the whole day away. And now I am mad at myself for it. But, before I fall into such a pit of self loathing, I have to ask myself, why? Why is it so dreadfully important that I, a social fifteen-year-old, stay home out of the beautiful snowy weather and study? And at what point did I become so deeply involved in school that I would be so disappointed in myself for something that we should really all do a lot more of?
Ready, teachers? I am going to give you the key to every...
Read More... 2 Comments
My Second SemesterPosted on Dec 25, 2010 - 12:26 AM by Zuleka Irvin
At my school, Green Mountain College, I gained acceptance into what is known as the “Progressive Program”. It is one of the opportunities at my school to “chart [my] own course of study”. At my school there are four core “environmental liberal arts” classes: Images of Nature, Voices of Community, Dimensions of Nature, and Voices of Community. These courses are meant to prepare me with a liberal arts education in the context of environmental conscientiousness. However, there are seven smaller “ELA” classes that I am no longer required to take as a Progressive Program Student (PPS). As a PPS I will keep a traditional Art major, while also incorporating studies of education, philosophy, psychology, and communications. The culmination of my education would be a self-designed degree in...Read More... 0 Comments
So Long For NowPosted on Nov 16, 2010 - 11:56 AM by Zuleka Irvin
*Hello IDEA community,
I think I will be taking an official hiatus from the blogging team. I have been preoccupied with trying to comprehend my college life. Time really isn't an issue as much as a lack of motivation and access to news media is. My de-motivation derived from the constant feeling I have that continuing to receive formal education is neither relevant to nor financially viable for me. Not given the chance to get over burnout from my last stretch of k-12 schooling, I am beginning to feel that this isn't worth it if I am always confused, stressed, and tired. Yet at the same time I LOVE learning and a college (or a library) has ready-made learning opportunities that aren't taken by force (for the most part).
Additionally my school is really small, and it's in a very small...
Read More... 2 Comments
My Future Takes a StandPosted on Nov 01, 2010 - 03:00 PM by Claire Russell
There are so many reasons why people stop writing: they don't have time; or they become apathetic about creativity; or sometimes they just don't know how to put what they want to say in words. For me, it has been an infuriating combination of the three evils that we, as writers, need to deal with that has kept me from putting pen to paper. But, tonight I have inspiration that the terrible writing block monsters don't even try to put up a fight against.Tonight, I write in remembrance of four young men: Justin Aagerg, Billy Lucas, Asher Brown and Seth Walsh. Justin and Billy were fifteen and Asher and Seth were thirteen. These were boys about my age who took their own lives this past week because they were bullied by their peers -- people they should have been able to trust -- due to...
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Wikis are transforming teachingPosted on Aug 31, 2010 - 06:32 PM by Scott Nine
Last week I had the privilege of listening to celebrated teacher Anthony Armstrong throw down his approach to using wikis to open up the learning process with his middle school students. It was a powerful display of what can happen when creativity, technology, and a spirit of collaboration infuses the learning process. My favorite thing he said: "The singular goal of our assessment process is to not ask any questions our students can Google and find the answer."Here is a great resource on how to use wikis in education that he and the folks at EduTopia offered up.
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Lucas: A Puppy with a PurposePosted on Aug 06, 2010 - 10:50 PM by Claire Russell
I stood waiting in line under the fluorescent light of my local Super Wal-Mart, a container of juice in my right hand. This was a very rare scene for me because I don't shop at Wal-Mart as a habit, but what made this occasion really rare was what was in my left hand. I looked down at the leather leash in my fist, the kind they usually use for service dogs in training. I followed the leash down until my gaze was met with soft brown eyes. At my side sat a six-month old black lab puppy wearing a red 'Guiding Eyes for the Blind' bandanna and a matching red collar with a name-tag that read: LUCAS.Lucas is one of countless young dogs across the US in training to become a seeing-eye dog for the blind and visually impaired. I have been raising Lucas since April and we have grown together in his...
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The Culture of Fear and Oppression in SchoolsPosted on Jul 28, 2010 - 03:15 PM by Zuleka Irvin
**Imagine you live in a world in which you are not trusted, just for existing and making decisions. You always have to be on guard or you risk being screamed at for your actions, or glared at with a contempt so disheartening it makes your stomach drop. People will get in your face and talk you down so that you can “get in line.” You will be interrogated over small things, like where you go or what you say.
It happens everywhere.
Say you're at a buffet restaurant and you drop a dish. Out comes the manager at a slow pace, grimacing, and then he or she just yells, “What is WRONG with you, huh!” A fellow customer then walks up to you and slaps your hand, “Get your food and GET back to your table, you understand?” When you return to your seat your family just glares at you in silence. After...
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Living in Archaic TimesPosted on Jul 27, 2010 - 10:25 AM by Zuleka Irvin
Having old (mom and dad being 50 and 74 respectively) parents has got me thinking about behavior, and how it evolves. It makes me wonder, will there ever be a point where I am content with "living" in the past? When I think of an old person I get a sensation of being trapped or stuck in one dimension or another. They seem to sag and drag, as if their past is personified, physically and cognitively weighing them down. If it comes down to living in an archaic state of mind, unmoved by change, then elderhood is not something I look forward to. Although it's not fun or even bearable, I can get all the wrinkles and degeneration, but if my mind is not keen on change and progress, then that is my biggest problem. I don't want to grow up to watch reruns and only care about the "old jams"...Read More... 2 Comments
A Glimpse of Compassion in Room 114Posted on Apr 14, 2010 - 08:27 PM by Claire Russell
In my Waldorf grade school, compassion and inspiration were the norm, which was a beautiful thing. However, in my current public high school it is much harder to come by, which is something I dearly miss about my old schooling. Words like "stupid" and "retarded" are thrown around like they mean nothing and like they aren't hurtful. However, every once in a while you can truly see the heart of the student body, and that is precisely what inspires me to write about this.I never intended to take a band class, but I had heard the teacher was awesome and well loved. So I decided to do it. I play percussion, so I don't always have much to do, but it's great fun just to sit and watch the teacher interacting with the kids, making them laugh and smile, all the time creating great music. It's...
Read More... 2 Comments