Comments on: Community Plumbing http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/ (bôr'dər-lănd') n. Located on or near a frontier. An indeterminate area or condition. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:00:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Brian Crosby http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7888 Brian Crosby Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:32:54 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7888 Doug and Mark - One way to see that the work you start gets carried on is "Roll" with your class for a year or two. I've done it several times and I love it - I've also taught 4-5-6 classes, with about equal numbers of each grade and those kids stay with you until they leave sixth grade. Just a thought. Doug and Mark - One way to see that the work you start gets carried on is “Roll” with your class for a year or two. I’ve done it several times and I love it - I’ve also taught 4-5-6 classes, with about equal numbers of each grade and those kids stay with you until they leave sixth grade. Just a thought.

]]> By: Doug http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7885 Doug Thu, 28 Sep 2006 06:10:47 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7885 <strong>Brian</strong>, Messy indeed. Nothing goes smoothly anymore. My guiding principle comes from my principal, who tells me that the connections I make with kids is the most important thing I do. We're forging a new path - and I am surely glad for the support - wherever it comes from. <strong>Mark</strong>, the flip-side of the challenge we face starting over each year teaching these basic things (I hadn't thought about this until your comment) does mean that the kids are left without an opportunity to apply what they learn - at school - until they run into another teacher who gives them something constructive to do. All the more reason to work on building bridges. Brian, Messy indeed. Nothing goes smoothly anymore. My guiding principle comes from my principal, who tells me that the connections I make with kids is the most important thing I do. We’re forging a new path - and I am surely glad for the support - wherever it comes from.

Mark, the flip-side of the challenge we face starting over each year teaching these basic things (I hadn’t thought about this until your comment) does mean that the kids are left without an opportunity to apply what they learn - at school - until they run into another teacher who gives them something constructive to do. All the more reason to work on building bridges.

]]> By: Mark Ahlness http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7884 Mark Ahlness Thu, 28 Sep 2006 05:38:20 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7884 about copy/paste... I just had a 4th grade teacher tell me today all about how one of my third graders from last year was showing her how to copy/paste like it was no big deal at all. She was astounded at the casual way he presented this complicated thing to her - like he didn't even have to think about it! I suggested he was simply a "digital native", and that was why it was so easy. But she did point out that the rest of her class (who came from other teachers) did not have a clue about this, that they were just like her. What do you say at a point like that? To myself I said I was proud of my kids from last year - that I know they will be leaders. I also congratulated myself for doing the right thing. I just shrugged my shoulders and suggested she let those kids, the ones I had last year, lead the way. Which is great for now, I guess. But where is the challenge for my kids from last year? Where is the push into uncharted territory? When will they be forced to use those special skills to do more than help others? Will they be given a chance to grow, a challenge? straying a bit off topic here... thanks guys for the conversation... about copy/paste…

I just had a 4th grade teacher tell me today all about how one of my third graders from last year was showing her how to copy/paste like it was no big deal at all. She was astounded at the casual way he presented this complicated thing to her - like he didn’t even have to think about it! I suggested he was simply a “digital native”, and that was why it was so easy. But she did point out that the rest of her class (who came from other teachers) did not have a clue about this, that they were just like her.

What do you say at a point like that? To myself I said I was proud of my kids from last year - that I know they will be leaders. I also congratulated myself for doing the right thing. I just shrugged my shoulders and suggested she let those kids, the ones I had last year, lead the way. Which is great for now, I guess.

But where is the challenge for my kids from last year? Where is the push into uncharted territory? When will they be forced to use those special skills to do more than help others? Will they be given a chance to grow, a challenge?

straying a bit off topic here… thanks guys for the conversation…

]]> By: Brian Crosby http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7883 Brian Crosby Thu, 28 Sep 2006 04:37:53 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7883 Doug - sounds like messy learning to me. You even let the students see when things don't go well, and that things don't go well 100% of the time even for a professional such as yourself - mistakes are OK if they lead to knowledge and understanding - kids need to SEE that, not just hear it. Keep up the good work! Doug - sounds like messy learning to me. You even let the students see when things don’t go well, and that things don’t go well 100% of the time even for a professional such as yourself - mistakes are OK if they lead to knowledge and understanding - kids need to SEE that, not just hear it. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Doug http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7882 Doug Thu, 28 Sep 2006 04:11:24 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2006/09/26/community-plumbing/#comment-7882 Gordon, it's good to hear from you. It's good to hear from anyone who understands about crashing and burning in the lab. I always wear a helmet when I go in there - and full pads - because I plan on a rough time. Until your comment, I thought I was the only one who explicitly taught copy and paste. As for the other part, the part about the obstacles, I don't do very well "fitting everything in," and I've decided that no matter what I do, I'll make a mess of the curriculum. But I don't care, because it isn't mine. I do the best I can, in spite of all the pressure not to. I look forward to hearing from you again. Once my students get a little more fluent, I'll point some in your direction. Gordon, it’s good to hear from you. It’s good to hear from anyone who understands about crashing and burning in the lab. I always wear a helmet when I go in there - and full pads - because I plan on a rough time. Until your comment, I thought I was the only one who explicitly taught copy and paste.

As for the other part, the part about the obstacles, I don’t do very well “fitting everything in,” and I’ve decided that no matter what I do, I’ll make a mess of the curriculum. But I don’t care, because it isn’t mine. I do the best I can, in spite of all the pressure not to.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Once my students get a little more fluent, I’ll point some in your direction.

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