Comparing Test Scores Internationally

This past Monday night, October 27, we had the opportunity to listen to and discuss current issues with two Decorah School Board Members. I found it to be very interesting. One topic that I had a strong opinion about before and still do after the discussion is comparing test scores internationally. One of the school board members took the words right out of my mouth. How can we seriously consider test scores from students in the U.S to be an accurate comparison to test scores from students in other countries? There are so many factors that need to be taken into account: length of the school day, extra-curricular activities involved, other test scores, etc. I was in complete agreement with the school board member when he said something along the lines of, "If we wanted our students to score as high as other students from foreign countries, they probably could, but would it be worth it?" He was referring to the amount of time that would have to be dedicated solely to certain subject areas. Some students in other countries eat, breathe, and live school. Whenever they aren't in class, they're studying, or doing something related. I feel so privileged to have been able to participate in so many extra-curricular activities in high school, which included sports, music, student council, and several organizations. I feel that the education I received from participating in these extra-curricular activities provided me with valuable experience that can't solely be taught in the classroom. As a teacher, I would rather help students become well-rounded individuals rather than individuals who are only good at one thing.

Foundations of Teaching Metaphor

Earlier this semester, we created a visual metaphor for the foundation on which Luther students develop as teachers, which has five main strands. My metaphor's setting is a baseball game.
The first strand is a liberal arts education. When a I think of a liberal arts education, I think of learning about a large variety of areas. This variety is symbolized in my picture by the various positions that can be played during the game and the various types of players.
The second strand focuses on providing experiences and opportunities to aid in the development of knowledge, abilities, and dispositions needed for quality teaching and learning. This is symbolized by the umpire behind home plate. The umpire represents a great knowledge of the game and is respected.
The third strand emphasizes the skills and dispositions necessary for teaching. This is symbolized by the faces of all the players, coaches, and umpire. They are all smiling. They all want to be there, and they're enjoying what they're doing.
The fourth strand talks about providing experiences with diverse populations. This is represented by all the different types of players. Whether they're short, tall, skinny, fat, average, have dark skin, or have white skin, they are all involved and enjoying themselves.
The fifth strand focuses on developing ethical, reflective, and critical thinking teachers-to-be. This is represented by the coaches on the field. A coach is much like a teacher. He should be ethical, reflective, and think critically. He should teach more than just about the sport. Especially at the high school level, a coach should teach life lessons as well.

NCLB Role Playing Activity

I thought that the NCLB role playing activity was very interesting. I personally didn't feel like I knew enough about the subject to take a strong position, but that's what made the role playing aspect of it work. Obviously, some people felt very strongly about certain things involved with NCLB, and I enjoyed hearing the points that the students and professors made. The Monday night that we did the role playing activity, I wished that I had known more about it. However, looking back, I believe it was better that we did the role playing activity first, because it helped me keep more of an open mind about certain ideas. I thought the entire activity was very productive.

The Importance of Parents

The discussion that we had in class on Wednesday, October 1 was one of the most intriguing discussions we have had all year in our educational psychology class. The issues of what kids are exposed to and the importance of parenting are both important to discuss. Children are increasingly being exposed to more and more types of things that are above their maturity level. From music to television and to the internet, children have numerous ways to access things that they may not fully understand. It is almost impossible to prevent children to being exposed to these things. The role that this exposure plays in their life can factor into how they live their lives, but I think it is not a factor more often than not. I believe that this is where parenting comes in. If parents are involved and pay attention to their children's lives, then they should be more of an influence on their children than media. When I was young, my parents always made sure I knew the difference between right and wrong, and they helped me develop my morals as well. Because of this, when I was exposed to things above my maturity level, I could still determine right from wrong, and moral from immoral. I know that parents cannot be with their children 24/7, and I don't think they need to be. Parents can influence their children enough just by making sure they are involved in their children's lives in one way or another. I feel like my parents did a wonderful job raising and educating me. They weren't my best friends. We had our disagreements, but looking back now, I know that they were right, and I know that I am a better person because of them.