Comments 4 Teachers Week 12

I was assigned Paula White/Reflections of the TZSTeacher for my Comments 4 Teacher Blog. In her March 27th Blog, Passionate Learning, she discusses one of her students in the 5th grade who had some technology questions. Instead of just finding the answer or even blowing the student off, she TOOK him to the answer. Her 5th grader is an atypical student in that he doesn't want to just "play school", he wants to learn his way. She arranged a field trip for the student to meet up with a former student who was very similar. The former student attended a school known as the Murray High School, a school for students to learn what they wanted to learn without repetitive worksheets. He could be successful and still get the knowledge he craved.
The former student, who had become the Systems Manager for the school system, gave the 5th grader a tour of the facility. He answered questions and explained the workings of the system. The 5th grader, who already is a whiz at gaming, Wiki, and other applications was thrilled. This was a learning experience that could not have been taught in the classroom. It was an alternative way to get to a student and show them how his knowledge would be useful in real life. Paula White did a great job doing this and reaching her student.

In Paula's March 19th Blog, she talk about one of her educational heroes, Carol Tomilnson. Paula says that Mrs. Tomlinson is an advocate of differentiating in the classroom. They agree in this area and so do I. Students all learn differently and at different paces. You have to know how to reach them to teach them. You have to prepare your lessons in advance and bring new things to the classroom to get to them all. One lesson may work for one group but not the other. So find that other and teach them all. Paula White uses suggestions from her educational hero and does so in the classroom.