Activity 1- Current Issues

Thanks for posting your "Hot Topics" ideas. Here is the list of topics and the "Summarizers",who will be adding insights and summarizing. All participating summarizers are EXEMPT from posting on this issue. Their primary job is to summarize the conversation. Multiple discussion leaders can decide how they want to divvy out the work to each other.

School Funding is the question we are exploring this week. The Pros and Cons may not be so much around should we or should we not have school funding, as HOW we should funds our schools or even WHAT should be funded.

In March of this year, a lawsuit was filed in Multnomah County to force the legistlature to provide "adequate" funds for the schools. This is indicative of how frustrated folks are at the lack of funding for the schools.

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/03/23/ed.edit.schoolsuit.0323.p1.php?section=opinion

In the year 2000, there was an attempt to cut Physical Education to save money.

http://www.nwrel.org/nwedu/fall_00/saving_pe.html

Here is the budget message from 2005-2006 from Pendelton Pubic Schools:

One dominant factor in budget development for all education agencies funded in whole or in part by the state of Oregon is the continuing impact of Ballot Measure 5. In 1995-96 the tax rate for education services froze at the $5.00 rate per thousand of assessed value. The state of Oregon is obligated to replace diminished property tax revenue but local school districts remain in competition with other state agencies for funding. With the introduction of Measure 47 and Measure 50, financial support from property taxes for education has eroded even beyond the effects of Measure 5. Consequently, local districts have been forced to rely even more heavily on the State General Fund. The funding amount is determined by the Legislature.

http://www.pendleton.k12.or.us/superintendent/budget.php

One other element: federal funding. How much should Oregon rely on federal funding and if these monies are cut, should Oregon make up the difference?

The challenge: how would you fund the schools? what would you fund?

Please use the same format for posting your thoughts that we used last week, and post this assignment to the "Week 3: " conference in WebBoard.

(Several of you have inquired about how to go about researching these current issues, and I will offer a couple of suggestions. First, don't hesitate to try a search using one of the many internet search engines (my personal favorite is http://www.boogle.com Yes, I said boogle. It is a google search but you get a quote of the day and a little picture for your edification ;-).

When using the web, always consider the source. For example, you will find sites ranging from educational institutions (which are not necessarily free from bias but are moderated so that the views expressed are at least somewhat credible) to sites that most definitely have an axe to grind, including many sites whose URLs end in .org or .com. It is the reader's job to assess the credibility of the site.

Activity 2 - How to Talk so Kids Can Learn

This week we will begin practicing what we are learning about in Chapter 1 of "How to Talk so Kids Can Learn."

• During the next few days, try out "acknowledging feelings" without giving advice or adding a judgmental statement.
• Please share at least 3 examples of what you tried and how the child (or adult) responded. Post your examples in your color coded team's "Week 3: HTTSKCL" folder.
• Please respond briefly to at least 2 other student's postings.

Activity 3- Teaching as a Profession

This week I'd like you to examine more closely the role of a teacher. Please obtain copies of the job descriptions for both an instructional assistant and an elementary classroom teacher. (Some districts post these on their websites; the school office or personnel office could also supply copies, especially if given a little advance notice.) With both in hand, please make the following comparisons:

• What are the minimum qualifications of each type of position?
• Do the licensed teacher's job description and the IA job description have any elements in common?
• What additional skills and responsibilities are required of a licensed teacher, but not an IA?
• Are there any skills required of an IA, but not of a teacher?
• After reviewing the licensed teacher job description, in what areas do your feel you need a significant amount of new knowledge?

Please post in "Week 3: Teaching as a Profession" folder, and include a brief response to at least two other students.

Activity 4 - Journal

For our journal this week, I'd like to focus on the learners at your field experience sites. They are, after all, the reason all of us are here.

First, let's consider the diverse nature of the students in our classrooms.

• What ethnic groups are represented?
• What languages are spoken by students, and what is their level of comfort with English?
• In what other ways do students differ from each other (you might consider socioeconomic status, gender balance in the classroom, and social skills development, for example)?
• What strategies have you seen your cooperating teacher use to bridge the gaps that might develop between diverse groups in your classroom?
• How comfortable do students seem with each other?

Please reflect on the above queries (or invent a few of your own) and post your thoughts in the "Week 3: Journal" conference of WebBoard.

Week 2

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