Blog Post #10

Adventures in Pencil Integration, by: John T. Spencer

I'm a Papermate. I'm A Ticonderoga.

On my first look of the cartoon, I believe the cartoon was making a comparison of generic products verses name-brand products. I have always been told that "You are crazy if you pay double the price for that name brand, the generic brand is just as good". Both characters have cheapish looks on their faces. From the looks on their faces, Papermate realize his product is inferior to Ticonderoga, but he has to support it because this is what has worked for years. Ticonderoga, on the other hand, she knows her product is superior, but probably not worth the high price it costs. She also realizes the type people who will be purchasing her product and the cost has to be more. If I had to compare the two characters after reading the blogs and fitting the cartoon into our class, I would say that Papermate looks like and old school conservative style of teaching. A teaching situation that works, but not moving forward; a teaching style that is being left behind. On the other hand, you have Ticonderoga, who appears 'new age', and trendy. Ticondoraga's users will write more on a PC or laptop than with paper and pencil. This was my first take on the cartoon.


Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

In this blog, Mr. Spencer describes a situation that happens between he and his principal. The principal is concerned only with student's standardized test scores and how the school looks. The principal wants Mr. Spencer to follow the model of a teacher who follows boring rules. He does not want Mr. Spencer to roam outside of the box. It seems as though anything taught with student interaction is considered 'playing games'. He wants him to teach only what is on the state tests. On the other hand, Mr. Spencer is teaching his students real life situations,that will help them through life. Mr. Spencer is not only teaching his students course objectives, he is also teaching his students information that will help them be productive citizens in society. When I was in grade school, I definitely learned best when my teachers had us engaged in collaborative and cooperative learning. I remember these lessons a great deal more than the teacher who simply lectured to us and we memorized/(burp-back)the information. Learning while having fun; this is the kind of teacher I hope to become. Mr. Spencer wants meaningful learning to occur, while his supervisor wants instant/quick learning to occur. The principal does not seem to care if the information is learned for a long period, just the time it takes to pass the test. Again, Mr. Spencer wants his students to learn behaviors that will take them throughout life.

Why I Am Not Neutral

Mr. Spencer's blog, Why I am Not Neutral speaks volumes about the kind of teacher Mr. Spencer is. Mr. Spencer places his students first, no matter what the situation is; he believes it is his job to teach and care for his students. This article deals with immigration, but more than anything, it deals with what's right and wrong. Mr. Spencer points out that it is our jobs as teachers to teach a child. He says that he cannot be neutral to the situation of immigration; he believes it is our responsibility as educators to educate. We do not assume the political role and teach only students who are American. He lets the reader of his blog know that as teachers, we do not know the circumstances and just should assume that the child needs to be taught; excluding political right and wrong. Mr. Spencer points out that immigration was sparked by the demand from the United States. Juan, his student, is merely an innocent bystander, who is simply trying to deal with the cards he has been dealt. In each blog I read of Mr. Spencers, he is always trying to do what is right for his students; no matter what status-quo may be. After reading several of his blogs, he was criticized by some of his readers, but he always stood behind what he believed to be true. Great blogs!


Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by: Scott McLeod

Dr. Scott McLeod is one of the nations leading academic experts on K-12 school technology leadership issues. He is director of Innovation for Prairie Lake Areas Educational Agency 8 in Iowa. This information was taken directly from his bio page. The blog on Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?, was a blog showing how the na-sayers view technology. The blog uses much sarcasm to emphasize how people who are negative about the new wave of technology, are being left behind. I have heard so many times from my grandmothers, how technology is going to make our brains explode and how they got along just well with paper and pencil. I have heard, with my own ears, how the Internet is used for all the wrong reasons. My little brother, who attends high school in a county that has computers for all their high school students, says that discipline is down since the computers have been given to all the children. Sure, there are some students who will misuse the computers, but these are students who were probably going to do it no matter what. The benefit of these computers out-way the few students who will misuse them. My younger brother is able to use his computers to download assignments, research for projects, communicate/collaborate with his peers,learn more about current events, and most of all stop asking to use my laptop. Being able to sync information from IPads, IPhones, IPods and my laptop has made life wonderful for me. I think you put your blog in perspective in your last paragraph, where you said “cause I’m doing all of it with my children, can't wait to see who has a leg up in a decade or two, can you?" What I believe you were saying, is will you and your family/child be left behind because mine will not. I love the sarcastic tone of the blog; makes you want to continue reading the blog. Thanks for sharing your blog with us.