| What should they teach in schools? What should schools teach? What should students learn? Join the Discussion online The National Debate about Education |
| To foster discussion, I show my students this appeal. I ask them to write 3 reasons in support of the war and 3 reasons to oppose the war. We are trying to expand the list that appears below. Send your suggestions to talkinternational@yahoo.com This is a press release from the International Red Cross in 2003 Iraq crisis: Federation launches appeal The International Federation has appealed for 111 million Swiss francs to assist at least 305,000 people who may be forced to flee conflict in Iraq. http://www.ifrc.org/ RED CRESCENT – the International Federation appeals for 111 million Swiss francs to assist 305,000 people 20 March 2003 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is appealing today for 111 million Swiss francs (US$ 80 million) to assist at least 305,000 people who may be forced to flee a conflict in Iraq. The appeal is being made on behalf of the Red Crescent Societies in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria and Turkey. "We are deeply saddened by the fact that a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis has not been possible and we are particularly concerned about the impact of such a conflict on the population," said Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro, president of the International Federation. "Millions of Iraqis are living precariously as a result of twelve years of sanctions, especially the children, too young and too frail to resist more deprivation. We call upon the international community to help us bring vital help to those who need it most," said Suárez del Toro. The funds will be used to provide shelter, health care services, food, water and other basic necessities to vulnerable families in Iraq and to refugees in Iran, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. They include costs for the contingency planning that has been put in place since October 2002 by the Red Crescent Societies of these countries, should large population movements occur. With support from the Federation, Red Crescent Societies are prepared to assist potential refugees and displaced people as follows: 55,000 people inside Iraq, 100,000 in Iran, 25,000 people in Jordan, 25,000 people in Syria and 80,000 people in Turkey. The Kuwait Red Crescent is also on stand-by for any emergency. Relief items for an additional 20,000 people are available from Federation regional stocks, in Dubai. Preparedness has included prepositioning of emergency relief items (including tents, blankets, jerry cans, lamps, stoves and heaters), and the training of hundreds of Red Crescent staff and volunteers in camp management and relief coordination. Red Crescent camp sites are being prepared to shelter refugees in Iran (10 camps), Jordan (1 camp), Syria (1 camp) and Turkey (6 camps). "Some 30 emergency response units are ready to provide essential assistance in the form of health care, through field hospitals and clinics as well as access to clean water, through specialized water and sanitation equipment and teams," explains Didier Cherpitel, secretary general of the International Federation. "This all has a cost," says Cherpitel. "Since preparations began five months ago in Iraq and the neighbouring countries, the Federation has committed 6.3 million Swiss francs but has received pledges for only 2.2 million." This appeal represents estimated costs for nine months of operation, including the contingency phase, as well as three months of emergency relief operation and six months of rehabilitation. It could be revised, as a changing situation and needs dictate. The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 178 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Let’s help clean up the damage created in Afghanistan and Iraq (and other areas of conflict) and win hearts and minds. These agencies are working to get aid to refugees: www.americares.org www.ifrc.org www.oxfamamerica.org www.oxfam.org (HOMEWORK: There are other organizations...do a search for "international aid agencies" and support one.) Other useful web sites www.gaiglobal.org www.WhatDoYaKnow.com www.TeachersToTeachers.com www.floridaTechNet.org www.nctq.org National Council on Teacher Quality ... a nonprofit organization that aims to foster public understanding and acceptance of a commonsense approach to teacher quality by measuring teacher success in terms of improved student achievement. NCTQ assists interested states and districts in crafting sound teacher policies. |
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| READ the responses... What should they teach in schools? 1 2 3 4 5 6 What does Bill Gates think about U.S. Schools? |
| See videos about Building International Bridges and SAT Videos What does Bill Gates think about U.S. Schools? |
| WhatShouldStudentsLearn.com See videos about Building International Bridges and SAT Videos Click here to read what Bill Gates thinks about schools in the USA Dear Students, If your parents or teacher asked you to visit this web site, you probably said that "I don't have any homework." "I finished my homework at school." "My teacher let me finish the homework in class." You can start over by saying, "I finished my school work and now I can continue my education." Remember that Mark Twain said, "I never let my sch__lwork get in the way of my edu____n." Here's more homework... 1. Go to newFCAT.com and do the exercises. LookForPatterns.com 2. Visit the FILM page and read about the Met school. Then look for your passion. Then perform your understanding of your passion. 3. Write to me or your parents and show them what you have written. You get points for completing each task. mistermath@comcast.net 4. Learn about the MET. Go to www.BigPicture.org and visit the video pages. 5. www.MathForArtists.com is fun...and click on the link to CHALLENGING PROBLEMS. 6. Visit Mr. Y's web site at www.WhatDoYaKnow.com. www.Number2.com 7. The Aiglon Academy (Visual And Active.com) What would a tutor teach you? The Luia Forbes Method of Tutoring |
| WSSL What should they teach in schools? What should schools teach? What should students learn? This page was inspired by Josh, a parent of three kids who say, "I finished my homework at school." ... well, that was schoolwork. You need some homework. Please visit Look for Patterns.com number2.com Challenging Math Exercises newFCAT.com What Do Ya Know |
| This web site advocates the New Three "R"s as described by Dennis Littky in Education is Everyone's Business. Bill Gates has endorsed this formula. Click here. See the outline for the Documentary What Should Students Learn? Vornle Method >> Get in the college of your choce SAT at BCC (Visual and Active) |
| Follow me, I'm a mentor Join the Campaign for More Mentors in Schools click here for the car sign |
| Follow me, I'm a mentor Join the Campaign for More Mentors in Schools click here for the car sign |
| Did you see the 20/20 report on schools (13 January 2006) TRANSCRIPT |
| What Should Students Learn.com Product under development: The Parent Pest PARENTS: Click here to improve video games |
| This web site advocates the New Three "R"s as described by Dennis Littky in Education is Everyone's Business. Bill Gates has endorsed this formula. Click here. See the outline for the Documentary What Should Students Learn? Vornle Method SAT at BCC (Visual and Active) |
| This web site advocates the New Three "R"s as described by Dennis Littky in Education is Everyone's Business. Bill Gates has endorsed this formula. Click here. See the outline for the Documentary What Should Students Learn? Vornle Method SAT at BCC (Visual and Active) |
| This web site advocates the New Three "R"s as described by Dennis Littky in Education is Everyone's Business. Bill Gates has endorsed this formula. Click here. See the outline for the Documentary What Should Students Learn? Vornle Method SAT at BCC (Visual and Active) |
| What can an adult do to assist a student? For example: "I'd like to become a mentor but I don't know where to begin. Would I go to a guidance counselor and volunteer my time? Or should I go to Big Brothers/Big Sisters?" Answer: Yes. All of the above. Here's the bottom line: Guidance counselors generally see 300 to 600 students during the course of a school year. They get 30 or 50 "chronic" students that need additional follow up and monitoring. If a responsible adult walks up and volunteers time, that's a happy guidance counselor. Here's the role that non-teachers can play: Be a mentor. Bill Gates puts it well >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Let's repeat these words: we need to make sure that kids have: a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve. It is clear that smaller schools can build relationships with students, but even small schools can use the help of additional caring adults on campus and in the lives of the students as mentors. Learn about Dennis Littky's work at The Met School (BigPicture.org) and the five pillars of his school: Five pillars of Big Picture Schools (as interpreted by a math teacher who visited The Met in Providence, RI, part of the Big Picture schools association) 1 Multi-year relationships -- The teacher stays with the same students for three or four years. The teacher teaches more than one subject. In the case of the Met, a high school in Providence, RI, the teacher stays with the students for all four years of high school. 2 The teacher is a facilitator. Teacher = Advisor = “how can I help you?” The teacher coaches the student to choose activities to cover skill areas (language skills, quantitative reasoning, etc.) rather than special subjects, like trigonometry, algebra or chemistry. One of the teacher’s prime activities is finding suitable mentors for the students. 3 Tests are by exhibition. A “stand up” demonstration of understanding is valued above a written test. The students take the state’s standardized tests and other written tests, but the school focuses on the exhibition, which is the product of at least nine weeks of work. 4 Learning through interests – the internships (set up with the teacher) are selected by the student. Academic learning is filtered through the student’s interests. 5 “I’m more than a letter in the alphabet.” Evaluations are made by narratives, not by a letter grade. The teacher can afford time to write two pages of narrative about each student during the grading period because the teacher has only 15 to 20 students to meet with over a nine-week period. (I observed an “advisor” who met with students throughout the class day, asking for updates on on-going projects. This sort of focus can come from a narrow focus of one adult on a small group of students.) FOR MORE, see In Praise of Small Schools Do you see where you (an adult volunteer) can make a difference? The Role of Adults as Mentors If I were a parent, I would look around for adults to volunteer to come into my child’s school. What is Gates really saying? “Education is everyone’s business” (even his business). If you want to help reshape education while getting more attention for your child, make an effort to become a mentor. You don’t have to be a parent to provide this valuable service (to yourself as well as to the community). Guidelines 1. Stay focused. Yes, school administrators need volunteers to help with photocopying, newspaper recycling, reorganizing closets. Ask to work as a teacher’s assistant. Get in contact with students. 2. Listen. The usual use of a visitor in a school is to stand the adult at the front of the classroom and ask for a speech. Instead, the teacher could give you a small group of students and you could spend time in a corner of the room finding out if there’s any “click” or connection. Ask the students, “What is your passion? What do you like to read about?” Many kids just need a chance to talk in order to discover their interests. 3. Return. Often. Frequent contact makes a difference. It takes seven exposures for most people to learn a new concept and many kids need to see an adult several times before your “message” gets through. Promise to return, then follow through. Be anticipated. 4. You don’t need a speech or special talent. Your presence is a present to students who see the same adults in the same profession (teachers). If you aren’t a teacher, that’s good. Remember what Gates said: “Make sure kids have a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve.” If you’re curious about how a school engages mentors, visit BigPicture.org and watch the videos online. The Met, a Big Picture school in Providence, Rhode Island, is where the new three “R”s were developed. The formula mentioned by Gates appeared in Dennis Littky’s book, The Big Picture: Education Is Everyone’s Business. Well, I could write more, but I’ve got to go. You see, I’m a mentor, too, and a student is waiting for me. Steve McCrea is a tutor in Fort Lauderdale. 954.646.8246 (OH MUCHO) TeachersToTeachers.com E-Mail: mistermath@comcast.net Why not take a moment, right now, and visit BigPicture.org? For more information about small schools, go to Find A Small School.com |
| What can an adult do to assist a student? Scroll down... You can become a mentor.... |
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| Join the Campaign for More Mentors in Schools click here for the car sign |
| These principles can be applied anywhere – the new three R’s, the basic building blocks of better high schools:
The first R is Rigor – making sure all students are given a challenging curriculum that prepares them for college or work; The second R is Relevance – making sure kids have courses and projects that clearly relate to their lives and their goals; The third R is Relationships – making sure kids have a number of adults who know them, look out for them, and push them to achieve. The three R’s are almost always easier to promote in smaller high schools. The smaller size gives teachers and staff the chance to create an environment where students achieve at a higher level and rarely fall through the cracks. Students in smaller schools are more motivated, have higher attendance rates, feel safer, and graduate and attend college in higher numbers. -- Bill Gates February 2005 Governors' Conference on High Schools Dennis Littky How can you participate? You can become a MENTOR ON VIDEO Mentors On Video is a program to allow "ordinary humans' (non teachers) to visit middle and high schools on video. You can go to a "real" school and get videotaped. Or you can ask for someone to video you. My production company, McCrea Educational Archives, sells video training for FCAT preparation, SAT preparation, training for teachers and "how to read better". All of this training is placed on DVDs and CDs and there is often an extra 100 or 150 Megabytes on the CD or DVD. What to do? Put some videos of Mentors on the CD. Free. Your donation of your time will be returned by having your voice and/or image shared with dozens of students. Students tend to watch a CD if they are told that it is not required. "Huh, maybe this is the new Pirates of the Caribbean DVD." Sometimes they are bored, sometimes they are hooked. The idea of the mentor isn't to appeal to EVERY tudents, but rather to hijack at least one student from the reverie induced by surfing on the Internet or playing with an Xbox game. If you wish to participate, please contact me. Make your own video or call me and I'll put you on the list for me to video you. Suggested QUESTIONS to answer 1. What did you learn in school that you still use today? (This answer shows relevance.) 2. What do you wish you had learned in school? Additional relevance plus a suggestion to a teacher to include something extra in a future lesson.) 3. Name one of your teachers. If you can name the teacher, then something was given by that teacher to you. What was it? Honor that teacher by telling us why you remember that teacher. (This shows an important relationship) 4. Tell us about a book. What have you read in the past ten years that you use today? (This answer shows continued learning -- and we are asking you for a performance about what you took from the book, a performance of understanding.) McCrea Educational Archives Coordinated by Steve McCrea www.SteveMcCrea.com |
| Have you heard about the New Three Rs? Have you read the speech that Bill Gates gave in February 2005? |
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| The Gates Foundation has invested a billion dollars in making schools smaller and more agile. Find out more about the NEW THREE R's. |
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| Mr. Mac the mentor (and the mentor agitator) |
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