Week 5 reflection

1. Two things that I picked out from reading ch. 18 that I thought might be useful in the classroom are the use of technology-based training delivery and the discussion of globalization vs. localization. In regards to technology-based training, I am trying to increase my methods of using different methods of relaying information to my students, parents, peers, and administrators. I myself have used internet based training in the past for professional development and I find that it is very helpful. I completed Harry Wong’s training for classroom management. I was given a specific time frame to complete the training and then left on my own to complete the various chapters in the manual. I’m not sure that would work will with some of my students but I can see some members of my class choosing to do projects like this.

As for globalization vs. localization, that hits to the heart of adjusting my teaching method to ensure that all of my students are learning in an appropriate manner…differentiation I believe its called. I meet with two classes throughout the day, my advisory and my teaching partner’s class. Both classes have drastically different mixes of students as far as ability, behavior, neediness (if that’s actually a word), and socioeconomic makeup. While I have to teach both classes the same information, I often tailor my method of teaching depending on which group I deal with. I also have two Japanese students (they’ve only been in America for the past year) in my advisory so I have to deal with the ELL aspect too.

2. The first thing that stood out for me in ch. 21 was the comparison of systemic change vs. piece-meal change. The second thing that hit home was the part about needing to have the various levels, or clusters, to drive the change. I was hired into my district at the same time as our new building principal. In the time since we started she has made some changes that are very long term and some changes that, if you listen to members of the staff, would fit into the piece-meal portion. We started a program called WEB (Where Everybody Belongs) that uses members of the 8th grade class, who have gone through training, to welcome the incoming 5th graders and work with them through the rest of their first year in the building. This program has many of the students, teachers, parents, administration excited and energized. The goal of this program is to encourage students to step up and create an environment of caring and understanding amongst the students and we have a very long view of where we want it to go.

There have also been, in my mind, minor changes that she has implemented that has the staff divided and at odds with one another. The first change, she had staff buy-in because it is run by teachers, counselors, and administration, the second change, members of the staff felt that they had no say in the changes and are troubled by how these changes are affecting day-to-day activities, no feel for its systemic environment.