Talking points Shor

1. ""If I were a primary-grade teacher, I would devote my time to problems of socialization. The most important thing children learn is not the three r's. It's socialization." Meir 1990"

This is the meat and potatoes of education we never seem to get to. Why not have a skit where one student gets kurt with another? Then allow different students to chime in to do a redo using kinder language or more appropriate ways of understanding. I often feel that adults don't know how to communicate properly. It is a skill we need to teach and don't. Why at no point in our entire lives do we learn how to deal with one and other in a very proactive, productive and real way? Just like we never teach how to nuture, parent or care. We are also never taught actual nutrition. "Eat lots of veggies" but never why. Did you know the beta carotine, which is also called vitamin A, is in carrots. It helps you see at night! I'm not talking a science unit that brushes on nutrition to introduce kids to chemistry. I'm talking about actually teaching the kids something that is highly applicable. Socialization is the same. When we watched the "It's elementary" video we saw that first hand. Give children a context to discuss social issues, give them the vocabulary to do it, trust they can form opinions, and show them how to be open and considerate.

2.) "The affective atmosphere of a participatory classroom also aims for a productive relationship between patience and impatience."

Again, we all know taking care of children creates moments where you just thin "enough already!". I'm happy Shore explains the need for both as a healthy balance between democracy and efficiency. The kids must have time to think through things but an agenda must be followed in order to get somewhere. Again, the actual and functional meta-cognition is wonderful. In 2011 every establishment I know has been well established for hundreds of years. So why is it so seldom do we hear concrete ideas of how to lead a room of small children. Yes, I know I should save the world but at the same time, that is pretty vague. Any good educator is constantly self checking but if there's no rubric than what are you checking against. This way you can say "do I have a balance between patience and impatience" That is a little more concrete than "Am I doing the right thing?"

3.) "In no society is knowledge a neutral terrain."

I like this quote because for me it really sums up what is wonderful about where we live. We are all encouraged to gain knowledge and power. This is not true in many parts of the world. It is a good reminder not to take that for granted. It is also, essentially our jobs. To offer knowledge to small people in accessible forms. Through that knowledge we empower. Through that empowerment we better their lives.

All in all this reading was wonderful. I wish we had read it a bit earlier in the semester to have exhausted it's potential more. It really is a bible to any caring and critical thinker. I felt like every line from it was powerful and could be used a a quote. I think I will go back to this reading more than any of the others.