Dr. Ries and Exercise #2 Page 338

On p. 338 of our text there is a listing of the qualifications of eight candidates who have applied for a position within your school district.   You, as a teacher-leader within your building,  have an opportunity to have input into the hiring of teachers who will be employed within your school district.   You are being asked to choose only two out of the eight candidates listed here who will be working in your school.  Your school has a very strong  commitment to a multicultural curriculum and you are looking for candidates who will embrace that multicultural philosophy, take the curriculum, and "run with it."     Which of these candidates would be your two choices and why?   You can place your answer right here in the comment section. 

Dr. Ries and the Virtual Classroom

At this point in time, what are your concerns (if any) about the online learning format that we are presently using?   What concerns do you have with regard to your students and their mastery of the curriculum?   Additionally, what are your thoughts with regard to your ability to cover the curriculum?    Do you see any advantages to online learning that you might wish to incorporate into your regular classroom structure once we return to our classrooms?  Any new programs that you wish to share with the group?  

Any funny stories to share with regard to your students and online learning?   

How are we keeping ourselves "sane and happy" during this difficult time?  Let us hear. 

Dr. Ries and the holidays

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your respective families a wonderful holiday season.   Whether you celebrate Easter or Passover, enjoy.  May your holiday season be a warm and happy one.  While you are far removed from family members this year, just know that this too shall pass.   Also, during this difficult time know that you have the support of your classmates and colleagues.   Take time to laugh and enjoy one another.  

And what are your plans for the holiday?    For me, I plan to take my usual walk in Verona Park, walk around my apartment, drive to Connecticut and take part in a neighborhood six-feet apart walk with my son and his family.  Looking forward to a nice day with nice weather.    

Perhaps you would like to share your Easter/Passover activities with your classmates.  And finally, let us know how you are doing now that we have been quarantined for several weeks?    er

Dr. Ries is seeking thoughts on online teaching

As we venture into our third week of online teaching, I am wondering if you have some thoughts to share.   What are you finding the most difficult challenge as you pursue this particular delivery service?   What words of wisdom do you have for your colleagues?   Has the process of teaching online become any easier?   How are your students faring in this atmosphere?   What are you doing to "make life easier" and "maintain your sanity?" Any funny stories to tell us?   For me, I will only say that I am overwhelmed...........constant e-mails, text messages, informational bulletins, changes in scheduling.    I have decided that taking a walk every day and taking some time to enjoy the beauty of spring outside is helpful.    Please share some of your thoughts about the past few weeks with your peers.   The only funny item that I can share is a poster that said the following:  

I've yet to decide where I want to spend my weekend

I am torn between my bedroom and my living room  

Nola Kambanda

Nola Kambanda shares with us the journey that she takes as a first-generation immigrant woman in the United States. She uncovers and shares with us her unique experiences in the new world and provides us with a lens through which to view America from a newcomer's vantage point. She speaks to issues of identity, ethnicity, and race as well as issues of acceptance.    As educators who are seeing greater and greater diversity in our classrooms, it is important that we become familiar with and sensitive toward the feelings of those who have newly arrived in this country, thus the inclusion of this literary work in our multicultural discussion. 

Assignment:   

Please choose two statements that Kambanda makes in this short story and react to those statements.  Why did those statements stand out to you?  Were you surprised by her observations and assumptions?   Why? What did you learn about the immigrant experience in the United States as you read about and took into consideration her perspective of our country and its people?  What can we as teachers learn from Kambanda's reflections?          

Dr. Ries with a Message

Dear Ed 590 Ladies,   

This is the blog that I have been promising to set up.  It is the place for us to go and share thoughts, ideas, and concerns.    

Let us begin..................do any of these photos pertain to you and how you are feeling at the moment?     Take a minute to share your thoughts with us.   How is school going for you at this point in time?  Any specific concerns?    Any funny stories?   Any hardships that you are attempting to conquer?    Let us know.   

You can respond here first and then respond again if anyone states something with which you would like to agree..........or disagree.    Have any questions that you would like to ask your colleagues in this class?    Go right ahead, but remember that you, too, need to add some information.   

As for me...........I am leading an extremely boring life at the moment.   Home....office......home.....office.   Forget museums, concerts, March Madness and all of those exciting things I had planned for vacation.     Dr. Ries