5+Reflective+Journal+December+7th

Wow! I think the video on the Key Largo school was the best video I've seen so far as a part of this moodle. The statement that really got me thinking was when the principal stated that the types jobs that her kindergarteners would be doing when they graduate have not been invented yet. And indeed, when I was in Kindergarten, I doubt many people realized the types of jobs that are being created right now. I was also struck by the comment that risks need to be taken. I agree with that statement, but am not generally a great risk taker in the classroom. I'm afraid if I fail that I could affect the lives of my students in a negative way. However, I also realize that the risks being taken in the schools in these videos are paying of tenfold.That school was allowing career exploration as early as Kindergarten, and career submersion throughout the educational experience. The students were essentially running a restaurant, green house, and radio station... all before they even got to high school. This video was, for lack of a better term, inspirational.

In the other video on project-based learning, I really felt that the kids in thos classrooms were truly owning their education. That is so rare, but so rewarding when it happens. I've been thinking for an hour about how I might utilize project based learning in my class. In many respects I provide real word assignments to show the students what they will need to know, but I don't think that al of my assignments have jumped far enough into the 21st Century.

My favorite part of any video so far is when the little girl said that "We did a project on dead worms, and we smelled the worms. They didn't smell good."

I don't feel I can look these effective curriculum as something I can impliment from the start of my class and assume the students will jump right in. I do think I could do a curriculum of project and inquiry based learning, but by the time many of my students get to me they have been conditioned for a different curriculum. I wish that all the teachers in a school system would adopt a vision and goal as high as those in the videos and articles. I just don't see it happening. I was and am inspired to go out and attempt to be the type of teacher in those videos, but I just think that I need practice, organization, and a shared vision with other educators.