Skip to main content

Popular posts from this blog

Exploratory Project: Project-Based Learning!

PROJECT BASED LEARNING “ A dynamic classroom approach in which students actively explore real-world problems and challenges and acquire a deeper knowledge ” (Edutopia, 2019). INTRODUCTION Project-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach used by teachers to increase student engagement and create meaningful connections between the classroom and the real-world. PBL is not equivalent to traditional school projects. The chart on the right emphasizes the differences between projects and project-based learning. PBL challenges students to “ work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a semester – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question ” (What is PBL?) . The project typically ends with a presentation given to an audience outside of the school community demonstrating the skills and knowledge gained. PBL helps “ students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking , creativity , and communi...

Educational Theorists

Teaching styles vary from teacher to teacher. However, most teachers have one or two educational theorists that they relate to the most. After learning the basics of about five theorists, I found that I relate to Abraham Maslow and Lev Vygotsky. Maslow was an American psychologist who created a hierarchy of needs, predicting that in order for a human to reach self-actualization (in order for students to focus and learn in school), he or she must fulfill basic human needs first (they must have a solid foundation in which they feel comfortable in). The below chart shows Maslow's hierarchy of needs in greater depth. The base tiers of physiological and safety needs emphasize the need for a guarantee of food, water, warmth, rest, safety, and security before anything else can be considered. The middle tiers include belongingness and love needs as well as esteem needs. These incorporate the need for intimate relationships, friends, and strong self esteem that can be focused on o...

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Throughout the course of the semester, each PLC group will read three YA novels. The first novel that my group is reading is titled  Dumplin' by Julie Murphy. The novel revolves around the life of "self proclaimed fat girl" Willowdean, nicknamed Dumplin by her mother. Willowdean is comfortable in her skin until she falls for Bo, a private school boy who she works with. As her positive self image begins to crumble, she distances herself from Bo and from her best friend Ellen. Willowdean's mother is known for running the local beauty pageant that captivates the town for half of the year. Although her mother never says she should enter the pageant, Willowdean decides to register in order to regain the self confidence she had before meeting Bo. The novel teaches adolescents to be happy in their own skin and that a good self image is important.  As of right now, we are currently through the first third of the book or so. Throughout the novel, strong connection...