Technology in Education

 Even though I scroll through social media as much as the next person (my drug of choice is Instagram, or Reddit if I really have time to fall down a rabbit hole), the piece of social media that affected me most this week was not even viewed by me.  My husband mentioned seeing posts about a documentary on Twitter. It came out a few years ago, but it was coming up in our Netflix "suggested" list a lot, and so Chris Googled it. I will not share the title here, but it involved an individual who began his life as a serial killer mistreating animals - specifically, cats.  When Chris mentioned this detail, I had an almost visceral reaction to it. There was nothing that sounded more unpleasant to watch at that moment. And I realized it was because now, I am a pet owner. It affected me so quickly because I was thinking of my own cat, and someone possibly harming her. I told my husband I didn't want to watch it, possibly ever.  Not too long ago, I would not have had that reac...

 I have always been a kinesthetic learner - the most prominent trait of this type that I have is that I write everything down. I use an "old-school" paper book planner with plenty of space for notes. I write with erasable pens in case I have to change anything.  In the first grade, my teacher would pass out beige, slightly speckled writing paper with blue dashed lines. Everyone would write their few sentences. I, on the other hand, wrote so much that I had to turn the paper over to the back side. When I was finished, my teacher once held up my paper as an example to the class. I was proud, but also slightly embarrassed. I had a feeling the other kids didn't appreciate being pressured to write "like Melissa" when that ostensibly meant that they would have to write more , when some of them probably didn't want to. Nevertheless, I didn't stop filling pages. On to third grade. Everyone was outside at recess; it was mandatory. But I would have preferred to st...

Officially, I don't have a "classroom favorite" or a favorite student that I tutor.  I have always been under the impression that with your students, you don't play favorites. ... Except, there is one student that I tutor, every Saturday, who has a special place in my heart. He's 11, and he is quite possibly the sweetest "tween" I have ever met.   I've seen him almost every Saturday (and some Mondays) for almost 8 months. He is kind, funny, and always has a story to tell me as soon as I arrive. It usually involves his siblings. He came to the tutoring center for reading help, and it has been amazing to watch him improve.  I know that in general, he is just a talkative kid. I am not the only teacher he converses with, and I know that I am not necessarily his "favorite" tutor. But he has become my idea of a model student. Of course, every child is unique, and none are perfect - just like adults. Still, I find myself impressed at the questions...

 For the first time that I can remember, I have time that is undivided with one student almost every day. Since he is the only 4th-grader in our small class, the time he spends in small groups is by himself. He is one out of 6. I review math concepts with him: 3-digit addition and subtraction, multiplication and division world problems, area model. When we have done a certain number of problems together, he wants to talk to me about video games, Pokémon, and what his Granny is sending him in the mail next week.  If we were in person, I would probably have to redirect him quickly, to say, "Okay, let's get back to work." But since we have been remote since August, and he has done his work, I allow him to talk about the things he loves. I engage in conversation with him and contribute what I can. I hope he feels like I'm listening to him, like I care. Because I am; I do.  Because of the pandemic, technology has changed education irrevocably. Next year, school will most l...