I love exploring different ideas and ways of teaching. I don't believe in "one" right way, because I believe that there are as many different ways as there are people. I believe in learning about the many ways that teaching and learning is being done, so that I can get inspired ideas for ways to help a person who is not learning well.
Games, Play & Learning
I love TED talks. I believe play is one of the most important things we can add to our classrooms to help our students learn better and find joy in learning. This is one of my favorite TED talks on the importance of play.
YouTube video of Gabe Zichermann: How Games Make Kids Smarter." TED: Ideas worth Spreading https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2N-5maKZ9Q
This is a very interesting presentation on gamification by Sebastian Deterding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGCPap7GkY
Ideas in Education
I've read books about the Waldorf method, have friends and family whose children have attended Waldorf schools and have visited a Waldorf school. There is something magical about the system and much that I do not yet understand. I enjoy learning about it because it inspires me to think differently about what we do with our children in schools. Here's a short video made by one Waldorf school that I found intriguing and inspiring. Pasadena Waldorf School.
Teacher Ananth Pai's do-it-yourself tech effort pays big dividends for students. Article and video.
Student Data Folders http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfed1aDVikg This is a clip about one of the aspects of Quality Learning.
This is a TED talk by Sugata Mitra about his technology and learning experiments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk60sYrU2RU
Awesome program making a difference in the lives of Navajo students! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K9qCwZYPDo
Language & Culture
I love the story of Maniilaq. Here's a documentary that has been uploaded to YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN0CJqpVDEA&sns=fb
Article with video on recent brain research that shows how early dual language learning affects our brains. http://bigthink.com/laurie-vazquez/the-sooner-you-expose-a-baby-to-a-second-language-the-smarter-theyll-be?utm_source=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=157df26beb-DailyNewsletter_031817&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_625217e121-157df26beb-41514793
A piece about Maggie MacDonnell, a Canadian teacher making a big difference in a remote Inuit village. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh3gPBmauZg
Inspiring rapper,Tall Paul, sings about recovering his native language.