Hi friends,
How are you? Today, I would like to talk about two important words in motivating students to learn. Do you know what those words could be? Do you use these words in your own learning? Do you use these words in your teaching? The two words help pique interest and gets the imagination flowing. These two words help drive curiosity and thought. They aren’t difficult words, but they are catalysts into some pretty powerful learning. Have you guessed the words yet? These two words are… v v v v v v v I wonder… Yes, the two words of “I wonder” can do a world of good for helping a person to learn. They can go a long way in teaching a person to learn more things and to become life-long learners. These can drive people to want to learn. They inspire people to think, research, try, experiment, and to do various things. Here are some great ways to use the words, “I wonder”: *I wonder what would happen if… *I wonder how much _____ it would take to ________. *I wonder why that happened. *I wonder why the author wrote it like that. *I wonder what would happen if I changed this one thing. *I wonder what would happen if I did _____ to that. *I wonder who was the first to _______. *I wonder what they had to do back in the day instead of _______. *I wonder who invented the ________. *I wonder how high I can stack these blocks. *I wonder how many card tents I can set up to create a domino effect before one of them falls. *I wonder how many verbs I can name. *I wonder how many words I can make out of the letters in the word transportation. *I wonder what type of soil makes plants grow better. *I wonder if I could make a ________. *I wonder if I could be a _________. *I wonder how I would feel if __________. *I wonder if __________ or _____________makes a better insulator. Do you wonder? If so, what do you wonder? Are there any wonder examples that you could add to the list that would make great teaching tools? Do you teach others to wonder? (I can’t wait to read your answers to some of these questions. I wonder what they will be. LOL.) The ability and trait of wondering are fabulous assets to learning. “I wonder” are powerful words that can motivate people to learn and encourage them to try new things. I hope as a learner you will try them and I hope as a teacher (and role model) you will show others how to use these two words. They will greatly benefit both learning and success. Now, it is your turn. Do you wonder? What do you wonder? Do you teach others to wonder? Do you agree with the importance of wondering? What are "I wonder" statements would be great examples of teaching tools? Please, let me know in the comments or feel free to contact me. I can't wait to read your answers. I wonder how many of you find value in the Education Blog by DUO Inspirations. I wonder how many of you will share the Education Blog by DUO Inspirations, so others can find value in it as well. LOL! I hope it is you! And, I really appreciate you being here and all of your support. Also, if you haven't already, you may want to consider signing up below to get the Education Blog by DUO Inspirations and other education content sent straight to your inbox.
0 Comments
Hi friends, How are you today? I hope you are well. I want to talk with you about giving students some choice and responsibility in their learning. This also includes helping students set and reach goals. You may find this difficult to believe, but I even did this when I was teaching kindergarten. Yes, even my kindergarteners had a choice in what their learning goals would be. I think I did this weekly. I would ask each student about his or her goals. At first, some students weren’t sure what to say. Yet, as time went by, all students could tell me something. In the beginning, I might give them a few examples, like… “Do you want to learn a new letter or two or do you want to learn to count to ten?” I didn’t start this from the first day. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks into the school year or more, when I had some idea what each student was capable of doing before I asked him or her to set a learning goal. I wanted to make sure that I had some idea how to guide him or her, before I asked someone so young to do something that some adults haven’t mastered. After I met with each student to help him or her create his or her learning goal, I wrote a short note home. It went something like, “Dear parent, ___________ has chosen to learn ___________ for his/her learning goal. You can help him/her to do this by _____________. Thank you for your help in encouraging your child’s learning progress.” Not only did I tell parents the goals their children had chosen, but how to help their children achieve those goals. Some parents may try to leave the teaching to teachers. However, they may be more apt to become involved in teaching their children if they knew how to do it. So, I gave specific guidance to the parents as well as the students in how they can achieve those goals. If there were any learning aids that I had to send home to help each student achieve his or her learning goals, I did that as well. I wouldn’t send home a bunch of expensive things. Mostly, they were handmade flashcards or activities that I had prepared ahead of time. Students and parents seemed to like this practice. It helped build relationships with them. It also helped to know that I was including the parents and students in the learning process. I wasn’t trying to dictate everything that is learned and how it is learn or by whom. I really enjoyed having students choose some of his or her own learning goals and encouraging parents to help him or her achieve them. I enjoyed the relationship building and I enjoyed how much more motivated students and parents seemed to be. I also like that it was helping students not only academically, but also in the skills of goal setting and achievement. Note: Older students could write his or her their own learning goals. Then, the teacher could write a little note at the bottom as to how the parent could help him or her achieve those goals. When a student reached a certain grade, maybe high school, he or she can write his or her learning goals and do the work to achieve them independently. Now, it is your turn. I am glad you are here. Thank you for joining me. Do you help students set learning goals? What grade do you teach? What is your procedure? Do you get parents involved? Please, share your experience with us so we can learn. Please, comment below or contact me. I am always looking for your ideas, suggestions, questions, and requests. I am committed to helping others teach and learn. Please, check out all the education pages and educational resources that DUO Inspirations offers. Thank you. Are you finding value in the Education Blog by DUO Inspirations? If you are finding value in the Education Blog by DUO Inspirations, please share it with friends, parents, teachers, and family members so they can find value in it as well. If you haven't already done so, you may also want to consider signing up below to receive the Education Blog and other education content in your inbox. I won't overwhelm you with emails. Emails come out most Wednesdays for the Education Blog after it is published. 
Hi. I am Jodi Desautels, owner of DUO Inspirations, a Christian and life-long learner, who knows the importance of education. Even more so, I know the importance of education and wisdom in God’s eyes. This initial education blog post is to introduce myself, my background in education, my views on education, some biblical points on education, and my business goals in education.
Who is Jodi Desautels? I am a Christian, a daughter, a mother, a sister, and a wife. I am other things as well, such as: a cousin, an aunt, a friend, a comforter, an author, an educator, and an encourager. I enjoy both teaching and learning, and continually seek to be a better me. And, if people so desire, I help and encourage them to be better them as well. What is Jodi Desautels’ background in education? I have enjoyed learning and teaching my entire life. I can remember being upset when a friend and neighbor got to go to school before I did. When I was about six, I started teaching my younger brother. He could read and write six letter words and add and subtract three digit numbers before he went to kindergarten. For formal education, I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in elementary education. My teaching includes a variety of experience from teaching my brother when I was young, to tutoring, homeschooling my daughter, teaching religious education classes, teaching in public schools, and helping adults get their GED. I have also helped people study in personal development things such as get a driver’s license, a mariner’s license, and write a book. What are Jodi Desautels’ views on education? I believe that education is an innate desire and necessity to learn, given to us by God, because He knew it’s importance and that we would need to be educated in order to live the life He planned for us. The opportunity for learning is there since the beginning of our life. When a baby cries, he or she might learn that a parent or caregiver will come running to give comfort, give food, or change a diaper. A toddler might explore the world by looking at something, touching it, shaking it, or even chewing it. The desire to learn might dissipate if it is not nurtured or is squelched all together. And, like anything we do, teaching or learning might become more difficult if we don’t practice it. However, learning is not just for the young. People of all ages and abilities can learn. God has given us different strengths and weaknesses, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we can’t learn something. It might just mean that we have to learn in a different way or at a different pace. What are some Biblical points on education? We have probably heard about the importance of education by a parent, teacher, friend, or pastor. However, we aren’t the only authority on the importance of education. God’s word has many examples of the importance of education. *”Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV) It is important to give a child the best educational foundation possible. A child may carry the successes and failures of learning, and at times even the unresolved feelings surrounding education, for the rest of his or her life. If a child is given a positive learning experience with a strong foundation of the basics, it will be easier for that person to struggle through learning the more difficult things later in life without giving up. *”Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.” (Proverbs 4:13 KJV) There are many reasons why we should embrace learning. Education is so important, that we could either be in danger or even die from the lack of it. If parents don’t tell us not to touch the stove, we might get badly burned. If we don’t learn not to eat things that are poisonous, we might die. If we don’t learn how to control our temper and express our feelings in a healthy way, we could die from a stress related illness or use violence to kill someone. If we don’t learn academic basics, it may limit our choices in getting a job and providing for our family. *”And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 KJV) We all need to, but children especially need to, be taught in a nurturing way. Children can’t be frustrated into learning faster or in a different way than is possible for them. God is not the author of confusion and neither should we be. If a child is taught, disciplined, or spoken to in a harsh way, that child could get angry and quit trying to learn all together. *”The fear of the Lord [is] the beginning of knowledge; [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7 KJV) God is in and of all things. He is the beginning and the end of all things. His word tells us to learn. His words are the ultimate guide and instruction of life. People who have been taught and nurtured to value education will learn, however people who have not may hate to learn. There are many scriptures that show us the importance of education, of what to teach, how to teach, and how we should learn. My reason for sharing some of them is to not only tell you more about my beliefs, but to show that God is the ultimate authority on education. Don’t believe it because I say it, but because God says it. What are Jodi Desautels’ business goals in education? My goals for DUO Inspirations in education are to provide encouraging, effective education in teaching and learning through inspiration, encouragement, tips, blog posts, learning materials, teaching materials, resources, mini courses, courses, groups, tutoring, mentoring, and/or coaching. In whatever I do, it is my goal to do it with godly love and affection, in a way that will encourage and support the learner effectively. Here are a few final thoughts on Jodi Desautels, DUO Inspirations, and education: I see people struggle in education, lose hope in education, and even drop out of school, and I know that if only given a chance, I could help them learn. I have taught students of all ages and abilities. I have helped motivate high-risk students who have not been encouraged to learn. I have seen parents be thrown into situations where they need to homeschool their children, but feel unequipped to do so. I can help those as well. God has given me strengths and desires in faith, education, and creativity. Many times they may be linked together. One may need faith to instruct a difficult pupil or learn a difficult subject. Sometimes faith (or love and trust in God) itself is the subject of the education. Sometimes educators need to be creative in order to instruct a student in a way that is most effective for that student to learn. Other times, we learn through creating and doing creative things. So, DUO Inspirations is set up with these interacting and important categories in mind. I do them all with godly love and affection, and according to God’s will for me. Note: You may be wondering if I would quote the Holy Bible or push my faith on a student while tutoring. The answer is no. I am Christian and gave you an in-depth look at my beliefs and background regarding education. However, while tutoring and serving others I teach what I was asked to teach. My knowledge and behavior may reflect my Christian beliefs without wearing a cross or speaking of God. While my target audience is Christians, you don’t have to be a Christian to utilize any of the products and services here. Now, it is your turn. Let me know what you think. What are your struggles in teaching or learning? How can I help? Do you look to God to guide your educational practices? Please, comment below or contact me. I would enjoy knowing your thoughts. Also, please check out the Education page often for new information, tips, ideas, products, and services. Thank you. P.S.- If you would like to receive the Education Blog by DUO Inspirations in your inbox, please sign up below. Thank you. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
August 2022
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed