Most recent public comments by Mrs. Carly Maurano https://nowcomment.com/users/14508 https://nowcomment.com/documents/35112?scroll_to=345096 https://nowcomment.com/documents/35112?scroll_to=345096 The innovations given as examples in the North Carolina district definitely show that best teaching practices are in place. High tech, no tech, and plain old good teaching working together to give students the best learning environment possible. I have been reading a bit recently on whole brain instruction, and technology seems like it could play an important role in helping make sure students are looking at information through a variety of lenses. Sun, 06 Sep 2015 00:21:02 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/35110?scroll_to=344752 https://nowcomment.com/documents/35110?scroll_to=344752 I have read several articles about this topic over the years, and it does create some food for thought. I remember my own experience growing up being taught cursive in third grade, and after that, being allowed to write in either cursive or print. My current students are having the same experience. It would be interesting if someone measured the effects of practicing with print as opposed to writing with cursive, maybe that would make this dilemma a little more clear cut. It's definitely important for students to learn how to print letters, but maybe cursive has diminishing returns and can substituted for typing. Sun, 06 Sep 2015 00:21:02 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/35109?scroll_to=344669 https://nowcomment.com/documents/35109?scroll_to=344669 Although Fallon and Timberlake are clearly having fun with a new social development in conversations, I have noticed that when being in conversations where people do this, it is very impersonal. The "hashtag" implies a larger audience and community and can take the focus off the conversation at hand. Adults can hopefully navigate this, but I do worry about the effects on children like my sixth grade students who are just learning all of the important in's and out's of appropriate social interaction. Daily I hear my kids shout out "hashtag ___" in the halls or at lunch, so they have clearly picked up on idea of having a larger audience or being part of a bigger group, but it definitely takes away from the quality of the conversation they are having at the moment. I think students will need to learn how to balance desire to participate in online communities with the everyday needs they will have to interact effectively with people around them. Sun, 06 Sep 2015 00:21:02 -0400