In talking to some of my teaching friends I find that the goals for most good educators has not changed; good teachers want to prepare their students to live in the future world. It is the goal of most American educators to prepare students for 21st century living in which they will have to calibrate, communicate, solve problems and think outside the box in creative ways. Add to this the important necessity of interacting with all the people of the world.
For teaching to be successful, there are two important fundamentals for American educators: Engagement of the student in his/her learning and good Relationships with the child.
Relationships – The relationship between the educator and the student is of utmost importance. Teachers who cannot get students to relate to them and what they consider important are usually not very effective teachers. The educator must be interested in the whole child and intervene if there appears to be problems that limits the students learning. Without trust, little education occurs.
Engagement
Many methods will cause maximum engagement in the learning process:
1. Be creative in getting the student involved in what is being learned.
2. Use technology – the computer has opened a whole new method of getting students to interact and take part in their learning.
a. The GoogleBox at http://www.watchfreetvonline.net/?cat=Education
presents educators with many suggestions. The blog is used to connect students and have them comment on one another’s work,and add their ideas. Collaborative learning and group project learning is a key ingredient.
3. An emphasis on right brain learning. The most popular quote today is “Right brainers will rule the world.”
Key Ideas for Creatiing Philosophic Learners:
1. Use of the Socratic Method for discussions.
2. Introduce and teach the use of inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning
3. Game Theory -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_theory
4. Experimental philosophy - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Experimental_philosophy
5. Simulation games – I think this article gives an excellent idea of the whole idea of experiential learning.
http://rs.resalliance.org/2007/01/19/teaching-using-a-world-simulation-game/
6. Prepare one’s own teaching philosophy. One cannot teach unless one knows what one believes about teaching. http://sunconference.utep.edu/CETaL/resources/stofteach.html
Some Key Thinkers:
http://wilderdom.com/experiential/JohnDeweyPhilosophyEducation.html
Danial Pink, A Whole New Mind. http://www.danpink.com/whole-new-mind
Pirsig, Richard, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance
Philp, Raleigh T., Engaging 'Tweens and Teens: A Brain-Compatible Approach to Reaching Middle and High School Students [Paperback]
Greene, Maxine. http://www.edutopia.org/maxine-greene
Monday, June 28, 2010
Subjunctive
The following is a mini-tutorial on the use of the Subjunctive. After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. If you already know how to use this verb form, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises.
http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm
FORM
Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to." The simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses.
USE
The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions (see below).
Examples:
•I suggest that he study.
•Is it essential that we be there?
•Don recommended that you join the committee.
NOTICE
The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he-form of the verb.
Examples:
•You try to study often. you-form of "try"
•It is important that you try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" looks the same.
•He tries to study often. he-form of "try"
•It is important that he try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" is noticeable here.
Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive
The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:
to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
Examples:
•Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.
•Donna requested Frank come to the party.
•The teacher insists that her students be on time.
Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive
The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:
It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
Examples:
•It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.
•It is important she attend the meeting.
•It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive
The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.
Negative Examples:
•The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.
•The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during business hours.
•I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.
Passive Examples:
•Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.
•Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.
•We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.
Continuous Examples:
•It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.
•It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.
•I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.
Should as Subjunctive
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is most common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist."
Examples:
•The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.
•Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.
EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS:
•Subjunctive Exercise 1: http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm
http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm
FORM
Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to." The simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses.
USE
The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions (see below).
Examples:
•I suggest that he study.
•Is it essential that we be there?
•Don recommended that you join the committee.
NOTICE
The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he-form of the verb.
Examples:
•You try to study often. you-form of "try"
•It is important that you try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" looks the same.
•He tries to study often. he-form of "try"
•It is important that he try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" is noticeable here.
Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive
The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:
to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
Examples:
•Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.
•Donna requested Frank come to the party.
•The teacher insists that her students be on time.
Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive
The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:
It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
Examples:
•It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.
•It is important she attend the meeting.
•It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive
The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.
Negative Examples:
•The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.
•The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during business hours.
•I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.
Passive Examples:
•Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.
•Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.
•We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.
Continuous Examples:
•It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.
•It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.
•I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.
Should as Subjunctive
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is most common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist."
Examples:
•The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.
•Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.
EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS:
•Subjunctive Exercise 1: http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctiveexercise.htm
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