Julie BernsteinJulie BernsteinStudent, Teacher, ParentStudent, Teacher, Parent

An Experiential An Experiential Perspective on Perspective on

Schooling, Schooling, Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

Northeastern Illinois University, October 31, 2011

My BackgroundMy Background

In retrospect: interest in teaching and In retrospect: interest in teaching and learning since early childhoodlearning since early childhood

B.A., 1991: Economics/German, pursued B.A., 1991: Economics/German, pursued business career (loved mentoring aspects business career (loved mentoring aspects of job)of job)

Entry to parenthood (2001)– calling to Entry to parenthood (2001)– calling to work with kids heightenedwork with kids heightened

Masters, Education, 2006 (DePaul) Masters, Education, 2006 (DePaul) certified in Elementary Ed, endorsements in certified in Elementary Ed, endorsements in

Math, Social Sciences, GermanMath, Social Sciences, German

BIAS Alert!!BIAS Alert!!

NOTE: My personal philosophy of teaching and learning NOTE: My personal philosophy of teaching and learning has a strong progressive benthas a strong progressive bent

Studies of the following educators/theorists strongly Studies of the following educators/theorists strongly influence my belief system:influence my belief system: John Dewey John Dewey (1859-1952: progressivist, constructivist)(1859-1952: progressivist, constructivist) Francis Parker Francis Parker (1857-1902: pioneer of progressive school (1857-1902: pioneer of progressive school

movement)movement) Paolo Freire Paolo Freire (1921-1997: social justice, anti-”banking (1921-1997: social justice, anti-”banking

system”)system”) Henry Giroux Henry Giroux (schools as political entities, social justice)(schools as political entities, social justice) Various psychologists/studies on learning styles, including Various psychologists/studies on learning styles, including

Howard Gardner Howard Gardner (theory of Multiple Intelligences)(theory of Multiple Intelligences) Alfie Kohn Alfie Kohn (sometimes controversial current education (sometimes controversial current education

critic/progressivist)critic/progressivist) John Holt John Holt (father of “unschooling”)(father of “unschooling”)

Other influences on Other influences on educational philosophyeducational philosophy

My own educational experience as a learnerMy own educational experience as a learner ““Learning” – pleasing others?Learning” – pleasing others? Little sense of self, interests, passionsLittle sense of self, interests, passions ““Knowledge” disconnected from applicationKnowledge” disconnected from application

My experiences as a teacherMy experiences as a teacher General pull towards experiential learning, student-driven inquiry, General pull towards experiential learning, student-driven inquiry,

authentic assessmentauthentic assessment Desire for fostering development of collaborative skills and service-Desire for fostering development of collaborative skills and service-

mindednessmindedness Concern about learning facts vs. learning to think and constructing Concern about learning facts vs. learning to think and constructing

meaningful knowledgemeaningful knowledge Strong desire to address social justice and equity concernsStrong desire to address social justice and equity concerns Growing distaste for test-oriented legislation and NCLB Act.Growing distaste for test-oriented legislation and NCLB Act. Growing belief that the goals of traditional education are outdated.Growing belief that the goals of traditional education are outdated.

My child’s needs as a learnerMy child’s needs as a learner High sensitivity (sensory – physical, emotional)High sensitivity (sensory – physical, emotional) High intelligence (underchallenged, easily bored)High intelligence (underchallenged, easily bored) Kinesthetic learner (needs to move, do)Kinesthetic learner (needs to move, do)

Education Experience:Education Experience:URBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLSURBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Teaching/Learning in urban public schoolsTeaching/Learning in urban public schools(student teaching, interning, observation hours)(student teaching, interning, observation hours) Significant NCLB-related challenges in urban, “poor Significant NCLB-related challenges in urban, “poor

performing” schoolsperforming” schools Significant correlation between race/socio-economic Significant correlation between race/socio-economic

status and test scores (haves vs. have-nots), not status and test scores (haves vs. have-nots), not always understood by communityalways understood by community

Disparities in “extra funding” (from parent Disparities in “extra funding” (from parent organizations) across schools in same district/cityorganizations) across schools in same district/city

Heavy emphasis on testingHeavy emphasis on testing Heavy emphasis on standardized curriculaHeavy emphasis on standardized curricula Constraints on teacher freedom to vary from Constraints on teacher freedom to vary from

proscribed curricula to address student interestsproscribed curricula to address student interests Large classes, wide range of students – more difficult Large classes, wide range of students – more difficult

to differentiateto differentiate

Education Experience:Education Experience:NORTH SUBURBAN PUBLIC NORTH SUBURBAN PUBLIC

SCHOOLSSCHOOLS

Teaching/Learning in north suburban public Teaching/Learning in north suburban public schoolsschools(interning, observation hours)(interning, observation hours) Significant resource disparity between urban Significant resource disparity between urban

and suburban schoolsand suburban schools Increased parent involvement and influence in Increased parent involvement and influence in

north suburban schoolsnorth suburban schools Less socioeconomic diversityLess socioeconomic diversity Some teacher flexibility – tied to lowered Some teacher flexibility – tied to lowered

pressure on testing when school isn’t on pressure on testing when school isn’t on “watch list”“watch list”

Education Experience:Education Experience:CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLCHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

Teaching/Learning in charter high school for Teaching/Learning in charter high school for students with limited success in traditional high students with limited success in traditional high schools schools (taught Math)(taught Math) These are the kids who have truly been “left These are the kids who have truly been “left

behind”; challenging populationbehind”; challenging population Students either dropped out or were expelled from Students either dropped out or were expelled from

traditional high schooltraditional high school Significant external home life challengesSignificant external home life challenges

Significant creative flexibility given to teachers to Significant creative flexibility given to teachers to reach students individuallyreach students individually

Low class sizeLow class size Early demonstrations of successEarly demonstrations of success

Education Experience:Education Experience:TUTORINGTUTORING

TutoringTutoring Excellent 1:1 teaching opportunity to witness Excellent 1:1 teaching opportunity to witness

the learning process, tailor approach to the learning process, tailor approach to learninglearning

Often able to experience students whose Often able to experience students whose needs aren’t being met in the classroomneeds aren’t being met in the classroom

Gained valuable experiences in understanding Gained valuable experiences in understanding learning challenges (ex. Dyslexia in Math)learning challenges (ex. Dyslexia in Math)

Education Experience:Education Experience:PARENT: Private, Progressive PARENT: Private, Progressive

SchoolSchool Freedom from proscribed standards (although most Freedom from proscribed standards (although most

private schools still follow in spirit)private schools still follow in spirit) Flexibility in curricula, much less emphasis on testing Flexibility in curricula, much less emphasis on testing

since not required or tied to fundingsince not required or tied to funding Funding stress (not uniquely a public school Funding stress (not uniquely a public school

challenge)challenge) Tremendous parental power on school, particularly Tremendous parental power on school, particularly

wielded by large donorswielded by large donors Very low diversityVery low diversity Lower teaching pay – compensation is Increased Lower teaching pay – compensation is Increased

teacher freedom – benefit and challenge*teacher freedom – benefit and challenge* Reduced funding and support for handling special Reduced funding and support for handling special

needsneeds Our experience: wildly different experiences Our experience: wildly different experiences

(qualitatively) from year to year*(qualitatively) from year to year*

… … which led towhich led toHOME SCHOOLING. HOME SCHOOLING.

Really!Really! Reconsider stereotypesReconsider stereotypes

Before you ask the first burning question… “Socialization” is a Before you ask the first burning question… “Socialization” is a loaded term. What do you mean?loaded term. What do you mean?

Homeschooled population is growing nationally (also increasingly Homeschooled population is growing nationally (also increasingly understood and accepted by institutes of higher education)understood and accepted by institutes of higher education)

Benefits for my daughter:Benefits for my daughter: Choice (choose studies, curricula, teachers, venues, etc.)Choice (choose studies, curricula, teachers, venues, etc.) ““Customized” – extra support where needed, extra challenge where Customized” – extra support where needed, extra challenge where

neededneeded Ability to pursue her interests/ explore passionsAbility to pursue her interests/ explore passions Flexible: lots of opportunities for hands-on, community-based, real-Flexible: lots of opportunities for hands-on, community-based, real-

world learningworld learning

Benefits for me:Benefits for me: The most flexible teaching job I could ever ask for… The most flexible teaching job I could ever ask for…

What I’ve Learned What I’ve Learned (that’s worth sharing)(that’s worth sharing)

Teaching offers some challenging experiences, but also some truly Teaching offers some challenging experiences, but also some truly rewarding experiences with childrenrewarding experiences with children

A lot about myself (including why some which kids push my A lot about myself (including why some which kids push my buttons :-)buttons :-)

Engaging kids in meaningful pursuits is the best form of classroom Engaging kids in meaningful pursuits is the best form of classroom managementmanagement

LOTS from a wide variety of teachers (sometimes what TO do, LOTS from a wide variety of teachers (sometimes what TO do, sometimes what NOT to do)sometimes what NOT to do)

NOTHING works ALL of the time or for ALL children.NOTHING works ALL of the time or for ALL children.

Kids come into the world learning and desiring to learn more. Kids come into the world learning and desiring to learn more.

School isn’t the only place to learn, traditional schooling isn’t the School isn’t the only place to learn, traditional schooling isn’t the only way to learn.only way to learn.

What I Wish I’d Learned What I Wish I’d Learned More OfMore Of

(that you might consider (that you might consider seeking) seeking)

More about special needs, learning More about special needs, learning disabilities (from mild to profound – disabilities (from mild to profound – encounter a range of kids).encounter a range of kids).

More experience observing successful More experience observing successful differentiation in the classroom (not differentiation in the classroom (not practiced as much as preached, especially practiced as much as preached, especially in NCLB environs)in NCLB environs)

TAKEAWAY

#1

““Education is the kindling of a Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a flame, not the filling of a

vessel”vessel”

- Socrates- Socrates

TAKEAWAY

#2

One size doesn’t fit all. One size doesn’t fit all. Kids are unique. Most are best served by Kids are unique. Most are best served by

learning environments and teachers that learning environments and teachers that address those unique needs.address those unique needs.

Teachers are too; there are many career Teachers are too; there are many career paths to choose from. paths to choose from.

Our world’s kids are worth fighting for. Our world’s kids are worth fighting for. Don’t be afraid to be an agent for Don’t be afraid to be an agent for change.change.