Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h9AGgxV23986; Fri, 10 Oct 2003 12:43:00 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 12:43:00 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <150.2517331d.2cb83a22@aol.com> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: MWPotts2001@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:2577] The power of Voice X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Mac sub 39 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Status: O Content-Length: 3413 Lines: 61 EFF Colleagues, The following articles from the PEN Weekly Newsblast for October 10, 2003 address one of the important four purposes as identified by adult students: VOICE. The first article mentions the importance of shared responsibility among those present in the teaching/learning environment. Way back, probably 6-7 years ago, several teachers and programs participated in field review and research with EFF Role Maps and Skills (We didn't have the standards, yet). One of the most significant trends in their reporting was their shock and then sheer joy when they learned to share responsibility for learning and teaching with their students. This article sounds as though it was written by one of those teachers. THE POWER OF VOICE IN SCHOOLS When adults in a school trust and value what students have to say, plenty is said. Students become willing to risk trying out new ideas and to share alternate points of view, and they revel in their individuality. Giving students voice means providing venues where students' opinions can actually have an impact on the school, making a real difference in how students grow and learn. In democratic schools, where shared power and shared decision making are the norm, you will find: Underpinnings of respect; Opportunities for every voice to be heard; Opportunities to share responsibility in appropriate areas; Ample opportunity for choice; Opportunities for choice; Opportunities for facilitation skills to be learned and practiced; and an Atmosphere of non-judgment and neutrality. It takes courage and skill to allow what may be contentious issues to be put on the table. Yet, with practice in mediation skills and a resolve to assume a neutral attitude, the emotion in some issues can be neutralized, and difficult situations can be resolved. A place of neutrality leads to win-win solutions. In this article, Barb Aust and Wendy Vine share suggestions for creating school structures that support democratic education. http://www.ascd.org/publications/class_lead/200310/aust_2.html MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENTS VOICES ARE HEARD ON SPEAK UP DAY NetDay announced that it will host the first ever, large scale national event where students of all ages and grades, from communities and schools across the country will go online from their classrooms and share their opinions, ideas and thoughts about how technology should be used in schools. NetDay Student Voices’ Speak Up Day on October 29 will engage the voices of 500,000 students from the small, rural elementary school to the large inner city high school in this national discussion. Register your school today and recruit students to share their views on technology and the Internet in schools on Speak Up Day, October 29, 2003. NetDay, a national education technology nonprofit, will compile the results and provide a report to schools for use in technology planning. The final report will be provided to the U.S. Department of Education to help shape the National Educational Technology Plan. All schools and students in the United States are encouraged to participate. http://www.netday.org/speakup_schools.htm We would love to hear from some of those teachers who have allowed their lives to become easier by sharing responsibility in the EFF Classroom or tutoring session. All the Best, Meta Potts, Moderator 4-EFF Listserv FOCUS on Literacy Glen Allen, VA
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Mar 11 2004 - 12:14:46 EST