During meaningful learning, the person “subsumes,” or organizes or incorporates, new knowledge into old knowledge.

Subsumption theory suggests that our mind has a way to subsume information in a hierarchical or categorical manner if the new information is linked/incorporated with prior knowledge/familiar patterns.

As a result prior knowledge is given absolute importance.

Teachers are encouraged to teach prior knowledge first rather than new information to help information subsume.

Advance organizers provide concepts and principles to the students directly in an organized format.

The strategy of “advance organizers” basically means to classify/ categorize/ arrange (organize) information as you proceed (advance) to the next complex level.

principles

The most general ideas of a subject should be presented first and then progressively differentiated in terms of detail and specificity.

Instructional materials should attempt to integrate new material with previously presented information through comparisons and cross-referencing of new and old ideas.

1 Define the concept of peace in a holistic way.

As I have come to see it, holistic education is education that recognizes and encourages the unity and harmony of all elements of the Universe. It further recognizes the full depth of all existence and sees at its core divinity, love, goodness or peace. It seems to me that as we begin talking about the importance of peace education, we need to talk about learning to understand this core of peace within ourselves, and then move out into the world in proper relationship to the peace within all others and all elements of the Universe.

Peace education is much more than weapons control, conflict resolution, environmental awareness, discipline, cultural exchanges etc. These are all part of peace education, but without proper understanding of the true essence of our inner nature, peace, we will not use these techniques effectively and will not reach our goal of world peace. First we must begin our peace work by learning to understand the inner working of ourselves. We must learn how to “purify our heart and render it burning with charity…..” so we can recognize the essence of peace within another and relate harmoniously

outside ourselves. The words to a familiar song say it clearly, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

Of course, this peace of inner illumination is not accomplished overnight; it is a continual process of self-observation, discrimination, and purification until one is able to experience true peace. Peace then becomes our inner teacher, our guide, and our inspiration that allows us to move out into the world in harmonious relationship with everyone and everything. Within the context of education (holistic or traditional) there needs to be peace education or education of the heart.

In a most illuminating article on “Educating the Whole Child,” Dr. Edwina Hartshorn states that.

“…Our goal as educators must be to help our children reach their full potentials by providing both inner and outer education – to help them learn about and develop the skills necessary to live in the world but also to help them become aware of their inner being and to understand themselves on all levels.”

2. explain the contribution or importance of peace education in the quest for positive social change or transformation

Importance Of Peace For Development Peace is the state of being free form any kind of human conflict and violence. All the activities of the country run smoothly in the situation of peace. Peace is the sign of development and prosperity. Human rights are not violated. People can walk freely from one place to another without having any fear in their mind. They can do their business without any obstruction. People respect each other rights. They are also committed to fulfil their duty toward their society. Rule and order is respect by all. People can raise their living standard by working hard. Peace brings happiness among people. They are involved in development activities. Peace helps to promotes human rights, democratic norms and value. Peace helps to create the feeling of love, trust, tolerance, and brotherhood among people. Development process can’t go ahead without peace and harmony.

Peace is the mother of civilization and war is the demon of destruction. Civilization and development cannot progress if there is no peace in the country. Literature flourishes only in the time of peace. It is also the case with philosophy, science, industry and art. In our daily lives also we find interest and pleasure in doing work in times of peace. In times of war its energy and resource are all employed and defend.

3. Identify and explain the key themes of peace education

As a student for peace education, I would like to share, that there themes that we propose to journey on to the culture of peace. My former professor Toh Swee-Hin used to emphasized the following themes: 1.dismantling the culture of war 2. Living with Justice and compassion

3. Respect of Human Rights

.4. Personal Peace

5. Cultural Solidarity

6. Living in harmony with mother earth

the rejection of violence

love and compassion for other humans

4. describe the attribute of peaceable classroom and teacher

What Is a Peaceable Classroom?

Grade Levels: K - 5

Objectives

Students will discuss and define the terms peace, peaceable, and community.

Students will explore the connections between these three words and their own environment.

Students will analyze the current classroom environment and discuss ways to make it more peaceable.

Materials

Chart Paper and Markers

Procedures

1. Write the following definitions on a piece of chart paper and display it in front of the class.

A. Peace: a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations.

B. Peaceable: fond of, inclined toward or promoting peace; not argumentative or hostile.

C. Community: a group of people working together according to mutual interests or similar rules.

2. Ask students to restate these definitions in their own words.

3. Encourage students to think of examples or anecdotes to support their definitions.

4. Ask students what a peaceable classroom might be like.

5. Generate a list of specific qualities that characterize a peaceable classroom. Elicit such attributes as:

o cooperation o good communication o respect for one another o non-violent conflict resolution o problem solving

6. If student responses are too general-- "everyone is nice"-- encourage them to be more specific.

7. Continue the discussion using the following questions:

o If a peaceable classroom has all of the qualities we just listed, how does our classroom compare?

o Do we have a peaceable classroom? o What would we have to do to create a

peaceable classroom?8. Encourage students to give specific suggestions

about changing the classroom for the better (e.g. "If two people want to use the same toy they have to take turns. Each turn will last exactly five minutes.")

9. List the suggestions on a separate piece of chart paper.

10. Once all of the suggestions are written down, encourage students to try adopting these behaviors in order to make the classroom more peaceable.

11. To conclude the lesson, discuss these final questions:

o What are some caring communities you are a part of?

o In what ways do they resemble our peaceable classroom?

12. Make the list of suggestions into a poster and display it in the classroom.

5. Discuss some of the most important peaceable teaching approaches used in peace education

How to be a Good Teacher tips for teachers - teaching resources Teachers and their individual teaching styles cover

the spectrum. Some are strict, some are lenient, some are funny, and some don’t hang around long enough to develop a style at all…you get the picture. The “burnout rate” for new teachers is shocking. Many simply cannot handle the demands of the job, so after the first year or two, they find another profession. The ones who are still teaching after four or five years are most likely doing something right. They’ve found a way to manage their classes, and they’ve been able to keep the administrators happy enough to decide to renew their yearly contracts.

Every teacher goes about teaching a little differently. There is not, nor should there be, a “cookie cutter mold” for effective educators. Students benefit greatly from experiencing a variety of teaching styles. That said, there are some salient characteristics that most good teachers share:

Knowledge and love of the subject: If a teacher doesn’t know her material well, how can she hope to teach it to others? The best teachers truly love the subject they teach and are constantly trying to learn more about it. Students pick up quickly on this! When they see a teacher who’s excited about a subject, the sentiment can spread to them.

Management: Good teachers have to be excellent managers. It’s not easy to keep a room full of students focused, keep up with grades and assignments, follow all the school’s rules, keep parents happy, and jump through all the state-mandated hoops and red tape.

Motivation: Teachers also have to serve as motivators. In order to be a quality teacher, one has to be able to motivate students – to get and keep them actively participating in the learning process. This is often a daunting task. Good teachers have numerous motivational strategies in their “bag of tricks.”

Patience: For her own sake as well as for the benefit of the students, a teacher needs to have an extreme amount of patience. If you’ve never had the experience of being a classroom teacher, you can’t imagine the things we have to handle. Mischief, clowning, bullying, tears, fights, skipping class, challenged learners, broken hearts, and downright meanness are day-to-day occurrences in most classes. Excellent teachers usually have the patience of Job.

Accessibility: A good teacher makes herself accessible to students and to parents. This might include individual after or before-school help, group study sessions, and staying in touch with parents.

Interest: A good teacher is interesting, and unfortunately, this is something that cannot be taught in any amount of years spent in education classes at a teacher’s college, although teaching resources can often help. Students are almost always much more interested in Wii games, MTV, and the opposite sex than they are in school. How do you

make British Literature fascinating to a group of teenagers? I used a wide range of interesting lectures with interesting tidbits that weren’t in the text book, along with videos, student-focused activities, and innovative methods of all kinds to pique the interest of my students. In addition, I always managed to inject a good dose of humor, which the students loved!

Approachability: A good teacher is viewed as approachable by her students. They should not be so intimidated that they are afraid to ask questions or to request extra help. Accomplish this by smiling and maintaining a friendly attitude. Be careful, however – be friendly but don’t become a pal.

Empathy and understanding: Good teachers learn that few things are black or white – there’s always a gray area. Educators have to take this into account and be flexible. If an assignment is due on Friday, for example, but John didn’t turn his in, which is very unusual behavior for him, find out what the problem is. He might have a good excuse. At least be willing to listen. I’m not saying that rules and deadlines should not be enforced – they should. But nothing should be “set in stone.”

Transference: This is probably the most critical element and the hardest to achieve or explain. I’m referring to the ability to somehow take what you know and be able to transfer that knowledge into the minds of your students. No matter how brilliant or knowledgeable an educator might be, if she can’t transfer that knowledge, she’s useless as a teacher. A few highly motivated, intelligent students will learn regardless of whether or not the teacher has transference skills. Most, however, will not.

Respect: Most teachers expect or demand respect, yet all do not use respect when dealing with their students. Respect is a two-way street. I always treated my students with respect, never “talking down” to them, embarrassing them, or berating them. In turn, I rarely had a student treat me with disrespect.

Concern: Good teachers display genuine concern for their students. Kids are smart, and they’re usually pretty hard to fool. They know which educators really care about them and which ones are there just to collect a paycheck and be off on major holidays. Let your students know that you care about them as individuals and not as just another name or number on your rosters.

Fairness: This is a very important element for effective teaching and classroom management. Your grading and discipline guidelines should be as objective as possible. Students can easily understand which ones are your favorites. It’s natural to like some students more than others, but this should never influence grades, rules, or classroom policies.

To read more about teaching and learning, click the article links below:

8 Signs You Should Become a Teacher

Do You Possess These Qualities? If So, You'd Make a Great K-6 Teacher!

From Beth Lewis, former About.com Guide

See More About:

teaching strategies new teachers becoming a teacher

Are you thinking about becoming an elementary school teacher? If you possess all or most of these personal qualities, I think you could contribute a lot to children, the community, and the field of Education. While there is no static formula for what makes an excellent educator, these personality traits form the essential foundation for succeeding in the classroom as an instructor and as a leader.

Are You Compassionate?The best teachers are patient, understanding, and kind. They can put themselves in their students' shoes and imagine what the students are thinking and feeling, thus anticipating what they need in order to learn and thrive. When a student is struggling, good teachers hide their frustration and refrain from making disdainful comments that only make the situation worse. Instead, compassionate teachers will try anything and everything in order to reach each and every student. It can be challenging at times, but great teachers know that what separates them from the rest of the pack is the heart and soul they bring into the classroom.

Are You Passionate?Effective teachers are passionate about many things: children, learning, their chosen subject matter, the art of teaching, and life in general. They bring the full force of their personalities into the classroom and spark excitement into the learning process. While it can be challenging to maintain a high level of passion over the course of a long career, the most outstanding teachers actively cultivate ways to reignite love for the job and the world of Education. When their students enter the classroom each morning, they can instantly sense that the teacher is there for them, with a high energy enthusiasm that makes learning anything more exciting.

Are You Persistent?Teachers absolutely can not give up. As challenging as the job can be at times, the best teachers know that their diligence and commitment to getting the job done well are the engines that fuel the whole classroom operation.

Are You Up for Challenges?Teachers can't give up or be easily discouraged from meeting their students' learning goals. They should expect to encounter roadblocks and obstacles, but they must remain single-minded in their focus on both short- and long-term

objectives. Moreover, effective teachers accept the inherently difficult nature of the teaching profession as part of the overall fulfilling nature of their careers. This relentless commitment to excellence is contagious on campus and adds an intangible value to the students' experience.

Are You Results-Oriented?Through informative assessments, utilization of the latest pedagogical techniques, attention to detail, and sheer willpower, the best teachers use all the tools at their disposal in order to help their students meet or exceed expectations. It's also important for teachers to be results-oriented and always on the lookout for the latest instructional innovation. When their professional diligence pays off with student triumph, these teachers are reinvigorated and recommitted to their mission as educators.

Are You Creative and Curious?Empowered teachers accept the dynamic nature of classroom teaching and don't try to fight it. Instead, they tap into their inner curiosity about what makes individuals tick and chart innovative courses to meet a variety of unique needs. Effective teachers make a difference in their students' lives by thinking outside the box and being fearless in employing techniques that have never been tried before. Instead of finding this process exhausting or frustrating, these educators come to enjoy the unknowns and enigmas that crop up each school year because they get to apply their creative problem-solving skills in fresh ways on an ongoing basis.

Are You Optimistic?Don't even think about becoming a teacher if you are a "glass half empty" type of person. The concept of self-fulfilling prophecy plays a huge role in teaching because teacher expectations often determine student outcomes. In other words, good teachers know that their students will only succeed to the extent that they are encouraged and believed in. By approaching each student with only the highest of expectations, these educators visualize student success long before it actually occurs. This is one of the most magical aspects of being a teacher.

Are You Flexible?There is no such thing as a "typical" day in the life of a classroom teacher. Thus, good teachers approach each day with an open mind and a sense of humor. They aren't easily discouraged by bumps in the road or hiccups in the schedule, whether these issues be big or small. With a multitude of factors impacting every minute of the day, strong educators must be willing to bend when necessary, with a smile.

Sunday, July 3. 2011

When I Become a Teacher - Sinnea DouglasWhen I become a teacher I'll put a map of the world on every wall in my classroom My students will always know to have a universal mindset When they hear freedom, they'll think of more than spirituals and EmancipationThey'll remember the stinking pits at Babi YarThe curled steel at AuchwitzSarajevo’s rifle buttsCambodia’s grit and sweat and deathThese classroom walls will not fence their minds.Eyes will be opened. Again.

Instead of asking my students to adjust to my teaching style Fawn in silent awe over my geniusI'll ask them how they learnThen tend to the visual Auditory and tactile learners the best way I can They’ll never doubt their place in my plan,Confuse our classroom for a cookie-cutterStage where they must sit on their hands.

I’ll take criticism.Gather it like gold dust between my fingers.Never satisfied, I’ll Practice my practice forever.

My classroom will be painted bright blues and yellowsAlong with students drawings, murals and poetryDisplays of Me Magazines And word wallsScenes from books acted out Role playing and Mock trials I will appreciate their creativity

I will teach my students inquiry Ask them questions about the world around them Their opinions on issues from health care to the Palestine WallI won't talk at them, but with them We'll have discussions and debates

I will challenge them

Ask them how they would tackle issues like budgets cuts Low reading levels And school safety I'll ask them how they feel about Pennsylvania finding money to build 3 more prisons but cutting funding from schools Or how they feel about districts paying millions for standardized test and curriculum but not having enough for extra curricular activities They will be informed

My students will be poetsstorytellersactors artists analyst activistsAll while being beautiful

Everyday I will tell them they're beautiful