Saturday, May 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Classroom Remixed Media Coverage
Below are links to media coverage My co-author and I have received:
Effingham Daily News
WJBD--Salem Radio
SE Missourian
Effingham Daily News
WJBD--Salem Radio
SE Missourian
Monday, March 15, 2010
Contact Your Local Legislators
Education funding in Illinois will be slashed 1.3 billion dollars next year according to Governor Quinn. Many teachers are losing their jobs and those in power need to hear how this is affecting our students and teachers. I think it is crucial that we get our students and parents involved in fighting for their districts. I spent my day Friday discussing cuts at my district and how we need to respond in a positive way. Teachers know a lot about the current educational funding situation and could probably talk for an hour or so on the issues that affect us. Encourage your students and their parents to make their voice heard.
Below is a phone script for students and parents I wrote this afternoon:
Student Script
Hello. My name is ________________. I am a student at South Central High School in Farina, IL.
As you are already aware, Governor Quinn is proposing a 1.3 billion dollar cut to schools in Illinois.
These cuts by the Governor have now affected my school district. My district has to cut nearly $500,000 out of their budget. These cuts will affect good quality teachers and programs that will prepare me for the future. The lack of funding is leaving over 15,000 teachers without jobs and affecting millions of children’s educations. I don’t feel additional taxes is the answer.
I ask that you work with your fellow congressmen and senators, putting party affiliation aside, to come to a solution to properly fund schools. Funding schools adequately and equally will give students like me the opportunity to succeed in the world today.
Thank you for your time.
Parent Script
Hello. My name is ________________. My son/daughter is a student at South Central High School in Farina, IL.
As you are already aware, Governor Quinn is proposing a 1.3 billion dollar cut to schools in Illinois.
These cuts by the Governor have now affected my child’s school district. My district has to cut nearly $500,000 out of their budget. These cuts will affect good quality teachers and programs that will prepare my child for the future. The lack of funding is leaving over 15,000 teachers without jobs and affecting millions of children’s educations. I don’t feel additional taxes is the answer.
I ask that you work with your fellow congressmen and senators, putting party affiliation aside, to come to a solution to properly fund schools. Funding schools adequately and equally will give students the opportunity to succeed in the world today.
Thank you for your time.
Below is a phone script for students and parents I wrote this afternoon:
Student Script
Hello. My name is ________________. I am a student at South Central High School in Farina, IL.
As you are already aware, Governor Quinn is proposing a 1.3 billion dollar cut to schools in Illinois.
These cuts by the Governor have now affected my school district. My district has to cut nearly $500,000 out of their budget. These cuts will affect good quality teachers and programs that will prepare me for the future. The lack of funding is leaving over 15,000 teachers without jobs and affecting millions of children’s educations. I don’t feel additional taxes is the answer.
I ask that you work with your fellow congressmen and senators, putting party affiliation aside, to come to a solution to properly fund schools. Funding schools adequately and equally will give students like me the opportunity to succeed in the world today.
Thank you for your time.
Parent Script
Hello. My name is ________________. My son/daughter is a student at South Central High School in Farina, IL.
As you are already aware, Governor Quinn is proposing a 1.3 billion dollar cut to schools in Illinois.
These cuts by the Governor have now affected my child’s school district. My district has to cut nearly $500,000 out of their budget. These cuts will affect good quality teachers and programs that will prepare my child for the future. The lack of funding is leaving over 15,000 teachers without jobs and affecting millions of children’s educations. I don’t feel additional taxes is the answer.
I ask that you work with your fellow congressmen and senators, putting party affiliation aside, to come to a solution to properly fund schools. Funding schools adequately and equally will give students the opportunity to succeed in the world today.
Thank you for your time.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Book Press Release
New Book by Local Author Focuses on Change in the Classroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Jeremy Rinkel
classroomremixed@yahoo.com
Effingham, IL – Two University of Illinois online graduate students, Jeremy Rinkel and Majhon Phillips, have co-authored a book that focuses on America's changing classroom. One interesting fact… they have never met in person and the book was put together over various online meetings throughout the past year. “Our belief is that education in the U.S. needs not only to be evaluated, but also desperately needs reform. We are concerned that as a country, our students are not ready for the global world. Our goal is to educate and recruit teachers to help transform education and to make sure our students are adequately prepared for the globalized world.”
The book, Classroom Remixed: Incorporating Technology in the Globalized Classroom offers an overview of America’s classroom in the early 21st century. It introduces tools that can benefit teachers, tools that can help students, and an introduction into the world of the current student population. This book can be an aid to classroom teachers, mentors, parents, and students alike. Rinkel and Phillips aim to bridge the gap between the native digital generation and those who work with them. The book can be a handbook that will leave readers feeling inspired and excited about their own work with young people and how they can incorporate technology and globalization into their own lives and careers.
Rinkel is currently teaching English at South Central High School in Farina, IL. Phillips teaches music and is the president of Globalize Our Generation, Inc (http://www.globalizeourgeneration.com. The website to accompany the book is http://classroomremixed.ning.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information:
Jeremy Rinkel
classroomremixed@yahoo.com
Effingham, IL – Two University of Illinois online graduate students, Jeremy Rinkel and Majhon Phillips, have co-authored a book that focuses on America's changing classroom. One interesting fact… they have never met in person and the book was put together over various online meetings throughout the past year. “Our belief is that education in the U.S. needs not only to be evaluated, but also desperately needs reform. We are concerned that as a country, our students are not ready for the global world. Our goal is to educate and recruit teachers to help transform education and to make sure our students are adequately prepared for the globalized world.”
The book, Classroom Remixed: Incorporating Technology in the Globalized Classroom offers an overview of America’s classroom in the early 21st century. It introduces tools that can benefit teachers, tools that can help students, and an introduction into the world of the current student population. This book can be an aid to classroom teachers, mentors, parents, and students alike. Rinkel and Phillips aim to bridge the gap between the native digital generation and those who work with them. The book can be a handbook that will leave readers feeling inspired and excited about their own work with young people and how they can incorporate technology and globalization into their own lives and careers.
Rinkel is currently teaching English at South Central High School in Farina, IL. Phillips teaches music and is the president of Globalize Our Generation, Inc (http://www.globalizeourgeneration.com. The website to accompany the book is http://classroomremixed.ning.com
Monday, January 4, 2010
Take Time to Refocus
Refocus...Refocus...Refocus
As the New Year begins, it is time to reflect and refocus my career as a teacher. I'm not one for making resolutions because resolutions usually aren't kept. We strive day in and day out creating stimulating lesson, sometimes effective, but other times fail. Educators must take time to recharge and refocus their purpose and idea for their students. Before I left for Christmas break, I had one of "those" days. During lunch I wrote the following five questions to help me refocus and attempt to improve myself, my school, my district, and the field of education.
1) What is the biggest challenge facing our students?
2) What is the biggest challenge facing our district?
3) What challenges am I facing as a teacher?
4) What is the biggest challenge facing the educational system in the United States?
5) Knowing what I know and controlling what I can control, how can I improve my classroom, my school, and the national education system?
Each question solidifies the reason I am a teacher. Students need me. They need you. I see value in the education of young people. The challenges are many...the solutions are few. We, as educators, must take the time to refocus and go back to the question: why do you teach?
As the New Year begins, it is time to reflect and refocus my career as a teacher. I'm not one for making resolutions because resolutions usually aren't kept. We strive day in and day out creating stimulating lesson, sometimes effective, but other times fail. Educators must take time to recharge and refocus their purpose and idea for their students. Before I left for Christmas break, I had one of "those" days. During lunch I wrote the following five questions to help me refocus and attempt to improve myself, my school, my district, and the field of education.
1) What is the biggest challenge facing our students?
2) What is the biggest challenge facing our district?
3) What challenges am I facing as a teacher?
4) What is the biggest challenge facing the educational system in the United States?
5) Knowing what I know and controlling what I can control, how can I improve my classroom, my school, and the national education system?
Each question solidifies the reason I am a teacher. Students need me. They need you. I see value in the education of young people. The challenges are many...the solutions are few. We, as educators, must take the time to refocus and go back to the question: why do you teach?
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Another Brick in the Wall
As I drove south for my winter vacation, it was difficult for me to get my focus off of work and how I could become a better teacher to my students. On the 14 hour drive to Panama City Beach, FL, I heard the Pink Floyd song "The Wall". "We don't need an education...all we are is just another brick in the wall". I couldn't help but think of students within our education system today. In the data driven and standardized testing of today, our students are becoming another number, another statistic, another "brick" in the wall, another graduate, and another dropout. With NCLB and the world of standarized testing, our students are losing their individuality. If so, how can we be sure our students are not like the song says, "another brick in the wall".
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Pacing
Pacing is still a challenge for me three years into teaching for me. Veteran teachers say that it comes with experience and time. The way a class is "paced" depends on a number of factors, largely out of the teacher's control. One factor to consider is student achievements of meeting the goals and objectives of the lesson. Another factor is the makeup of the class. Some classes read at a quicker pace and require less interpretation, while another class may struggle more with comprehension. This also has to be taken into consideration when planning and pacing lessons. If students are not "grasping" a concept, you cannot move on until some mastery is demonstrated. One mistake I have continued to make until this year is to take detailed notes of objectives, goals, and notes for each lesson. In the future when planning, pacing will be a lot easier because you noted key elements along the way.
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