Classroom Conversations with LaShona Dickerson

Communication is a cycle of active listening and responsiveness.  Cliche and true, it is a 2 way street and the key to successful relationships.  Why do we make this so difficult in education?  I'll tell you why... we are too busy trying to get our message across to others without regard for their readiness to receive it; ability to comprehend another perspective or willingness to be present in the realm of communication (face to face, e-mail, letter home, phone call, etc.)  The message then gets lost and the relationship takes a hit. Whether it is school-home, school-school, parent-teacher, teacher-student, or parent-student we should never enter a conversation with preconceived notions. Parents do not have the right to attack educators, nor educators the right to disrespect parents or students based on limited information, external factors, or previous relationships.  Steven Covey noted it best, seek first to understand then to be understood. School com...

Whatever happened to getting to know people? It seems like we are so caught up in shoving knowledge down students' brains that we forget one of the most important essentials to learning, RELATIONSHIPS. Has education system labels become a detriment to the very reason we are in education? Let's get BACK TO THE BASICS . Most schools have been in session for a week or more now, but it's never too late to make things right with students, to show them that you care, or that their state of being is most important in your classroom, school, program, or home. Be genuine, they know if you are not. Handle their minds, hearts, and spirits with great care (the whole child). A little theory... Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs  Every teacher is exposed to this in their teaching programs. Simply stated, these needs must be satisfied (starting from the base) for an individual to be receptive to any content (school content or work skill).  Once the basic needs are fulfilled the others ...

Louisiana offers several options to give each student an opportunity to graduate. Currently, the state offers 2 diploma pathways. Students must decide on a path by the end of their sophomore year. Failure to do so could affect the student's graduation date. This is simply because students are required to take courses specific to their pathway. I know it seems like a lot and it is, but if you have real conversations with your child about their future, the decision is fairly easy and you will thank me for it later. There are 2 pathways:   Jump Start TOPS Tech Career Diploma  and  TOPS University Diploma . One major difference between the two is the option to attend a 4-year college. The TOPS University Diploma requires all courses (4 English, 4 Math 4 Science, 4 Social Studies, 1 Art, 2 Foreign Languages, 2 Physical Education, and 3 Electives) to attend a 4-year university such as LSU, ULL, Grambling, Southern, and etc.  The Jump Start diploma requires a career...

Welcome! This blog was created to educate, build awareness, bring clarity, and link professionals to what happens in the classroom. While I am no expert in any one area, I do have 22 years of experience in diverse roles in the education system. The expressions of these matters are based on my experiences and do not represent any particular school system. A little about me... My name is LaShona Dickerson, I am a wife and mother of 3 sons. I currently serve as a technology director in Louisiana. I enjoy all activities that allow me to exercise the 5 Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Content, and Critical Thinking).  I am no writer; however, I am a talker and have a lot to share. I look forward to seeing this blog grow as I refine my skill and help those who are in education purgatory.