That Spanish education has much to improve in many aspects is more than evident, but it is also very true that we are increasingly learning more stories of teachers who are taking small steps in that change.
Today we meet Manuel, professor at the Angeles Cuesta de Marchena school, Seville. Manuel Sánchez Montero He is committed to encouraging the participation of children in the social activities of the classroom and for that he has realized that developing gamification in the classroom is a sure method of success. Is about get the essence of any game and use it in favor of the education of children to which Manuel teaches every day.
Manuel has developed two tools of his own that are causing a small but interesting methodological revolution and not only in his school. On the one hand they are "The Adventures of Tueli" and on the other hand "Monster Kit" but it is better that he himself speaks to us about his creations and what they have supposed in his classroom and outside of it.
Manuel, specifically what is "Monster Kit"?
Monster kit It is a board game that was born in the classrooms of a school. In its origin it was a resource to teach geometric shapes and basic calculation but as time went by it was added to complete its usefulness. Nowadays, in addition to entertaining and having fun playing, participants develop the hand-eye skills, start reading and writing, learn the concept of number and quantity, power simple operations, identify feelings, socialization and acquisition of norms ...
A board game with many game modes to adapt to different ages, with resources to download and with a role-playing game in development. An improved educational resource year by year that can be found in any toy and game store.
Well and put to present us your creations who is "Tueli"?
"The Adventures of Tueli" They are a saga of children's books (waiting for the third volume) where, unlike any book you can find in a bookstore, It contains a method to improve reading comprehension. This idea also came from the classrooms where he taught.
Within my reading animation program I designed an adventure where it would be developed with the help of the students. In each chapter the small readers chose between four options how the story would continue.
The name of the protagonist "Tueli" comes from the words "You choose." Due to their school success, these books can be found in any bookstore by Ediciones Alfar.
Why did you feel the need to "teach otherwise"?
The times change, The students we have in the classrooms are from another generation and we have to adapt to them and not them to us.
It is very difficult to motivate and excite a student who since he wakes up is surrounded by touch screens, multimedia equipment, etc. You have to innovate to get their attention and from there introduce attractive and useful methodologies for a new way of teaching and learning. I respect traditional methods but at many times they are boring and ineffective for current students.
Where do you think the Spanish education system clicks, in the administration, in the system itself, in the centers, in the teachers, in the parents?
In my opinion everything has to change.
We cannot be changing educational laws every two or four years. This has led us to have chaotic and non-egalitarian laws in the different communities of our country.
For me The most important thing to write and apply a law is that teachers and families are taken into account. We are the most important assets in the system. It is useless for a great thinker or pedagogue who has not set foot in an educational center in years (or in his life) to write utopian or alienated laws.
Manuel, talking about education is almost always talking about Finland. Is there anything about your educational system that you would like to be implemented in our country?
Especially teacher training. At present and for many years, The teaching faculties and training masters for different grades do not have sufficient practices or content appropriate to school reality.
Another thing that would matter would be the freedom that professionals have to design and implement methodologies. Without hindrance and with confidence in teachers we would have a better educational system.
And to continue talking about the future, hopefully immediately what space do you think ICTs should have in the educational process of our children?
The school must also address inequalities and do their part to give technological resources to families who cannot have them.I prefer quality to quantity. It is not necessary to take the TIC to the classrooms by simple fashion. You have to use them with moderation and knowledge. I prefer to educate in the Tic than to educate with Tic.
As I said before, students use them daily and have enough knowledge to use them in class but they must be taught their correct use.
Imagine that you have won the lottery and you can only spend the prize at your school, what would you use it for?
Improve facilities and change the school canteen to a social canteen. The facilities and infrastructures of the educational centers are old and the financial aids to alleviate the expenses are slow and at the wrong time. You always have to juggle accounts.
Social dining room because ... children do not feed on vacation? Are only children malnourished?
Before you say goodbye Manuel, can you quote us a couple of titles that you have recommended reading this summer to your 6th grade students?
I don't usually recommend any specific book (well, "The Adventures of Tueli" yes, hahahaha).
I always ask fathers and mothers at the last course meeting to take their children to a bookstore or large area and that they themselves choose their readings. It doesn't matter if it's a novel, a comic, an illustrated album, or stickers! The important thing is that they want to read it.
You always learn from teachers like Manuel who apply so much enthusiasm and get involved with such enthusiasm in the educational process of children, the hundreds of children who go through the classrooms of his school and in which he with his ideas and proposals , he sure puts his grain of sand so that they are happy and better people.
Both the book and the game that Manuel and his students have designed are a big surprise for everyone, the game has been numerous weeks as one of the best sellers on the large surface lists such as the FNAC and the book is serving many children to improve your reading comprehension even outside the classroom.
Thank you very much for taking a little while to tell us what you do and how you do Manuel.
Photos | Facebook Manuel Sánchez Montero
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