Sunday, November 30, 2014
Final C4T
For my final C4T I chose to comment on Mrs. Frazier's Blog post regarding, Shelfari. She spoke of how it has taken off in her class and is slowly spreading to other first grade classes, via twitter. Intrigued, I looked into this site, and am glad I did. I LOVE reading! I read anything and everything, but am a sucker for Nicholas Sparks and Lurlene McDaniel. Typical I know, but I love them! Shelfari gives you the opportunity to save books to your "shelves", and share them with others to read. I believe reading is very important. For me, it is an opportunity to get in touch with my imagination, and creative side. Her students also are really enjoying this site, and sharing their shelves. This gives them the opportunity to showcase their interests, and connect with others that have similar interests. Basically another form of a PLN. I will certainly take advantage of this site in my future classroom and encourage my students to read any opportunity they get.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Blog Assignment 14
Teaching should be professionalized just as law and medicine are.
To help do so, some changes need to occur:
Mr. Klein gives us his ideas of how to professionalize teaching, along with some recommendations from Mr. Albert Shanker, in the article from USA today, Teaching our children can be a profession: Column.
He suggests that the first thing to change must be the training, and I agree. If we want our education to thrive and become better, we must change the way teachers are trained. This means offering more leadership training programs, and inviting new technology into the classrooms. To ensure that the teachers are well equipped and capable of bettering our education, there should be stricter recruiting. Just as law and medicine require, teachers need to be held at a higher standard. This means stricter GPA requirements for programs, and/or hiring from the top third of the graduating class. Mr. Shanker suggests creating a "National teacher examination" similar to the entry exams required for law and medicine. As well as having students complete 1-3 years of a supervised internship. I believe that all of these suggestions would enhance the quality of our teachers; therefore changing the quality of education, and hopefully how the profession is perceived.
To help do so, some changes need to occur:
- Better training for prospective teachers
- Better training programs
- Stricter recruiting approaches (Choosing from the top third of the class)
- Require a "National teacher examination"
- 1-3 years of supervised internship
- Better rewarding system for teachers
- Revisions to the tenure laws
- Reward based on merit rather than experience
Mr. Klein gives us his ideas of how to professionalize teaching, along with some recommendations from Mr. Albert Shanker, in the article from USA today, Teaching our children can be a profession: Column.
He suggests that the first thing to change must be the training, and I agree. If we want our education to thrive and become better, we must change the way teachers are trained. This means offering more leadership training programs, and inviting new technology into the classrooms. To ensure that the teachers are well equipped and capable of bettering our education, there should be stricter recruiting. Just as law and medicine require, teachers need to be held at a higher standard. This means stricter GPA requirements for programs, and/or hiring from the top third of the graduating class. Mr. Shanker suggests creating a "National teacher examination" similar to the entry exams required for law and medicine. As well as having students complete 1-3 years of a supervised internship. I believe that all of these suggestions would enhance the quality of our teachers; therefore changing the quality of education, and hopefully how the profession is perceived.
The next change mentioned was the rewarding system. An article provided on EdSource, tells about revising the laws for tenure being offered after 3 years instead of 2 in certain circumstances in the San Jose district. However, there is also an issue that new teachers doing just as well, if not better, as some tenured are not being rewarded the same. It is suggested that changes be made to reward teachers based on merit rather than experience. I agree this could be a good way to enhance our educators. Tenure is rewarded based upon teachers' performances after 16-18 months. This article suggests, during deliberation of granting tenure or not, allowing teachers another year to showcase their abilities. However, this would only be certain cases not all teachers would be granted the extension. I agree that rewards should be based upon merit, but I only agree with the extension if it is tried and proven useful first. For example, one man recommends trying the revisions in the San Jose district only, and seeing the outcome before making permanent changes. I believe this would be beneficial because if it does thrive then it can be brought to other districts, but if it fails no changes have to be made.
These articles and links were very informative and interesting. I hope that these changes can happen, and teaching can become professionalized. I believe it would be a great step towards bettering our education. ![Photo]()
C4K November
Racquelr's Blog
Racquelr is an 8th grade girl with a very different opinion of Taylor Swift than most girls her age, or at least so I thought. Her post I commented on was about her, and some fellow classmates, declaring independence from Taylor Swift. She gives many reasons for her position. Some that stuck out most to me include her views on Taylor Swift's song quality and the messages they send to girls. I have always been a Taylor Swift fan, as are many females I know, but as I read this other female student's interpretations, I became curious as to how I would comment effectively to make a connection with such a strong opposing opinion. I began to think of how I will handle this type of situation in my classroom, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I firmly believe in voicing that opinion. I thought it could be a perfect opportunity for a class debate! Together, the class can brainstorm a topic to debate and then each student will choose his or her position. Once the positions are chosen they would begin research to prepare for the big debate. This could be group work or done individually. Racquelr's post was very descriptive, and she had the makings to begin an interesting debate. I hope to help my students have as much confidence in their opinions and knowledge as she exemplified in her post.
Brennan's Blog
Brennan is in Mrs. Mena's class in California. His post was about his similarities and differences between him and his mother. He wrote that they both love being active and reading, but have differences in cleanliness and organization. I used to struggle with keeping things tidy and organized as well, even though my mother cleans 3 times a day. I told him something that helps me keep tidy now is picking up as I go. This can be used for my classroom as well. To ensure my students have a great learning environment, I must make sure to keep it clean and have everything organized throughout the year. One way I can make sure that happens is by doing an "inspection" at the end of every day. I can help my students learn to become more organized and tidy while ensuring I do the same. We can make a game out of it, having the cleanest stations receive a reward at the end of every day. Hopefully my tip helps Brennan and any other person that might have the same struggles.![]()
Sebastian G's Blog
Sebastian is a 5th grader at a school in California. His blog post I commented on was about his teacher, Mrs. Mena. The title, Best Teacher Ever: Mrs. Mena definitely caught my attention because it tells me he is excited about her class, and that is how I want my students to feel. He says she is the best teacher because she makes learning fun, always cracks jokes, celebrates hump day, plays games, and allows them to listen to music on Fridays. He also wrote aboutGo Noodle, a site for teachers, students,and parents. It's an educational site with numerous fun and interactive videos that can be used for "brain breaks" throughout the day. It is a wonderful resource to get the students up and moving, and excited about learning! The site includes links to Zumba videos, kids bop music videos, and much more. I hope to use all my new resources and things I've learned so far to become my future students', best teacher ever.
![Three]()
Racquelr is an 8th grade girl with a very different opinion of Taylor Swift than most girls her age, or at least so I thought. Her post I commented on was about her, and some fellow classmates, declaring independence from Taylor Swift. She gives many reasons for her position. Some that stuck out most to me include her views on Taylor Swift's song quality and the messages they send to girls. I have always been a Taylor Swift fan, as are many females I know, but as I read this other female student's interpretations, I became curious as to how I would comment effectively to make a connection with such a strong opposing opinion. I began to think of how I will handle this type of situation in my classroom, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I firmly believe in voicing that opinion. I thought it could be a perfect opportunity for a class debate! Together, the class can brainstorm a topic to debate and then each student will choose his or her position. Once the positions are chosen they would begin research to prepare for the big debate. This could be group work or done individually. Racquelr's post was very descriptive, and she had the makings to begin an interesting debate. I hope to help my students have as much confidence in their opinions and knowledge as she exemplified in her post.
Brennan's Blog
Brennan is in Mrs. Mena's class in California. His post was about his similarities and differences between him and his mother. He wrote that they both love being active and reading, but have differences in cleanliness and organization. I used to struggle with keeping things tidy and organized as well, even though my mother cleans 3 times a day. I told him something that helps me keep tidy now is picking up as I go. This can be used for my classroom as well. To ensure my students have a great learning environment, I must make sure to keep it clean and have everything organized throughout the year. One way I can make sure that happens is by doing an "inspection" at the end of every day. I can help my students learn to become more organized and tidy while ensuring I do the same. We can make a game out of it, having the cleanest stations receive a reward at the end of every day. Hopefully my tip helps Brennan and any other person that might have the same struggles.
Sebastian is a 5th grader at a school in California. His blog post I commented on was about his teacher, Mrs. Mena. The title, Best Teacher Ever: Mrs. Mena definitely caught my attention because it tells me he is excited about her class, and that is how I want my students to feel. He says she is the best teacher because she makes learning fun, always cracks jokes, celebrates hump day, plays games, and allows them to listen to music on Fridays. He also wrote aboutGo Noodle, a site for teachers, students,and parents. It's an educational site with numerous fun and interactive videos that can be used for "brain breaks" throughout the day. It is a wonderful resource to get the students up and moving, and excited about learning! The site includes links to Zumba videos, kids bop music videos, and much more. I hope to use all my new resources and things I've learned so far to become my future students', best teacher ever.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Blog Assignment 13
We've discussed the use of PBL and technology in typical education classroom settings, but what about special education classrooms? Some disabilities effect motor skills, making class discussions and/or group projects difficult. For this reason, technology is a major asset in special education classrooms.
Special Education teacher, Lace Cook, says her vision for her classroom is, "To teach them more about new technology that's coming out so that they can transfer those skills into their work experiences in the future, and continue using it." Imagine you are a teacher for children with special needs beginning to use technology for your class. What is your vision for your classroom,and how will you use technology, or PBL, to accommodate your students' needs and goals?
Here are the sources for you to use when answering these questions:
Technology in Special Education:Lace Cook
Integrating Technology in a Special Needs Classroom
Project Based Learning for Special Education and Inclusion
______________________________________________________________
Over the semester I have studied and learned many things about PBL and technology in the classroom. Although some students lack motor skills, they are still capable of actively participating in their education, thanks in major part to technology. The video,Technology in Special Education:Lace Cook, shows students communicating through their technology, and enhancing their education. For example, one student couldn't write easily so he fell behind. By using his computer and typing his work instead, he doubled his speed. My vision for my classroom is to give my students a voice not only in the classroom, but around the world.
Assistive technology will provide this voice while motivating the students to learn, according to Integrating Technology in a Special Needs Classroom. I agree! Allowing the students to use technology gives them opportunity to explore, and exceed our expectations. Just as the students in the video did. Their voices can be heard around the world through a class website that would be set up showcasing their work and accomplishments thus far.![Quote,]()
Special Education teacher, Lace Cook, says her vision for her classroom is, "To teach them more about new technology that's coming out so that they can transfer those skills into their work experiences in the future, and continue using it." Imagine you are a teacher for children with special needs beginning to use technology for your class. What is your vision for your classroom,and how will you use technology, or PBL, to accommodate your students' needs and goals?
Here are the sources for you to use when answering these questions:
Technology in Special Education:Lace Cook
Integrating Technology in a Special Needs Classroom
Project Based Learning for Special Education and Inclusion
______________________________________________________________
Over the semester I have studied and learned many things about PBL and technology in the classroom. Although some students lack motor skills, they are still capable of actively participating in their education, thanks in major part to technology. The video,Technology in Special Education:Lace Cook, shows students communicating through their technology, and enhancing their education. For example, one student couldn't write easily so he fell behind. By using his computer and typing his work instead, he doubled his speed. My vision for my classroom is to give my students a voice not only in the classroom, but around the world.
Assistive technology will provide this voice while motivating the students to learn, according to Integrating Technology in a Special Needs Classroom. I agree! Allowing the students to use technology gives them opportunity to explore, and exceed our expectations. Just as the students in the video did. Their voices can be heard around the world through a class website that would be set up showcasing their work and accomplishments thus far.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
C4T #4
SpeEd Change
I had the pleasure of commenting Mr. Ira David Socol's blog post on Dyslexia, and offering variety in the classroom. It was one of the most wonderful posts I've read all semester. He talks of his research regarding effects on dyslexia, and how to help it overall. However, after research, he decides there is no general fix to this disability. Every person is different. Some people with dyslexia can see letters fine, but have problems with graphs. This person's needs probably won't match a person that sees words backwards' needs. Thus, the need for variety. This could mean one person prefers technology to read while another uses paper, or blue font instead of black. Giving options will not only address more students, but also gives them the power. Power to take control of their learning, and exceed expectations. The slideshare below is a presentation of his Toolbelt Theory. "Toolbelt Theory" suggests that we must teach our students how to analyze tasks, the task completion environment, their own skills and capabilities, an appropriate range of available tools...and let them begin to make their own decisions." (slide 2) The presentation goes on to explain how to prepare schools, students, and teachers. Technology is a major component of preparation, as it's importance in the classroom is continuing to rise. The last 15 slides are resources including a variety of technologies uses in the classroom.
I had the pleasure of commenting Mr. Ira David Socol's blog post on Dyslexia, and offering variety in the classroom. It was one of the most wonderful posts I've read all semester. He talks of his research regarding effects on dyslexia, and how to help it overall. However, after research, he decides there is no general fix to this disability. Every person is different. Some people with dyslexia can see letters fine, but have problems with graphs. This person's needs probably won't match a person that sees words backwards' needs. Thus, the need for variety. This could mean one person prefers technology to read while another uses paper, or blue font instead of black. Giving options will not only address more students, but also gives them the power. Power to take control of their learning, and exceed expectations. The slideshare below is a presentation of his Toolbelt Theory. "Toolbelt Theory" suggests that we must teach our students how to analyze tasks, the task completion environment, their own skills and capabilities, an appropriate range of available tools...and let them begin to make their own decisions." (slide 2) The presentation goes on to explain how to prepare schools, students, and teachers. Technology is a major component of preparation, as it's importance in the classroom is continuing to rise. The last 15 slides are resources including a variety of technologies uses in the classroom.
Project 12 Part B
Project: The 4 Seasons
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Standards: SC(K)9 Identify Seasons of the year. Describe seasonal changes in the weather.
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Standards: SC(K)9 Identify Seasons of the year. Describe seasonal changes in the weather.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
C4T3
Andrea Kerr's blog, For the Love of Teaching Math is a great resource for math teachers or even any teacher looking into making lessons more fun. She has a link on her blog to the site, Teachers Pay Teachers. This could be a wonderful PLN. It is a site that teachers all over buy and sell resources they have or need. It has various grades and subjects. I would definitely suggest looking into it! Her post I commented on was about her math lessons about integers, and how she made them fun. She turned a lesson into a game, this gave the students desire to learn the lessons so they could play the game. She provided videos for the games. I enjoyed her blog and will have to keep it for resources.
For my second post on Mrs. Kerr's blog, I commented on her favorite things. By favorite things she did not mean color or food, but instead resources for her classroom. The resource I found to be my favorite is her game, Fortune Teller. It is used to help with solving equations. This game reminds me of one I played as a child, and loved. One student acts as the "teller" holding the apparatus and manipulating it, while the other will choose the number and equation to workout. She created this game herself. It has been successful in not only her class, but, thanks to Teachers Pay Teachers, also other classrooms across the country!![List of instructions for the game]()
For my second post on Mrs. Kerr's blog, I commented on her favorite things. By favorite things she did not mean color or food, but instead resources for her classroom. The resource I found to be my favorite is her game, Fortune Teller. It is used to help with solving equations. This game reminds me of one I played as a child, and loved. One student acts as the "teller" holding the apparatus and manipulating it, while the other will choose the number and equation to workout. She created this game herself. It has been successful in not only her class, but, thanks to Teachers Pay Teachers, also other classrooms across the country!
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