Reflection 5: Classroom Management and Organization

I found a website called Assign a day 4 teachers. It is a software that teachers use to post assignments and lesson overviews. It is also a way for teachers and students to communicate. If a student misses a class, he or she can find out what he/she has missed and what assignments need to be completed. This would be useful for children who have internet access at home, but in certain areas many students in the classroom might not have that kind of access. If the students do not have access to a computer at home, should the teacher give the student three days so they have time to get transportation to the library? I am thinking mainly about elementary and/or middle school students who aren't old enough to drive. I thought about how having an overview of the lesson might keep kids from coming to class if they know they can get the same information online later on. For this reason, attendence should make up a portion of the grade. I will also have to consider how much time this will take to keep up a website and also keep up with lesson planning and grading.

I also found some more websites about classroom organization. busyteacherscafe gives tips on how to keep papers organized. One of the suggestions to assign students a number according to their last names and have them right it at the top right corner of their worksheets so that whoever is grading the papers will be able to file papers according to their numbers. It is supposed to make grading faster and easier. However, I don't see how it is easier than just sorting work according to first or last names.

When I was in Educational Psychology my classmates and I were told that our classroom will look like our bedroom. For that reason, I am working on being more organized in my room. I succeeded at keeping my dormroom clean for almost a whole semester during my sophomore year. Then I fell out of the habit. I still need to get back into the habit. During spring break, one of my priorities is to organize my room. Someone onetime told me it takes 90 days to start a new habit. So, if I can get past those 90 days and really get into good organizational habits, my life as a teacher will be ten times easier. I have known teachers whose desks are extremely messy and cluttering. I don't want mine to look like that. Especially if I have a really scrupulous parent come in and analyze how clean and organized my classroom looks.

Reflection 4: Spring break/math

I decided that over spring break I am going to do extra hours of observation at my Elementary School. During the first two weeks of our practicum we were supposed to observe two grades, one lower than the grade we are observing and the other higher. I'm a little late in the game. I have already observed kindergarten, but I still need to observe a higher grade. I want to observe 6th grade. So, this week I am planning on doing that. In addition, I want to observe the intensive learning support class (special needs), because I have wanted to do that for a few weeks now.
One of the subjects I want to really focus in on during these next two years is math. I always struggled with math from elementary school through high school. This year, however, I have improved my math skills and feel more confident, but I want to make sure I am really good at it before I go into my first year of teaching. I am hoping I can find some books off of amazon.com that I can use to practice different mathematical concepts. I don't know if I have already said this in another blog, but as a teacher I will teach my students that there is no such thing as a math brain, but that every one has the ability to learn math. I will teach this unless science proves me wrong. If people didn't tell me when I was younger that I didn't have a math brain, maybe I would have done better in math. Also, as a teacher, I might have an after school math tutor program set up for students in my class struggling.

Reflection 3 Observing Kingergarten

Today I visited a kindergarten class at my school. I smiled the whole time. The kids were so cute. It was funny, because if the teacher held up a book, or another kid showed something interesting for show-and-tell, the whole class in unison would say with great amazement "woooooooe" or "ahhhhhh." The teacher has only been teaching the class for four weeks. She came in when the previous teacher went on maternity leave. Right now she is working with the kids on number recognition, because some of the children struggle with that. She told me the previous teacher excluded certain children from the math games and instead they would work on math sheets. I don't know if it is because they misbehaved or there were other reasons involved. Either way, I do not think that we should punish our students by taking learning away from them. These same children are the ones struggling. Today, for number recognition, the current teacher had each student pick a partner and grab a dice. The student would roll the dice and for each number the dice landed on the student and his/her partner would do a particular action. For example, if the dice landed on 3, the students did three jumping jacks. I used to say I do not want to teach kindergarten, but I am starting to reconsider. It might be fun after all. I'm still deciding if I would like teaching that grade or not.

Smart Board and Teaching

For my lesson on Smart Board I will teach a mini-lesson about Japan. This lesson will help fulfill NET Standard 1, because students will gain experience in operating technology systems and also learning proficiency in operating the Smart Board. The lesson will also help fulfill Standard 2, because it will help students develop a positive outlook on technology and the fun and creative ways one can use it to learn. This will also fulfill Standards 4 and 5, because students will learn by the teacher's example about responsible use of technology, and students will also learn about different formats they can use to communicate information.

My activity is a simple Smart Board presentation on Japan. I prepared by choosing the presentation I found off the internet and I added a few maps I got off of google.com to the presentation. Here is the lesson process:

1. Introduce topic by having at least four students come up and writing one thing they know about Japan.
2. Have class as a whole identify the Japanese flag.
3. Have students see if they can locate Japan on the map. If not, show them where it is.
4. Ask students to identify countries neighboring Japan, show them the labeled map if they cannot identify them.
5. Have students name bodies of water surrounded Japan. Show them the map.
6. Have students identify the capital of Japan.
Assessment: Learning will be assessed based on students ability to identify basic information about Japan that was covered during the lesson.

Reflection: I think the Smart Board is a good way to liven up the lessons and keep the students' attention. Perhaps in order to give students a positive attitude about education and other priorities of life it is important to make learning fun. I liked the fun games Katie had us play. Games like the one where we clicked on the lice would be useful as an anticipatory set. As a teacher I would more likely use the type of presentations similar to Chris' lesson and the lesson about the moon phases. Those ones contained a lot of matching and I think they would be good study tools. I have much to learn about the Smart Board. One of my goals for this class will be to become familiar with how the Smart Board works. Professor Sorenson said it takes a teacher about two years to become comfortable with the technology. I am glad that I have two years of student teaching/my practicum to prepare.

Reflection 2: Teaching on the Mexican Border

I have thought about where I might like to teach and I have entertained the idea of teaching on the border between Mexico and California, because in some ways I believe God might be calling me to work with Latin American communities. I am not sure. I am learning Spanish right now, because whether I work on the border or stay in Washington its bound to become useful. I would pick the border for a few reasons.

1. I love sunny days. :)
2. I want to interact with the Hispanic community.
3. It would be a good place to have a ministry for people who have been rescued from human trafficking, because many of it happens on the border.

Few things:
1. Drug lords are a problem. I might get my property vandelized.
2. I would probably have to go places with at least one person or stay out in the open. Although that is already true for me and most other people here.
3. I would be away from family and friends.

Just some thoughts.

Reflection 1: Importance of Learning Spanish/tips

There is a good chance many of us will have students in our class whose first language is Spanish. For that reason I think it is important for all of us to know at least the basics of Spanish and know some common words used in the classroom. I will post a website with some resources to help us with our Spanish. There are some matching games that might help you.

123teachme/learn_spanish/fun_and_games

123 teach me home page

As for your non-Spanish speaking students, maybe practicing Spanish by having pen pals who speak Spanish might help. I have been writing to and receiving letters from someone strictly in Spanish. I use the translator since I have just started studying the language. Even though the translators are not always accurate and even though I want to get to the point where I do not need the translator anymore it still supplements my learning. I have picked certain words up too. Here is a link to a translator someone recommended for me to use.

Babel Fish

Blogs for Educators

I read an article about what the author, Matthew Needleman views as the misuse of Teaching Assistants. One of the things I agree with is not putting a TA with the same group of children. Students need to learn from their teacher and the TA alone is not enough, because the TA is not an accredited teacher. I also agree with Needleman when he says a TA should not introduce a concept, because the TA might teach the students wrong. If I have a TA I will have them make copies of paper if that is something I did not finish. I will let them work with certain individuals, but they will not take my place in the lives of my students.
Creating Life Long-Learners

Through a hyperlink on Needleman's blog, I find a link that introduces Digital Storytellers and how to use them (for details on this, the link is down below). This would be something I would love to do with my students. One cool idea would be for my students to create an autobiography using words and illustrations.
Digital Story-Telling

Web 2.0

I can use Web 2.0 to plan lessons for the week and also post assignments and due dates for students to reference. I can also record lectures using Podcast and put my class notes online. This way students have enough resources to prepare for upcoming tests. I can use Web 2.0 to have students write responses to what they read and what they have learned in class. Students can also use Podcast to add information to the website for their fellow classmates. These are a few ways I can use Web 2.0 in my classroom.

Assignment # 2

The five categories I sorted my resources into were: Social Studies, English/Language Arts, Music, Arts and Crafts, and Math and Science.


Social Studies

I have links which contain useful and fun resources relating to history, current events, geography, and also Spanish. Social studies in general is a necessary part of curriculum for elementary students. Not only does Social studies teach children about the past and the present, but it teaches children how to think critically about issues which affect them and other people.

The Spanish for Children website contains a vast amount of resources to help teach children Spanish. For example, there is a link in which I can teach my class the days of the week in Spanish. I can do this every morning. I believe by teaching children Spanish, I will not only bridge the gap between the English speakers and Spanish speakers of my classroom, but I will provide English speaking students a foundation for learning Spanish as a second language.

Social Studies for Kids has great resources to teach children about Native Americans. For example, there is a link I would like to use to provide students with general information regarding specific Native American tribes. My cooperating teaching this year did a Native American unit with her 3rd graders. There is also a link to learn about African-American history. I can use this resource to teach children about the underground railroad and also about important black leaders like Harriet Tubman. I feel that Native American history and African American history is crucial for understanding U.S. history.


English/Language Arts

English and Language Arts is very important. In order to communicate with the majority of people, children must be able to speak the English language properly. Children also must become familiar with various styles of writing as they will need to write papers in college, business letters in their careers, and resumes.

Poetry 4 Kids has resources that can walk students through poetry and provide them tips on becoming better poets. For my grade level of students, poetry is a good writing style to teach, because it will teach children te joy of writing. I will specifically use the link that has lessons on writing funny poems. After all, laughter is a medicine and a great help in the learning process.

Fun Brain has fun games for students. One specific game is called Spellaroo in which the student has to read a particular sentence and determine which word was spelled incorrectly. The computer also lets the child know if he or she is correct or incorrect. This is more for children to not only enjoy leizure time, but also exercise their brain. They can go to this website during indoor recesses and times they have finished their work early.

Music

The school where I am doing my practicum has a designated music teacher. However, if for some reason schools stopped employing music teachers, homeroom teachers will have to start teaching music. Music is important. Children who are good at music are often good at math and science, so it is a conviction of mine to make sure children receive good music education.

Creating Music has a hearing game which students can test and practice their abilities to compare pitches and cords, there is also a game in which students can compare various pitches. Those things might sound easy, but I have a friend who is tone deaf. So, it is important to make sure children are developing the ability to discern different tones, rhythms etc... This website will supplement the music lessons I teach.

Childrens' Music has links where children can listen to music. This might be useful when children are relaxing and/or working on art projects. There is also a link which shows children how to create their own songs. This will definetely enhance students' music abilities.

Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts are important, because they help strengthen children's creativity. Creativity is a necessary skill needed in many professions like teaching, counseling, preaching, and journalism etc. Not only does art provide a means to strengthen children's right brain, but it also provides children with an opportunity to explore life time hobbies and relaxing activities.

Squigly's Play House has neat resources. I thought I would use the lesson on braiding bracelets to give children some experience in creating jewerly.

Kinder Art Kinder Art has drawing lessons I can use to incorporate into my classroom.

Knitting With Children contains knitting lessons. I can use one of these to do with my class.

Math and Science
Math and science are important. First, math teaches children the basics of counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and telling time. As they grew older, they will need math skills to tell time, count money, and balance a check book. Science is important, because children need to learn how the universe functions and about living and nonliving organisms. Science is important to students to learn, especially if they plan on pursuing a medical career.

Math Cats has animated characters and fun problem-solving stories to help children develop problem-solving skills. These are activities children can do on their free time as extra credit.

Teach r Kids contains math worksheets, which I can print and use in my math lessons.

Kids' Numbers has virtual flash cards I can use in my classroom. Children can get on the computers and work with them.

School Family Education is a website which contains science activities teachers can do with their students. One specific activity I found was the Backyard Weather experiment in which children use certain devices to measure and observe weather elements like rainfall, wind, and pressure. I would have to have four children do this at a time, because buying equipment for each child would be expensive.