Project #15 Lesson Plan 3

For this project, I created a lesson plan titled Body Systems. Body Systems addresses the Alabama State Standards for 5th grade science. This lesson plan takes place over the course of four days. During these few days, students will learn about the circulatory, respiratory, excretory, and reproductive systems. Students will be divided into four groups to research a given system. Students will use the research tool iCurio and there will be at least one computer or iPad per group. The lesson plan ends with group presentations.

Blog Post #10

After viewing the video Bring on the Education Revolution, I learned about student passion in relation to schools and the community. This video is of a TED Talk given by Sir Ken Robinson. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. TEDtalks also cover subjects including the arts, business, and science. This video, created in 2010, is a follow up from Sir Ken Robinson's 2006 TEDtalk. In this video, he specifically discusses the change from standardized school to personalized learning. Personalized learning is described as environments that allow childrens' natural talents to flourish.

Sir Ken Robinson began his TEDtalk by humorously comparing school reform to a climate crisis because of its urgency. He says that humans make very little use of their talents and even fewer recognize their ability. Ken divides the people of the world into two types, people that do not enjoy what they do, and people who love what they do. When asked about their personal career, a common answer for those who enjoy what they do is, "It isn't what I do, it's who I are." Unfortunately, this describes minority of the people. This can greatly be due to education. Human resources are not on the surface because they are meant to be discovered. Ken discusses how every school system is being reformed. He emphasizes that reform is improving a broken model, not fixing the problem. He says that what we need is a revolution in education. He emphasizes a quote from Abraham Lincoln stating that we must rise with the occasion, not rise to the occasion. Ken discusses how we as a society have been obsessed with getting to college, yet human communities depend on diversity. In closing, he states that society as a whole needs passion.

Everything I took from Sir Ken Robinson's TEDtalk can be applied to me as a teacher. As a teacher I do not need to tell my students what to do with their future. I need to be open to my students ideas no matter what they are. I need to help my students discover their passions and talents so they can flourish. I want to help my students discover their passions and talents. Being a teacher is all about personalizing education to my students individual needs. If all teachers do this, a beneficial education revolution will occur.

Project 12A

Blog Assignment #9

What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy? For this blog assignment, I first watched the video, Little Kids...Big Potential about Mrs. Cassidy's first grade class. This video shows how first grade students use technological tools such as blogs, classroom webpages, wikis, Skype, and Nintendo DS to learn in the classroom. Students in this classroom are also already learning how to collaborate with one another.

Mrs. Cassidy approaches the use of technology in the classroom as an essential learning tool. A statement from Mrs. Cassidy that jumped out to me was, "The world has changed. There are so many opportunities available online now for collaborating, for learning from other people, that you are handicapping your students and yourself in fact by not taking advantage of those tools."

A technique that I might use in my own classroom that I learned from watching the interview of Mrs. Cassidy and my EDM310 professor, Dr. Strange, is a class blog. I think that a class blog would benefit not only my students, but my students parents. Mrs. Cassidy created a classroom blog in which she posts her students' work on about every week. Parents could view this class blog to see their child's progress. Mrs. Cassidy emphasizes the use of Personal Learning Networks, especially Twitter, which would also benefit my classroom. Twitter would benefit me as a teacher because it would expand my PLN which would allow me to be exposed to different learning tools and other teachers ideas.

The benefits from using Mrs. Cassidy's approach to technology include class involvement. From participating in classroom projects in the first grade, students are learning to collaborate at a young age. I also like that Mrs. Cassidy mentioned the support of the administrators at her school. I believe that this support is crucial to Mrs. Cassidy's success in the advancements of technology in the classroom. She also notes that by using the internet for projects, students can view other students opinions and work. Instead of viewing this as a way to cheat, Mrs. Cassidy looks at is as an opportunity for students to collaborate and mold their own opinions.

Project #14 Project based Learning Plan #2

For this project, I created a lesson plan titled MyPyramid for Me. MyPyramid for Me addresses the Alabama State Standards for kindergarten health. This project requires the research tool iCurio. This lesson plan takes place over the course of one week. In this week students will be able to identify healthy foods and snacks. The students will begin by first recognizing the six food groups on MyPyramid. Next, students will be able to identify characteristics of food (taste, smell, color, texture). Finally, students will be able to locate the nutrition facts label on food products. The week long lesson plan ends with the students taking a test to assess what they learned.

Take a look at the resources I created below for MyPyramid for Me:

Project Overview

Project Calendar

Essentials Checklist

Blog Assignment #8

Technology evolves and is integrated into society on a daily basis. Education is an area that is influenced by this change greatly. In the 21st century, many new learning and communicating tools have been created. As a future elementary school teacher these tools will be very useful in the classroom.

Khan Academy is a learning tool that students can use for multiple subjects. These subjects include math, science, humanities, and economics. Khan Academy's motto is "a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere." As a future elementary teacher, I would use Khan Academy for math help for my students. I have experience using this website during my senior year of high school for math help. Khan Academy helped me because it gave me step by step instructions for individual math problems. This website has these same step by step instructions beginning with 3rd grade math. This will benefit my elementary students when they do homework because I will not be there to assist them.

Khan Academy also has an app for the iPhone. Parents could use this app if they were doing homework on the go, or did not have access to a computer. The website is also beneficial because it is completely free and forever will be. I encourage all elementary, math, science, humantities, or economics teachers to check out Khan Academy!

C4T #2

I read a post from Jerrid W. Kruse’s blog, Teaching as a Dynamic Activity. The blog post was titled, Maintaining the Status Quo. Mr. Kruse begins his post by comparing technology to methods used in socialist revolutions from capitalist systems. Mr. Kruse emphasizes that technology is not neutral, it is a matter of “‘how you use it.’” Mr. Kruse believes that for educational change, the school system requirements must be changed first. An example of this is the grading system (A-F). Mr. Kruse goes on to say that adding technology to a classroom will not change the ways that students learn unless the technological structures change too. An example of this is student assessments. Mr. Kruse ends by writing that this change must begin with individual teachers. Mr. Kruse says, “If we try to change the system, it’s likely we are just going to recreate the old system with some new labels.”

I commented on Mr. Kruse’s blog post saying that his outlook on incorporating technology in the classroom opened my eyes. I also agreed with him that it is important to change the infrastructure if you want to change the system effectively. Finally, I concluded that as a future teacher I agree that individual teachers matter and that individual teachers are essential to changing the educational system.

The second blog post that I commented on was another post from Jerrid W. Kruse. The title of this post was Teacher Education Starts in Kindergarten. This post was unique in the fact that the post was a poem. The poem stated that teachers create all professions including their own. It also led to the idea that teachers must share their passions with their students to let them grow.

I commented on Mr. Kruse’s blog post saying that the questions in his post made me think about my future career as an elementary school teacher. I stated that when I become a teacher, I will share my passion for teaching with my students. By doing this, my students will be influenced to share their passions as well.

Project #13

Date:  February 24-28
Project Based Learning                                                                     
Technology Lesson Plans

Weekly Objective:  BPL Introduction Implementation Reading: R3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. Language: L 3.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. Speaking & Listening SL3.6 Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification. SL 3.1d explains their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion. SL 3.1b follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).	On-Going Objectives Reading: R3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. Language: L3.2  Consult reference materials, including beginning dictionaries, as needed to check and correct spellings.  Speaking & Listening: SL3.4  Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace. Writing: W3.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Monday:  BELL RINGER: List the project criteria. Direct Instruction: “I DO”-  I Curio demonstration on gathering information Guided Practice: “We Do”- decide with your group the topic of your project Let’s Practice: “You Do”- complete the role assignment and begin the research Assessment: teacher observation
Tuesday:  BELL RINGER:  Review roles and responsibilities of group members Direct Instruction: “I DO”-  Answer questions and discuss ways to complete a quality production Guided Practice: “We Do”- review material before publishing Let’s Practice: “You Do”- determine rubric criterion Assessment: teacher observation
Wednesday: BELL RINGER:  Publish rubric and complete final step in the project publishing Direct Instruction: “I DO”-  view demonstration on previous quality presentations Guided Practice: “We Do”- review procedures for full credit on the performance rubric Let’s Practice: “You Do”- complete oral presentation with power point or slideshare Assessment: teacher observation
Thursday:  BELL RINGER:  Write a reflection about pros and cons of PBL and group work. Direct Instruction: “I DO”- read reflections about project and brainstorm ideas for improvement. Guided Practice: “We Do”- develop t chart for pros and cons Let’s Practice: “You Do”- administer questionnaire evaluating performance of group members. Assessment: teacher observation and questionnaire, project submission
Friday:  FIELD TRIP to the computer lab to compile presentations to disc
Students that struggle will be identified through the check list and provided intervention.  Students who have mastered the objective will be assigned the enrichment materials.

Project #9

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Blog Assignment #7

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?

After viewing Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, I learned about the teaching methods Randy Pausch advocated and used at Carnegie-Mellon University. Dr. Pausch's lecture was about everything he had learned in his life - his legacy. Dr. Pausch's advice was to live in the present, overcome obstacles, and achieve your dreams as well as enable the dreams of others.

In his lecture, Dr. Pausch said, "Time is all you have and you may find one day that you have less than you think." I believe that this quote can be applied to teaching. As a future teacher, I know that time is of the essence with students. If, as a teacher, you treat everyday like it is your last day to be able to teach, then you will have a successful day, everyday. Dr. Pausch makes the point that as one gets older, one may find that enabling the dreams of others is more important than their own. As a future teacher, I know that young children dream of outrageous things, but believing in your students makes all the difference. Another point that Dr. Pausch made that stood out to me was, "The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people." I believe this quote can be applied to teachers, students, and every individual as well. This quote demonstrates how life can knock you down, but you have to work hard to achieve what you want.

Unfortunately, Dr. Pausch passed away from liver cancer after giving this lecture. This lecture became an internet sensation, a best-selling book, and an international media story. From Dr. Pausch's Last Lecture, I learned many important ways of thinking as a teacher. I will use this wisdom when I have a classroom of my own.

"The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have." -Randy Pausch

C4K Summary for February

For my first C4K assignment, I commented on Mr. Stampy Carl’s most recent blog post titled S.A’s national anthem. Mr. Stampy Carl is a third grade student at Hong Kong International School in Mrs. Little’s class. The link it his blog is http://kidblog.org/3A2Little/e586e30f-091d-436c-9996-c5f04c23e89b/s-as-national-anthem-2. His blog post was a link to the Soweto Gospel Choir singing the South African National Anthem. I commented saying that the anthem was sung beautifully and that I loved the colorful costumes worn by the gospel choir.

For my next C4K assignment, I commented on Josh’s most recent blog post titled Sunburst. Josh is a 5th or 6th grade student from Wisconsin in Ms. Reuter’s class. The link to his blog is http://kidblog.org/MrsReutersClass2013-2014/19277730-990b-4466-897d-5e229dd55c39/sunburst/. Josh’s blog post was about a birthday party he attended at Sunburst. Sunburst is a sledding and skiing resort. I commented on Josh’s post saying that I liked his use of enthusiasm because it made me want to keep reading.

For my final C4K assignment for the month of February, I commented on Dalton’s most recent blog post, Argumentative Writing: Athens vs Sparta . Dalton is a 7th grade student who attends Bode Middle School in St. Joseph, Montana. The link to his blog is http://sjsdblogs.com/daltonh/. Dalton’s blog post was a screenshot of a PowerPoint about argumentative writing. After attempting to view the PowerPoint, I commented on Dalton’s blog saying that because it was a screenshot of the PowerPoint instead of the actual PowerPoint, I could not view the information. I wrote that he could try embedding a PowerPoint onto his blog next time. Ending on a positive note, I wrote that I liked the layout of his blog because it is organized and unique.