Annotated Video Playlist Link
Friday, May 8, 2015
My Classroom Vision
Our classroom will be a place where curiosity and inquiry are strongly encourage. In our classroom we will always explore new concepts and discuss the unknown. We will be creative and explore. Students will be innovators, movers, shakers-- they will be in control of their own education. They will be allowed to express themselves freely and think critically. This is the kind of learning environment I was in the classroom.
What It Looks and Feels Like:
Walking in the door, you'll see that the walls are painted bright colors. There will be inspirational quotes all over them! Desks are situated in a circle rather than all facing the front. There will be background music, but not loud enough to disrupt learning and collaborating. The look of the room will differ with seasons-- students can put art project on the wall or hanging from the ceiling.
Our classroom will be a place where curiosity and inquiry are strongly encourage. In our classroom we will always explore new concepts and discuss the unknown. We will be creative and explore. Students will be innovators, movers, shakers-- they will be in control of their own education. They will be allowed to express themselves freely and think critically. This is the kind of learning environment I was in the classroom.
What It Looks and Feels Like:
Walking in the door, you'll see that the walls are painted bright colors. There will be inspirational quotes all over them! Desks are situated in a circle rather than all facing the front. There will be background music, but not loud enough to disrupt learning and collaborating. The look of the room will differ with seasons-- students can put art project on the wall or hanging from the ceiling.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Netiquette Guidelines
11th Grade
When communicating online, you should…
11th Grade
When communicating online, you should…
- Be polite and treat others with the same respect you’d like to be treated
- Have proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- No acronyms such as OMG or BRB!!
- When emailing, include a subject
- Be short and to the point
- Link classmates to Google Docs or email accordingly for group projects
- Don’t send an email someone else wrote without their permission
- Ask permission if you’re sending a large file
- Be careful when using humor and sarcasm because it can be misinterpreted
Monday, April 27, 2015
Reflections of Assistive Technologies
Lukas Bratcher is a high school student who is very involved in his school jazz and marching band. Lukas has a disability which renders his four limbs nearly useless, as he has stiffness in his muscles and joints-- but he hasn't let his disability prevent him from doing what he loves. He participates in school, is the captain of the chess club, and of course, plays in the band. With the help of local repair shop owner Robin Amend, Lukas was able to continue in his music career despite his disability by using a joystick that was able to operate the valves of the horn. When his horn was stolen, he got a more responsive joystick horn which enables him to play just like everyone else in the band.
Elle Gorman is a fourteen year old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Elle likes to do things just like any other fourteen year old girl such as shop at the mall. Dinabox is a communication device that she uses; she can look at a picture and the Dinabox talks for her. With this amazing technology, Elle is able to effectively express her thoughts and needs as well as communicate and socialize with other kids her age.
Mason, six, enjoys music and playing bowling, tennis, and Just Dance on the wii. Mason is blind in his left eye and has partial retina in his right eye. He can see about 2300 vision compared to the normal 20/20. With certain adaptations and technology, Mason functions just as a normal six year old. Mason has a smart keyboard that will tell him exactly what he types, making it easy for him to read and write within the classroom. The school district has been very supportive in obtaining the technology in order to succeed. The smart board in the classroom is large enough for Mason to see, so he can interact with it just as well as the other kids. He is currently learning brail.
Elle Gorman is a fourteen year old girl diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Elle likes to do things just like any other fourteen year old girl such as shop at the mall. Dinabox is a communication device that she uses; she can look at a picture and the Dinabox talks for her. With this amazing technology, Elle is able to effectively express her thoughts and needs as well as communicate and socialize with other kids her age.
Mason, six, enjoys music and playing bowling, tennis, and Just Dance on the wii. Mason is blind in his left eye and has partial retina in his right eye. He can see about 2300 vision compared to the normal 20/20. With certain adaptations and technology, Mason functions just as a normal six year old. Mason has a smart keyboard that will tell him exactly what he types, making it easy for him to read and write within the classroom. The school district has been very supportive in obtaining the technology in order to succeed. The smart board in the classroom is large enough for Mason to see, so he can interact with it just as well as the other kids. He is currently learning brail.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Smart vs. Dumb
If this even a thing? Of course not! Chapter 4 in Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse or The First Year of Teaching reinforces my belief that you cannot measure intelligence, but rather the capacity to learn in different environments. Sure, it seems that some students excel at certain things while others do not. However, that doesn't make the confused student stupid-- they just require a different way of learning! I want to be the kind of teacher who is flexible enough to incorporate and cater to multiple learning styles within my curriculum because each student is different.
If this even a thing? Of course not! Chapter 4 in Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse or The First Year of Teaching reinforces my belief that you cannot measure intelligence, but rather the capacity to learn in different environments. Sure, it seems that some students excel at certain things while others do not. However, that doesn't make the confused student stupid-- they just require a different way of learning! I want to be the kind of teacher who is flexible enough to incorporate and cater to multiple learning styles within my curriculum because each student is different.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Today was an interesting day in EdTech-- we played video games! I especially love playing tennis and baseball on the Wii. The classroom environment was pretty lax, which enabled people to explore the technology in the classroom while getting done the work they need. Then I realized that this is the point! For a moment, I began to think like a teacher rather than a student.
Video games help you to relax but also stimulate your mind; as a teacher, you can use this to your advantage for educational purposes. Students can have fun while learning by stepping out of the strict parameters of the traditional classroom, even if it's just for a little while. I'm a huge advocate of learning through experience-- lucky me to live in the twenty-first century where I can utilize the technology at my disposal! The game environment is a good platform to precipitate the "hands on" style learning I want my students to have.
Video games help you to relax but also stimulate your mind; as a teacher, you can use this to your advantage for educational purposes. Students can have fun while learning by stepping out of the strict parameters of the traditional classroom, even if it's just for a little while. I'm a huge advocate of learning through experience-- lucky me to live in the twenty-first century where I can utilize the technology at my disposal! The game environment is a good platform to precipitate the "hands on" style learning I want my students to have.
Friday, January 16, 2015
I have always loved to read and write, and enjoyed my senior AP Lit class a bit too much. My favorite novel is Orwell's 1984. My first major at BSU was Communication with an emphasis in media/journalism; I wrote for the Arbiter which helped me realize that news style writing just isn't for me. I come from a family of professors, teachers, and coaches, so teaching has always been on my mind. I decided that it could be for me, especially since I can still do what I'm passionate about-- reading and writing.
I'm very set on teaching high school English (10th or 11th grade is my preference). I honestly think I'd flourish in the classroom environment and hope to help improve and enrich my student's lives. My friends always come to me to edit their papers (so I have that going for me!), but I'd also like to gain more experience by applying for an internship in the Creative Writing Center. As for now, I'm just trying to get through my freshmen year.
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