I liked the point that Dennis made in class about developing your teaching philosophy. He said that when he was looking at jobs, if they did not want you to write about your personal teaching philosophy in the application, then do you really want to work for them.
I think that it is important to document your personal teaching philosophy. For the application to the MAT program we had some writing prompts that kind of followed that idea, and also when I applied to the Medford School Dist. I had to write along those same lines of what my personal philosophy of education includes.
I like that he provided samples of teaching philosophies. This is yet another thing that I will personally review annually. It does change from year to year. I think that it is already up for revision after my first year in the schools (part time).
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
ASCD Smart Brief: Tues August 5th
I subscribe to the ASCD smart brief, a principal at one of the schools I teach at recommended it to me, he said it would keep me informed as a teacher. I saw it somewhere in the ed tech website and so I decided to click over and read one from this summer to comment on.
This little email subscription is great. They provide information and links to lots of issues happening in the nation as far as education is concerned.
This issue was not the headline issue of the day, but it was right under it. It was a study posted in science daily that addresses that students learn life information about STD's and pregnancy better when it is presented to them by their regular teachers. It seems that students will listen and learn better from someone they know and trust.
DUH! I feel like if it is not your parents who are telling you, you are much more likely to understand and care about it if your teacher that you see every day tells you about the issues instead of some lady that is a specialist talking about the reproductive system after they split you from the boys.
A good study though, and always good info provided by the smartbrief.
This little email subscription is great. They provide information and links to lots of issues happening in the nation as far as education is concerned.
This issue was not the headline issue of the day, but it was right under it. It was a study posted in science daily that addresses that students learn life information about STD's and pregnancy better when it is presented to them by their regular teachers. It seems that students will listen and learn better from someone they know and trust.
DUH! I feel like if it is not your parents who are telling you, you are much more likely to understand and care about it if your teacher that you see every day tells you about the issues instead of some lady that is a specialist talking about the reproductive system after they split you from the boys.
A good study though, and always good info provided by the smartbrief.
Reading: Technology and Academic Achievement
I am noticing that this new horizons website is very useful for good articles. This is not the first one on the readings that has come from it.
Technology and Academic Achievement was a very interesting article. It adresses the question of whether or not all of the investment in technology in the classroom is paying off, or if it is a waste of monetary resources. this article talked about two studies, and concluded that researchers are having a hard time isolating the technology enough to assess it.
I think that any advancement in technology in the school system is a step in the right direction because technology is the future ahead. At least part of every job will be based on computer skills, and communication more and more online. Can't post a resume on the web? Everyone with a basic education should now be able to do that.
Computers and technological learning tools are money well spent.
Technology and Academic Achievement was a very interesting article. It adresses the question of whether or not all of the investment in technology in the classroom is paying off, or if it is a waste of monetary resources. this article talked about two studies, and concluded that researchers are having a hard time isolating the technology enough to assess it.
I think that any advancement in technology in the school system is a step in the right direction because technology is the future ahead. At least part of every job will be based on computer skills, and communication more and more online. Can't post a resume on the web? Everyone with a basic education should now be able to do that.
Computers and technological learning tools are money well spent.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Reading: intelligence in seven steps
I really like this Howard Gardner guy. I liked the reading on multiple intelligences as well (older blog) but his ideas and processes are so cool I also loved the little section on humanizing intelligence.
LINK TO THIS ARTICLE
LINK TO THIS ARTICLE
10 worst things a teacher can do
In the reading that lists the ten worst things a teacher can do, I of course had an issue with number one. I think that their point was very good, but maybe it should have siad be friends with your students or something because the point was really about boundaries. However number two is about being friends. I think that number one is no good. but the "being Friendly" part I guess I can understand friendly comments and such, but smiling is essential.Making good boundaries with your students and having them know that you are the leader and you are in control. The 'in control' part also goes along with number 5 and 6: never yell and never give the control of your classroom to your students. I like this little list. I think it is always good to have little tips and reminders as you pursue the responsibility of educating children.
Number three and four I really believe in. Singling out students in front of the class is horrible and problems should be addressed in a different atmosphere than the middle of the lesson. Fairness is always important.
Number three and four I really believe in. Singling out students in front of the class is horrible and problems should be addressed in a different atmosphere than the middle of the lesson. Fairness is always important.
Do I have what it takes?
And the Six Keys to becoming a successful teacher are:
Positive attitude- I think I pretty much always have a positive attitude. Life is what you created, and i wouldn't want to create my life around negativity YUCK! Work and home are two separate things, and when things are not working well with one, don't bring it over to the other side of life. Your students have their own realities to deal with, and a teacher should help to positively form the lives and realities of those students.
flexibility- you learn quickly that it will never be the way you planned it. It doesn't work that way. You just have to work around the problem, or don't let it be a problem at all. A teacher is always adjusting and changing the plan to fit the way that it really happened. I am developing this in the classroom, but in life I think that I do well with that aspect. I think I am ok in this section.
fairness- I have seen more unfairness with teachers in my life. It was usually that high school time, when all of the different culture groups of students had to live together in school five days a week. Don't be harder on the angry goth kid because he gets into more trouble than the basketball player, even though they just acted in the same manner toward the computer club member. I think that I will be a very fair teacher and I hope that I can create an environment where all of the students feel like they are part of my classroom.
consistency- always maintain the same rules and expectation and your students will know what is expected of them.
high expectations- My art teacher had a sign that said, "if you don't accept anything but the best, you very often get it" something like that. It's true.
sense of humor- We'll see.....
Positive attitude- I think I pretty much always have a positive attitude. Life is what you created, and i wouldn't want to create my life around negativity YUCK! Work and home are two separate things, and when things are not working well with one, don't bring it over to the other side of life. Your students have their own realities to deal with, and a teacher should help to positively form the lives and realities of those students.
flexibility- you learn quickly that it will never be the way you planned it. It doesn't work that way. You just have to work around the problem, or don't let it be a problem at all. A teacher is always adjusting and changing the plan to fit the way that it really happened. I am developing this in the classroom, but in life I think that I do well with that aspect. I think I am ok in this section.
fairness- I have seen more unfairness with teachers in my life. It was usually that high school time, when all of the different culture groups of students had to live together in school five days a week. Don't be harder on the angry goth kid because he gets into more trouble than the basketball player, even though they just acted in the same manner toward the computer club member. I think that I will be a very fair teacher and I hope that I can create an environment where all of the students feel like they are part of my classroom.
consistency- always maintain the same rules and expectation and your students will know what is expected of them.
high expectations- My art teacher had a sign that said, "if you don't accept anything but the best, you very often get it" something like that. It's true.
sense of humor- We'll see.....
evaluating our blog posts: grading a conversation
Evaluating students work on blogposts and on websites: a new and evolving concept for teachers.
I like that the instructor had us read this because it is exactly what he is doing in the ed tech class.
So, it is a conversation, not an essay. It includes opinions and also reflections of readings and other posts.
Awareness of audience, and Diction are some grading principles. I never thought about the fact that I have not had many real conversations with my professors or teachers. I think the best conversations were about books or things that I had read, but really the teacher just facilitated converation between students. This really is one of the few times that I have felt free in speaking about what I think and also what I have experienced and read.
It is a good tool to have these readings if you were a teacher who needed to figure out how to evaluate and grade students blogs and online doings. Fun to read: get in to the mind of Dennis when he is readin these blogs.
I like that the instructor had us read this because it is exactly what he is doing in the ed tech class.
So, it is a conversation, not an essay. It includes opinions and also reflections of readings and other posts.
Awareness of audience, and Diction are some grading principles. I never thought about the fact that I have not had many real conversations with my professors or teachers. I think the best conversations were about books or things that I had read, but really the teacher just facilitated converation between students. This really is one of the few times that I have felt free in speaking about what I think and also what I have experienced and read.
It is a good tool to have these readings if you were a teacher who needed to figure out how to evaluate and grade students blogs and online doings. Fun to read: get in to the mind of Dennis when he is readin these blogs.
websiteCreation
I just felt that an appropriate thing to blog about is the creation of our websites in class. I must say that when I thought of creating a website I was a little intimidated and also worried that It would be very hard and that I would not really enjoy it.
I would have to say that it was the opposite. For the many hours that we were in class on Sat I was awake, engaged, curious, productive, and never bored. I had so much fun with the photo shop and creating galleries on my website. It was the best class I have ever had if I look at those factors. I even was able to help someone else a little bit.
One of the things that I learned was not to be afraid to ask for help. Dennis was very patient and even though he may have just said it, he would take the time to go over whatever it was again. Also, it turns out the girl next to me who seemed to not be paying attention at all knew how to do everything and would gladly help me through any part of the process. Had I not asked her for help I would have never known.
Website creation can be fun and easy, and YES at the end your brain hurts from repetitively doing things until they work and stick in your brain. I felt cool. I called my mommy and told her that she can now log onto my website and look at pictures of my vacation.
YEAH!
I would have to say that it was the opposite. For the many hours that we were in class on Sat I was awake, engaged, curious, productive, and never bored. I had so much fun with the photo shop and creating galleries on my website. It was the best class I have ever had if I look at those factors. I even was able to help someone else a little bit.
One of the things that I learned was not to be afraid to ask for help. Dennis was very patient and even though he may have just said it, he would take the time to go over whatever it was again. Also, it turns out the girl next to me who seemed to not be paying attention at all knew how to do everything and would gladly help me through any part of the process. Had I not asked her for help I would have never known.
Website creation can be fun and easy, and YES at the end your brain hurts from repetitively doing things until they work and stick in your brain. I felt cool. I called my mommy and told her that she can now log onto my website and look at pictures of my vacation.
YEAH!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
linking
I was suprised at how easy it was to link to other sites or files on the website. As for the blog I forgot but was able to easily type in for help in the blogger site and it showed me the correct icon to click on for the linking.
It is said that linking helps build credibility to your site, be it a blog or a regular website. It shows that you are not just typing mindlessly and hoping that people believe it or follow it (although you might be anyway).
Wikipedia talks about what a hyperlink is and how it behaves. It speaks of html and also of the anchors. It has a little history about Ted Nelson and the coining of the term 'hyperlink' in 1965. It also talks about the legal issues surrounding the idea of the linking to cross reference.
I understand all of that text but it doesn't excite me. But I am proud to know how to use it.
It is said that linking helps build credibility to your site, be it a blog or a regular website. It shows that you are not just typing mindlessly and hoping that people believe it or follow it (although you might be anyway).
Wikipedia talks about what a hyperlink is and how it behaves. It speaks of html and also of the anchors. It has a little history about Ted Nelson and the coining of the term 'hyperlink' in 1965. It also talks about the legal issues surrounding the idea of the linking to cross reference.
I understand all of that text but it doesn't excite me. But I am proud to know how to use it.
The emotional basis of learning
This was an article in the readings for this class. The author was Noboru Kobayashi, M.D.
and the article was titled The Emotional Basis of Learning.
This was a very interesting article. It spoke of biological programs: brain and body functions, and where and how they develop. The author is a credible source, and says that although we are born with certain programs, that it is the interaction with the environment around us that stimulates these programs. Environment is key to development.
The author is saying that if you deprive a child of emotional support, then you are depriving that child from fully developing.
I like what he was saying is correct. Children need an emotionally rich and positive environment to be able to learn better and achieve in life.
and the article was titled The Emotional Basis of Learning.
This was a very interesting article. It spoke of biological programs: brain and body functions, and where and how they develop. The author is a credible source, and says that although we are born with certain programs, that it is the interaction with the environment around us that stimulates these programs. Environment is key to development.
The author is saying that if you deprive a child of emotional support, then you are depriving that child from fully developing.
I like what he was saying is correct. Children need an emotionally rich and positive environment to be able to learn better and achieve in life.
Educational Blogging
I think that there are many advantages to educational blogging. I have never thought about this concept previously or experienced it in a classroom environment. Its true. This is the way that kids learn. The computer is something that they know and tend to relate to. I think that it would be an opening in communication. Present an idea or concept, and some resources, and use it as a tool for learning. The students would really do the assignment I think and they would read what the others had to say and comment about it. It would be a learning experience for the the teacher as well.
I can think of some possible cons to the idea of educational blogging. It just seems to me that the same boundaries need to be set on the internet as they are in the classroom. Those boundaries may have to be presented differently, but the same core values and rules apply: don't get too personal, stick to the subject and that is all. The same language and rules of respect would have to apply as well.
Not only could you reach the students, but the parents that one might not hear from very often seem to participate in the blogging as well.
I like the concept of this and found an interesting site http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2008/07/21/50-useful-blogging-tools-for-teachers/
It talks about where and how to set up your blog, fun tools and page add-ons, as well as getting students in action.
Perhaps I could be an educational blogger...
I can think of some possible cons to the idea of educational blogging. It just seems to me that the same boundaries need to be set on the internet as they are in the classroom. Those boundaries may have to be presented differently, but the same core values and rules apply: don't get too personal, stick to the subject and that is all. The same language and rules of respect would have to apply as well.
Not only could you reach the students, but the parents that one might not hear from very often seem to participate in the blogging as well.
I like the concept of this and found an interesting site http://www.teachingtips.com/blog/2008/07/21/50-useful-blogging-tools-for-teachers/
It talks about where and how to set up your blog, fun tools and page add-ons, as well as getting students in action.
Perhaps I could be an educational blogger...
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Multiple intelligences
OOh! This one is fun and interactive. I took the little sample test and scored highest in music and interpersonal, while it looks like I am lacking in the Mathematics dept.
I like the theory of multiple intelligences: we have touched on it before in an undergrad education class. I think that I pretty much agree with Gardner, intelligence is something that develops and changes, and the testing of intelligences should focus on process, not the final answer. I was happy to see that there are tests of multiple intelligences that are used in classrooms. I also agree that every human possesses some of every one of the nine intelligences, it just varies on how much each person possesses, and that is what makes us individual. I like that a person is not labeled if they do not excel in a certain subject, rather they possess more of another type of intelligence.
I think that this could be useful all of the time: in class, with one's own children, at work.
I am happy to see such a site. I think that it would help any person to better understand,teach, and ,relate to their students.
I like the theory of multiple intelligences: we have touched on it before in an undergrad education class. I think that I pretty much agree with Gardner, intelligence is something that develops and changes, and the testing of intelligences should focus on process, not the final answer. I was happy to see that there are tests of multiple intelligences that are used in classrooms. I also agree that every human possesses some of every one of the nine intelligences, it just varies on how much each person possesses, and that is what makes us individual. I like that a person is not labeled if they do not excel in a certain subject, rather they possess more of another type of intelligence.
I think that this could be useful all of the time: in class, with one's own children, at work.
I am happy to see such a site. I think that it would help any person to better understand,teach, and ,relate to their students.
PDF planet review
Portable Document Format: three words that I never would have known. I am familiar with the PDF format, and I have the Adobe Acrobat Reader on my computer, but I never knew what PDF meant. It makes sense. Of course the best thing about this is the free ebooks. You can also get free software which is always nice when it is useful.
I think that it is funny that the last PDF conference was at DisneyWorld. I just can't imagine all of those software nuts riding splash mountain.
There are many tips and tricks that would be especially useful in using and fully understanding PDF and all of it's advantages.
There is one woman on the Planet PDF team, that is very progressive of them. None of them look like they spend their entire life on the computer:)
I think that it is funny that the last PDF conference was at DisneyWorld. I just can't imagine all of those software nuts riding splash mountain.
There are many tips and tricks that would be especially useful in using and fully understanding PDF and all of it's advantages.
There is one woman on the Planet PDF team, that is very progressive of them. None of them look like they spend their entire life on the computer:)
Review VLIB
Wow. I wish I could imply the way I actually said that when I logged on to the website. A great start to any research, this site is amazing. You can quickly and easily look up sites that are pertinent to the subject you are wanting information for. A quick click on regional studies connects you with sites that are knowledgeable and credible.
I could find any aspect of Latin America ranging from regions to economy to government. It was easy and not confusing at all. I think that this is a great tool for teaching and for learning. A student would be able to find good information on just about any subject without much time. This is good for teaching as well because it would be able to provide a nice addition to the material being presented, and could prompt students to look up things on their own when they are curious about them.
I could find any aspect of Latin America ranging from regions to economy to government. It was easy and not confusing at all. I think that this is a great tool for teaching and for learning. A student would be able to find good information on just about any subject without much time. This is good for teaching as well because it would be able to provide a nice addition to the material being presented, and could prompt students to look up things on their own when they are curious about them.
Furl review
As previously stated in another blog, I am new to all of the internet perks. Yes, I have bookmarked, but was surprised to find that there is an advanced bookmarking program. This is new to me. I like the idea that I can rate the sites that I am bookmarking, and I even have the option to email the site to a friend. I have only to find out how to delete a site that I have added to my list. I like that I can be on my laptop and find the sites that I furled while I was on a school computer-saves paper and time.
I am seeing the importance of passwords as I venture forth into many new internet concepts, this is my only concern so far is that there are now more places that one might be able to view what I have been doing and documenting while on the internet. I have made my password stronger than it previously had been. I also like the whole accessibility thing, when I log on to my furl account I am also provided of the most popular bookmarks that have been logged into the program. This is a neat feature; I found the solar eclipse slide show, and some interesting news items.
As far as educational use, it is great. If you find a great news story or site that you would like to share in the classroom, you no longer need to search for it, you can just log in to your furl account and click on the entry. Also, if you are in need of a news story that is good, or want to search a specific category you can find something else to view and discuss from your furl account.
Now I am off to install the furl it button onto my personal computer.
I am seeing the importance of passwords as I venture forth into many new internet concepts, this is my only concern so far is that there are now more places that one might be able to view what I have been doing and documenting while on the internet. I have made my password stronger than it previously had been. I also like the whole accessibility thing, when I log on to my furl account I am also provided of the most popular bookmarks that have been logged into the program. This is a neat feature; I found the solar eclipse slide show, and some interesting news items.
As far as educational use, it is great. If you find a great news story or site that you would like to share in the classroom, you no longer need to search for it, you can just log in to your furl account and click on the entry. Also, if you are in need of a news story that is good, or want to search a specific category you can find something else to view and discuss from your furl account.
Now I am off to install the furl it button onto my personal computer.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
igoogle review
I missed the first class. Stomach cramps and all the good stuff that comes with Montezuma's Revenge. I set up my igoogle account by myself. I would like to start by saying that I am not a technology based person. I am learning, and I am open to learning, but as it stands now, this is my first blog ever. I am excited about the blog site, and I think that I will learn a lot about how to function better on the internet.
igoogle is overwhelming to me. I missed the step by step instruction but I felt immediately overwhelmed with my page. I know as I get better at managing it though, that I will be able to make it the way that I want it. I do like the accessibility part of this. I think that the accessibility is the best part of this.
I like that I put in general interests and then I get a tab with links and information that is fun, addicting, and interesting. I feel more connected with the world already. As soon as I am able to manage the settings I think my igoogle site will shape up nicely.
igoogle is overwhelming to me. I missed the step by step instruction but I felt immediately overwhelmed with my page. I know as I get better at managing it though, that I will be able to make it the way that I want it. I do like the accessibility part of this. I think that the accessibility is the best part of this.
I like that I put in general interests and then I get a tab with links and information that is fun, addicting, and interesting. I feel more connected with the world already. As soon as I am able to manage the settings I think my igoogle site will shape up nicely.
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