Reflection on Technology Course

• In what ways has this course helped you to develop your own technology skills?

During this course I had to make and use a blog, an interactive wiki, and post a podcast. This course guided me through the above mentioned new technologies. It gave direction and guidance on how to become a 21st century learner as well as a 21st century teacher. It also showed me that even if you are not actual using an actual computer or piece of technology you may still be teaching 21st century skills in your classroom. It made me more aware of technology around me.

• In what ways can you continue to expand your knowledge of technology integration with the aim of student achievement?

Of course I can continue expanding my knowledge by using the Internet. I can search for new articles or lessons on technology. I can continue blogging on different sites to keep up to date on new information. First and foremost just be a sponge on 21st century skills. Plan lessons that use 21st century skills in the classroom.

• Set 2 long term goals

Goal 1-I plan to ask for more Smart Boards when we move locations next year. So my primary students can interact with technology on a more consistent basis. Also, take them to the Smart Board as often as possible.

Goal 2-Give my students more opportunities in the classroom to access interactive websites and podcasts during their center time. I will make a rotation chart so that each child has equal amounts of exposure to the computer.

Podcast

This week we had to make a audio only podcast with our children from our classroom. We were asked to interview at least 3 children on how they used technology in their lives. I found out that my students are digital natives of course. Learning how to use this new technology is interesting in its own right. Takes time but might be a useful tool in the classroom for assessment.

The URL for my podcast is: http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/3001

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

Reaction to website: This website has lots of information. It seemed to try to bridge the gap between curriculum and technology. It gave lots of ways to implement technology into the core areas of teaching.

Information that surprised me: It gave life skills on how to use technology productively. That The United States is adopting the partnership of 21st century skills. There are 14 states currently adopting the partnership.

Did you disagree with anything on the website? Why?: What I read seemed like good ideas on how to use technology effectively.

What are the implications for your students, and for you as a contemporary educator?: For my students a basic understanding of the core subjects will help them the most. It has information on how and what to implement as far as technology goes. It gives information for educators on standards that they can use technology to achieve them.

November

Class pictures-11/3
K.S and K.S 5th B-day-11/7
Mrs. Rainey at Training-11/10 & 11/11
Thanksgiving Break-11/25-11/27

Theme for November-Fairy Tales, Thanksgiving, & Nutrition

Items needed-Boys dress up clothes (pilgrim, Native American, prince)

Utilizing this blog for the classroom

Well, utilizing this blog for my classroom will be a tad more challenging. I teach Pre-K which means I have a room full of 4-5 year old students some which don't even speak English. So, I think the way I can use this blog effectively would be to gear it towards all the parents. I can post current events and important dates. I can show them I am bettering myself by posting my blogs about class. I can also post pictures of work or student (with permission) assessment. One of the ways the state of GA asks us to show assessment is pictures. The parents don't get to see the pictures until the end of the year when they take their portfolio home. This might be a good way for them to see their child in action.

New Class

I have started class 3! I am excited about this class. We are actually learning about how to use technology in our classroom. This post is an initial post for this class.

Help and Garcia

Garcia told us to ask for help when needed. It might be harder to find or take more time, but if you really care about the learning of a child you will find a way to support them. Using our text Affirming Diversity is a good resource for techniques on helping ELL students. Not one book or technique will be enough for all students. You can not use something that was not designed for the students. Most teachers have a theory for your students and their learning. Your approach to learning will affect your teaching Garcia stated. If you go in thinking everyone is a blank slate and they all can learn then your students will succeed. If you label them as student's who must learn English first or conform to your theory will fail. They will not succeed at the level needed. Teachers must find ways to make their environment a language rich environment. The days of sitting there and listening and then taking a test are over. The students need to experiment with their language on a daily basis.

CREDE lesson and culture

Bringing in more culture to this lesson would be to give them options on different ways to show me that they understand fall. They might be able to paint a picture. Some may want to physically show me examples from outside. Or some might even like to explain it with using their words or acting it out. Just as Garcia stated, " the teacher needs to be respectful and responsive to the students". Being responsive he stated was to understand their culture and bath them with language. Let the students use their language. In my lesson I might need to let the children use their language more. Let them talk more and give details of their picture. Less lecture from my part and more language from them. Having them practice their English is the the only way for them to become proficient. Garcia told us that we need to responsible and resourceful. We need to make sure everyone is working together on learning. If we don't pay attention to make sure if certain students are engaged then they will slip to the wayside.

CREDE lesson

The lesson I did this week that I am reviewing was on Fall and finger painting. First I read a book about crafts from around the world and how they were made. This was a non-fiction story with real photographs of crafts and people doing them from around the world. I believe that I was implementing the CREDE standard of developing literacy and language skills across the curriculum because this was an art and science activity, but by pulling the book into the lesson I brought in literacy and culture. Working with the students in a small group put together the teacher student working together CREDE standards. By finger painting the leaves in the fall colors and having them paint them falling off the tree brought in the real life to school because it is fall currently and these things are happening. We discussed the season and why it happened while painting.

Using CREDE standards

I believe that I use many of the CREDE standards daily in my lesson plans. Using the first standard in a Pre-K classroom is imperative for learning. Teachers and students must work together. We work together to pick the theme and topic for instruction. One of our state standards is that we work on the child's level and level of interest. Using language skills across the curriculum is also something that is very evident in my room. Everyday we have to read 3-5 books and have activities to accompany them. We have many opportunities for the students to use language with teachers or socially. We are told to give them time to answer and build off of their interests. Connecting to the children's home life can be more difficult since they are all so different. I try to give them many opportunities to express interest in their home life and school. We try to make the connects by reading non-fiction text and discussing how it is similar to their home life. Making lessons challenging and engaging also be challenging. Every child comes to me on different levels and having different experiences. I try to make everything seem so exciting by using fun books, paint, or manipulatives. We try not to lecture at all because their attention span is only about 5-10 minutes long. I have to change activities often and we use lots of dialogue during the duration of the day.

CREDE

CREDE standards

1.Teacher and students working together

2.Developing literacy and language skills across the curriculum

3.Connecting school to students' lives

4.Engaging students with challenging lessons

5.Emphasizing dialogue over lecture

These are the CREDE standards presented from the DVD by Dr. Roland Tharp

These standards are things that all teachers strive to achieve daily with all students not just ELL. They seems so easy. Most teachers are probably doing most of them daily without even realizing it.

I know that in a Pre-K classroom we are very hands on and use lots of pictures in everything that we do!

Yet again

I hope this time I can remember my information. I have created a 3rd blog now to blog about my Master's class. I have finally wrote down the information so I can remember how to get back here and to tell others how to find it. Wow all this is so different then just writing a paper. Sometimes I wonder which will be more stressful!