csquard07

2006-04-29T16:49:00.000-07:00

Over the past semester I've seen quite a bit of technology used. But, it wasn't in my cooperating teachers classroom. In order to fulfill my practicum hours I had to spend all of my technology time in the computer lab. I wasn't sure how varied the lessons would be or how behaved the students would be at the repetition. I was also curious at how much the content areas would be integrated into the technology lessons. I was also concerned about just sitting around being extra furniture in the room, but the computer lab teacher quickly fixed that the first day. She told me to jump right in helping the students as necessary whenever necessary. I had so many questions at the beginning of the semester that have been slowly answered as the semester went along. The computer lab teacher really amazed me at how efficient she was with the time she had the students, only 45 minutes for a 6 day cycle. She quickly moved them in for review and explanation of the day and then straight to individual computers. She rarely had discipline issues. But, the one time I did see a discipline issue, the computer lab teacher, gave the boy one warning, then removed him from his computer, and then removed him from the computer lab. She wasn't playing around! I was also amazed at how easy the content areas meshed with the technology. It's just like we've been learning in our technology class, the technology should be "invisible". I definitely think that the computer lab teacher was doing this, the students were learning the states and capitals in 5th grade but were learning how to insert and use a table! It was great! I do wonder about one thing concerning the computer lab. I was there for many different grade levels and during the kindergarten level, the aide would stay in the lab for the lesson. But, for all of the other grades, the students were essentially "dropped off". I understand that this is usually how centers work. I'm more curious however, if there should be a lab assistant during some hours of the day of the entirety of the day?? The computer lab teacher told me what a relief it was to have another person help open windows, adjust font, refresh pages, etc. And I was only there for a few lessons. I wish that I could seen more technology integrated into my own cooperating teacher's classroom to see how I would be able to use it more when I become a teacher. Overall, I have learned a lot from spending time in the computer lab and think these practicum hours have been very valuable.

2006-04-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

This semester in the School of Education, I've been focusing on Technology, Social Studies, and Language Arts. In my Language Arts class, we've discussed how to correctly hold a guided reading group, literacy centers, and writing lessons. The students I have seen write in my second grade classroom have really impressed me with what they can do and how much they have grown. Jo McLeay's blog called The Open Classroom has a blog entry entitled Powerful Writing that shares similiar feelings about one of her students writing but through a blog. http://theopenclassroom.blogspot.com/ Ms. McLeay discusses a particular time when one of her students had started a discussion about the athletes from Sierra Leone who had gone missing from Melbourne during the Commonwealth Games. (Ms. McLeay teaches in Australia) Ms. McLeay described her student as passionate and engaging. She said it started a big discussion about the living conditions of Sierra Leone. She also included part of Zoe's blog, which would be the powerful writing she was referring to in her title. Zoe was not only passionate, she was moving, it was like she really wanted to help. And she did. Along with her classmates, they raised $200 in one lunch period for Sierra Leone. This blog shows a great point about our students that we often overlook. They are more insightful than we think. We don't give them nearly enough credit for their own original ideas and thoughts. From just watching a video, one idea was started that snowballed into this amazing discussion, passionate writing, and even a fundraiser.

2006-04-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading one of Wesley Friar's blog entries from his weblog called Moving at the Speed of Creativity, which can be found at http://www.speedofcreativity.org/. This blog was entitled Racist Games Teach Wrong Values. Mr. Friar discusses a game called "Border Patrol" that essentially has the gamer kill illegal immigrants coming into America. He makes the point that video games are a form of reality and that promoting this ethnoentric behavior is absurd. He mentions that school districts will block sites that have games like these but the larger issue is the dicussion of human rights that an educator should be having with their students. He argues that we shouldn't just be told don't go there but should be informed about why they shouldn't go there and be able to discuss the important issues. I think that Mr. Friar brings up an excellent point about not only teaching with technology but with teaching in general. Many times as educators there is a tendency to just say no or stop or don't do that instead of giving the reasoning and explanation so there can be understanding. If as educators we can incorporate the why into more of our lessons and perhaps more importantly our reprimands or "no"s, our students will be able to get more out of learning.

2006-03-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

I decided to check out the blog links that are on our TappedIn home page. I went to the http://firstyearteacher.blogspot.com/. This site was made by a first year teacher who is now in her third year of teaching. I read over several of her entries and loved how she is so candid about her experiences. If seems like she is very involved in not only her school but in her children's individual lives. I read over one particular blog entry that was particularly interesting. She was blogging about a recent committee meeting that she attended because"that is what English teachers do". It was a meeting between the middle school and high school teachers about how the middle school teachers could help the students be more prepared for high school. The middle school teachers have to be very open in my opinion because I feel like this could turn into a personal attack like why haven't you done this yet kind of thing. Anyway, she commented about how the high school teachers gave a long list of criteria that the students should have already completed by the time they get to high school. Here are some examples from the list: 1. Research and prepare a four page paper using proper MLA formatting, correct grammar, punctuation, voice, and audience. 2. Create and present a ten-minute presentation with multi-media visuals. 3. Recognize verbal phrases and causes. 4. Demonstrate understanding of indirect and direct objects and object complements. 5. Understand, use, and write in Standard English in the classroom. 6. Independently read and discuss novels. The teacher was in shock at this list and honestly, so am I!! That is a lot of responsibility to place solely on the shoulder's of these middle school teachers. It makes you wonder what the high school teachers will actually be teaching? Anyway, the teacher sat in disbelief and mad the comment that she didn't think her students would be able to make it to that level. Her comment was met by several gasps and dirty looks for fellow colleagues. Some of her students can't READ, so how in the world will they be able to complete these assignments! She makes an extremely valid point, our students should be learning the basics first and then building upon them. I really like her blog and will continue to look at it for more insightful teaching experiences!

2006-03-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

I decided to search the Internet for some useful education blogs and found one I really liked. Rhymes with Right can be found at http://rhymeswithright.mu.nu/. This blog is by a World History teacher in Texas. I found a very interesting blog about college professors. This blog explained how in Minnesota, they are considering a piece of legislation that requires professors to speak English. I personally whole-heartedly can relate to this situation. I have had 3 math classes at my college and each professor was foreign. The first two could speak pretty good English and could be understood with the occasional math term misunderstood. But the last teacher, oh my! Everyday was a struggle to understand her English, not to mention the linear algebra material! I agree 100% that professors should have to be able to be understood by students. Not in a snobby, Western, "our language is best way", but more in a let's be able to communicate with one another way. North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Texas already have laws that deal with college professors and English proficiency. This article can also relate to the elementary field. Our elementary school teachers should be able to speak English as well. However, in an elementary school setting we must be mindful of our ESL students who will feel the same way that the college students felt when they couldn't understand their foreign professors. This article really made me think about the other side of the coin, relating to our ESL students and how they might feel in our classrooms.

2006-03-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading Will Richardson's blog entitled "So Where is the Internet Literacy Bill?" http://www.weblogg-ed.com/ He discusses the issue of students and teachers using the Internet. He makes the argument that there is a law passed that mandates schools to teach safe Internet use but why isn't there a law to require schools to teach students and teachers to use the Internet. He gives several examples, including StormFront site about Martin Luther King, Jr. I completely agree with Mr. Richardson's point about mandating Internet literacy. We should definitely be teaching students about Internet safety but Interney literacy would help students to understand what they are reading is factual or what is made up by the the creator of the website. By mandating a law like this however, we would need to give the students more than 45 minutes of a 6 day cycle in the computer lab to learn these technology skills. I really liked Mr. Richardson's insight on this topic and think more buzz should be created about it.

2006-02-19T20:11:00.000-08:00

The purpose of my blog this semester is to write about and reflect on the experiences I am having in my practicum. Another purpose of my blog will be to read other education related blogs and comment on them. This will allow me the chance to investigate even further to other educational experiences and ideas. This blog allows me the chance to share with others what is going on with my education experience so far. I'm hoping that through this blog and my time spent on it, I will find other neat technological devices to use in my classroom. I'm also hoping to connect with other educators through this blog and get advice on how to handle situations in the classroom. I'm also having another neat experience that ties me with other educators on TappedIn, through that I really hope to get the guidance I need for my classroom from mentors and other mentees. I'm also hoping to achieve personal reflection because getting all of my experiences out "on paper" really allows me to appreciate and learn. I'm also hoping to achieve insight from my fellow classmates' blogs and what they write about. I'm really glad I have this opportunity to integrate technology into my practicum.

2006-02-17T17:25:00.000-08:00

I've been spending more time at my elementary school this semester and I'm really getting a better sense of how the classroom works and what the kids are like. It's really interesting to see how the kids have grown and matured since August. I've also been spending quite a bit of time in the computer lab to get my technology practicum hours since my teacher does not use technology at all in the classroom. I really like the way the computer teacher introduces the lesson, shows the children how to get to the programs they will be using on the Smartboard, which is an awesome technological device that is like a touch pad on a huge screen that the students can easily interact with. The younger students K-2nd grade have been working on math skills, counting to 100, since it was just the 100th day of school. While, 5th grade has been concentrating on Word skills, this past week was inserting a table and naming all 50 states and capitals. It's amazing how easy it is to see the difference between those who have a computer at home and those who don't. You don't even have to ask because those who don't have one at home take much longer to find keys and know where things are on the computer. I was amazed to see how difficult it was for the 5th graders to type, I thought they would be much faster and more proficient. They really seemed to struggle. I was also surprised at how much I was needed in the computer lab, I'm not sure how the computer lab teacher does it on her own sometimes. The children constantly had questions about something regardless of how through she was in the introduction of the lesson. I didn't get to just sit and watch, I was moving around the lab helping students with whatever they needed. The computer lab teacher told me how grateful she was to have me there, it really helped her out! I've really liked spending time in the computer lab, it definitely makes me more interesting in different kinds of technology and the importance of taking my own students there for free time to build their technology skills.

2006-02-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

I just started my second semester in the School of Education. I am taking another technology course that helps to incorporate ways to employ technology in the classroom. For my new technology class, one of the assignments was to do a Technology Inventory at my practicum school. I went to speak to the computer lab teacher to help complete this assignment. Here's my Technology Inventory......http://cmcero.people.wm.edu/My_technology_inventory.htm

2005-12-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

Final Reflection
Coming into this class, I knew very little about technology that could be applied to the classroom. I've learned a lot about how to integrate different types of technology into lessons. For example, you can use a digital microscope to enhance a science lesson. I got the opportunity to try one out in my technology class and it was totally awesome, i think that my students would be more willing to learn about science if they had the chance to really get hands on with such an advanced device. I've learned about wikis and blogs. I would have never thought that I would actually be blogging, let alone blogging alot! I think blogs could defintitely be incorporated into the classroom by letting students blog about their interests or writing short essays in the form of blogs. This would mean children would need more access to computers, but that would just give the students more time with technology which I think is much needed in the classroom.
My knowledge of technology has definitely grown in this class. Making the final powerpoint presentation was great. My partner, Meghan, and I really had a great time putting in the special effects and links. It was even fun making the transitions. However, we quickly learned how frustrating technology can be when you don't really know what you are doing. We tried to link our powerpoint and lesson plan to our eportfolio but we had the hardest time remembering what our Technology Professor had told us. We tried numerous ways to try to make it a reality but failed miserably. Finally, we got a hold of our Professor and she helped us out. With the great improvements in technology, it would be a shame not to try to incorporate it as much as possible into lesson plans. I can't wait until I have my own classroom to try some of this technology out on!

2005-11-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

When I visit my elementary school to do my practicum assignments, I sign in with the front office and have to wear my college lanyard. As I walk into my classroom, some of the students turn and smile at me. Mrs. P's classroom is run firmly but the children are allowed to move about the room when needed, so a few give me hugs and say they are glad to see me. I'm starting to feel more comfortable spending time in the classroom. I have been to my school over 7 times now and the teacher has been giving me more and more tasks to complete each time I am there. At first, I merely observed what was going on in the classroom. Then I got to walk about the room when Mrs. P was teaching a lesson or had given an independent assignment. Then Mrs. P told me that when a student raises their hand that I was allowed to answer their question to the best of my ability. I am now reading individually with students and reviewing their journal writings. I'm starting to feel more involved and utilized and less like part of the background that is just observing. There are still a lot of things I have left to learn before I ever dream of taking on a classroom of 20 or more eager, awaiting sponges. I still am not sure where I stand on the issue of discipline, specifically when to apply it the most and in what situations to use it at all. I still need to learn how to even write a lesson plan! How do I keep all 25 students engaged and learning on a specific topic. How will I deal with socioeconomic differences when they arise in the classroom, like inability to have certain supplies, besides the obvious of me supplying the materials? How much support will I receive from my administration, fellow teachers, and even parents? How do you deal with that one child that you just can't seem to get through to? These and many more are the questions I still have about teaching. I know that this occupation won't give me much as far as monetary return is concerned but the reward of changing a child's life is more than I could ever ask for.

2005-11-01T19:12:00.000-08:00

For one of my practicum assignments, I went to go talk to a special education service provider. Mrs. H is in charge of all of the special education children for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade at my elementary school. She is constantly running in and out of classrooms. She always has a folder in one hand and a child's hand in her other hand. I've never seen Mrs. H just sit somewhere or take a break. She usually even works through her lunch, working on an Individual Education Program and having a bite to eat every other sentence. Mrs. H said she was always involved in helping with special education because her two daughters always wanted to help out growing up, whether it be in the Special Olympics or just helping out after school. Mrs. H says she works very closely with the general education teachers on curriculum and assignment related issues. Mrs. H takes out the children with mental retardation for most of the core subjects and gives them modified instruction while reading out everything to them.
Mrs. H commented that her work is the most rewarding job she could ever have and the look on her students' faces when they get material is by far the best feeling ever. She also said that at the end of the day she does feel a lot of personal guilt because even though her job is rewarding it is very difficult. She often feels that she does not do enough for her students. I asked her if it was frustrating working on the same concept over and over again. She replied that working as a special education provider required a lot of patience and a lot of love, two things she had plenty to give.

2005-10-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

Recently, I visited the elementary school were I am observing for my practicum course. I am observing in a 2nd grade classroom. When I walked in, the students were finishing up independent reading and were called back to the reading corner of the classroom. It was Consititution week and the students were learning about rules and laws, including state, local, community, and school rules. Mrs. P read the students a book about Rosa Parks and how she refused to move from the front of the bus where only white people were allowed to sit. Since Rosa Parks was tired she did not want to move to the back of the bus. This caused Ms. Parks to be arrested. This prompted the class to discuss rules and laws. Mrs. P told the students that during the time of her grandma there were other rules like this one that made African-Americans and White people drink at different water fountains, bathrooms, and even public schools. The children seemed to have a problem understanding that some of their own classmates would have to go to school somewhere else beside right were they are. One of the girls said her mom was white and her dad was black, and that sometimes she heard people call her daddy bad names that she did not understand. She said her dad had a conversation with her about some people not liking other people but to never judge a person by the color of their skin and to always treat a new person with the same respect and kindness that you would want from them. I found this to be an extremely interesting and deep comment to come from a 7 year old girl. This was an amazing insight for her to have at such a young age. This is an example of how a parent can mold a child's lifestyle and viewpoint towards others for the postive in this example and somethimes, unfortunately for the negative.

2005-10-11T16:23:00.000-07:00

I looked around George Lucas' website and decided to read the article When Calamity Invades the Classroom. The article describes how a seventh grade classroom in New Orleans participated in a press conference about saving the wetlands. Little did the teacher or the students know that their presentation on how high the water levels could rise if a hurricane occured because of the loss of so much wetland would actually happen a few months later. The article also describes that the amount of displaced students reached around 300,000. Neighboring states heave been helping in as many educational areas as possible including hiring teachers, enrolling displaced students, and side-stepping their own educational rules like a classroom size of 22 for each teacher.

My reaction to this article is shock. It is very hard to believe that only a few months later a groups of seventh graders, along with their teacher, predicted a hurricane. This also shows how real world issues relate to education and what is being taught in the classroom. Those students knew the importance of the wetlands and the consequences of not having much of them left. I did not know that there were that many displaced students from Louisiana and Mississippi. The fact that neighboring states were immediately stepping up to help in education shows the importance of keeping children educated and giving them a stable environment to grow in. I watched the news about the hurricane and the relief efforts, but I did not realize the enormous impact that was made on the educational system in Louisiana and Mississippi.

2005-09-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

Technology and Me

I can't remember a time when we didn't have a computer in the house. My father is very into the computer and was constantly using it. As a child, I remember the computer being almost like a mystical creature that I knew very little about because I never played with it. As my brother and I got older, we got a Nintendo game system. We spent many hours playing the original Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. I always thought technology was really neat but never felt that I used it much.
During elementary school, I remember going to the computer lab once a week and playing games like math blaster or number cruncher. I remember in 5th grade going to the computer lab and practicing typing on a word processor. We were tested weekly on how fast we could type and navigate through word processing systems. As the years passed, we got more and more personal game systems at home including Playstation, Playstation 2, and the Game Cube. My brother was the child who spent most of his time using the game systems but I occasionally joined him only to lose miserably to him in all of the games, including a Mia Hamm soccer game that I thought I would totally dominate.
In middle school, I remember typing up essays and short assignments. My dad was teaching me more and more about the computer and how things work and connect in it. I never really got interested until I started spending more time on the computer in high school, I started to really enjoy surfing the Internet and exploring cyberspace. I got my first personal computer as a junior in high school in order to be able to finish assignments on time and not hog the family computer.
I got a brand new Dell desktop computer my freshmen year in college. I wouldn't really consider my self a computer nerd or technology savvy but I do spend a lot of time surfing the net, talking on instant messenger and checking my email account. This year, my parents bought me a Dell laptop, I feel like I have graduated to a new class of technology with wireless technology that lets me just pick up my computer (which doesn't weigh very much) and take it anywhere I want to go.

2005-08-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm creating this blog account for my Educational Technology class! I've never used this before but I'm really excited about learning about it!