Social Media - got it covered. I don't Tweet, but I Facebook, blog, and will even admit to having a Myspace at one point in time.
Social Bookmarking - I will admit that I was lost until this course began. Why do I need Social Bookmarking when I can just add a website to my favorites? Well I get it now! Favorites stay in one place. My Favorites aren't going to show up when I need to use the library computer. Social Bookmarking sites can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.
What else did I learn??? A LOT!
While reading the article, "7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking" I also learned that tagging is important, keyword selection will vary from person to person and anyone can use social bookmarking! Below you will find my thoughts on those three ideas
Tagging - When tagging a site, it is important to keep in mind a few things. What are you using the site for? How does it relate to other sites you may tagged? How do you want it to be organized? Your tags that are added will help to determine how the site appears in your social bookmarking site.
Keywords- Maybe you looked at this really cool lesson on plant parts. What keywords would you add to this tag? I might start with the subject - science. Then add the theme- plants. Then keep going - plant parts, functions, vocabulary, etc. It is all up to you! I am a type A and would have to develop a system before I started adding keywords, but that is just me!
Anyone -Anyone can create an account and begin tagging!!! If social bookmarking was something that you wanted your students to use - lessons could easily be created in order to help the students learn how to tag and add keywords in a successful manner. As I always do, I would encourage you to proceed with caution when dealing with students and the Internet! Keep a watchful eye and make sure that safety is a number one priority!!!!
Time to head over to Delicious and keep tagging, maybe even re-organize some tags!
Educase Learning Initiave. "7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking". Published May 2005. Accessed 22 Jul 2014. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
The Myth of Having Summers Off - Week 6 - #1
I know, I know - this post is one week early. There is a good reason, I promise. For the first week all summer, I am actually going to be OFF! I am not going to be around a computer, on my Smartphone or in my classroom. I am taking one week off!
"One week, huh?" says that "Joe know-it-all" named by Heather Wolpert-Gawron. Sure those Joe's think that because you are a teacher that you have so much free time! Well my fellow Chips, you know this is far from true!
Heather provides a long list of things that keep her busy during the summer including summer school, discussions, courses, seminars, lesson planning, tweaking lessons, etc., etc. It seems the list is never ending! I thought I would share my list of "summer break" tasks, I promise to keep it short.
1. Develop a new K/1 Science and Social Studies curriculum.
This year I will be teaching Science and Social Studies not only to my Kindergarten students, but also to the first grade students. The first grade students are the same one's that I had last year. They need something new and fresh and more challenging! New lesson plans, some tweaked plans and a trip to the "Teacher Store" are in order!
2. Re-do Phonics lessons.
I must confess that I didn't do a great job following the phonics lessons that were provided last year. They didn't seem to be "me". This summer, I am tweaking, re-writing, adding, taking out and reworking the whole thing! It is much easier to do this during the summer than going week by week during the school year!
3. Set-up Classroom
Every year we have to COMPLETELY empty our classrooms in order to get the floors re-waxed! So each summer furniture goes out and then needs to come back in! Talk about a fresh start each year, well than and my weight lifting for the day!
4. Purchase, Laminate, Decorate
Each year I get caught in the "teacher store". Each year I purchase pre-made bulletin board kits or a new poster, or the most trending letters, or whatever it may be! Nothing comes laminated and I do like my things to last more than a year, so I spend a day in front of the heat-set laminating machine in a building that isn't air-conditioned laminating. After that everything needs to be cut out - again - and then put up!
5. Develop a new behavior plan.
I used a smiley face pocket chart that I didn't really care for last year. Other teachers used a clip-chart and experienced great success. I guess I need to get a clip-chart, but wait, why buy it when I can make it??? I guess I better get that started and spend one more day laminating.
6. Plan, Plan, Plan, Label, Label, Label!
As you know, I teach Kindergarten. That means that you have to be on top of your game. How do I make sure that I am on top of my game every single day. I plan like crazy! How do I help my students stay on top of their game? Label everything!!!
7. CMU courses
EDU 653 is the most current of the many courses that I have been working on! Master's degree - here I come!!!
8. Back to School Letters
Let your parents and students know you are thinking of them! Throw in some important dates and the all important supply list and there you have it! Time to go to the Post Office!
9. Back to School Meetings
We start school before Labor Day. Back to School Meetings well before that! Time to break out the master family calendar and arrange daycare!
10. Parent Information Packets.
"How I Get Home", "How Would You Describe Your Child", "Emergency Forms", etc., etc., etc. All of these need to be color coded, copied, stuffed into perfectly labeled folders and set out on the perfectly clean and organized student desks before the Open House!
Okay, you probably get the idea and I promised that I would keep the list short!
Teacher friends, enjoy your summer break! Be sure that you take at least a week for the fun stuff that everyone assumes you do all summer long!
Wolpert- Gawron, Heather. "The Myth of Having Summers Off." Published 20 Jul 2014. Accessed 22 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org//summers-off-myth
"One week, huh?" says that "Joe know-it-all" named by Heather Wolpert-Gawron. Sure those Joe's think that because you are a teacher that you have so much free time! Well my fellow Chips, you know this is far from true!
Heather provides a long list of things that keep her busy during the summer including summer school, discussions, courses, seminars, lesson planning, tweaking lessons, etc., etc. It seems the list is never ending! I thought I would share my list of "summer break" tasks, I promise to keep it short.
1. Develop a new K/1 Science and Social Studies curriculum.
This year I will be teaching Science and Social Studies not only to my Kindergarten students, but also to the first grade students. The first grade students are the same one's that I had last year. They need something new and fresh and more challenging! New lesson plans, some tweaked plans and a trip to the "Teacher Store" are in order!
2. Re-do Phonics lessons.
I must confess that I didn't do a great job following the phonics lessons that were provided last year. They didn't seem to be "me". This summer, I am tweaking, re-writing, adding, taking out and reworking the whole thing! It is much easier to do this during the summer than going week by week during the school year!
3. Set-up Classroom
Every year we have to COMPLETELY empty our classrooms in order to get the floors re-waxed! So each summer furniture goes out and then needs to come back in! Talk about a fresh start each year, well than and my weight lifting for the day!
4. Purchase, Laminate, Decorate
Each year I get caught in the "teacher store". Each year I purchase pre-made bulletin board kits or a new poster, or the most trending letters, or whatever it may be! Nothing comes laminated and I do like my things to last more than a year, so I spend a day in front of the heat-set laminating machine in a building that isn't air-conditioned laminating. After that everything needs to be cut out - again - and then put up!
5. Develop a new behavior plan.
I used a smiley face pocket chart that I didn't really care for last year. Other teachers used a clip-chart and experienced great success. I guess I need to get a clip-chart, but wait, why buy it when I can make it??? I guess I better get that started and spend one more day laminating.
6. Plan, Plan, Plan, Label, Label, Label!
As you know, I teach Kindergarten. That means that you have to be on top of your game. How do I make sure that I am on top of my game every single day. I plan like crazy! How do I help my students stay on top of their game? Label everything!!!
7. CMU courses
EDU 653 is the most current of the many courses that I have been working on! Master's degree - here I come!!!
8. Back to School Letters
Let your parents and students know you are thinking of them! Throw in some important dates and the all important supply list and there you have it! Time to go to the Post Office!
9. Back to School Meetings
We start school before Labor Day. Back to School Meetings well before that! Time to break out the master family calendar and arrange daycare!
10. Parent Information Packets.
"How I Get Home", "How Would You Describe Your Child", "Emergency Forms", etc., etc., etc. All of these need to be color coded, copied, stuffed into perfectly labeled folders and set out on the perfectly clean and organized student desks before the Open House!
Okay, you probably get the idea and I promised that I would keep the list short!
Teacher friends, enjoy your summer break! Be sure that you take at least a week for the fun stuff that everyone assumes you do all summer long!
Wolpert- Gawron, Heather. "The Myth of Having Summers Off." Published 20 Jul 2014. Accessed 22 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org//summers-off-myth
7 Things You Should Know about Wikipedia - Week 5 #2
Wikipedia - a single word that cold make a professor shutter! Using a free encyclopedia that ANYONE can edit - YIKES, well at least some people feel that way. Does Wikipedia have to be viewed in that light- the simple answer - NO!
We have already taken sides on this issue and by we I mean those of us enrolled in CMU's course EDU 653. I just so happened to be on the side that felt that Wikipedia could be used for academic research.
While reading the article, " 7 Things You Should Know about Wikipedia", I was not surprised to learn that more and more faculty members of universities are using Wikipedia. Some colleges are still holding true to their ban on Wikipedia, but other colleges encourage students to create, edit and critic articles on Wikipedia.
While reading this article, I found out new information in regards to the idea of having students edit articles. I was unaware of the fact that some pages on Wikipedia have requirements or different protection levels. Controversial topics can not just be edited by any John Doe. You may have to be registered for a period of time or if the issue is really controversial, you may need to have administrator privileges!
Also, I knew that most Wikipedia pages have a discussion board for users to discuss the articles that have been written. I feel that these discussion boards can be a good means of asking questions, but I am sure that some discussions can get quite heated and not be appropriate for all users of Wikipedia to view.
Whatever side you may choose to take, well, that's your own business. I don't feel that Wikipedia is so bad it should be banned. I do not feel that Wikipedia should be the only means of research either. Take what you read and be logical. Use the reference list on the Wikipedia article and do a little more research. Just be sure to read this article before making a decision.
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things You Should Know about Wikipedia." Published Jun 2007. Accessed 22 Jul 2014. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7026.pdf
We have already taken sides on this issue and by we I mean those of us enrolled in CMU's course EDU 653. I just so happened to be on the side that felt that Wikipedia could be used for academic research.
While reading the article, " 7 Things You Should Know about Wikipedia", I was not surprised to learn that more and more faculty members of universities are using Wikipedia. Some colleges are still holding true to their ban on Wikipedia, but other colleges encourage students to create, edit and critic articles on Wikipedia.
While reading this article, I found out new information in regards to the idea of having students edit articles. I was unaware of the fact that some pages on Wikipedia have requirements or different protection levels. Controversial topics can not just be edited by any John Doe. You may have to be registered for a period of time or if the issue is really controversial, you may need to have administrator privileges!
Also, I knew that most Wikipedia pages have a discussion board for users to discuss the articles that have been written. I feel that these discussion boards can be a good means of asking questions, but I am sure that some discussions can get quite heated and not be appropriate for all users of Wikipedia to view.
Whatever side you may choose to take, well, that's your own business. I don't feel that Wikipedia is so bad it should be banned. I do not feel that Wikipedia should be the only means of research either. Take what you read and be logical. Use the reference list on the Wikipedia article and do a little more research. Just be sure to read this article before making a decision.
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things You Should Know about Wikipedia." Published Jun 2007. Accessed 22 Jul 2014. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7026.pdf
Monday, July 21, 2014
Five-Minute Film Festival: Classroom Makeovers to Engage Learners - Week 5 #1
This morning, as I was logging into my Feedly page, I was distracted by my own thoughts of how my classroom set up process was going. I was going through the mental checklist about what still needed to be set up and the materials that I would need to purchase to complete those tasks.
Once Feedly was open, I immediately noticed the Five-Minute Film Festival post by Edutopia. This film festival was all about Classroom Makeovers! In this particular post there were 9 featured Youtube videos that are all nicely grouped for easy viewing. All the videos are related to Classroom Makeovers, but some videos applied more to my needs.
I particularly enjoyed video number three, "How to Organize Your Classroom" from Instructor Magazine! It goes through and shows a few key components of a successful first grade classroom. The teacher in this video, Lindsay Brooks, has a very similar set up to what I have in my classroom! Seeing that Instructor Magazine thought highly enough of her organization to feature it in a short film, made my confidence in my classroom set up soar!
Here is the video!
As teachers are going back to school to get ready for the year,I thought that I would add my two favorite tips for a successful Kindergarten classroom set-up to the list too!
- Always keep centers divided from each other.
- In my classroom I use the furniture in a particular center as a divider. For example, the cabinet that the games and puzzles are kept in, is the divider from the games and puzzles rug and the calendar carpet. The reading and the writing centers are divided by a meeting table where I am usually located during center time to help guide both centers.
- Label materials.
- All of the bins of supplies in my classroom have a label. The teacher area, has a label. The student areas have a label. Book boxes, calendar supplies, desks, chairs, etc. - All have labels! Create a literary rich environment! Teach kids to recognize and spell basic everyday words without trying to hard!
Get those rooms set up and organized! It is almost time to go BACK TO SCHOOL!
Borovoy, Amy Erin (aka VideoAmy). "Five- Minute Film Festival: Classroom Makeovers to Engage Learners". Posted 18 Jul 2014. Accessed 21 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org//blog/film-festival-learning-spaces-classroom-makeovers
Scholastic. "How to Organize Your Classroom, from Instructor Magazine". Posted 23 Sep 2013. Accessed 21 Jul 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdmI4K5wJu4&list=PLvzOwE5lWqhQ8D0m_371INljdki3RcVRb&index=4
Once Feedly was open, I immediately noticed the Five-Minute Film Festival post by Edutopia. This film festival was all about Classroom Makeovers! In this particular post there were 9 featured Youtube videos that are all nicely grouped for easy viewing. All the videos are related to Classroom Makeovers, but some videos applied more to my needs.
I particularly enjoyed video number three, "How to Organize Your Classroom" from Instructor Magazine! It goes through and shows a few key components of a successful first grade classroom. The teacher in this video, Lindsay Brooks, has a very similar set up to what I have in my classroom! Seeing that Instructor Magazine thought highly enough of her organization to feature it in a short film, made my confidence in my classroom set up soar!
Here is the video!
As teachers are going back to school to get ready for the year,I thought that I would add my two favorite tips for a successful Kindergarten classroom set-up to the list too!
- Always keep centers divided from each other.
- In my classroom I use the furniture in a particular center as a divider. For example, the cabinet that the games and puzzles are kept in, is the divider from the games and puzzles rug and the calendar carpet. The reading and the writing centers are divided by a meeting table where I am usually located during center time to help guide both centers.
- Label materials.
- All of the bins of supplies in my classroom have a label. The teacher area, has a label. The student areas have a label. Book boxes, calendar supplies, desks, chairs, etc. - All have labels! Create a literary rich environment! Teach kids to recognize and spell basic everyday words without trying to hard!
Get those rooms set up and organized! It is almost time to go BACK TO SCHOOL!
Borovoy, Amy Erin (aka VideoAmy). "Five- Minute Film Festival: Classroom Makeovers to Engage Learners". Posted 18 Jul 2014. Accessed 21 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org//blog/film-festival-learning-spaces-classroom-makeovers
Scholastic. "How to Organize Your Classroom, from Instructor Magazine". Posted 23 Sep 2013. Accessed 21 Jul 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdmI4K5wJu4&list=PLvzOwE5lWqhQ8D0m_371INljdki3RcVRb&index=4
Monday, July 14, 2014
7 things you should know about Podcasting - Week 4 #2
As I am preparing to record my Podcasting assignment this week, I found this article interesting. Before I complete an assignment I really like to think about the advantages and disadvantages of whatever the technology may be. I also like to think about how the technology can work in my classroom. Sometimes the second half is the most difficult, especially since I teach Kindergarten. Teaching Kindergarten means that not all students can independently read or even go online to access lessons or websites.
However with Podcasting, a Kindergarten student could have their parents download the MP3 and could independently listening to the material, as long as they had an Internet connection. Podcasts can be created on any topic and any person. However, as pointed out in the article "7 Things You Should Know About Podcasting," a student or family, would have to have a "sufficient bandwidth" in order to access the podcast. Also, a podcast isn't going to be an effective way to reach out to students with a hearing impairment.
After recording my assignment on Wednesday (the day my BUSY 2 year old is at daycare) I will be considering creating some Podcasts to have available for my students to use when I am not in the classroom due to illness, a conference or anything that may come up. Sometimes the things that a teach does in the classroom just can not be re-created, but if I had a Podcast to lead the way, it might help!
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things you Should Know About Podcasting". Published Jun 2005. Accessed 14 July 2014. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7003.pdf
However with Podcasting, a Kindergarten student could have their parents download the MP3 and could independently listening to the material, as long as they had an Internet connection. Podcasts can be created on any topic and any person. However, as pointed out in the article "7 Things You Should Know About Podcasting," a student or family, would have to have a "sufficient bandwidth" in order to access the podcast. Also, a podcast isn't going to be an effective way to reach out to students with a hearing impairment.
After recording my assignment on Wednesday (the day my BUSY 2 year old is at daycare) I will be considering creating some Podcasts to have available for my students to use when I am not in the classroom due to illness, a conference or anything that may come up. Sometimes the things that a teach does in the classroom just can not be re-created, but if I had a Podcast to lead the way, it might help!
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things you Should Know About Podcasting". Published Jun 2005. Accessed 14 July 2014. http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7003.pdf
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Non-Teaching Time - Week 4 #1
Tomorrow is my son's 2nd birthday. As his birthday comes up, so does the middle of summer. Knowing that I will be going back to school soon always makes me worry that when school starts again, I will miss so much of his daily milestones. He is going through the "language explosion" stage right now and I love listening to him come up with all of these new words and sentences!
As much fun as it is, I know that I have to go back to do the other thing I love so much - teaching! How am I going to use my time effectively in order to get home and spend as much time with my son as I can??? I am making a plan to effectively use my non-teaching time!
Maia Heyck-Merline has 5 easy suggestions. Each of her suggestions is listed below, along with how I personally plan on making that suggestion happen!
1. Start with a detailed plan.
Having a detailed lesson plan is an easy task for me to accomplish! In fact, I have already started planning using www.planbook.com. It is a super easy way to prepare detailed lessons that are accessible from any device that has an Internet connection. The lesson plans can easily be downloaded as a PDF file and emailed to a substitute teacher if I become ill, or my son becomes ill. Planbook even has a feature that allows you to bump lessons without drawing arrows or re-typing the whole lesson!
2. Batch Process Your Work
This is another task that I feel that I do effectively. I make my copies for a week or two or even three at a time and file them down based on the day. I pick out and organize all my materials for the following day before heading home. I choose certain planning periods to complete certain tasks. Maia suggests packing lunches for a week at a time, which is one thing that I really could do better. Stumbling around at 5:30am trying to make a lunch probably isn't the most effective way to do that!
3. Consider your energy levels.
I am 110% a morning person. I accomplish most of my tasks in the morning and work the most efficiently in the morning. Therefore, I arrive at school every morning at 6:30am. The students arrive at 7:40am. During this hour of time I accomplish everything that needs to be done. After school dismisses at 2:30, I gather all of my materials for the following day, straighten up anything that needs to be done and I don't feel guilty walking out of the door by 3:00 or 3:30.
4. Bite-Size your to-do's.
I have a love of list and I love crossing things off a list. I love crossing things so much so that sometimes I will write down tasks that I have already completed just to cross it off. However, I never think about writing my goals and to-do's in steps. Rather than write something like, "Finish Sally's report card," I will write "Finish Report Cards." This is a much larger task and feels very daunting when looking at a to-do list.
5. Use Small Pockets of Time
This is one that I can do better. If I know that I only have a short amount of time, I am more likely to check my email or call my husband or check Facebook. During these short 5 to 10 minute breaks, I could be grading papers, setting out more materials for the following day or even making that one copy that didn't get made with the weekly copies.
Using all of these suggestions, I feel like I can do a better job of leaving a little more work at work and spending home time at home, truly at home. I don't want to miss a moment, but since I do work, I want to be present for every moment that I can be and not just be here grading or planning or filing, but truly be here, on the floor, playing and laughing and learning together with my son. He is only little once!
Heyck-Merlin, Maia. "5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Non-Teaching Time." Posted 19 Jun 2014. Accessed 14 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/make-most-non-teaching-time-maia-heyck
As much fun as it is, I know that I have to go back to do the other thing I love so much - teaching! How am I going to use my time effectively in order to get home and spend as much time with my son as I can??? I am making a plan to effectively use my non-teaching time!
Maia Heyck-Merline has 5 easy suggestions. Each of her suggestions is listed below, along with how I personally plan on making that suggestion happen!
1. Start with a detailed plan.
Having a detailed lesson plan is an easy task for me to accomplish! In fact, I have already started planning using www.planbook.com. It is a super easy way to prepare detailed lessons that are accessible from any device that has an Internet connection. The lesson plans can easily be downloaded as a PDF file and emailed to a substitute teacher if I become ill, or my son becomes ill. Planbook even has a feature that allows you to bump lessons without drawing arrows or re-typing the whole lesson!
2. Batch Process Your Work
This is another task that I feel that I do effectively. I make my copies for a week or two or even three at a time and file them down based on the day. I pick out and organize all my materials for the following day before heading home. I choose certain planning periods to complete certain tasks. Maia suggests packing lunches for a week at a time, which is one thing that I really could do better. Stumbling around at 5:30am trying to make a lunch probably isn't the most effective way to do that!
3. Consider your energy levels.
I am 110% a morning person. I accomplish most of my tasks in the morning and work the most efficiently in the morning. Therefore, I arrive at school every morning at 6:30am. The students arrive at 7:40am. During this hour of time I accomplish everything that needs to be done. After school dismisses at 2:30, I gather all of my materials for the following day, straighten up anything that needs to be done and I don't feel guilty walking out of the door by 3:00 or 3:30.
4. Bite-Size your to-do's.
I have a love of list and I love crossing things off a list. I love crossing things so much so that sometimes I will write down tasks that I have already completed just to cross it off. However, I never think about writing my goals and to-do's in steps. Rather than write something like, "Finish Sally's report card," I will write "Finish Report Cards." This is a much larger task and feels very daunting when looking at a to-do list.
5. Use Small Pockets of Time
This is one that I can do better. If I know that I only have a short amount of time, I am more likely to check my email or call my husband or check Facebook. During these short 5 to 10 minute breaks, I could be grading papers, setting out more materials for the following day or even making that one copy that didn't get made with the weekly copies.
Using all of these suggestions, I feel like I can do a better job of leaving a little more work at work and spending home time at home, truly at home. I don't want to miss a moment, but since I do work, I want to be present for every moment that I can be and not just be here grading or planning or filing, but truly be here, on the floor, playing and laughing and learning together with my son. He is only little once!
Heyck-Merlin, Maia. "5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Non-Teaching Time." Posted 19 Jun 2014. Accessed 14 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/make-most-non-teaching-time-maia-heyck
Friday, July 11, 2014
Digital Storytelling in Plain English - Week 3 #2
This week the featured video that I choose to blog about was "Digital Storytelling in Plain English" uploaded by Amy Cox. Amy and the other contributors to this video explained how digital storytelling works in a fun and easy to understand way.
As Amy and her contributors point out in the video below, most people are familiar with storytelling in much more traditional forms, such as stories at the "magical carpet in the Kindergarten classroom", which is my personal favorite place for storytelling. However, it is also pointed out that there is a much more controlled way to view/hear a story - through DIGITAL STORYTELLING.
When you create a digitial story, it is much more accessible than that elusive Kindergarten rug, to people around the world. Digitial stories allow one to have much more control. If you do the voice over and don't like, or stumble on a word, or sneeze in the middle of the story - you get a redo! If your voice or tone don't match the flow of the story - you get a redo! You can redo and remake your digital story until it is perfect! How amazing!!
Cox, Amy. "Digital Storytelling in Plain English". Uploaded to Youtube on 20 Jun 2009. Accessed 11 Jul 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP6CeGLPuOY
As Amy and her contributors point out in the video below, most people are familiar with storytelling in much more traditional forms, such as stories at the "magical carpet in the Kindergarten classroom", which is my personal favorite place for storytelling. However, it is also pointed out that there is a much more controlled way to view/hear a story - through DIGITAL STORYTELLING.
When you create a digitial story, it is much more accessible than that elusive Kindergarten rug, to people around the world. Digitial stories allow one to have much more control. If you do the voice over and don't like, or stumble on a word, or sneeze in the middle of the story - you get a redo! If your voice or tone don't match the flow of the story - you get a redo! You can redo and remake your digital story until it is perfect! How amazing!!
Cox, Amy. "Digital Storytelling in Plain English". Uploaded to Youtube on 20 Jun 2009. Accessed 11 Jul 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP6CeGLPuOY
Monday, July 7, 2014
5 Reasons Modern-Day Parenting Is in Crisis, According to a British Nanny- Week 3 #1
Being someone who is younger and growing a family of my own, I truly appreciated this article that came across my Feedly page.
As a teacher, I see it all the time - parents giving into their child's every demand. Then during the school day, that leaves me to be the one to always say no (keep in mind I teach Kindergarten and there is a period at the beginning of every year where I have to say no a lot!).
Emma Jenner gives five simple reasons that today's youngest people are the way that they are. If society continues to give into every little whine and whimper, what will our future adults look like? Will they whine and cry when they are told they can't have the blue cup because someone else already is using it? Will they throw a fit when they are not chosen for the promotion at work?
Below you will find a quick summary of Jenner's 5 reasons that modern-day parenting is in a crisis -
1. "A fear of our children." - Jenner feels that when parents give into their child's every demand before a tantrum is thrown, rather than just letting the child throw the tantrum and walking away, it shows that parents are afraid of their child.
2. "A lowered bar." - Children are able to do so much more than most modern-day parents give them credit for! When you model the correct behaviors and acceptable actions, your child is most likely to do them. Rather than take them to a babysitter when you want to go out to dinner for fear of them throwing a fit, take them and model the correct behavior!
3. "We've lost the village." - "Back in the day" other adults were not afraid to step in and help to correct children who are misbehaving. Now parents tend to sit back on the park bench and say things under their breath like, "where is that child's mother?" or "If that were my kid . . . ." Modern-day parent tend to become very upset whenever anyone tries to correct their child.
4. "A reliance on short-cuts." - Everyone seems to have some electronic device of some kind - a smart phone, a television, a tablet, a lap top, etc. The possibilities are truly endless. However, many of today's modern parents use these devices to entertain their child in the airport, at the restaurant, at home, etc. Also modern-day parents tend to pick up their babies or toddlers as soon as they whimper - let them learn patience! Let them learn to self-soothe!
5. "Parents put their children's needs ahead of their own." - Yes, parents should always think of their children first. However, Jenner gives the example of the dad running all the way across the zoo because his child is asking for water again. Jenner states that the parent should get the limits and say "Yes" to the water, but not until we walk past another drinking fountain. Set limits!
After reading this article and reflecting on my own parenting style as a "modern-day" parent, I have come to the conclusion that I am most definitely not a "modern-day" parent. I guess I am kind of old fashion and I hope my son grows to appreciate that!
Jenner, Emma. "5 Reasons Modern-Day Parenting Is in Crisis, According to a British Nanny" Posted on "Keep Calm and Parent On" 2 Jul 2014. Accessed 7 Jul 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-jenner/modern-day-parenting-in-c_b_5552527.html
As a teacher, I see it all the time - parents giving into their child's every demand. Then during the school day, that leaves me to be the one to always say no (keep in mind I teach Kindergarten and there is a period at the beginning of every year where I have to say no a lot!).
Emma Jenner gives five simple reasons that today's youngest people are the way that they are. If society continues to give into every little whine and whimper, what will our future adults look like? Will they whine and cry when they are told they can't have the blue cup because someone else already is using it? Will they throw a fit when they are not chosen for the promotion at work?
Below you will find a quick summary of Jenner's 5 reasons that modern-day parenting is in a crisis -
1. "A fear of our children." - Jenner feels that when parents give into their child's every demand before a tantrum is thrown, rather than just letting the child throw the tantrum and walking away, it shows that parents are afraid of their child.
2. "A lowered bar." - Children are able to do so much more than most modern-day parents give them credit for! When you model the correct behaviors and acceptable actions, your child is most likely to do them. Rather than take them to a babysitter when you want to go out to dinner for fear of them throwing a fit, take them and model the correct behavior!
3. "We've lost the village." - "Back in the day" other adults were not afraid to step in and help to correct children who are misbehaving. Now parents tend to sit back on the park bench and say things under their breath like, "where is that child's mother?" or "If that were my kid . . . ." Modern-day parent tend to become very upset whenever anyone tries to correct their child.
4. "A reliance on short-cuts." - Everyone seems to have some electronic device of some kind - a smart phone, a television, a tablet, a lap top, etc. The possibilities are truly endless. However, many of today's modern parents use these devices to entertain their child in the airport, at the restaurant, at home, etc. Also modern-day parents tend to pick up their babies or toddlers as soon as they whimper - let them learn patience! Let them learn to self-soothe!
5. "Parents put their children's needs ahead of their own." - Yes, parents should always think of their children first. However, Jenner gives the example of the dad running all the way across the zoo because his child is asking for water again. Jenner states that the parent should get the limits and say "Yes" to the water, but not until we walk past another drinking fountain. Set limits!
After reading this article and reflecting on my own parenting style as a "modern-day" parent, I have come to the conclusion that I am most definitely not a "modern-day" parent. I guess I am kind of old fashion and I hope my son grows to appreciate that!
Jenner, Emma. "5 Reasons Modern-Day Parenting Is in Crisis, According to a British Nanny" Posted on "Keep Calm and Parent On" 2 Jul 2014. Accessed 7 Jul 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emma-jenner/modern-day-parenting-in-c_b_5552527.html
Slide Share
I thought I would share my Slide Share here too!
I would appreciate any feedback that anyone has! I would like to use this in my classroom this year, but want to get all the bugs worked out first!
Please keep in mind that I would use PowerPoint to show this to my students so that the transitions would show up.
I would appreciate any feedback that anyone has! I would like to use this in my classroom this year, but want to get all the bugs worked out first!
Please keep in mind that I would use PowerPoint to show this to my students so that the transitions would show up.
Using Dialogue Circles to Support Classroom Management - Week 2 #2
This week on my Feedly website, Edutopia popped up this interesting article on Dialogue Circles. After reading this article and watching the video that was posted with it, I began to plan my classroom routine for the upcoming school year.
Spending 5 to 10 minutes a morning with a dialogue circle can be a quick way to gauge how your day is going to flow. Not knowing what a student experienced at home before arriving to school can set up the teacher for a day of failure. A failure to connect with the student because you scolded them for being late when they had trouble at home, a failure to teach that child a new sight word because they were too focused on their upcoming birthday that they want to tell their friends about. Failing to connect with your students and understand where they are coming from for the day can greatly impact their learning!
Dialogue circles will be held at 7:45am in my Kindergarten classroom!
Do I have other things I need to accomplish each day - YES! However, if I don't have my students with me every step of the way, am I really getting anywhere?
Glenview Elementary. "Using Dialogue Circles to Support Classroom Management." Posted 1 Jul 2014. Accessed 7 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org//practice/stw-glenview-practice-dialogue-circles-video
Spending 5 to 10 minutes a morning with a dialogue circle can be a quick way to gauge how your day is going to flow. Not knowing what a student experienced at home before arriving to school can set up the teacher for a day of failure. A failure to connect with the student because you scolded them for being late when they had trouble at home, a failure to teach that child a new sight word because they were too focused on their upcoming birthday that they want to tell their friends about. Failing to connect with your students and understand where they are coming from for the day can greatly impact their learning!
Dialogue circles will be held at 7:45am in my Kindergarten classroom!
Do I have other things I need to accomplish each day - YES! However, if I don't have my students with me every step of the way, am I really getting anywhere?
Glenview Elementary. "Using Dialogue Circles to Support Classroom Management." Posted 1 Jul 2014. Accessed 7 Jul 2014. http://www.edutopia.org//practice/stw-glenview-practice-dialogue-circles-video
Thursday, July 3, 2014
To Tweet or Not to Tweet? - Week 2 #1
After reading "7 Things You Should Know About Twitter" and viewing "Twitter in Plain English" (found below) I feel much more informed about Twitter, as I do not have experience with Twitter. "Tweets" are limited to 140 characters, which means that others are more likely to read your thought, idea, "status", etc.
As I was reading/viewing information about Twitter, I was thinking about Twitter as a classroom tool, rather than for personal use. If using Twitter as a classroom tool, this would make homework assignments or reminders very accessible to many students, due to the fact that Twitter is a HUGE social media site and millions of people use Twitter on a daily, maybe even hourly basis.
Overall, I am not opposed to social media, as I have my own accounts on other sites, but I am not sure that Twitter is an appropriate tool for my classroom. Just as Facebook isn't necessarily appropriate for interactions. By putting any information on a social media site, you take several risks.
You risk student safety, your professionalism (if parents friend you and someone posts something inappropriate), and students straying from the information that they should access to other information that may not be appropriate for the student.
I may explore Twitter for my personal use, but I will still continue to use a school e-mail account and a password protected blog to communicate with parents and students!
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things You Should Know About Twitter". July 2007. Accessed 3 Jul 2014. https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7027.pdf
iJagriti JITS. "Twitter in Plain English" Uploaded on 28 Dec. 10. Accessed 3 Jul 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WQnD5kcBx8
As I was reading/viewing information about Twitter, I was thinking about Twitter as a classroom tool, rather than for personal use. If using Twitter as a classroom tool, this would make homework assignments or reminders very accessible to many students, due to the fact that Twitter is a HUGE social media site and millions of people use Twitter on a daily, maybe even hourly basis.
Overall, I am not opposed to social media, as I have my own accounts on other sites, but I am not sure that Twitter is an appropriate tool for my classroom. Just as Facebook isn't necessarily appropriate for interactions. By putting any information on a social media site, you take several risks.
You risk student safety, your professionalism (if parents friend you and someone posts something inappropriate), and students straying from the information that they should access to other information that may not be appropriate for the student.
I may explore Twitter for my personal use, but I will still continue to use a school e-mail account and a password protected blog to communicate with parents and students!
Educase Learning Initiative. "7 Things You Should Know About Twitter". July 2007. Accessed 3 Jul 2014. https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7027.pdf
iJagriti JITS. "Twitter in Plain English" Uploaded on 28 Dec. 10. Accessed 3 Jul 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WQnD5kcBx8
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