Why is Blue Dog Blue?
Sunday, September 28, 2014
C4K Summary for September
Blog Post #6
What did I learn from conversations with Anthony Capps?
In the first video, I found it extremely interesting that this third grade class got an opportunity to write to Congress. As a Project Based lesson, this was very beneficial for the students to work on as a class. One way Anthony had the class work together was by picking eight letters the students decided were the best to send to Congress. This allowed Mr. Capps to meet third grade standards while using PBL. In the second video, I learned that allowing students freedom to create and by not limiting their learning experience is rewarding for not only the student, but also as a teacher. Students will be more excited to begin a project if they are passionate and they are encouraged. As a teacher we should set project guidelines but continue to let them be learners. Project Based Learning takes planning for teachers but in the end can be successful. Also, I learned that in planning projects, I should factor in my students opinions and what they enjoy best.
iCurio has not been introduced to me until I started my field experience at Rockwell Elementary School in Baldwin County. I still was able to learn even more through Anthony Capps. iCurio is a safe search engine for students of all ages to use and also teachers. Documents, videos, and graphics the students find are able to be saved for easy access and to be organized. Anthony further elaborated on this, by saying students can go back to sites quickly without wasting time searching again. As a teacher it is helpful because the teacher can organize by lessons and projects to show the class later. It is a great tool and I look forward to being able to use it in my future classroom. Another wonderful search engine is Discovery Ed. I have used Discovery Ed for my own research. It gives great expert videos and there are very many! I think as an educator this will be a great tool to show visually and have someone else explain other than myself. Students can even look up these videos again at home.
Strange Tips for Teachers helped me realize even more that teachers must be willing to always learn. Teaching is a fun experience and very rewarding. Teachers must be able to think outside the box and be prepared for the unexpected. Another factor is to have children engaged.
Another great point I learned from watching, Conversations with Anthony Capps, is that technology a tool. By allowing students to use technology and combine it with other sources, it gives students the ability to express and create while learning new ways to learn. Using technology is clean. Teachers do not have to clean up from projects but instead can spend more time teaching. This lets student learn to teach themselves.
Thank you to Anthony Capps and Dr. Strange for these GREAT tips on teaching, as well as discussing new technology and how to incorporate it. I enjoyed these shorts videos and they helped me understand more about the role of a teacher.
iCurio has not been introduced to me until I started my field experience at Rockwell Elementary School in Baldwin County. I still was able to learn even more through Anthony Capps. iCurio is a safe search engine for students of all ages to use and also teachers. Documents, videos, and graphics the students find are able to be saved for easy access and to be organized. Anthony further elaborated on this, by saying students can go back to sites quickly without wasting time searching again. As a teacher it is helpful because the teacher can organize by lessons and projects to show the class later. It is a great tool and I look forward to being able to use it in my future classroom. Another wonderful search engine is Discovery Ed. I have used Discovery Ed for my own research. It gives great expert videos and there are very many! I think as an educator this will be a great tool to show visually and have someone else explain other than myself. Students can even look up these videos again at home.
Strange Tips for Teachers helped me realize even more that teachers must be willing to always learn. Teaching is a fun experience and very rewarding. Teachers must be able to think outside the box and be prepared for the unexpected. Another factor is to have children engaged.
Another great point I learned from watching, Conversations with Anthony Capps, is that technology a tool. By allowing students to use technology and combine it with other sources, it gives students the ability to express and create while learning new ways to learn. Using technology is clean. Teachers do not have to clean up from projects but instead can spend more time teaching. This lets student learn to teach themselves.
Thank you to Anthony Capps and Dr. Strange for these GREAT tips on teaching, as well as discussing new technology and how to incorporate it. I enjoyed these shorts videos and they helped me understand more about the role of a teacher.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Blog Post #5
As future teachers, we must prepare to help our students evolve in a world that is constantly changing. PLN is a way to demonstate a group of people, blogs, websites, and other types of resources to better understand concepts. I was very interested in Symbaloo after watching, A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment
Still as teachers, we will still continue to be life-long learners. We will have questions and we will have ideas. To be able to ask and share ideas with other fellow educators allows for a whole window of opportunity. One example I have found amazing is the practice of commenting on young student's blogs. I really enjoy seeing these students become so connected with the world. Also, I feel like I will use blogging as a practice in one of my future classrooms. 
In an effort to create my own PLN, I have created a Twitter. I had not had a Twitter account before this class. Now, I see how much of a networking tool Twitter can be. For example, I am following Vicki Davis who uses technology in her classroom. She is a great person to become connected with for any questions I may have or ideas I would like to share with her. Also, I followed other education sites. One site I started to follow is giving away a $500 gift card for teacher supplies. I think it is awesome to see different organizations to become associated with. PLN is great for making connections and finding individuals with your same interests.
Monday, September 15, 2014
C4T Summary Post
I have been assigned to Angela Maiers blog. She is a huge advocate for the #YouMatter campaign. She has promoted this by workshops, discussions on Twitter, and conferences. First I read her blog post about becoming involved in her newsletter. I subscribed to this newsletter and hope to receive valuable information on how to make children feel they "matter". I explained to Mrs. Maiers my current status as a student at the University of South Alabama then told her that her video she posted was really inspiring. On my second post, I read the conversation she posted on Twitter. Also, I explained it is amazing Twitter can be used for such a professional discussion on how to improve our children's view on learning. I told Mrs. Maiers I would like to join one of her personal workshops.
Angela Maiers's Blog
Angela Maiers's Blog
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Search Engines
#1: WolframAlpha- I researched about the search engine to see when it was created and for what purpose. Mainly WolframAlpha was created for mathematical calculations but now it has become so much more. When I was researching I found this site, Awesome Things You can do with WolframAlpha. This site gives 32 different things that WolframAlpha can research for you and gives you the answer immediately. For example, one can simply find nutritional values of food and can also customize it. Another cool thing about this search engine is it is great with probabilities. Math equations can no longer be such a headache!I plan on using this search engine in the future because of the instant view of answers instead of a long list of links.
#2: Ixquick- This search engine allows for a lot of privacy. When I first opened the search engine, it stated, "the world's most private search engine". This seems like a reliable search engine that ensures your security.
#3: DuckDuckGo- Like Ixquick, it does not share or require personal information. This is another secure search engine that does not have all the adds and spam like Yahoo or Goggle can have at times.
#4: TheFind- Shopping for the best deal is important. This allows the shopper to compare prices, find different items locally, and gives over thousands of options for the shopper. This engine also includes online stores as well.
#5:Trulia- I used this a few months ago when my boyfriend and I were searching for an apartment in the area. It lets the shopper save homes and apartments based on needs. It even connects the user to a real estate agent when looking for a house in the area.
#6:LinkedIn- Business-based search engine that allows users to look and connect for other professionals. This is a good tool for employers to connect to employees and a way to create a resume online.
#7: Youtube- Gives entertainment at one click! I use Youtube on a daily basis because I love to watch videos online for a laugh, or listen to music while cleaning.
#8: Monster- This is another professional search engine. Professionals can post resumes to jobs around the country. It is very easy for users and makes it easier to find a job when moving.
Searching
#2: Ixquick- This search engine allows for a lot of privacy. When I first opened the search engine, it stated, "the world's most private search engine". This seems like a reliable search engine that ensures your security.
#3: DuckDuckGo- Like Ixquick, it does not share or require personal information. This is another secure search engine that does not have all the adds and spam like Yahoo or Goggle can have at times.
#4: TheFind- Shopping for the best deal is important. This allows the shopper to compare prices, find different items locally, and gives over thousands of options for the shopper. This engine also includes online stores as well.
#5:Trulia- I used this a few months ago when my boyfriend and I were searching for an apartment in the area. It lets the shopper save homes and apartments based on needs. It even connects the user to a real estate agent when looking for a house in the area.
#6:LinkedIn- Business-based search engine that allows users to look and connect for other professionals. This is a good tool for employers to connect to employees and a way to create a resume online.
#7: Youtube- Gives entertainment at one click! I use Youtube on a daily basis because I love to watch videos online for a laugh, or listen to music while cleaning.
#8: Monster- This is another professional search engine. Professionals can post resumes to jobs around the country. It is very easy for users and makes it easier to find a job when moving.
Blog Post #4
What questions do we ask? How do we ask?
The first article, The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, I really like how the author of this article makes a point that teachers ask open-ended questions about concepts before the students even realize they may have questions. This does not allow the student to think in a higher-order of thinking. However, I do not agree necessarily with this process of pointing out students to answer questions. As a teacher, I would love to allow several group oriented discussions and have students collaborate together then present individual questions. This shows students that working together can bring more ideas to the table. If I do ask students question by calling on them, I will do so in the order of question, then calling the student's name. This gives all the students a chance to think of the problem. Another way to improve student's participation is by asking more in-depth questions. After reading, Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom, I think it will be beneficial to have prepared questions. This way, I can revise and think of even better ways to engage the classroom.
The Youtube video, Questioning Styles and Strategies was the most beneficial source on how to ask questions while encouraging other forms of answering. For example, the student's are asked to describe Terabithia by drawing and writing to show someone who has not read the book what this place looks like. This is a great way to include art and writing skills into the classroom. Also, the student has time to think and reflect on the question. The students collaborated with partners at the table to work on this project and later the students were surveyed to see the popular answers to the question about how Terabithia would look. I enjoyed seeing good examples on how to ask students questions without the simple "yes" or "no" answer. I feel that in the way this teacher called out students individually played off of the other students comments and it made the classroom feel like a discussion instead of simply calling on a student to answer a particular question. I really enjoyed his different styles to asking questions and ensuring that the students understood the concepts.
For the future of my education career, I saved this video to look back and reflect on. As a teacher and a life-long learner, there are always ways to improve learning. By becoming better at asking questions, students will become better at answering them.
The first article, The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, I really like how the author of this article makes a point that teachers ask open-ended questions about concepts before the students even realize they may have questions. This does not allow the student to think in a higher-order of thinking. However, I do not agree necessarily with this process of pointing out students to answer questions. As a teacher, I would love to allow several group oriented discussions and have students collaborate together then present individual questions. This shows students that working together can bring more ideas to the table. If I do ask students question by calling on them, I will do so in the order of question, then calling the student's name. This gives all the students a chance to think of the problem. Another way to improve student's participation is by asking more in-depth questions. After reading, Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom, I think it will be beneficial to have prepared questions. This way, I can revise and think of even better ways to engage the classroom.
The Youtube video, Questioning Styles and Strategies was the most beneficial source on how to ask questions while encouraging other forms of answering. For example, the student's are asked to describe Terabithia by drawing and writing to show someone who has not read the book what this place looks like. This is a great way to include art and writing skills into the classroom. Also, the student has time to think and reflect on the question. The students collaborated with partners at the table to work on this project and later the students were surveyed to see the popular answers to the question about how Terabithia would look. I enjoyed seeing good examples on how to ask students questions without the simple "yes" or "no" answer. I feel that in the way this teacher called out students individually played off of the other students comments and it made the classroom feel like a discussion instead of simply calling on a student to answer a particular question. I really enjoyed his different styles to asking questions and ensuring that the students understood the concepts.
For the future of my education career, I saved this video to look back and reflect on. As a teacher and a life-long learner, there are always ways to improve learning. By becoming better at asking questions, students will become better at answering them.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Blog Post #3
Learning about peer editing is a great way to practice on how to be an effective teacher. As a teacher, one has to give criticism and understand how to do so in a constructive way. Criticism is a great way to give compliments to a student's work. It is always best to stay positive towards another person's work and consider how criticism would make you feel. Starting with a compliment shows the student or writer that their work has great potential and you are only trying to help improve. After finding areas that need improvement, give clear suggestions on what the student can do to make their work even better.
The video, Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes really opened my eyes on how to be effective while reviewing a student or a peer's work. It is always best to be specific because the writer can understand what needs to be changed and why. Also, another example from this video showed a "Pushy Paula". Sometimes students or peers will not want to take advice. At the end of the day, it is his or her's work and their choice what to do with the work.
I feel these examples on how to properly criticize a person's work is needed for future teachers. A teacher is here to be a guide and never to be a person a student does not feel like sharing their work with.
The video, Writing Peer Review Top 10 Mistakes really opened my eyes on how to be effective while reviewing a student or a peer's work. It is always best to be specific because the writer can understand what needs to be changed and why. Also, another example from this video showed a "Pushy Paula". Sometimes students or peers will not want to take advice. At the end of the day, it is his or her's work and their choice what to do with the work.
I feel these examples on how to properly criticize a person's work is needed for future teachers. A teacher is here to be a guide and never to be a person a student does not feel like sharing their work with.
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