My day at school!

Hello Everyone!

Before I get to my section about the presentation today, I want to take some time to vent. I feel like the University is driving me crazy! We have SOOO much work to do every single day! University profs always say you should spend 3 hours working at home for every hour in class time, but the amount of work we have equates to probably 6 hours per hour of class a day! I wrote out a list of all the assignments and tests that I have this term, and it took a whole page of lined paper! I could not believe it! There are so many things to do, I don't know how I am going to get all of it done, plus studying for tests and exams! They are going to burn us out before we even get out to student teach! Anyway, that's all I have to say, here is my "scholarly" blog.

So, think I have figured out how to take notes this time without losing them! If you are reading this...I was right! I didn't lose all my notes from the presentation we had today. Hopefully better luck is coming my way! I had my doubts coming into this presentation today. I thought "Video games to teach students in school? You've got to be kidding me!" I still think it will take a lot of planning and convincing to get games to be part of a curriculum in schools.

Things I learned today:

So I learned the definition of VOIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol (skype, vonage, etc.).

Glen used Mind Meister to illustrate his mind map of digital literacies. Mind meister is a concept mapping web tool for concept mapping, it can be used in classrooms to show students a mind map but also others can modify your web if you invite them! I thought that was pretty cool!

I also finally learned the definition of RSS: real simple syndication. Now I know, and now it makes sense. I still use Google reader every day to find out what's new in the world.

I learned a bit about Virtual goods. These are things you never actually can hold in your hand like iPhone apps, social networking systems, online gaming, etc. This is a billion dollar a year industry in the United States! And all for entertainment purposes!

Multi-user virtual environments: Second Life in Education:

-There is a teen grid that is only for teens, which is scrutinized and monitored very carefully. People's behaviour is limited, and they can get kicked out. I'm glad that there are safety measures in place for teens using the internet, especially in places where there is a danger of predatory behaviours and exposure to adult material. This makes me feel a bit better about using things like this in my classroom.

-He said that using second life with older computers sucks. Basically, all the schools I have been to have really really old and slow computers. I really don't think that this program is feasible in most schools, without putting a LOT more money into the technology programs.

-Really, this program seems far too advanced for me. I don't know if I can do this kind of thing, but I think I might have to explore this program first before making a decision about using it in the classrooms, but I guess I will have to figure out what the problem is on my desktop computer (with connecting to the internet) first before I use this program.

-Constructionism: People learn best when they're building something; an artifact of learning. This can be a very powerful learning tool. Apparently, social constructionism is even more powerful--when a person is preparing and building an artifact in order to teach someone else about a topic. I have noticed this when I am preparing lessons for student teaching, that now I know so many things that I didn't before. I think this is an important point for teaching, I loved using Jigsaw activities before now, and now I am going to research some other interesting ways of doing this.

-Gamer Theory: Teaching through computer games for example economic simulations, sports, etc. This will capture their attention better than a report or book. We need to figure out motivation for this learning everywhere, not just in video games. I guess we will have to modify curriculum so that gaming is a part of it, because I don't know many administrators or teachers that would want to try using video games in the classrooms.

-If you give students a task just above their skill level, it motivates them to learn because they get a sense of fulfillment when they can complete the task.

Anyway, I think that's all I have for now.

You are the weakest link...Goodbye!

Alec Couros Elluminate presentation

Here I am being a dutiful student, typing notes onto my blog about our presentation today, and...

I LOST ALL MY INFORMATION!! I guess the computer refreshed itself, but i will try to rewrite what I had.

Alec Couros "elluminated" the class today and gave us some really neat information: slideshow

Well, I had a quote which was the basis for my whole other blog entry, but I don't know what it was and it wasn't in the slideshow that he posted. I guess I will just have to make do with what I remember!

I do remember that the picture of the networked teacher freaks me out every time i see it. It looks to overwhelming, but Alec told us some ways to make it not so crazy and take up so much time. He mentioned some different networks and sites we can use to amalgamate our resources. I have never seen Ning before, but I think I will have to check it out as a potential tool for using in my classroom!

I thought that using Youtube for social networking and asking, answering questions for students was a fantastic idea! There are so many different resources available on the internet that you might not have in neighbourhoods around your home or school!

He showed us some really neat and moving videos and links. Free Hugs, Cry of the Dolphins, Social Media Site

Well, that's about all I can remember...sorry for those of you that have to comment on this blog, it really sucks. I hope you can find something!!

TTFN-Ta-ta for now!

New teacher advice!

So I was following a teacher's blog and she wrote down this list of things that she did in her first half year. I guess she is a brand new teacher and I thought it was interesting.

1. The first day of school is procedures…other teachers told me that I would really do no instruction the first day….and I didn’t in some senses, but when it was time for math, we did something math related. When it was time for writing, we did something writing related. I really do believe that going through the day was really beneficial for my kids, and me.

2. EVERY day, kids need something to do when they come in the room (first thing or after specials, or after lunch). It needs to be something consistent. Something the same from day to day for which they need no instructions from me. It takes out any distractions or time to play. “Bell Work” is my sanity.

3. Don’t judge a book by its cover, or even the first chapter. Who I thought my kids were in August is nothing like what I think of them now in December. Student inventories are ideal, but it is VERY necessary to go through EACH question as a class on the first day, otherwise they leave them blank.

4. Clipboards and binders are saviors. If I could go back, I would have organized myself much better the first two weeks of school. EVERYTHING needs a place, and a stack in a filing cabinet is not it. I have now created a binder for each unit in each subject area. Ecosystems is in a binder, divided up by standards. Solar Systems, Numbers and Operations, and Persuasive Writing each have their own binders as well. Organizing by standard then by date has proven to be the most effective and accessible for me.

5. MAKE SURE to assign textbooks—it will cause more problems later if you do not. Sounds like a DUH concept, but it’s easy to screw up.

6. Plan your units with the standards and the report card in hand… I am still struggling come report card time when I need to insert grades…they do not line up exactly with the standards and you will fly around like a crazy person trying to get grades for a certain skill assessment.

7. BE FLEXIBLE… I was soooo pumped about the layout of my room…well it needed to be changed after the first month. Hot glue and clothes pins are your BEST friends.

8. Let parents know everything about their child’s progress as often as possible. Don’t assume the kids tell the parents because they don’t (regardless of how much you THINK they know, it never hurts to tell them more). If you do not, it will come back to bite you in the rear. I now send home weekly reports for every subject area (these are the things that take up my time in the afternoons and cause long nights).

9. Ask other teachers for help…and don’t assume you know what you’re doing before you start. You don’t.
10. Every school and every class is different. What works for some doesn’t work for others. I started by using the same discipline system that I used at Alps Road. Well it was a flop. Ask other teachers on your team what they use and develop yours from that.

11. Take the time to write a GOOD note to the parents of each student. Make it a goal to send one home for each kid before the year is over….parents LOVE this more than you know.

12. Blogs are AWESOME!! My room mom created one for all of my parents. I send her any important dates (unit tests, report cards issued, class parties) and the blog/google calendar automatically alerts the parents via email. If you don’t have a room mom, find the time to use one of these!!!

13. DON’T procrastinate. You need sleep and you need to be ahead of the game. Nothing is worst than discovering that your student isn’t passing something the day before report cards are due because you put off grading. Cleaning your classroom can wait, check email at home, and stay focused. Use to-do lists and actually check them off.

14. Time management is everything. The class I took in the fall was the best thing for me not because it taught me how to manage my time in my classroom, but how to manage my afternoon and use an effective planner.

15. Don’t fret over the small stuff. In time, it will all iron itself out. Parents, teammates, and administration are more forgiving than they seem. If you make mistakes, acknowledge them and apologize. One parent was really upset with me at the end of the first nine weeks (see point 8 and the paragraph about report cards). On the last day before Christmas break, she emailed me to tell me how much her daughter loved me and how she was grateful for a great first semester. Be honest, and be ready to take some flack here and there. What doesn’t kill you, only make you stronger.

http://teacherlingo.com/blogs/firstyearfrenzies/archive/2010/01/17/pre-christmas-break-and-rest-deprived.aspx

Technology in the classroom....WHOA!

So here I am sitting at home in Winnipeg, ready to write my blog entry about our presentation yesterday, and of course I FORGOT MY NOTES!! I should have gone with my original plan yesterday of taking notes onto my blog, but the student in me wanted to take notes on paper! I am going to try and remember things from the presentation so people can comment! Here I go:

So we had a presentation on Wednesday from John Evans. One thing that John told us that really impacted the way I will look for resources in the future. He told us about RSS feeds and gave us some sites that utilized RSS. This enables me to "subscribe" to a site and all the new information comes to my computer! I already have found some really fantastic resource websites through using Google reader. I like Google reader because it is really simple to use and you can have the option to get new feeds sent to your email inbox.

Another thing we learned about was PLN's or Personal Learning Networks. Personally, I am not as much of a fan of PLNs as I am of blogs and bookmarking sites like Diigo and Delicious. I do, however, plan to use the PLNs that John showed us to obtain some great resources for teaching. I really enjoyed his LwICT PLN, it has some great resources and ideas for integrating the internet into my everyday classroom practices.

One thing I was thinking the whole time was that all this information at my fingertips was quite overwhelming. Then John saved my poor over-worked brain. He told us to make sure we didn't get addicted or subscribe to too many feeds, so that we actually have lives. That assuaged my fears and apprehension about using all this new technology in my classroom.

I hope this gives y'all enough to comment on. Again, sorry for those of you who have to read my blogs, as I tend to blab a lot.

"And now you know...and knowing is half the battle."

Just a teacher...

This is a little poem I found while searching around on the internet:

PRELUDE:
I used to say I'm "just a teacher."
Not any more.

---- Just Teacher ---

I'm not just a teacher
I have many roles
From sparking the mind
to discussing their goals.

I'm not just a teacher
I am so much more
Mama, wife, chauffer
a distance runner who is often sore!

I'm not just a teacher
I have to fix things too!
Computers, payroll taxes,
doorknobs, the heel of a shoe.

But Just...
ah what a word that can be
implying that things are fair!
Never this side of eternity.

Is it just that we grade until two
or are interrupted all day?
Is it fair that we often work
while others can play?

Is it just that we are often misunderstood
and that fallen
leave streaks upon the
crystal trophies of our noble calling?

Or is it just that
money seems to be squandered
and we're left to buy sticky tack with our pennies
as purchases around us aren't pondered?

But there's one thing
just one thing.
Well more than one thing.
Each human being.

If I can reach just one
to direct them upward
towards greatness,
though through torrential troubles they ford.

If just one of them
finds purpose or hope
or how to be happy
and broaden their scope.

I'm never just a teacher
any more than any one of these students could ever be
just a child.

I am more...
and through me
my students will be too!

----

POSTLUDE:
I stand here
in the chair of my desk
seeing every pencil hole in the ceiling tile
crumpled paper in hand
dry erase marker smudge on my right cheek
and hear my voice echo back off my smartboard

"I AM A TEACHER AND I AM NOBLE.
I DO NOT NEED TO BE TREATED AS NOBILITY OR PAID AS NOBILITY,
I AM NOBILITY BECAUSE OF MY PURPOSE
AND CLAIM THIS ROOM AS A CASTLE OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE."

About me...

So...it's a lot harder to write a blog entry when it is for a class...How much personal information should I put in here? How much do people really want to know about me? No idea, but here goes:

My name is Katie, I was born and raised in Winnipeg Manitoba. I completed my first degree (B.Sc.) in 2008 at the University of Manitoba. I live in Winnipeg with my mom and sister (for the time being). I'm a bit of a nerd in my spare time...I play videogames with my boyfriend (only on occasion, I swear!), and my hair colour is not completely natural.

I think that should be enough about myself for now, on to the actual technology part of this blog:
For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher, and just recently, I have amended that goal to be a GOOD teacher. That is why I am taking this course.

My relationship with technology has been more of a necessity than enjoyment. With the exception of email and facebook, I really don't know much about what is out there for use in the classroom. That is my goal: To learn how to use technology effectively in my classrooms.

I have to say though, in my three student teaching placements, I really haven't had the opportunity to even TRY any technology. The only things I have had in my classroom have been overhead projectors and the occasional booked LCD projector. Seriously, Winnipeg schools are stuck in the stone ages of education!

Hmm...I can't think of anything else anyone would want to hear about me, so I will bring this entry to a close for now.

'Til next time: Keep fit and have fun!