MY Access!!!

Today we used MY Access which is the next best thing since sliced bread! This is an amazing program that allows students to improve their writing skills. MY Access offers various resources to help students with organization, spell check and many other writing needs. Students are able to receive feed back on their work and the really fun part is that they can receive it in their native language! That is just amazing! MY Access checks for any violence or threats and will let the teacher know. Teachers can also change the grades if they believe it should be different!

This program is a great way to motivate students and to help improve their writing. Students can write narrative, persuasive and other types of essays. MY Access offers Venn diagrams and many other sources students can use to brainstorm their thoughts before writing. Students are also able to revise their work and use the feed back to make their essays stronger. Teachers are able to see the students essays, scores and leave their own comments!

I loved MY Access!

No child left behind

In our last class we discussed the "NCLB" which stands for No Child Left Behind. This is a very controversial subject. I have a nine year old brother and we receive papers every year about "NCLB" but I never really looked into the specifics of this act. I knew that schools had to meet yearly requirements but I had no idea they would have federal funds removed! I don't see how that helps a situation. I believe schools like that need that extra help and motivation. I can understand that it is like a consequence for not achieving the goals but I think it is much harder to achieve when your are deprived of what you already had.

I wish every school could be equally equipped but unfortunately this is not the case; some schools are more fortunate than others. All students are equal and should have the same opportunities.

Here is what Hillary Clinton has to say about "NCLB".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RayKEnypvtU

Lesson Plans!

It seems like every time I write a lesson plan I get a little carried away. I worried about writing my first Unit for Principles and Techniques because I couldn't measure the time I would need for each activity. I prepared what I wanted to teach and what activities I would work on with the students in order to help them understand the material better and in a fun way. I put a lot of thought into it and I decided "Simon Says" in Spanish would be a great way to learn parts of the body! I added some music and even Jeopardy!

I worried about my assessment portion of the lessons because I am not exactly sure how I would assess my students in order to see if they understand the material. I came to the conclusion that with time and understanding each student I will know how to assess and measure their understanding. Not everyone will be the same and I may have to assess in various forms. I was also worried about teaching to the "Multiple Intelligences". I needed to figure out how to incorporate all of them into a lesson so that all my students could enjoy and understand the lesson. I worked on visual aids, music, group work, and many other ideas.

I received my unit back and I was a little nervous to look at it, but when I did I was very happy!

Teaching to the test

Education is not teaching by the book or a specific subject. Education includes teaching a child to respect, be responsible, care, appreciate and even love. It is so hard to fit this in when teachers are at a race with time, they must teach their students the necessary material that will be on the standardized tests. Teachers are put under pressure and stress because they have to fit all the information into their curriculum.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/policy/story/0,,1825326,00.html

Being A New Teacher

I have always wanted to be a teacher and as a child I new I had to attend college in order to make this dream a reality. Now that I am more than half way there, I have to admit I am a little scared. Being a teacher is dealing with something new everyday, no day will be the same as the previous one and no student will be the same as another. I never really understood the sigificance of being a teachers until now. In class we mentioned the procedures some schools go through in order to practice for emergency situations; and that's when it hit me, the students are going to count on me! They are going to feel protected because I am there, I will have to remain calm under any situation in order for my students not to be traumatized. They are going to count on me for any problem or concern they are facing. I want to the that person who they can count on. It does scare me a little to know I will have to react accordingly to whatever situation may come, but I know it will all be worth it.Being a teacher is not having a job it is part of who you are and I take great pride in becoming an educator. It maybe a little hard in the begining but we must find the courage and enthusiasm; one day we maybe that one person who changes someone's life!

Site for begining teachers
http://www.beginningteachers.org/
http://www.inspiringteachers.com/

Learning Disabilities

While I was working on my unit for Principles and Techniques I looked up learning disabilities. Never did I imagine the long list I was going to find. I knew about some like ADD and ADHD, but some of the ones I found shocked me. It really upset me because I figured if I didn't know some of these disabilities existed many others may not either. It also upset me because these children must go through such a difficult time to process information or just to get their words out. For example, Dysgraphia is trouble forming letters using pen and paper and can not produce legible hand writing and Dyspraxia is a severe difficulty in performing drawing, writing, buttoning, and other tasks requiring fine motor skill, or in sequencing the necessary movements. Can you imagine how hard it must be for a child to be able to enjoy art class? I was a little happier when I found out there are center and organizations that help through these difficult times!


Check this out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCqeFxDgacQ

Technology in the classroom!

In class today we mentioned how technology can be used in the classroom. This is a very valuable topic because many teachers hesitate when technology is involved; I can understand why, it is hard to try something new. I believe literature is very important, students to value its meaning and the messages and beauty they portray. I am not saying literature should not be used, it definitely should;but I believe we should use technology to help students understand the material better and in a way they find interesting. Students feel comfortable using technology and get excited when something new is introduced. There are so many ways to use technology, such as: movies, radio, internet, databases, online quizzes, power points and so many more. I believe it is important to introduce students to what is out there and how education can be "cool" and fun. Students may sometimes give up on school because it doesn't interest them and I feel technology will open their minds to the importance of education and diverse subjects. Today's adolescents use technology daily and I believe that adding their interests to the classroom would add participation and perhaps raise grades.

I am also pretty excited, because I already got placed for Junior field during break :0)