Sunday, October 3, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Differentiation Station Reflection
The Differentiation Station experience has helped me realize how easy it is to differentiate instruction using technology in my second grade classroom. One year ago, before my first year teaching second grade, I was really skeptical about using technology in the classroom based on my students lack of technological experience. As the year went on, I began to experiment more and more with technology and found that my second graders are surprisingly really good with technology. With that discovery, I began creating technology-based lessons to use in the classroom that worked really well. During this class, the Differentiation Station helped me discover how easy and effective it is to differentiate using technology in my classroom. My Google Group members and I were able to discuss different resources and strategies to use int he classroom to ensure the success of all students in the classroom. I really valued their ideas, opinions, and criticisms that helped me better understand UDL and DI and how to use it in the classroom.
This next year, I am definitely using more and more technology in the classroom when possible. I have 4 ELL students in my classroom this year and would love to have access to student lap-tops with word recognition, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text software, but, unfortunately, due to our tight budget, that won't be a reality. I am getting that software installed on my two classroom computers so that is a start! For the other students in my classroom, I plan on making numerous lessons that contain options for content, process, and products. I really like the idea of giving my students options for choosing the content they want to learn. I feel that it will really motivate my second graders and will give them a sense of ownership with their learning. I will also work on showing them multiple ways to solve any problem. Usually in second grade we focus so much on showing the basic foundations of everything that we really don't get to show multiple methods to solve problems. I plan on concentrating more on that so students can find early on in their educational careers what methods and learning styles work for them the best. I was really proud of my first year in second grade with all the progress my students made and I made as a teacher. I am even more excited about this year with all these extra differentiating ideas and tricks to use in my classroom.
This next year, I am definitely using more and more technology in the classroom when possible. I have 4 ELL students in my classroom this year and would love to have access to student lap-tops with word recognition, text-to-speech, and speech-to-text software, but, unfortunately, due to our tight budget, that won't be a reality. I am getting that software installed on my two classroom computers so that is a start! For the other students in my classroom, I plan on making numerous lessons that contain options for content, process, and products. I really like the idea of giving my students options for choosing the content they want to learn. I feel that it will really motivate my second graders and will give them a sense of ownership with their learning. I will also work on showing them multiple ways to solve any problem. Usually in second grade we focus so much on showing the basic foundations of everything that we really don't get to show multiple methods to solve problems. I plan on concentrating more on that so students can find early on in their educational careers what methods and learning styles work for them the best. I was really proud of my first year in second grade with all the progress my students made and I made as a teacher. I am even more excited about this year with all these extra differentiating ideas and tricks to use in my classroom.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Week 8: Reflection
As Integrating Technology Across the Curriculum comes to a close, I reflect on the last 8 weeks and notice how much I have learned from this class. I developed a personal GAME plan to accomplish two specific goals: to model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments and to address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources. Overall, I feel very accomplished in my first goal and very eager to act on and monitor my second goal.
For my first goal, I designed a unit plan in which students were to complete a problem-based assignment by developing a plan and presenting via a video social networking tool, Safari Live Montage. My students where to find ways to create a "skeeter-free" picnic. We used various internet sites and technological tools to develop background information of the characteristics of mosquitoes in which we presented our information with a live web-conference using Safari Live Montage. After presenting our information, we developed a GAME plan to eliminate anything in our picnic area that would promote the reproduction and survival of mosquitoes. My students developed and presented their plans using VoiceThread. In order to teach with these Web 2.0 tools, I had to master them myself first. By doing various tasks at home using both programs, I felt comfortable enough to teach my class how to use them. Overall, it was a huge success and I can't wait to do it again next year.
As for my second goal, now that it is summer time, I finally have time to sit down and reflect on all the lesson I taught throughout the year to see how I can use technology to create more learner-centered activities to improve my students' understanding of each concept I teach. Next year will be a huge year as I try many things for the first time and monitor their effectiveness compared to the original lesson's effectiveness. I have currently "teched-up" my first Math unit and my first two ILA units. I am very eager to try out everything next year,
The second goal will result considerable and immediate change to the way I teach my classroom. This being my second year teaching second grade, I am now familiar with the curriculum so it is time for me to take more risks in my lessons, something I was afraid to do my first year with the curriculum. Another change in my teaching will be the student use of a GAME plan. I really found the value of the GAME plan process and will start off my second graders with setting short term goals to accomplish long term achievements using the GAME plan process. Once again, last year I was really concentrating on learning the new curriculum and rarely had time to integrate things out of the standard lessons.
And to finish things off, personally, I've always been a very reflective teacher. The GAME plan process has given me another way to reflect on each lesson I teach and each decision I make, thus making me a stronger educator. As I go into my second year teaching second grade, I am excited about the possibility of it being my most productive and effective year yet!
For my first goal, I designed a unit plan in which students were to complete a problem-based assignment by developing a plan and presenting via a video social networking tool, Safari Live Montage. My students where to find ways to create a "skeeter-free" picnic. We used various internet sites and technological tools to develop background information of the characteristics of mosquitoes in which we presented our information with a live web-conference using Safari Live Montage. After presenting our information, we developed a GAME plan to eliminate anything in our picnic area that would promote the reproduction and survival of mosquitoes. My students developed and presented their plans using VoiceThread. In order to teach with these Web 2.0 tools, I had to master them myself first. By doing various tasks at home using both programs, I felt comfortable enough to teach my class how to use them. Overall, it was a huge success and I can't wait to do it again next year.
As for my second goal, now that it is summer time, I finally have time to sit down and reflect on all the lesson I taught throughout the year to see how I can use technology to create more learner-centered activities to improve my students' understanding of each concept I teach. Next year will be a huge year as I try many things for the first time and monitor their effectiveness compared to the original lesson's effectiveness. I have currently "teched-up" my first Math unit and my first two ILA units. I am very eager to try out everything next year,
The second goal will result considerable and immediate change to the way I teach my classroom. This being my second year teaching second grade, I am now familiar with the curriculum so it is time for me to take more risks in my lessons, something I was afraid to do my first year with the curriculum. Another change in my teaching will be the student use of a GAME plan. I really found the value of the GAME plan process and will start off my second graders with setting short term goals to accomplish long term achievements using the GAME plan process. Once again, last year I was really concentrating on learning the new curriculum and rarely had time to integrate things out of the standard lessons.
And to finish things off, personally, I've always been a very reflective teacher. The GAME plan process has given me another way to reflect on each lesson I teach and each decision I make, thus making me a stronger educator. As I go into my second year teaching second grade, I am excited about the possibility of it being my most productive and effective year yet!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
NETS-S in my Classroom
After viewing the NETS-S at International Society for Technology in Education website, I see a direct correlation between the NETS-T (National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers) and the NETS-S (National Educational Technology Standards for Students). Just like teaching any subject or concept, teachers need to first understand the concept in its entirety in order to properly teach it in the classroom. The standards in the NETS-T basically align witht he numbered standards of the NETS-S.
As a second grade teacher, goal setting is a very important skill to develop, but also very difficult for second graders because they don't truly know what they are goal setting for. Although at this age, some of the standards may seem near impossible for such a young child to accomplish, Communication and Collaboration and Digital Citizenship are two standards they could really strive for using a GAME plan. First we would work as a class and discuss each standard and ways we could accomplish them, thus setting our Goal and moving into our Action plan. As they are carrying out their Action plan, careful Monitoring by both students and teacher need to occur to ensure proper monitoring. Finally, they may evaluate their GAME plan and change if needed. I feel that starting students setting goals at this age will be extremely beneficial in the future.
As a second grade teacher, goal setting is a very important skill to develop, but also very difficult for second graders because they don't truly know what they are goal setting for. Although at this age, some of the standards may seem near impossible for such a young child to accomplish, Communication and Collaboration and Digital Citizenship are two standards they could really strive for using a GAME plan. First we would work as a class and discuss each standard and ways we could accomplish them, thus setting our Goal and moving into our Action plan. As they are carrying out their Action plan, careful Monitoring by both students and teacher need to occur to ensure proper monitoring. Finally, they may evaluate their GAME plan and change if needed. I feel that starting students setting goals at this age will be extremely beneficial in the future.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
GAME Plan Progress
We are in the last two weeks of school in my county and I have a great sense of pride and accomplishment as a result of my class's performance with our Safari Montage Live lesson. With that being over, I promised myself I would work on my second goal: to address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.
This week, I began packing up my room and decided to snag the first two reading units and the first two math units to look at over the summer. With these learning guides, I will reflect upon each lesson I taught during these units and come up with at least one way to integrate technology in both subjects once per week. With the year coming to a close, I will finally have enough time to think beyond my set curriculum during the summer to really get the ball rolling with my second goal.
This week, I began packing up my room and decided to snag the first two reading units and the first two math units to look at over the summer. With these learning guides, I will reflect upon each lesson I taught during these units and come up with at least one way to integrate technology in both subjects once per week. With the year coming to a close, I will finally have enough time to think beyond my set curriculum during the summer to really get the ball rolling with my second goal.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
GAME Plan Update
As of Friday, I have made considerable progress in meeting my first goal: to become more proficient facilitatin the web conferencing tool Safari Montage Live. My class became expert entomologists on the physical characteristics of mosquitos, their life cycle, similarities and differnces between male and female, how they are harmful or helpful, and how to create an unfriendly schoolyard in preparation for Friday's web conference. They wrote a script to share with another class and we did a live we conference discussing each of their areas of study. The two classes involved took turns presenting their information via Safari Montage Live and we wrapped up our conference by completing a compare and contrasting venn diagram on our chalkboards that were visible through the webcam. Overall, it was a huge success, but next time, I would like to become more familiar with the interactive whiteboard feature in Safari Montage Live. Now that this is over and I have reevaluated my first goal, next week I plan on putting more concentration into my second goal.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
GAME Plan Progress
My first goal is to become more proficient in facilitating the web conferencing tool Safari Montage Live. My students have been rehearsing their scripts all week long and have been applying the communicative and creative skills that are highlighted in second grade. A parent of one of my students is a communications professor at a nearby university. She actually came in this afternoon and taught a public speaking lesson to my class to prepare them for Friday's web conference. I have experimented with the equipment several times this week and have even held practice conferences with the other classroom teacher. I have been hard at work in accomplishing my first goal and I look forward to sharing the outcome with you all in the near future. I plan on focusing more attention to my second goal following the web conference.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
