The days of computer labs will soon be behind us. This is scary, yet so exciting. The possibilities are endless with today's technology capabilities.
The challenge as a future teacher lies in the task of integrating the ICT curriculum into our daily class work. . . but as I think about this....I wonder, "How hard can it really be?"
We can use Skype to connect with classrooms around the world, sharing our knowledge and seeing other people's point of view.
With the use of blogs, students have every opportunity possible to reflect and share their thinking.
The internet allows us to share videos and class created assignments with people around the globe.
The most exciting part of technology is that communication with parents has never been easier. We can communicate through email, blogger, websites, and classroom NING pages. How cool is that!!
Lesson plans are made interactive, providing an opportunity to go one step further than hands on learning. The SMART board allows us to put learning into the students' hands.
I am so excited to have my own classroom. I am on board with technology. I hope you are too!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
21st Century Learners - Response from SMARTen Up Westcast Session
I just had to share this link. I will reflect soon.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kl0nazUArY
I think it is safe to say that the weather did not affect the overwhelming success of WESTCAST. For whoever participated, I hope they walked away with something refreshing. I know it was the linked video above that really inspired me.
The first session I am reflecting on is my experience as a presenter at the session “Jazzing Up Your Math Program”. I loved the format of this presentation. Each presenter featured one specific tool or strategy that they wished to showcase at their table. Then the students who attended rotated every couple minutes so that they were introduced to as many items as possible. We also had a draw at the end that gave out great prizes . . . Most of them were samples or objects that we discussed during our presentation.
This presentation had a good turn out. Every teacher should have a kit of activities or gimmicks related to teaching in general. For this purpose, it was math, but you could have one for any subject. I showcased “Music Math” with the emphasis that it is a Monday morning ready activity, and perfect to leave for a substitute.
One thing that other students said during the presentation was how great these would be and how they had never heard of this idea before. They wanted more and unfortunately we couldn’t get through everything in only forty five minutes.
The suggestion to bring a camera instead of handing things out is a great tool. It allows the audience to take in as much as they want…and remember what they saw when they return home.
But now I am done my presentation, so I can sit back and enjoy the sessions tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it.
Session 2: Addicted to Learning: Strategies to Encourage Student Engagement
WOW…I could have listened to Robyn Sneath share her ideas all day. Her session was fabulous. Maybe I was so mesmerized that she was a Harvard Grad student. J
Her session really put into perspective and for some into reality, that entertainment is driving the youth of today. Cell phones, ipods and headphones are attached to kids and even in class these objects are hiding not to far from reach. So as a teacher, how do you make things exciting enough to challenge this other output entertainment…how do you compete?
She showed us some interesting techniques that requires students moving to sides in the classroom based on their opinion of a topic, or instead of shouting out answers they write their answer on a white board. The key is to keep the whole class involved.
She said what works best for her, is to make everything a game. Cut up the worksheet and put it in a Ziploc bag, call it a fun name…and watch the kids eyes light up.
Her sense of humour and her honesty made this session a must see. I learned a lot of helpful tips and tactics for engaging students in the classroom. Though the session was more geared for high school, I embraced the knowledge and am very happy I went.
Session 3: SMARTen Up: Effective use in the K-8 Classroom
WOW! I can’t say enough great things about this session. The opportunities are endless and available at your fingertips, if only you take the time to find them. Devon Caldwell did an extraordinary job of showcasing the basic features.
I’d like to think that before this session I had a basic understanding of the capabilties of the SMART software, but after this session I am in awe at the possibilities. Did you know that you can record an entire SMART board lesson and then play it back or convert it so your students can watch it again on an iPAD.
As I am writing this journal entry I am looking at the pages of notes that I took at this session and I am overwhelmed with the ideas. The irony of falling upon this great session, is that next Monday I am travelling to Killarney to do a SMART board presentation for the K-6 teachers. I definitely feel more confident, now that I know how fabulous this program really is. As I finish this entry, I have presented my Smart board knowledge. It is definitely more difficult than it looks and technology never seems to work properly in the best of times. I guess the first time is always the trickiest, so by the time I am a “real” teacher I will hopefully be a pro.
Overall, as WESTCAST has come and gone, I think it was wonderful to embrace all the different and new ways of learning. Technology is moving way too fast. We will never be able to keep up, but use what works best for you and your students.
Session 4: Teamwork will “Get it Done”
This was a fun session to attend and I was able to easily relate as we have already done this in our class. Pick and author and relate it to a theme. Eric Carle works great with a unit on Nutrition etc.
As a future teacher, this was extremely beneficial. No matter the style, the author or the topic, you can intergrate anything. You just need to have an open mind and a great imagination.
I found this extremely beneficial, as we have just completed planning an integrated unit. It was neat to see the ideas that each teacher brought forth.
I also really liked that they had a faculty supervisor speak at the presentation. It was really neat to see the classroom from their point of view. It is a team effort.
Two authors mentioned during this session were the infamous Eric Carle, as well as Mo Weillem. Both have extremely different styles, but the integrated units were fabulous just the same.
I am more confident in my ability to integrate units across curriculum. It takes some time, but it is so worth it in the end. When students can connect to real life and connect the concepts throughout the entire day, its going to have a great impact on their learning. Afterall, that is the ultimate goal.
ps. I hope you enjoyed the video.
I think it is safe to say that the weather did not affect the overwhelming success of WESTCAST. For whoever participated, I hope they walked away with something refreshing. I know it was the linked video above that really inspired me.
The first session I am reflecting on is my experience as a presenter at the session “Jazzing Up Your Math Program”. I loved the format of this presentation. Each presenter featured one specific tool or strategy that they wished to showcase at their table. Then the students who attended rotated every couple minutes so that they were introduced to as many items as possible. We also had a draw at the end that gave out great prizes . . . Most of them were samples or objects that we discussed during our presentation.
This presentation had a good turn out. Every teacher should have a kit of activities or gimmicks related to teaching in general. For this purpose, it was math, but you could have one for any subject. I showcased “Music Math” with the emphasis that it is a Monday morning ready activity, and perfect to leave for a substitute.
One thing that other students said during the presentation was how great these would be and how they had never heard of this idea before. They wanted more and unfortunately we couldn’t get through everything in only forty five minutes.
The suggestion to bring a camera instead of handing things out is a great tool. It allows the audience to take in as much as they want…and remember what they saw when they return home.
But now I am done my presentation, so I can sit back and enjoy the sessions tomorrow. I am really looking forward to it.
Session 2: Addicted to Learning: Strategies to Encourage Student Engagement
WOW…I could have listened to Robyn Sneath share her ideas all day. Her session was fabulous. Maybe I was so mesmerized that she was a Harvard Grad student. J
Her session really put into perspective and for some into reality, that entertainment is driving the youth of today. Cell phones, ipods and headphones are attached to kids and even in class these objects are hiding not to far from reach. So as a teacher, how do you make things exciting enough to challenge this other output entertainment…how do you compete?
She showed us some interesting techniques that requires students moving to sides in the classroom based on their opinion of a topic, or instead of shouting out answers they write their answer on a white board. The key is to keep the whole class involved.
She said what works best for her, is to make everything a game. Cut up the worksheet and put it in a Ziploc bag, call it a fun name…and watch the kids eyes light up.
Her sense of humour and her honesty made this session a must see. I learned a lot of helpful tips and tactics for engaging students in the classroom. Though the session was more geared for high school, I embraced the knowledge and am very happy I went.
Session 3: SMARTen Up: Effective use in the K-8 Classroom
WOW! I can’t say enough great things about this session. The opportunities are endless and available at your fingertips, if only you take the time to find them. Devon Caldwell did an extraordinary job of showcasing the basic features.
I’d like to think that before this session I had a basic understanding of the capabilties of the SMART software, but after this session I am in awe at the possibilities. Did you know that you can record an entire SMART board lesson and then play it back or convert it so your students can watch it again on an iPAD.
As I am writing this journal entry I am looking at the pages of notes that I took at this session and I am overwhelmed with the ideas. The irony of falling upon this great session, is that next Monday I am travelling to Killarney to do a SMART board presentation for the K-6 teachers. I definitely feel more confident, now that I know how fabulous this program really is. As I finish this entry, I have presented my Smart board knowledge. It is definitely more difficult than it looks and technology never seems to work properly in the best of times. I guess the first time is always the trickiest, so by the time I am a “real” teacher I will hopefully be a pro.
Overall, as WESTCAST has come and gone, I think it was wonderful to embrace all the different and new ways of learning. Technology is moving way too fast. We will never be able to keep up, but use what works best for you and your students.
Session 4: Teamwork will “Get it Done”
This was a fun session to attend and I was able to easily relate as we have already done this in our class. Pick and author and relate it to a theme. Eric Carle works great with a unit on Nutrition etc.
As a future teacher, this was extremely beneficial. No matter the style, the author or the topic, you can intergrate anything. You just need to have an open mind and a great imagination.
I found this extremely beneficial, as we have just completed planning an integrated unit. It was neat to see the ideas that each teacher brought forth.
I also really liked that they had a faculty supervisor speak at the presentation. It was really neat to see the classroom from their point of view. It is a team effort.
Two authors mentioned during this session were the infamous Eric Carle, as well as Mo Weillem. Both have extremely different styles, but the integrated units were fabulous just the same.
I am more confident in my ability to integrate units across curriculum. It takes some time, but it is so worth it in the end. When students can connect to real life and connect the concepts throughout the entire day, its going to have a great impact on their learning. Afterall, that is the ultimate goal.
ps. I hope you enjoyed the video.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Making Cuts
Wow. I never knew how hard it was to justify budget cuts until we pretended to be on the school board and make a 1.2 million dollar cut in the division. What goes? What stays? And who is qualified to make those decisions? The battle begins. Of course certain programs are going to be more important to some than others based on background knowledge and experience with the particular area. I quickly saw the diversity even in our class. What specialized programs are essential? This was very difficult for me to decide as areas such as speech language seem like an easy part to cut, but as a teacher I understand the importance of these elements in education and no one benefits from cutting this. It is our goal as teachers to take every avenue we can to help our students, and sometimes it means bringing in the specialists. These programs cannot be taken from the budget.
Of course there are always going to be budget cuts. It’s inevitable, so being aware of the intensity and difficulty of the process gives me as a teacher a better understanding. Sometimes it will be jobs losts, while other times it will be those extra programs that disappear. The fact that the school board makes these decisions gives me an understanding of the importance of electing these members. It all makes sense now.
Of course there are always going to be budget cuts. It’s inevitable, so being aware of the intensity and difficulty of the process gives me as a teacher a better understanding. Sometimes it will be jobs losts, while other times it will be those extra programs that disappear. The fact that the school board makes these decisions gives me an understanding of the importance of electing these members. It all makes sense now.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Governance of Education
I think most people in society have a love-hate relationship with the government. We don't necessarily like the decisions they make, but we certainly could not live without them.
This holds true when discussing the governance of education. There certainly is a hierachy. The federal government really only plays the role of funding. It is the provincial government that is the top of tree. They are responsible for the programming.
Note: Did you know that The Education/Public Schools Act overrides any other legislation??
I definitely was not aware that it had so much power!
Next we have the school board, which is a fancy group of individuals elected by the community. Among these members, is the superintendent. This person acts almost as the mediator between the school and the division.
As a teacher, knowing the political side of things is essential to understanding who makes the "big" decisions and what my roles as the teacher will be.
As a parent, it is also important to know the role you can make in changing education. You can be on a parent advisory council and be the voice for other parents within the school system.
As a prinicipal, you need to have a much more broad understanding of each element of governance because at some point, you will have members from each area sitting in your office. You will have the teacher....the parent....the superintendant...the board member...and possibly the provincial premier. You act as the middle ground for all of these levels.
:)
One issue I do have......why do elected community members get to make the decisions? Are they just like you and I? Are they more qualified? Especially when it comes to special programs such as speech language and even the music program. How can we be certain that they know the benefit of these programs? What point of view will they take?
This holds true when discussing the governance of education. There certainly is a hierachy. The federal government really only plays the role of funding. It is the provincial government that is the top of tree. They are responsible for the programming.
Note: Did you know that The Education/Public Schools Act overrides any other legislation??
I definitely was not aware that it had so much power!
Next we have the school board, which is a fancy group of individuals elected by the community. Among these members, is the superintendent. This person acts almost as the mediator between the school and the division.
As a teacher, knowing the political side of things is essential to understanding who makes the "big" decisions and what my roles as the teacher will be.
As a parent, it is also important to know the role you can make in changing education. You can be on a parent advisory council and be the voice for other parents within the school system.
As a prinicipal, you need to have a much more broad understanding of each element of governance because at some point, you will have members from each area sitting in your office. You will have the teacher....the parent....the superintendant...the board member...and possibly the provincial premier. You act as the middle ground for all of these levels.
:)
One issue I do have......why do elected community members get to make the decisions? Are they just like you and I? Are they more qualified? Especially when it comes to special programs such as speech language and even the music program. How can we be certain that they know the benefit of these programs? What point of view will they take?
History: The Power of Change
Like all great things in life, there is a story that can be told of how it came to be. Like the mysterious stone figures called Inukshuks. Their traditional meaning when first left by the Inuit meant “Someone was here”. The inukshuk is a symbol used for many purposes: navigation, a memorial or simply a landmark. The inuksuk offers familiarity and comfort to travelers on unfamiliar land. The same holds true for education. Education has always had the same purpose, but it has taken many different paths and journeys to get to where it is today. Each nation, each culture contributing something new and guiding it in a new direction.
When our ancestors went to school, they probably only went to school until they could read and write, then the learning took place on the farm. The skills learned were passed on from generation to generation.
Our grandparents had very different schooling than what you and I remember. It is important to address the changing nature of children’s lives.
Education did not get to be where it is today without our forefathers building the path for us. It started with the basics of learning to read and write. Each country, region and eventually province building the foundation of today’s education. Under French regimen only boys could attend, and were taught by Catholic priests. The English tradition was that only the rich were educated at public schools. The poor were educated at `DameSchools`: taught by widows and housewives. Eventually, when the British moved into Canada, both upper and lower class received an education. However the lower class only received the basics, while the wealthy prepared for university.
Even across our nation, vast differences existed between province to province. In the late 1840s, Ontario offered funding whenever 20 students could be put in a group at a time. Yet in Newfoundland, it wasn’t until 1998, that public schools were allowed. So many factors contributed to education such as the Gold Rush and the First Nations. Canada is a multicultural society and our education definitely reflects this.
You are probably wondering where the inuksuk fits into this story. This past February at the 2010 Winter Olympics, I had the opportunity to witness the power of the inuksuk and how their significance and meaning had spread like wild fire. As I walked along the banks of the river, and saw the hundreds of inuksuk built along the banks, it was enlightening to see the power of this symbol and how it had grown into such a powerful force. This holds true for education as well. I am proud to say that through all the history, everything turned out okay. We have chosen regional diversity and everyone has the right to an equal and full education anywhere in Canada. It does not matter what our last name is, what our gender is, or how much money we make.
That being said, just remember that fifty years from now, today`s education will be part of that history. So as new challenges are presented, don`t lose sight of the past. Let the inuksuk remind you of where we have been and keep us moving forward. Let`s keep growing and improving. Let`s focus on assessment, special needs, EAL, technology and curriculum building.
We have so much at our fingertips, the sky is the limit.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Thirteen Commandments of Teaching
aka: Code of Professional practice
Ahh the rules. At first glance of the list, I was impressed with the simplicity of many of the expectations. We are being given one of the most rewarding jobs in society and being trusted to do so. Thus, the reason the first expectation is on the list: A teacher’s first professional responsibility is to her or his students.
So now we have read the rules, we have gone through the rules, and as teachers it is our job to follow them. It’s simple. Right? WRONG.
The conflict arises as I reflect on experiences as a student, as a colleague and as a teacher. I am sure most of us have been stuck in that awkward conversation in the staff room about a student…and you know its not appropriate…you don’t join in the conversation, but you just don’t have the nerve to get up and walk out. Or you have a confrontation with another colleague and you just so badly need to talk to your mom and ask her what to do before dealing with the issue. It seems innocent enough and quite honestly the instinctively thing to do.
When in reality you are actually GUILTY: Breaking rules #4,5,6,7,8.….and maybe more.
Geeze! All in a fifteen minute recess break.
No that does not make you a criminal. It just means you need to look over your definition of professionalism and get yourself a pocket sized laminated version of the Code of professional practice. Haha.
Now that I am aware of these expectations according to MTS, it is my job as a teacher to follow them. The examples I created were to show you how easy it is for professional behaviour to turn personal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)