So it's that time of year again- time to put those coats that wrap around you multiple times on and enjoy the magical sensation of winter, with the white glistening flakes falling on the ground, warm apple crisp straight from the oven, and Christmas right around the corner. Sorry for all of you stressed about Thanksgiving, but I just can't help but wish for that time of year where everything seems like it did when you were younger, magical and slightly mysterious, where the sounds of bells and sleigh rides race through the streets in a cacophany of trumpet blares and flute trills, where lights are strung up all through town, making streets look welcoming and homey, and with snow racing to the ground, fat puffs of downy softness that tantalize your tongue with the thought of the cool soothing taste of winter as it blankets the ground like a quilt made of goose feathers, so light and airy that you are afraid to step on it in case it is just a dream. I love this time of year, for it is the one time that I really get to spend with my family, my boisterous small family who are often very spread out now that my sister and i have grown up and my mother is retired. Yet, Christmas is that time of year where nothing can go wrong, where you feel safe and cossetted in your house, as you watch the wind howl and descecrate tress outside, a fire cheerfully smiles at you inside, lapping at the doors of the woodstove, warming both the house and the hearts of the inhabitants, and where the smell of warm soul food fills the air, with turkeys and meat glistening with the rich fat and protein of their own juices, of mashed potatoes whipped into a frothy conconction, the butter melting upon the mounds of rich whiteness, staining it yellow, swirling its lusciosness in artistic patterns that make the potatoes look like mountains, cropped with a yellow peak, and the desserts, splendid and majestic, so beautiful it is hard to cut into them for it is a little like slashing into a major work of art. This is what I have been waiting for for the entire year. This is what makes leaving home okay, that knowing that this is what I will come back to, that this will never change, for it won't. It will always be the same.
We might have different things to eat and there might be some years where the presents under the tree are a little sparse, like our pockets in this time of crises, but that isn't what matters. What will always be there for me is the knowlege that i have a place to go home to, where worries cannot find me, where i can rest in peace, and that I will always be loved, regardless of what gift I give people. In our family, it isn't so much about the gifts (that is not to say that my parents do not give me lovely gifts, or that I do not enjoy this), but Christmas is about more than that. It is about love, it is about sacrifice (for those who are Christian), and it is about the familal joy and comfort that humans can take and give each other. It is about the family coming together and celebrating their life, and this is what I love about Christmas. Even in Farmington, which is where I live now in the dormitories, Christmas is beautiful. The days leading up to vacation, I often spend walking the streets, drinking in the sights and smells of this season. I walk all around town, my ugg boots making fresh tracks in the pristine snow, untouched by any hand or foot for my friend and I are often the first ones to tread on the white canvas in front of us. Bundled up against the cold, our noses and cheeks turning bright cherry red, and our lips becoming a slash of red in otherwise pale cheeks like poppies among the brown ground, and we look like children again, vibrant, alive and excited, with red lips as though we had just eaten a popsicle. My roomate's brown eyes are dancing as if doing the Irish jig,and snow pools on her head, dusting her dark straight hair with shimmery highlights. She looks like a cookie, all fresh and slightly dusted with confectionary sugar, and I can't help but laugh at the sight of us in our coats, looking for all the world like fat robins as we are swaddled and wrapped in layer after layer of fabric, concealing whatever shapes we once had. Mirth bubbles up like champagne from my chest, and like music, my laughter rings out in the quiet silence of the street in a timeless dance. The bells toll from the church and my roomate and I stop and listen, afraid to move in case we break the spell of enchantment that comes upon us as we hear the sweet chiming of innocence and peace caroling through the winding pathways, its haunting cords slicing through the darkest recessess and shadows to bring light and fulfillment to everyone who hears it.
So let us hope that this Christmas will be like all other Christmases, and let us hope for a white Christmas! And remember, don't get too stressed about presents and material goods, but instead emphasize what Christmas is really about (whether you are Christian or not), for it is not a holiday that should be used to discriminate against any other religion. Instead, for eveyrone out there, think of Christmas as a time of love and peace, where you can reuniting with family, and return to childhood innocence for a little while. Enjoy the snow and remember the magic of it all, when you were child and saw your first snow storm, and listen to the music for it is light and airy, and its melodies raise us up and allow us to escape our humdrum lives for a little bit. During Christmas time, we are like birds, soaring above whatever miseries we have, content to float in a mindless splendor.
SO HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOR ALL!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
21st century teacher reflection
Being an educator of the 21st century is a difficult challenge. Everyday, there is new information to be learned and processed. My fellow teachers and I will have to become comfortable with technology and its role in the classroom. Therefore, it stands to reason that we, as teachers, need to prepare our children and teach them how to use technology to deepen their knowledge and make them more prepared to face the word, using flexibility, creativity, and above all, patience to help our students learn and grow as people.
Technology is an amazing tool for students. By integrating technology into the classroom, my students will be able to research topics more in depth and will become actively engaged in school and in the classroom. Students can use technology at their own pace and can do really cool activities online such as the metamorphosis project, in which they do their own art project, exploring tools around them to create their own kind of original art. Students that struggle to read could use interactive reading sites to help them read books, such as at Scholastic. These sites are wonderful tools because they supply scaffolding for the students. Students can listen and then read or can first try reading before listening. Other sites, such as funbrain can help students with their math, making problem solving and equations into games.. This kind of hands-on interactive learning helps students become more independent and it fosters in them a love for learning.
However, in order for technology to be integrated into the schools, teachers must be prepared. I feel that I have a responsibility to become comfortable with technology so that we may use it in the classroom. This means that I will become a student as well, learning alongside my class as we explore the intricacies and advantages of using technology. However, it will not be an easy ride. Teachers have to put up with a great deal of stress. Teachers are always busy, trying to incorporate many different strategies in order to keep their students’ engrossed all the while being interrupted by announcements, field trips, and specials. Because of this, I feel that I need to deviate from the traditional teacher roles and become more flexible. I will try to make my classroom as hands on as possible and will encourage my students to think critically about the world around them. I feel that a more progressive style classroom is more effective, especially when integrating technology. By giving them a more progressive education, students will be able to use technology in order to do more in depth research. I also feel that teachers need to be flexible. I know that to be an effective teacher, I must learn how to be flexible, and how to adapt quickly. I also know that I will have to be creative in order to integrate technology and everything else that needs to be taught. However, by integrating technology and by using a progressive system, I can give my students a lot more responsibilities as well. They can learn to lead the class and become more active learners, using their own tools to discover and learn.
By giving them full reign on their education, I am giving them leadership skills that will serve them well as adults. By teaching them about technology, I am giving them the ability to succeed. I feel like the classroom needs to be a true place of learning, not only for the students, but also for the teacher. It will be a place of discovery from both spectrums, young and old, as they learn together, using the wisdom of the adults and the young eyes and fresh minds of the students to problem solve.
Technology is an amazing tool for students. By integrating technology into the classroom, my students will be able to research topics more in depth and will become actively engaged in school and in the classroom. Students can use technology at their own pace and can do really cool activities online such as the metamorphosis project, in which they do their own art project, exploring tools around them to create their own kind of original art. Students that struggle to read could use interactive reading sites to help them read books, such as at Scholastic. These sites are wonderful tools because they supply scaffolding for the students. Students can listen and then read or can first try reading before listening. Other sites, such as funbrain can help students with their math, making problem solving and equations into games.. This kind of hands-on interactive learning helps students become more independent and it fosters in them a love for learning.
However, in order for technology to be integrated into the schools, teachers must be prepared. I feel that I have a responsibility to become comfortable with technology so that we may use it in the classroom. This means that I will become a student as well, learning alongside my class as we explore the intricacies and advantages of using technology. However, it will not be an easy ride. Teachers have to put up with a great deal of stress. Teachers are always busy, trying to incorporate many different strategies in order to keep their students’ engrossed all the while being interrupted by announcements, field trips, and specials. Because of this, I feel that I need to deviate from the traditional teacher roles and become more flexible. I will try to make my classroom as hands on as possible and will encourage my students to think critically about the world around them. I feel that a more progressive style classroom is more effective, especially when integrating technology. By giving them a more progressive education, students will be able to use technology in order to do more in depth research. I also feel that teachers need to be flexible. I know that to be an effective teacher, I must learn how to be flexible, and how to adapt quickly. I also know that I will have to be creative in order to integrate technology and everything else that needs to be taught. However, by integrating technology and by using a progressive system, I can give my students a lot more responsibilities as well. They can learn to lead the class and become more active learners, using their own tools to discover and learn.
By giving them full reign on their education, I am giving them leadership skills that will serve them well as adults. By teaching them about technology, I am giving them the ability to succeed. I feel like the classroom needs to be a true place of learning, not only for the students, but also for the teacher. It will be a place of discovery from both spectrums, young and old, as they learn together, using the wisdom of the adults and the young eyes and fresh minds of the students to problem solve.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Hi guys, my name is Maggie Campbell and my home is in Belfast, Maine, and I live with my sister and my mother and father. I am a sophmore in college, and I am learning how to be a teacher. I love to read, write, ski, swim, and hike. In fact, I like almost everything that is outside. My favorite season is fall because I love the colors of the leaves, and I love the weather. It is cold but not too cold! I also love school! I hope you are having a great time in school, and I hope you keep up all the good work!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Computer Conference
1. The first session that I went to was the pre=service teacher kickoff session. This session was really helpful and I really liked the quote that he started off with: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be". - Wayne Gretzky Then he explained that this quote could be used for teaching as well. Teachers should not just stay with the traditional approach, but should be progressive. Teachers should challenge their students and be prepared. This means becoming comfortable with computers. Some things that I learned from this session were a few technological things that I could use in the classroom. He talks about using flicker, which is a great image website, and can organize people’s images using tags. This means that students could use this program to organize pictures. Flickr can also be used to include parents in their students’ lives. Parents would be able to see what their children are doing in the classroom, and will be able to become more actively involved in their children's lives.
2. Another thing that I learned was also in this class. I had never realized how you could use some technology in the classroom. Mobile phones and I-pods had never really struck me as a useful tool in the classroom, but the presenter gave us some ideas for using these programs. For example, itunes has thousands of podcasts that are available and that people could subscribe to. These podcasts can be used to teach lessons on grammar and other things like hat. Skype is another example of a tool that can be used. By using Skype, students can communicate freely with other people, maybe even people from other places. For parents, teachers can send out emails, blogs, and aim messages to get them more actively involved in their kids’ learning. All of these uses of technology allow the parent to see first hand what their child is doing and what they have been learning.
3. During the key speaking, I learned a lot of useful information about why people should use technology. The speaker made a good point that computers and technology are portals to the rest of the world. Students have to learn how to work together and be more collaborative. She also stated that in 2020, knowledge would double every 72 hours. This astounded me. That much knowledge pretty much makes books obsolete. By the time the textbooks are written, they would be incorrect. Learning this, I knew that teaching without technology is no longer an option. In order to learn everything that these children are going to know, they are going to have to be able to use technology to its fullest. Yet, by doing this, these students are going to have so much more possibilities. They are going to be able to relate to people that are different, and schooling is going to be more student directed.
4. While in the pre-strategy program, I also learned about the program JING. JING is a great program that allows students to communicate with others. It allows people to snap a picture of anything and put it on your desktop and then record it. This movie can then be shared with anyone. Teachers can use this to study their students, and to make sure that their students are paying attention. For example, when a student is doing something, you could video the child doing the activity, while they talk, recording their thoughts the whole time. By doing this, the teacher will be able to get insight into the student’s head. The teacher will be able to look at this and see what the student learns. The students can learn and explore how to verbalize their reasoning and the teacher can see where the student is coming from.
5. Another program that I thought was really cool and that was technology based was something called Literactive. This program can be used for struggling readers or even just regular readers. It provides reading material to students and it is online. These programs help students read and understand what they are reading. Since I am teaching kindergarten, I thought this program would be amazing to use, because it helps the students start to recognize words. Yet, there are tools that if clicked, will read to the student, highlighting the word, and speaking it out loud. It can even be used for more advanced children because you can turn the extras off, and the student actually has to read the whole sentence. Furthermore, the student has the opportunity to take their learning in their own hands because they can pick their book.
6. When I went to my third session, the presenter told us how important games were to learning. He said that teachers needed to use more creativity and need to use educational games more often, such as cribbage, where you have to use concepts in order to win the game. An example of a game was magnetic poetry. Magnetic poetry is an amazing game because it can be found both in a board game and in an online game format. This gives students opportunities to explore rhyming words and to characterize words. Younger students can use this to group words with the same beginning letters, or when they are beginning to learn how to organize words under headings. It can also be used for more advanced students, in order to compose poems and songs.
7. During the second session that I attended, I learned about many math resources that would help students who are struggling. Most of the programs that the presenter showed us were free open source software, and were great educational resources. In this class we learned about a website MISTM, which is a math portal. Here, teachers can find all sorts of information and teaching resources. In this class, she shared software called geogebra. This software is interactive, and students can explore points, segments, vectors, lines, and functions. They can experiment with equations and coordinates, along with many other mathematical concepts because this software is a mix of geometry, calculus, and algebra.
8. Another thing I learned during this second session is about a website called curriki. This is an online program that is specifically used for educational purposes. This program is used as a teacher resource, and there are many lessons and plans that teachers can use in their own classroom. This program is set up so that everyone can use it. This equals out the playing field a little bit, equalizing differences because any teacher can access these tools. It is very similar to wikipedia because users can post, edit and comment on articles.
9. One of the most helpful sessions I went to was Jim’s best of the web. This was probably my favorite session of all times. It was so helpful. The presenter talked about the lack of creativity in the classroom and how this was negatively impacting education. Then, he gave us several websites that can be used to re-engage students, making them actively interested in what they are learning. He gave up over 50 websites to use, all of which can be used to make students more active in their own learning. These websites are great tools to use!
10. Another thing that I learned during this computer conference is about a website called SpellingCity. SpellingCity can be used to help prepare students for vocabulary tests and is very simple to use. One presenter mentioned how good a site this is. Kids can become excited about spelling again and can study and explore the words through this site.
This was an amazing experience and I felt that I really learned a lot about using technology and why it is important to use in the classroom. The presenters were all prepared and did a really nice job presenting a lot of information in just a little time. Walking around, I was able to see all the tools that teachers have at their disposal now, and I saw some really cool inventions. One such invention was the crayon ink, in which crayons are used instead of ink, which is better for the environment.
2. Another thing that I learned was also in this class. I had never realized how you could use some technology in the classroom. Mobile phones and I-pods had never really struck me as a useful tool in the classroom, but the presenter gave us some ideas for using these programs. For example, itunes has thousands of podcasts that are available and that people could subscribe to. These podcasts can be used to teach lessons on grammar and other things like hat. Skype is another example of a tool that can be used. By using Skype, students can communicate freely with other people, maybe even people from other places. For parents, teachers can send out emails, blogs, and aim messages to get them more actively involved in their kids’ learning. All of these uses of technology allow the parent to see first hand what their child is doing and what they have been learning.
3. During the key speaking, I learned a lot of useful information about why people should use technology. The speaker made a good point that computers and technology are portals to the rest of the world. Students have to learn how to work together and be more collaborative. She also stated that in 2020, knowledge would double every 72 hours. This astounded me. That much knowledge pretty much makes books obsolete. By the time the textbooks are written, they would be incorrect. Learning this, I knew that teaching without technology is no longer an option. In order to learn everything that these children are going to know, they are going to have to be able to use technology to its fullest. Yet, by doing this, these students are going to have so much more possibilities. They are going to be able to relate to people that are different, and schooling is going to be more student directed.
4. While in the pre-strategy program, I also learned about the program JING. JING is a great program that allows students to communicate with others. It allows people to snap a picture of anything and put it on your desktop and then record it. This movie can then be shared with anyone. Teachers can use this to study their students, and to make sure that their students are paying attention. For example, when a student is doing something, you could video the child doing the activity, while they talk, recording their thoughts the whole time. By doing this, the teacher will be able to get insight into the student’s head. The teacher will be able to look at this and see what the student learns. The students can learn and explore how to verbalize their reasoning and the teacher can see where the student is coming from.
5. Another program that I thought was really cool and that was technology based was something called Literactive. This program can be used for struggling readers or even just regular readers. It provides reading material to students and it is online. These programs help students read and understand what they are reading. Since I am teaching kindergarten, I thought this program would be amazing to use, because it helps the students start to recognize words. Yet, there are tools that if clicked, will read to the student, highlighting the word, and speaking it out loud. It can even be used for more advanced children because you can turn the extras off, and the student actually has to read the whole sentence. Furthermore, the student has the opportunity to take their learning in their own hands because they can pick their book.
6. When I went to my third session, the presenter told us how important games were to learning. He said that teachers needed to use more creativity and need to use educational games more often, such as cribbage, where you have to use concepts in order to win the game. An example of a game was magnetic poetry. Magnetic poetry is an amazing game because it can be found both in a board game and in an online game format. This gives students opportunities to explore rhyming words and to characterize words. Younger students can use this to group words with the same beginning letters, or when they are beginning to learn how to organize words under headings. It can also be used for more advanced students, in order to compose poems and songs.
7. During the second session that I attended, I learned about many math resources that would help students who are struggling. Most of the programs that the presenter showed us were free open source software, and were great educational resources. In this class we learned about a website MISTM, which is a math portal. Here, teachers can find all sorts of information and teaching resources. In this class, she shared software called geogebra. This software is interactive, and students can explore points, segments, vectors, lines, and functions. They can experiment with equations and coordinates, along with many other mathematical concepts because this software is a mix of geometry, calculus, and algebra.
8. Another thing I learned during this second session is about a website called curriki. This is an online program that is specifically used for educational purposes. This program is used as a teacher resource, and there are many lessons and plans that teachers can use in their own classroom. This program is set up so that everyone can use it. This equals out the playing field a little bit, equalizing differences because any teacher can access these tools. It is very similar to wikipedia because users can post, edit and comment on articles.
9. One of the most helpful sessions I went to was Jim’s best of the web. This was probably my favorite session of all times. It was so helpful. The presenter talked about the lack of creativity in the classroom and how this was negatively impacting education. Then, he gave us several websites that can be used to re-engage students, making them actively interested in what they are learning. He gave up over 50 websites to use, all of which can be used to make students more active in their own learning. These websites are great tools to use!
10. Another thing that I learned during this computer conference is about a website called SpellingCity. SpellingCity can be used to help prepare students for vocabulary tests and is very simple to use. One presenter mentioned how good a site this is. Kids can become excited about spelling again and can study and explore the words through this site.
This was an amazing experience and I felt that I really learned a lot about using technology and why it is important to use in the classroom. The presenters were all prepared and did a really nice job presenting a lot of information in just a little time. Walking around, I was able to see all the tools that teachers have at their disposal now, and I saw some really cool inventions. One such invention was the crayon ink, in which crayons are used instead of ink, which is better for the environment.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Webquest Ideas
Here are my webquest ideas. My class will be studying the Holocaust, which means all the webquests that are written below deal, in some way or another, with this issue.
1. Hollywood Productions Introduce: Holocaust Horror
a. Topic: Students will explore the Holocaust and will learn where it took place, the events that led up to this horrific event, and how Jewish people were treated.
b. Grade Level: Eighth Grade
c. Task: You are making a movie!!! Everyone has been patiently awaiting this big event and the movie is proclaimed to be the best in the world. The box office believes that this movie will be off the charts and everyone knows it is because of the people that have been cast in the movie. With an internationally known actress, a famous artist, and an amazing scriptwriter, what could go wrong? RIGHT? It is up to you to make sure that this movie is the blockbuster it is supposed to be. Don't let the director down!!!
d. Roles
a. Scriptwriter- it is your job to write a script that will make this movie rise above all other movies. To do this, you must research the times and make sure the script stays real to the time period.
b. Backstage Artist- It is your job to make the set seem as realistic as possible. Therefore, you must put all of your artistic skills into this project, making the backgrounds feel like Germany and using props that would be used in that time.
c. Actress- it is your job to portray the young girl, Anne Frank. You are the main lead so it is important that you get this right! You must be Anne Frank, with all of her emotions, feelings, and actions!! Don't mess up!
2. Gestapo, not Gazpacho
a. Topic: Students will discover what life is like for Hitler's army before, and after the Holocaust.
b. Grade level: eighth grade
c. Task: You are growing up in war torn Germany. When you are young, you were pressed into Hitler's youth group and when you became older, you became a Gestapo, a secret agent. Then, the war ended and people around you changed. An interviewer wants to ask you questions and you are tired of being hounded so you answer his questions about your life.
d. Roles:
a. Child in Hitler's Youth- it is your job to tell the interviewer how you became part of this organizations and what responsibilities you are given
b. Gestapo adult- it is your job to tell the interviewer what your life entails and how people treat you
c. Nazi after Holocaust has ended- it is your job to show the interviewer what has happened to Hilter's army and to describe how different the world is and how people treat you!
3. HIDE AND SEEK
a. Topic: Students will investigate what Jewish people went through when they tried to escape Hitler's regime
b. Grade level: eighth grade
c. Task: Your family is in trouble. The Nazis are searching for Jews and are sending them to the Death Camps. Your family knows that if they end up in the death camp, they will die! You need to get your family saftely out of Germany!
d. Roles:
a. Father- it is your job to provide for your family. You are looking at maps, trying to decide where the saftest place to escape would be!
b. Mother- it is your job to make sure your family stays hidden until the time that you need to leave! Your job is to find a family that will hide you until the time is right.
c. Child- it is your job to hide and make sure you have left no trail! You must keep track of food and money and when the Nazis are close on your heels, you must find places to hide for your family!
4. DEATH TRAP
a. Topic: Students will learn about the concentration camps, how they were built, and why.
b. Grade level: eighth grade
c. Task: The Germans are implementing their final solution plan. Hitler wants to destroy all Jewish people. You have been hired to create death traps, places where the Jews will be sent to be killed.
d. Roles:
a. Engineer- your job is to build the concentration camps, making sure that there is no way for the Jews to escape.
b. inventor- your job is to find and make weapons and other killing machines.
c. Spy photographer- your job is to take pictures of the machinery and of the concentration camps so that the outside world can see what is going on.
1. Hollywood Productions Introduce: Holocaust Horror
a. Topic: Students will explore the Holocaust and will learn where it took place, the events that led up to this horrific event, and how Jewish people were treated.
b. Grade Level: Eighth Grade
c. Task: You are making a movie!!! Everyone has been patiently awaiting this big event and the movie is proclaimed to be the best in the world. The box office believes that this movie will be off the charts and everyone knows it is because of the people that have been cast in the movie. With an internationally known actress, a famous artist, and an amazing scriptwriter, what could go wrong? RIGHT? It is up to you to make sure that this movie is the blockbuster it is supposed to be. Don't let the director down!!!
d. Roles
a. Scriptwriter- it is your job to write a script that will make this movie rise above all other movies. To do this, you must research the times and make sure the script stays real to the time period.
b. Backstage Artist- It is your job to make the set seem as realistic as possible. Therefore, you must put all of your artistic skills into this project, making the backgrounds feel like Germany and using props that would be used in that time.
c. Actress- it is your job to portray the young girl, Anne Frank. You are the main lead so it is important that you get this right! You must be Anne Frank, with all of her emotions, feelings, and actions!! Don't mess up!
2. Gestapo, not Gazpacho
a. Topic: Students will discover what life is like for Hitler's army before, and after the Holocaust.
b. Grade level: eighth grade
c. Task: You are growing up in war torn Germany. When you are young, you were pressed into Hitler's youth group and when you became older, you became a Gestapo, a secret agent. Then, the war ended and people around you changed. An interviewer wants to ask you questions and you are tired of being hounded so you answer his questions about your life.
d. Roles:
a. Child in Hitler's Youth- it is your job to tell the interviewer how you became part of this organizations and what responsibilities you are given
b. Gestapo adult- it is your job to tell the interviewer what your life entails and how people treat you
c. Nazi after Holocaust has ended- it is your job to show the interviewer what has happened to Hilter's army and to describe how different the world is and how people treat you!
3. HIDE AND SEEK
a. Topic: Students will investigate what Jewish people went through when they tried to escape Hitler's regime
b. Grade level: eighth grade
c. Task: Your family is in trouble. The Nazis are searching for Jews and are sending them to the Death Camps. Your family knows that if they end up in the death camp, they will die! You need to get your family saftely out of Germany!
d. Roles:
a. Father- it is your job to provide for your family. You are looking at maps, trying to decide where the saftest place to escape would be!
b. Mother- it is your job to make sure your family stays hidden until the time that you need to leave! Your job is to find a family that will hide you until the time is right.
c. Child- it is your job to hide and make sure you have left no trail! You must keep track of food and money and when the Nazis are close on your heels, you must find places to hide for your family!
4. DEATH TRAP
a. Topic: Students will learn about the concentration camps, how they were built, and why.
b. Grade level: eighth grade
c. Task: The Germans are implementing their final solution plan. Hitler wants to destroy all Jewish people. You have been hired to create death traps, places where the Jews will be sent to be killed.
d. Roles:
a. Engineer- your job is to build the concentration camps, making sure that there is no way for the Jews to escape.
b. inventor- your job is to find and make weapons and other killing machines.
c. Spy photographer- your job is to take pictures of the machinery and of the concentration camps so that the outside world can see what is going on.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The purpose of technology in an inclusive classroom
As a teacher, I feel that technology plays a huge role in the classroom. Every student that is in a classroom is going to have different strengths and different weaknesses and there is no way that a teacher can be an effective educator without the use of technological aides. These assistive techniques and items give children a level playing field and allow students who previously were on the fringe of the classroom to actively participate. Technological items such as a pencil grip, fraction bars, Tango, and Alpha Smart are but a small core group of items that make teaching more effective and allow students to work on their weaknesses, as well as giving students with learning difficulties the ability to succeed.
In any single classroom, there will always be a child that needs more help than others. Assistive techniques allow children who are struggling to work at their own pace. For example, the Tango program gives children who have trouble with language a chance to work on voice inflections, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The students who use this do not have to deal with the pressure that comes from trying to keep up with the class but can take their time and truly learn the concepts. These forms of technology allow the children to set the pace, giving them the time and practice that a teacher sometimes cannot supply. Computer software programs do the same thing. These technological aides have access to limitless computer software programs that teach lessons in a fun, interactive way that children love. Anyone can use these, which is perfect in the classroom. The more advanced students simply move on to the more difficult things while the students who struggle can move a slower pace. Therefore, even the more advanced students can be challenged when using these programs because these programs are individualized and have many levels. There are also many simple tools that I can use in my classroom such as pencil grips, which help children develop fine motor skills,word processing, for children who have trouble writing, or audio books, for children who have trouble reading. These assistive techniques open doors that were previously closed to teachers because, with these new advances, teachers can engage their students and make lessons more interactive and exciting. They teach children who have disabilities but can also be used to challenge the more advanced children, making sure that they stay busy and engaged.
As a teacher, I feel that these tools are important. I know that there will be times that children will need more practice with a concept or skill. By introducing these aides to the children, I will have more time to help individuals and will be able to give the students that are struggling a little more practice and instruction. By using the aides, all of my children can participate and feel good about themselves. Even children who have disabilities will be able to succeed. Devices such as Tango allow children to develop their communication and language skills that they need in a fun, interactive way. By using these devices, children will gain self-confidence and will be more eager to participate because there will be no fear of failure. My students will succeed and hopefully, due to the tools that I used, such as the aides, and my teaching abilities, they will be able to appreciate learning and will enjoy school!
In any single classroom, there will always be a child that needs more help than others. Assistive techniques allow children who are struggling to work at their own pace. For example, the Tango program gives children who have trouble with language a chance to work on voice inflections, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The students who use this do not have to deal with the pressure that comes from trying to keep up with the class but can take their time and truly learn the concepts. These forms of technology allow the children to set the pace, giving them the time and practice that a teacher sometimes cannot supply. Computer software programs do the same thing. These technological aides have access to limitless computer software programs that teach lessons in a fun, interactive way that children love. Anyone can use these, which is perfect in the classroom. The more advanced students simply move on to the more difficult things while the students who struggle can move a slower pace. Therefore, even the more advanced students can be challenged when using these programs because these programs are individualized and have many levels. There are also many simple tools that I can use in my classroom such as pencil grips, which help children develop fine motor skills,word processing, for children who have trouble writing, or audio books, for children who have trouble reading. These assistive techniques open doors that were previously closed to teachers because, with these new advances, teachers can engage their students and make lessons more interactive and exciting. They teach children who have disabilities but can also be used to challenge the more advanced children, making sure that they stay busy and engaged.
As a teacher, I feel that these tools are important. I know that there will be times that children will need more practice with a concept or skill. By introducing these aides to the children, I will have more time to help individuals and will be able to give the students that are struggling a little more practice and instruction. By using the aides, all of my children can participate and feel good about themselves. Even children who have disabilities will be able to succeed. Devices such as Tango allow children to develop their communication and language skills that they need in a fun, interactive way. By using these devices, children will gain self-confidence and will be more eager to participate because there will be no fear of failure. My students will succeed and hopefully, due to the tools that I used, such as the aides, and my teaching abilities, they will be able to appreciate learning and will enjoy school!
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