STATS! I guess that's how others started so why not follow along. I am terrified for this class. I sometimes get overwhelmed easily and this class is overwhelming. I have taken a stats class within the past five years and I remember getting the hang of everything in time but since this class is so fast paced, I am a little worried. After the reading, I was reminded of some of the topics that were discussed. I was actually surprised that I could follow along with reading the diagrams. Baby steps, I guess. The one thing that I am most concerned about is the weekly tests!

Action Research

The beginning stages of research is hard. To try to narrow a topic down and find research out there to support it was difficult. I was really set on researching fluency and audio books but it was not the best idea. I could not find much research out there to support the topic. It was also brought to my attention that I could not keep track if the students were going to actually follow through with reading the books at home. It also could have been an expensive project if I was unable to find the materials at rummage sales. I can always try that method on my own in a classroom setting. I think that I will enjoy the topic of repeated reading and fluency. I was told that in order for a student to remember a story it takes seven times of hearing it to remember it. I guess that is why it is called repeated reading.

Last Blog.  I learned how to formulate a unit plan.  My school does not make me plan so thoroughly so I never had to think of the many parts that go into a unit.  I really did like the visual tools.  I can see myself next year use these often with my students. I really think that they will bring up discussion between the varying levels that I will have in my room.  I realized that coming up with framing questions takes a lot of work.  You have to start broad and then narrow.  I am not sure if I will write another unit to teach in my class but I will definitely use the resources to include in my lessons.  

Oh, Professional Development! I hear this term a lot at my school. All of our set aside staff time goes towards pd. The staff is not on board for any of the meetings. I think that my staff just puts together seminars to meet compliance. Since my staff is not too motivated about them, they really do not benefit any of us. In other words, it is often busy work. Next year, my school is one of the lucky ones to be on the AYP list. Meaning, more professional development. I feel that if we are required to participate we should be able to pick our topics. I think staff would then benefit more.

Without any notice, I think that teachers automatically differentiate instruction. It could be that you assign different assignments to students or you allow students to do the same worksheet but grade on the ability. Differentiate is the new buzz word for MPS. It also goes back to the days of the blue jays and the robins. Kids know what ability level they are at compared with their peers. When we separate the work the kids know. The way I handle it in my room is I often pair lower achieving students with higher. Each student is responsible for the work. My kids enjoy working together and teach one another, even the lower ones.

Assessments

I have become more aware that I need to assess my students more often. I informally assess on a daily basis. I need to do more formative in my class to give credit to my students on what they have learned. Also, I have to give more formative feedback to my students. I usually just mention, "good job" or "I know you can do better." This does not guide my students in a positive way. I feel if I prepared better assessments my students would have a more creative final approach to assignments. I would be able to see what efforts they put into their work. They would be able to use more of Bloom's thinking levels as well.

Digital Divides

It seems that I have read a lot about the Digital Divides this week. I am not sure what I feel after discussing topics with my group as well as reading about it for my article review. I do believe that students from minorities do not have the access at home that others may. I could not assign an assignment that involves computers for homework. It would have to be completed in school or after. I do think that my students are at a disadvantage because of the lack of resources. I wish there was a magic answer in order to help control the gap.

Learning Projects

I think that project based learning is great. It ties academics in with technology or even is spread across different subject areas. I like the connections in different subjects instead of just telling the students "Ok students, this is the science project we are going to do." They need to realize that most subjects are all connected in some way. I really liked the lesson that I found on the LoTi lessons. It involves owning pets, taking surveys and making posters. Most childern can relate to pets in some way. I am really going to try to incorporate it next year in my lessons.

I really have been trying hard to gather all of my materials for the final project. I hope running around school crazy, will be worth it in the end with the final project. My students have done a fantastic job creating stories and illustrating pictures. I have learned how to use new technology working on the project. I am really nervous to merge the technology together. Like I mentioned before I do not like experimenting. I don't want to make mistakes, I want things to be perfect the first time around.

As I discussed with my group I have not given copy right laws or guidelines much thought.  I as an educator do not have the time to create items for my students to view or use.  I think that educators are given a little more leeway on the items that they use.  I think it is important to give credit to whom it belongs to. I tell my students when they are using reports or finding fast facts off of the internet they need to summarize what they learned and not use the authors words exactly.  I think if I teach my students not to use others words this will hopefully carry with them into the future.  

I have never really thought about cyberbullying due to the age of my students. My students have little access at school to personal sites. I am not sure if they have access at home. I want to warn my students about the dangers but do not want to put any ideas into their heads about these sites. I monitor what they look at and tell them the sites to go on. I can talk more about bullying and how it can happen anywhere not just in person. I can stress the importance of not giveing out any personal information to anyone or anywhere.

I have been reading a lot about social networking this week.  The article that was assigned was very similar to the one that I chose to read for reflection.  I did not think about how many ways that students and adults can stay in touch now-a-days with one another.  I never really wanted a facebook page and was reluctant about even creating one. Well...I look daily and if it were not blocked at work I maybe would check it there too.  I like to see who is requesting to be my friend and figured out how long it has been since I have seen some of the people. I guess that it is important to use one or more of the different social networkings to stay in contact with people.  I have been consumed by the different ways.

Class #1

I really found that thinkfinity to be useful in the classroom.  I experimented with it a bit in a bind in the computer lab one day. I was not real familiar until last week.  I went to school on Friday and made my kids go on the interactive sites.  My lower students really enjoyed the sorting games.  Some of my other students explored the site and found some really fun and interesting things that they were eager to share with their classmates.  I did also enjoy looking at the comic site.  I can vision my students use the site to make a comic of their favorite characters or to maybe make a comic of the most important parts of a story.  I could see my class not wanting to steer away from the site.