Thing #4 Getting my students to read

Getting students to settle down and decide to read silently can be a struggle for educators and parents alike. Classroom trips to the library can be frustrating for students who's comprehension and fluency are not where they should be. When parents and students think of silent reading they often jump to the conclusion that the reading selection must be a chapter book containing 150+ pages. This thinking should not be the case. Teachers encourage children to read for pleasure. Students love to spend time on the computer. Why can't the push of reading for pleasure and the understanding of time spent on the computer be merged into a time where quality reading can take place. One educator has given this concept thought and incorporated it into his class time.

Allowing students to read blogs on topics of interest as well as other student's writings is a fantastic idea. This concept not only will build comprehension but fluency as well and engage students in the process of reading. This type of reading is not limited to classroom or home computers. With the creation of new technology and advancements in cell phones, reading can take place virtually anywhere at anytime. I plan to encourage my students to be reading continually, using every medium possible to build reading skills in all areas by exposing them to the various writing styles and venues around them.

Thing #2 Web 2.0 Cat's Creation Whiteboard

Cat's Creation

http://k12learning20.wikispaces.com/file/view/a_day_in_the_life_of_web_2_0_AppC.pdf

My thoughts on assisting my students by bringing Digital Learning into the classroom after reading the article above by David Warlick.

I love the process that is taking place on this campus being discussed in the article. The students are ACTIVELY involved in the learning process and in THEIR learning process. The use of the various forms of technology gives the students an understanding and experience in how the world communicates and shares information outside the walls of school.

The “buy in” by teachers is fantastic. They are clearly working collaboratively to connect the learning across the many subject areas and making the connect visible to all involved. Accountability is evident by the sharing of ideas and content to be covered. The use of classroom Wikis does away with the traditional form of “Lesson Plans”. I see it as a great way to compile and store information making it easily visible to all. By being visible to all it can increase the parent accountability to the learning process as well.

I liked seeing how Ms. L developed her student’s critical thinking skills by encouraging them to comment on their classmates blogs. The use of these blogs and Mr. P’s format for allowing students to create study guides plays into the various differentiation that is going on among his students. Again this process supports the concept that students are responsible for their learning as well as the educators. It is teaching students how to create and use their skills while seeing what their classmates construct as well.

The ability of administration to view and be an active part of the wikis and blogs shows the support of the educators on all levels. This district is clearly aligned and desires to move it’s students to success in the years to come. This format of learning can engage students and encourage them to remain in school and fulfill their education, and possibly encourage them to continue to pursue a higher education upon graduation from high school.

Thing #1 Lifelong Learner

What is learning? We usually think of learning as the gathering of concepts that takes place inside the white sterile walls of a classroom. The walls may not always be a dull white, for in lower grades we find that the walls are usually a collage of color and symbols that gain meaning and understanding as the year goes on. But is that all that learning is? For those that us that have selected education as our profession, we understand that learning is a process that should continue throughout our lifetime. It should be a continuous process. The learning can be formal, in the way that we gather it from formal lectures and classroom dialogue, as well as informal by way of simply playing a game or watching someone guide us through the process of a new concept.

There are many skills that we learn by watching others preform the task. Those consist of decorating, cooking, dancing, musical expression, computer understanding, and many others. Learning can take place anywhere and anytime through a variety of methods. I must first keep the goal in mind as I pursue learning as a way of life. My most important task will be to continue to have confidence in my ability to learn and guide others in the process of becoming lifelong learners.