How do we inspire others to change? Should we? Does the way that we teach need changing? Are students the same or are they changing? What do we want for ourselves and our own children? How are you going to use technology in the classroom? (Be specific.)
These are all very serious questions that we need to define a personal philosophy for. We can inspire people to change certain aspects of themselves in many ways. They may change the way they act because they see the person they admire change as well or do it differently. They may change after being shown different ways of doing something instead of relying on the one way they have done it all their life. Take math-there is always more than one way to check your answer and arrive at the same conclusion. The only difference is the different methods you used in order to get you there. I believe we all are capable of inspiring others to change the ways they act or what they believe in. But the only reason to have someone else change is because you feel that they are doing something in a long and complicated way. It's like being a child, when you find out something new, you want to share it with the world. There will be people that tell that child to go away because they are bothering them, but there will be others that will want to hear every word they say. So there will always be people who want to hear about new ways of doing things and people who have their own way of doing things and don't want to fix what isn't broken. I believe that's completely okay. But I would want to hear about the new way of doing things from everyone in order to decide for myself what I believe will work and what won't.
I'm a big believer in differentiated lesson plans and teaching with the goal of having the student understand the material and being able to talk about it with another student. But the way to do that can be done in many different ways. Just as long as those two goals are met, I don't see why we can't try other ways of teaching. Of course, the way it is now is okay. Students today are more connected technology-wise than other students, but it doesn't change how we should teach them. As I may have mentioned in another blog post, there isn't much difference from an older generation compared to the new one. We just had different mediums to apply our ideas on (like passing notes instead of texting your friend that sat behind you). What do we want from ourselves and from our own children? That question is very broad. But in a technology in the classroom context, we want our children to learn as much as they can even if it means going to their level and using different types of technology to help them learn material you could find in text books. Finally, I wanted to tell you about how I would use technology in my classroom. I have fallen in love with digital story telling, story bird and smart board lesson plans. Those are my three favorites and I know I will find a way to incorporate them in math, science, writing and reading. But I have also loved playing around with some of the teacher websites like teacherlingo.com, quizlet.com, googledocs.com and many others. Overall, I did learn a lot about the resources I could find online to use in a classroom that I would have never thought to look for on my own. I really enjoyed this class and can't wait to try out these ideas in a real classroom one day.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Two Technology Lists
Project as a teacher
Newsletter
Website
Podcast of Lessons
Smartboard Lesson/Games
Google Earth Tours
Web Quest
Make a slide show relating to the curriculum
Make a cartoon for the kids
Online Games
Quizlet
Projects for Students
Have them podcast something
Voicethread about subject and comment
Make a cartoon
Digital Story
Story Bird
Wordle
Crossword Maker
Free Rice
Find a site and translate it
Different search engines
Newsletter
Website
Podcast of Lessons
Smartboard Lesson/Games
Google Earth Tours
Web Quest
Make a slide show relating to the curriculum
Make a cartoon for the kids
Online Games
Quizlet
Projects for Students
Have them podcast something
Voicethread about subject and comment
Make a cartoon
Digital Story
Story Bird
Wordle
Crossword Maker
Free Rice
Find a site and translate it
Different search engines
Casa Notes
http://casanotes.4teachers.org/
I really like Casa notes because they take the typical permission slips that are used for field trips and can translate them into Spanish. I could definitely use this.
I really like Casa notes because they take the typical permission slips that are used for field trips and can translate them into Spanish. I could definitely use this.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Wix Website
So, after working for a few hours on the google sites website builder, I was fed up. I had so many things that I wanted to do, so much to alter. The google sites restricted any sort of creativity whatsoever. I understand, that website is perfect for someone who would rather spend time just getting everything they need online, but I want my website to be appealing and full of useful information. I really like the weebly website because it made rearranging things easier by using a drag and drop system. But wix.com really blew my mind. The presentation of it and how so many things could be customized for your needs was exactly what I wanted. I did not immediately go after that website. I figured I should work on weebly and just do the bare minimum. But wix.com kept drawing me in, so I decided to make my final website there.
I found a template that looked good and functional to my needs. I took that and started messing around. There was so much to change, that I could not rip myself away from the website. I actually looked forward to making and even keeping it for the future as a resume and portfolio. But for now, it is Miss Aguilar's Classroom.
I hope you enjoy looking over what I've done so far. I still have a long way to go with it...
www.wix.com/brandy77/Miss-Aguilars-Class
Okay, third time's the charm. Hope it finally works out!
I found a template that looked good and functional to my needs. I took that and started messing around. There was so much to change, that I could not rip myself away from the website. I actually looked forward to making and even keeping it for the future as a resume and portfolio. But for now, it is Miss Aguilar's Classroom.
I hope you enjoy looking over what I've done so far. I still have a long way to go with it...
www.wix.com/brandy77/Miss-Aguilars-Class
Okay, third time's the charm. Hope it finally works out!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Games in the Classroom
I checked out a few of these websites at home:
http://www.novelgames.com/
Novel games were really fun and were more like games you play on a game system. It isn't very educational, but it is fun and works out your brain.
http://www.kidsspell.com/
Kids spell is a great treat for kids who need to work on their spelling but they don't find it interesting writing one word a thousand times in order to get it to stick in their head. The solution: let them try to help a dinosaur eat all the right letters or have them pop the balloons that have misspelled words while trying to keep the ones that are correctly spelled afloat.
http://www.learn-with-math-games.com/index.html
I loved this website because it really directed me towards some age appropriate math games that are sure to help out as the kids enjoy learning.
http://www.novelgames.com/
Novel games were really fun and were more like games you play on a game system. It isn't very educational, but it is fun and works out your brain.
http://www.kidsspell.com/
Kids spell is a great treat for kids who need to work on their spelling but they don't find it interesting writing one word a thousand times in order to get it to stick in their head. The solution: let them try to help a dinosaur eat all the right letters or have them pop the balloons that have misspelled words while trying to keep the ones that are correctly spelled afloat.
http://www.learn-with-math-games.com/index.html
I loved this website because it really directed me towards some age appropriate math games that are sure to help out as the kids enjoy learning.
Puzzle maker and word search maker
After looking over these various sites, I know I am going to come back and use them in my future classroom! They are so simple to use and can be used for vocab words, spelling words, math and science terms and even some history questions. These worksheets will definitely be useful in class and for every subject!
Scruffy Owl Elementary Newsletter
http://letterpop.com/newsletters/?id=148977-142ebd&print=1
I couldn't get my newsletter into a PDF file, so I've decided to paste a link to it. Hope you like it!
I really like the name of my fake school...kind of makes me wish there was a school named that.
I couldn't get my newsletter into a PDF file, so I've decided to paste a link to it. Hope you like it!
I really like the name of my fake school...kind of makes me wish there was a school named that.
Voice Thread
http://voicethread.com/share/940720/
I wasn't able to embed voicethread in my blog for some reason (it kept saying login failed), so I am just going to put the URL in here and hopefully everyone is still able to see it and comment on it.
I wasn't able to embed voicethread in my blog for some reason (it kept saying login failed), so I am just going to put the URL in here and hopefully everyone is still able to see it and comment on it.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Google Earth Tour!
Professional PLN's
Teacherlingo.com
linkedin.com
classroom 2.0
What is the advantage of belonging to one of these online groups?
I looked at teacherlingo.com and found it quite useful. I have been helping out in a Spanish classroom and was wondering what other Spanish teachers have been doing to excite their students. It's great to hear about their experiences and to look around at other teachers and how they are dealing with the stresses of being a teacher as well. I found the blog of a teacher that blogged about the stresses of being a first time teacher and the readings she found that talked about how to handle that situation. It was a great resource that I'm sure to use in the future. Basically, an advantage to belonging to one of these online groups is being able to communicate your experiences as a teacher and help others that are navigating through their first year or just going through a tough time with behavior management or other issues. I know most people who are not already in a classroom will find this unrelateable, but I love it!
Do you think these online groups can help you get a job?
Maybe. I'm not very sure if you can get a job through these websites. I guess it depends on the type of person you are. I love meeting face to face with people, but sending resumes and online connections are useful these days.
linkedin.com
classroom 2.0
What is the advantage of belonging to one of these online groups?
I looked at teacherlingo.com and found it quite useful. I have been helping out in a Spanish classroom and was wondering what other Spanish teachers have been doing to excite their students. It's great to hear about their experiences and to look around at other teachers and how they are dealing with the stresses of being a teacher as well. I found the blog of a teacher that blogged about the stresses of being a first time teacher and the readings she found that talked about how to handle that situation. It was a great resource that I'm sure to use in the future. Basically, an advantage to belonging to one of these online groups is being able to communicate your experiences as a teacher and help others that are navigating through their first year or just going through a tough time with behavior management or other issues. I know most people who are not already in a classroom will find this unrelateable, but I love it!
Do you think these online groups can help you get a job?
Maybe. I'm not very sure if you can get a job through these websites. I guess it depends on the type of person you are. I love meeting face to face with people, but sending resumes and online connections are useful these days.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Spelling City
I like spelling city, but not as much as quizlet because it seems a bit smaller with a lot smaller games. I would give this website as homework for kids to use or just as a short activity to fill time. Otherwise, I liked it.
Quizlet-Common Spanish Phrases
Common Spanish Phrases
This website makes studying very fun and interesting. You just forget that you are studying and you just fall into playing these games that make you want to remember the terms you are learning. I'm sure students in 4th to 6th grade would love to use this (not to mention middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students too!).
This website makes studying very fun and interesting. You just forget that you are studying and you just fall into playing these games that make you want to remember the terms you are learning. I'm sure students in 4th to 6th grade would love to use this (not to mention middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students too!).
Webquests
Learning About Poetry! Name:____________________
Date:_____________________
Subject: Language
Professor: Brandy Aguilar
Introduction: In order to write a poem, you can dive into the world of words and create a raw, free form poem. Or, you can learn more about the origins of poems from around the world! You can even collect poems from the masters or poems from people online!
Task: You should be able to find the answers to all these questions: What is a free style poem? What is a haiku? What is iambic pantameter? Name a famous poet and copy and paste one poem from them that you like. What other styles of poems are there?
Process: Go online and use google.com to find all of your answers. Do not use wikipedia and be able to give references of all the information you collect. Not to mention that all the information that you gather must be written in your own words!
Resources: Use these websites to start and branch out into other websites that is helpful for the topic.
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/
http://www.types-of-poetry.org.uk/
Evaluation: The reason we did this activity was for you to learn all about poetry without me standing in front of you all day telling you all the definitions.
Conclusion: Good job! Now I encourage you to use the knowledge you collected in order to make your poems!
I think webquests are a fun way to engage the kids and have them do research on their own without you having to spoon feed every little detail. I love it because of course they will have to do some hunting online which will keep them busy for a while. Although I feel that these kids will just copy off of each other if it is done often. But a good way to change things up at least.
Date:_____________________
Subject: Language
Professor: Brandy Aguilar
Introduction: In order to write a poem, you can dive into the world of words and create a raw, free form poem. Or, you can learn more about the origins of poems from around the world! You can even collect poems from the masters or poems from people online!
Task: You should be able to find the answers to all these questions: What is a free style poem? What is a haiku? What is iambic pantameter? Name a famous poet and copy and paste one poem from them that you like. What other styles of poems are there?
Process: Go online and use google.com to find all of your answers. Do not use wikipedia and be able to give references of all the information you collect. Not to mention that all the information that you gather must be written in your own words!
Resources: Use these websites to start and branch out into other websites that is helpful for the topic.
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/
http://www.types-of-poetry.org.uk/
Evaluation: The reason we did this activity was for you to learn all about poetry without me standing in front of you all day telling you all the definitions.
Conclusion: Good job! Now I encourage you to use the knowledge you collected in order to make your poems!
I think webquests are a fun way to engage the kids and have them do research on their own without you having to spoon feed every little detail. I love it because of course they will have to do some hunting online which will keep them busy for a while. Although I feel that these kids will just copy off of each other if it is done often. But a good way to change things up at least.
Book Mark Review
I liked all of the websites! They are very useful for keeping the websites you love or even cut out and keep the items from webpages. I don't know how many times I wanted to get some stuff from a certain page, and I didn't have my laptop with my bookmarks, so I couldn't share anything. Using these websites, you can find them in your email (which you can access on any computer). I loved bonzobox (because it is a lot like readfresh). I like ibrii because you can cut and paste stuff to keep. And who doesn't like posterous.com? Emailing things to yourself to use later and at any computer? Of course! http://posterous.com/main is an interesting to save stuff. You email things to yourself.
I was interested in polyvore.com for a while (it's a website that makes outfits for a certain theme). It's a guilty pleasure that I haven't used in a while. But ibrii really reminds me of that.
I was interested in polyvore.com for a while (it's a website that makes outfits for a certain theme). It's a guilty pleasure that I haven't used in a while. But ibrii really reminds me of that.
Read Fresh
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