Learning Styles

One thing I noticed right away while reading the article was the type of learner I am NOT. It was also difficult to select one or two areas that fully describe me. We can’t always teach each lesson and focus on every learning style. I think this is important to remember when we are teaching. Most people are able to learn through many learning styles or teaching strategies. We should focus on making sure that students are given choices, multiple learning styles are being addresses when possible, and that we are open to suggestions to better meet the students’ needs. I think it is important to know how each student in your class learns so you can motivate and assist them. It also would be beneficial when highlighting the strengths of students in your class.

In my personal experience I have found that I mostly relate with two intelligences. One is the Interpersonal Intelligence. I found it most effective to work on my own during school. I am able to sense people’s feelings very easily and I am the type that likes to make sure everyone is happy. Therefore, in group situations I would (I’ve been working on it!) many times be the mediator and worry about everyone in the group, but myself. I would often be unhappy with the task or the outcome. On a positive note, I had high reading comprehension throughout school because I could understand character motives and feelings. This makes reading very enjoyable for me! Another intelligence I identify with is the Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence. I like to have written directions as opposed to verbal directions. Each week I read the lecture transcripts instead of watching the videos. Therefore, it was difficult for me to follow verbal directions or lectures throughout school. Without the written piece, my mind would wander and still does! This could break down the comprehension of the subject. I am able to read and comprehend fluently. I used many strategies for decoding unknown words and I often excelled in writing assignments.

Creative Commons

I would use images when teaching science. In first grade, we learn about the life cycle of butterflies. I think it is important for students to see real images especially of nature and animals. I used many photos when our class was learning about tree homes and animal uses.


Photo Attribution
Original Image: Monarch butterfly on Pentas flower at the Butterfly World attraction in Coconut Creek, Florida
Author: Florida. Division of Tourism.
URL:http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridamemory/3341375526/in/photostream/
Restrictions/Released: http://www.floridamemory.com/disclaimer-flickr.cfm

My Picassa Page Photo

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SuqIcCaDGT9oVOafr4krBIPwuksIWLFpRF9qwrzy0q0mvbxHz_sloG25szWMP4mi_va1wvmiSMLSZUl_uq-KZmwzlOvn-r-PBMoYRf6mryB51MEIn-OLEUApuk82NiDl5XeOUmwro6I/s640/DSC00355.JPG

Strategies and Blogs

I think student interaction, collaboration, and project/inquiry based strategies would work well using blogs. I think experimentation, writing process, questioning, and constructing own knowledge would work. Direct instruction might be a bit tricky, as well as exercises and examples. It might also be tricky to conference with students individually and provide “private” feedback. I also think it would be difficult to conduct guided reading groups over a blog. Additional resources are necessary to complete these tasks and students need first-hand experience. I also think it is important for teachers to observe students reading to analyze what strategies they are using and what the next steps should be. Also, I have a few students in my class who do not have a home computer and it may be tricky for them to add their additional thoughts outside of school. I can picture using blogs with other teachers and parents. In 1^st grade the prime limitation is typing. A blog where students can practice typing to express their thoughts or questions about school might be something I could incorporate. I could have a few students a day read posts, comment, and write their own post. I think it would be more like a journal with students asking questions to each other, creating a classroom community, and becoming familiar with technology. I could also integrate this into the Reading Workshop. I could have students blog about a book they would recommend to other readers and why. I could have their classmates read the blogs, comment or make additional posts about books. One area I think would be tricky to help students over a blog would be sorting and classifying. I think students need hands on manipulatives to grasp this math concept. I suppose students could post web pages that address this concept, strategies they use, or ideas of objects to sort at home on a blog. A blog would also be a great way to share WebQuests.

Wiki Lab

Above is the screenshot I took of my addition to Wikipedia. I added the South Lyon mission statement to the wiki page.
Here is the wiki I created. I hope to add to it as the year goes on. https://connorsteachingandtechnology.wikispaces.com/

PC Maintenance and Security workshop

I selected the tutorial about “File Backup Options.” I was surprised by how much space Gmail allows. I never thought about using it to backup files or store information. This is something I will definitely use. Something I will be sharing with others is a site called Folder Share. It synchronizes your files so one wouldn’t have to go back in and re-save edited files. Very cool and a great time saver!

The next tutorial I investigated was “Blocking and Killing Spyware and Adware.” I selected this tutorial because I knew that spyware was harmful to computers, but I wasn’t sure how to identify or prevent it. I had never heard for Spyware Blaster before this tutorial and I will share this with friends. (Particularly my mom because she is always getting new spyware pop-ups/viruses on her computer!) I liked the feature of saving a snapshot of your computer and being able to revert back to that state if I did get the spyware virus. I was surprised how real many of the warnings look and sound for downloading harmful spyware. I think new users should see some of the examples because this would be an easy “scam” to fall for.

The last tutorial I explored way “Organizing Your Computer.” I was surprised to learn about the program RoboForm. I am constantly forgetting passwords for my many accounts or reusing a generic password. This program would be useful to help keep track of all the passwords. I would just have to make sure to remember the master password for the program! J I would consider sharing this with others, but I want to try it out first before I recommend it to others.

Getting Things Done

I organized my process with a pencil and paper to begin. (A sticky note to be exact!) I realized after going through the process for the first time I already do most of the steps described. The part for me that felt the most time consuming was organizing the tasks. I think I would like to combine the organize and review steps. I do think this process works electronically for some people, but for me I like jotting things down on sticky notes.

I believe the process I use is very similar to the one described in the lecture. I use a sticky note and pen because as a first grade teacher I often don’t have enough time to type anything on my computer during the school day. I simply jot a quick note to myself to look at later. I collect all my tasks on the same sticky note throughout the day. I complete the processing and organizing steps at the same time. During those steps I often will send out emails to ask for help or delegate tasks to others, often parent volunteers. After I am left with several items on the list, I get to work. I typically do the tasks that need to be completed immediately. These tasks are often items I need to collect or make for teaching later in the day or the next day. Then I move on to tasks that I will need accomplished later in the week. The review process is something I do not typically do. I typically complete my tasks in 1-2 days and remove them from the list. I would say generally speaking, long-term projects do not make it onto my lists. This does not mean that I do not add additional items to the list, but on average my list gets smaller each day as I accomplish tasks. If all items are crossed off on the list, it goes in the garbage and a new list will begin.

This process helps to keep me organized and allows me to remember everything I want to accomplish. I can’t imagine the number of things I would forget if I did not write them down.

Social Networks

I think social networks are great for professional and personal use. Personally, coordinating busy schedules with friends and family is often difficult. Being able to send out mass messages, photos, or links to multiple people at once is helpful. (It made sharing my wedding photos, plans, etc. much easier this summer!) Professionally I think it is a great way to share ideas with a wider group of people. I’ve been following blog postings and interacting with a teacher from another state. She has great ideas about implementing Reading Workshop and her website has resources I can use in my classroom. I believe in the old saying, “Two heads are better than one.” Social networks allow for people to interact, share, provide ideas, and give feedback at their leisure and without being face to face with that person. It allows professionals from all over to collaborate, when they otherwise wouldn’t. One of the articles talked about teachers never having enough time to complete the “to do” list. I believe that social networks provide a means for saving time by interacting with many people at once. I have received lesson ideas, worksheets, plan, etc. from other teachers through social networks.

I know that students in my first grade class use social networks. They talk about Webkinz and talking to their friends through that site. I have heard them talking about using Skype for talking to family members that live in other states or talking to traveling parents. I believe as they progress through the grades, students use social networks more and more. For example, when I taught 4^th grade I had many students request to be my friend on Facebook. I think the area that teachers and adults need to be aware of is the expansion of the peer group that these students are interacting with. Instead of viewing this as dangerous or negative, as many do, I believe it can be used to learn about other cultures, stay in touch, and share ideas from individuals that they would otherwise not have access to. If we show students how to use these networks appropriately and to their advantage, I believe these could be powerful tools for extending learning and making students aware of others/issues globally.