Videos

For our practicum we are required to videotape our classroom. While getting my undergraduate degree we just had advisers come to our classroom and watch us teach, so this was very new to me. I checked out a digital video recorder from my school library and taped my class during a reading lesson last week. That's when my technology issues began. We are required to turn in our video on either a DVD or VHS. The camera I used recorded to a DC tape. I thought okay, well I can burn it to a DVD from my computer. Well, I didn't have a cable to connect the computer to the camcorder. I found someone and got the movie downloaded! I thought my problems were over, so I used MovieMaker to finish up my video and adjust the audio. Then I got ready to burn it to a DVD. To my surprise, MovieMaker does not allow you to burn to DVD, only CD!!! I had to save it as a .wmv file and cross my fingers that I can find a way to get a .wmv file to a DVD. Another difficulty with it is that I did it on my school computer, which doesn't easily allow us to download programs which might help. Our media specialist is working with me to fix this, so hopefully with some luck I will be able to get it to a DVD. (Let me know if you have any ideas.) If not, I guess I'll have to find another camera and tape again. I guess what I learned from this experience is that with technology you need to research it and plan ahead!

School Websites

Lately there are an abundance of school websites in which the teachers have their own individual sites. I have one at the school I teach at. It's a great resource and communication tool for parents. I am able to upload pictures, our weekly skills agenda, a calendar, and links to educational websites. I can also post discussion boards like we have in this class. I posted one at the beginning of the year on book recommendations (with only 1 response). I spend a lot of time on the website so that students and parents can stay as informed as possible. I have had some frustration with it though. Many of my parents have never visited the site (we can track users). It's disappointing to put in all of my time and effort to not have this resource being used to its fullest. Also, some parents have tried to visit it, but have had difficulties logging in. It's a private site with a login, but many of the logins don't seem to work properly. I enjoy the privacy, but think that if there wasn't a login I would have much more participation. I think at the higher grade levels it's probably a much more appreciated tool because it can be more independently used by the students without having to have as much parent involvement. It is a convenience for me in the classroom too. This way all of my favorite links are in one place and I don't have to bookmark them on all of the computers and we can easily access them in the lab without having to type them in (which is time consuming for 2nd graders). I hope that as more school systems get teacher websites and parents/teachers become more comfortable with their use, we'll see increased participation!

Comments on Definition of Learning

• Sounds great!
• I agree that children learn more easily when they are interested in a topic.  I think that children also learn in a variety of ways, therefore, we need to make sure to vary our instruction.  I think most children learn by creating their own knowledge through experiences.  This allows them to recall information easily, instead of memorizing information which can be more easily forgotten. 
• I noticed our conversations seem to be based on children, but do you think we need to include adults as well?  I think learning is pretty much the same regardless of the age.  What do you think?
  

Comments on Lesson Plan Critique

Great job Anna! I liked how you identified the need to first introduce word processing and all applicable software that children will use. This is often a prerequisite left out of lesson plans. I don't think your sources are correctly cited in APA. They should be double spaced without a skipped space in between. The second line (and third, etc.) of the source should be tabbed in as well. Let me know if you need an example. Excellent critique!

• It's the second line that's supposed to be tabbed in and APA is typically double-spaced, although I'm not sure if it matters for this application. I attached an example of a citation.
  
• I'm glad it gave you an idea!  Sometimes deciding how to layout your paper is half the work.
  
• You can also get sources from the Internet.
  
• Great job!  I like how you thought to integrate graphing into the lesson.  Do you think that they should do it in Excel or another program with a graphing component instead of just drawing it?  This way it will be a more accurate graph. 

Great job Lindsay! I like how your references other than the computer included a direct instruction approach with flashcards as well as a more hands-on approach by using magazines. You need to include at least 3 references to support your critique and cite them in APA. You have to post it on the class discussion board too.

Elmo

Today I got an Elmo for my classroom.  It's amazing!  There are so many possibilities for it in the classroom.  For our first lesson using the Elmo, we looked through our writers' workshop journals and looked at the students' applications of their using authors as mentors.  It was so much more powerful for them to see their peers applying their learning, rather than just me.We were also able to put up actual examples of text that we modeled and see side by side comparisons whole class.  I plan to use the Elmo on a daily basis.  Here are a few of the ideas I have: introducing cursive letters, having students show examples of how they worked through math problem solving exercises, and modeling how to use sticky notes as a comprehension strategy.  I'm sure as I use it more the ideas will become endless!  Although I am clearly partial to the Elmo, there are definitely some downfalls to it.  One major stipulation is that you need an LCD projector for it to work.  I did not have one, so I had to get one for my classroom before I could have an Elmo.  This can make getting an Elmo even more expensive.  Another issue is student use.  With my old overhead I had students independently use it all the time, especially in centers.  I am not so willing to let students use the Elmo without my supervision.  The best option would be to keep both, but it's difficult to find the room (that has to point at our whiteboard).  Although, there are some concerns I will have to work through I am so excited to have an Elmo and know it will be a great addition to my classroom and increase student learning! (My husband thinks I should stick a Tickle Me Elmo sticker on it!)