CEDO 525 Week 3 Reflection

The purpose of asking students to learn through cues, questions, and advanced organizers is to build higher level thinking and allowing the students to develop their own thought on the subject based on what they know about the subject.
I can think of a time that I asked students to build a KWL chart to analyze their overall growth on a subject and I was pleased with the results because they maintained this chart for the entire unit. The students were able to visually identify their growth on this subject. This task went well because the students were involved in identifying their individual educational growth.
I can not think of a time that I asked students to build advanced organizers and I was not pleased with the results. Each time I use these tools I am very pleased with the results. Technologies that I can use to help students build knowledge are any online tools that allow students to build concept maps, graphic organizers, and any word processing program. There are several questions I have about using technology within my classroom for building a successful program that incorporates advanced organizers as well initiating cues and prompts for classroom discussion.

CED 525 Week 2...Thematic Instruction

In my reading for the this past week I came across a informative document, from the website http://www.netc.org/focus/strategies/them.php,that gave me a sense of pride in my own curriculum design and implementation. Thematic instruction is very relevant to my own professional development because I want to teach and inspire the at risk learner. I feel this territory is rarely challenged and those who embrace this arena are always searching for methods that encourage learning. The author identifies that this approach relies on teachers who have a strong sense of curriculum as a learning process and can see ways to connect learning with key concepts. The goal is to choose themes that relate to students' lives to ensure interest and engagement in the content. The at risk learner feels that education is not relevant to their life and lifestyles, their environment is not conducive to learning. Thematic instruction allows the teacher to build her lesson based on her students lifestyles, therefore making the material relevant to their individual lives. According to the document "Classrooms free of threat, students engaged in immersive learning experiences, and curriculum that connects to the community and the students' lives are all aspects of brain-compatible teaching (Caine & Caine, 1991, 1994, 1997a, b)." Allowing the students to recognize that knowledge can be found in their own neighborhood, can build confidence in learning and applications.

CED 525 Strategies Week 1

Note Taking:
What is the purpose of asking students to learn note taking strategies is to assist students in gathering information from the lesson and storing it into an organized individual ideas and questions and details are supported to organize the material.
I can think of a time that I asked students to take notes, (rule-based summarizing based the age of the students so they can learn the process of Cornell note-taking system) on a lesson on weather patterns and I was pleased with the results. It went well because the students were able to follow along with the lesson and ask their own questions on their paper and ask questions to me while building details and facts on the material that was being presented.
The kinds of technologies I used to help students was a power point presentation that incorporated a graphic organizer of what we were learned on that day and put each main idea in specific category.

Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition
This is one of my favorite classroom pastimes and I must say I always find a way to provide recognition with at least one student in each class. Providing feedback is always a way to encourage learning and build confidence in the student.
What is the purpose of providing recognition and reinforcing effort is to show the students that their hardwork and time is never taken for granted. As with any person, the work they do is always improved with positive reinforcement.
I can think of a time that I asked students to work in groups as a cooperative learning strategy and complete a project based on the solar system and those who finished with quality work were rewarded with praise and presentation. One thing my students learned from me was not the length of the work but the quality of it and how much effort was shown into the project.
With this project I feel the kind of technologies I can use to help students will be more examples of what is expected of them to learn and apply in a 6th grade science class. I feel like I can talk about my lesson all day long but unless a quality graphic representation (pictographs,pictures) is there to reinforce my lesson I feel they do not receive the best education available.




The questions I have about using technology in the classroom is basically how can I build a lesson and incorporate technology when technological resources are so hard to obtain in certain school districts, shouldn't public education be equal to all who attend?

New Season...New Class

I am currently very excited about this new class, I feel that the knowledge that I will acquire will help me become a better educator and most importantly help my students. I must admit I am not into the whole textbook thing for this time around but from what I hear from my classmates its a great resource and so it may not be so bad. I am not experiencing any overwhelming feelings yet so that is a safe sign!! This next 5 weeks I have to learn to pace myself with all that is going on so I do not overwhelm myself with homework, work and my own personal life. I will take each week one at a time!