Memories of School

Motivation to Become a Teacher

What it means to become a teacher:

What is a teacher?

Being a teacher encompasses many things.  Some people in America say that being a teacher simply means being a glorified babysitter. Others may say that teachers are lazy people who only want long summer vacations. Granted, that may be true for some people who, in my opinion, should not be in this profession. Being a teacher is a serious and rewarding job when done correctly. Teachers shape the future of our country by building up its youth.  The impact that students have from their teachers in early education can influence how they live the rest of their lives. We hope they leave school with a positive impact. 

A good teacher does more than stand in the front of the classroom and explain the difference between addition and subtraction. Teachers wipe tears, give hugs and support, we believe in our students when no one else does, we inspire them to conquer the world, we show them how to think about life in a whole new light, we listen to our students when they are excited or sad, we put band aids on scraped knees, laugh with our class, make learning fun, and we push students to do their absolute best. These memories are ones that will shape students future and stay with them for the rest of their lives. 

My hopes for my future students:

It may seem like what we teach is irrelevant to some students. The question "when will I ever use this in my future?" is one that can be the hardest to answer. Yes, you may never need to know the capitol of Wyoming; however, the experience in learning is what I want my students to take away from my class. The curriculum is important, don't get me wrong, but what if one lesson sparks an interest in one student? All students are different and each teacher has to try to touch all 20 to 30+ students at the same time. I want each student to learn something from everything we do in the classroom. Each student will take something different from the lesson, but that is part of the beauty of being a teacher. I can watch each student grow individually and become their own person over the course of a year. 

The process of learning all these little facts and procedures teach students how to better learn what they will use later on. The basic principle of learning is taught in elementary school. Knowledge is a series of building blocks; without the foundation it becomes harder to continue building. In elementary school student come to understand what it means to pick out key words and how to use critical thinking. These things are essential in higher education. 

The main thing that I want my students to take away from my class is that they are capable of doing great things, and that limits are nothing compared to what they can achieve. I want my students to see the world as something to be explored. I want them to understand that there is so much more to this world than what they have seen. I want my students to learn to make goals and I want them to have the motivation to never give up. I want to prepare them for what is to come and I want to teach them how to work hard and not just get by. I want them to know what it's like to get back up and try again after they fail. I want them to make friends and I want them to figure out what is most valuable in their lives. I want them to make memories of their school days like I have, and I want those memories to carry out in their lives. I want them to graduate and go on to do whatever makes them happy. 

Memories of My Teachers and Their Lessons

My past experience in school regarding effective teacher qualities and characteristics. 

Like most students I have had both positive and negative experiences with my teachers. Upon reflecting on why some teachers were more successful in my schooling than others it really comes down to how they related with each student. All kids learn differently, which is partially why teaching is so hard.  The best teachers find a way everyone can learn effectively at the same time.  My favorite teacher in elementary school found a way to do this and all my classmates loved her. She made teaching fun and memorable. I saw her methods from the perspective of a student in 2nd grade and also from the perspective of a teacher when I was her intern in 10th grade.

 In second grade she made us feel like we were on top of the world when we did something right. When we got in trouble we knew it, but she made sure to let us know that we always had another chance to make it right. I was very talkative in elementary school, and the first time I got put at the "trouble table for talkative students" I cried until I was red in the face. The ugly, red, snotty, tear flooded, cry of pure embarrassment and disappointment. I still remember to this day how much it meant to me when she sat down and gave me her full attention and told me it was okay. She held me and told me that she loved me the way only a teacher can. As an 8 year old, simply knowing that your teacher isn't mad at you when you mess up, and knowing that she loves you and cares about you, can change the world. 

When she would teach we would always be interacting with each other and with her. Of course, there was lecture time and times when we would sit at our desks and do work, but even then we would write on the board and explain to the rest of the class what we were doing.  We had class discussions and we made everything personal. Her classroom was a place where we could share what we thought and talk about our ideas.  That year, my life at school was full of writing and acting out skits and plays, making things, using my creativity, building social skills, experiencing foreign things inside the classroom walls and building relationships. I tried new foods, heard different languages, used music in class, made things with my hands, read books for fun and fell in love with learning. All these things were not something I expected from school. I remember her class being so fun that I looked forward to going every day. I remember my best friend crying as we walked out the door on our last day of school. Our teacher touched our lives that year. She is someone I will never forget. 

Effective Instruction

In my second grade class every Friday we would have a special lesson called "Fun Friday." Each week we would learn about something different that day. Our reading lessons would lead up to whatever the topic was. We had different topics like spiders, Dr. Seuss and Hawaii. On these Fridays we would have special snacks like green eggs and ham, oreos with pretzels stuck in them to look like spiders and Hawaiian fruits. My teacher would decorate the room and pretend like everything was real. We experienced these things in a way that seemed real. It was like the walls of her classroom disappeared and everything was really there right before our eyes. 

On Hawaiian Fun Friday we came in and everything seems just like any other day. I was a little disappointed because we were told to tell our parents that we were actually going to Hawaii that day. Once we got back from our PE class our teacher was standing by the door greeting us with leis and kisses on the each cheek. our chairs were all lined up like we were in an airplane. The assistant teacher was their to be our airline attendant and take us to our seat. Once we sat down the TV came on and we watched our "airplane" fly from the States to Hawaii. Once we landed our teacher, our "Hawaiian tour guide" told us all there was to know about Hawaii. She fed us Hawaiian food and even cracked a real coconut to show us the milk inside.  I learned a lot from days like this and I will probably always remember them.  I always looked forward to Fridays, not because it was the start of the weekend, but because I got to go to school. 

What I will achieve by becoming a teacher:

Growing up I went through many different phases of what I wanted to be. I wanted to be an architect, I wanted to be a ballerina, I wanted to be a fashion designer and then I wanted to be a teacher. I didn't stick with the teaching idea because it was what I decided around the time I started thinking about colleges. I stuck with teaching because once I fell in love with it, I knew there was no going back. Nothing else would give me the satisfaction like teaching. I couldn't be happy doing anything else and no other job would make me feel like I was giving this world what I was created to give. I feel like I am called to teach kids. I have a heart for children and I want to be a part of their childhood. I want to help them become better people because some parents simply don't care. I am sensitive to how kids feel because even the smallest things at that age can consume their thoughts and lives. I want to do what I can to help and I hope that what I do will pay off in the future. Helping kids and the relationships I will form is more than enough reward for me. 

Technology Tools in the Classroom

Blogs:  

Blogging in education is a great way to allow students to interact with other students all over the world. My class can partner with another class on the other side of the country and our students can read and comment back and forth across the country. This would be a great way to share state specific learning. I could ask my students to blog about what they learned about North Carolina while a class in Iowa could blog about their state. For homework my class could then go and read 2 blogs from the Iowa class and comment about similarities and differences between their own blog and Iowa's. 

Blogging is also a great way for students to reflect on things they have learned as well as practice their social writing skills. My students will be aware that their writing may be read by people outside the classroom so they will be motivated to do well. They can practice sentence structure, grammar, spelling and content while integrating another subject. 

Each student will have their own personal blog and it will give them their own sense of entitlement and accomplishment. This will be one of the first things to build their digital citizenship as well. Along with learning academic things, they will learn responsibility and internet safety. 

Digital Storytelling: (Go Animate, iMovie) 

In my classroom I want my students to have fun and not dread every day. I want learning be inspired and even discovered. I want my students to feel like they are teaching themselves through opportunities that school provides. I think digital storytelling is one way to accomplish this. It allows the students to be in charge of their projects and it gives them room to be creative. They can use Ipads with iMovie or online sources such as Go Animate. 

Students will have to do the research to decide what to put into their creation as well as understand how the information relates to the real world. This is better than testing the students because it involves the student to do more than simply memorizing facts. Making their own movie will help move the information from their working memory to their long term memory so they will remember it longer and be able to use the information later in life. 

In addition, movies are a fun and exciting change of pace. Lecture gets boring and elementary students like getting up and out of their chairs. Being able to watch a short movie in class will keep them on their toes and keep their attention focused on the topic being learned. 

Timetoast and Infographics: 

I enjoyed using Timetoast and making Infographics because I could take pride in my finished product. These resources made what I did visually pleasing. Using these made me want to go the extra mile and work hard on whatever I was doing. When using a simpler or more bland resource to create a presentation project I often work just enough to "get it done." With these resources that is not the case. I work until it is something I can be proud of.

Technology makes editing and creating easy and very user friendly.  It is also easy to present because it can be projected from the computer. I can have my students research a topic and use one of these resources to organize their information. Once they have their final project I would like to have them present it in front of the class. This will teach them how to talk in front of people and present information in a smooth and clear way. The infographic or timeline will help guide their presentation and give the audience something pleasing to look at. 

Video Games:

As I discussed in my last blog, I have recently become a fan of video games in the classroom. I like how they use challenge and rewards to increase motivation and focus. Video games are something that will get my class excited about being engaged in school work. It is something that be used over and over for practice, but it is also easy to use the same game for another lesson. I especially like the idea of using the stats from Wii games for math. 

I think the reason I most like the idea of using video games is not because of the new tech savvy aspect, but instead, the way it interacts with the brain. I like to see kids excited about learning and this will do it. Video games use the workings of the brain to keep people encouraged and engaged. That is what will make education a success. 

Connections for Future Ideas:

I want to continue to learn as a teacher and always be engaged with new findings in technology. To do this I plan to use Pinterest and Twitter to get new ideas and to communicate with my PLN. So far both have done me well and given me some great ideas and advice. Both allow me to communicate with other educators around the world and positively support others. 

Image courtesy of Alec Couros. Used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Everything I have mentioned are things that will help me create a 21st century classroom that will be prepared for the future world of digital citizenship. They all will enhance my teaching in a way that will keep students engaged and excited to learn. 

Education Innovation via Video Games

I was never a "gamer" growing up. I never owned an xbox or a ps3. I saw it as a waste of time and something that killed brain cells. I would hear kids talking about it at school and how they spent their entire Saturday playing some game and how they spent days trying to slay one dragon. When they finally killed that dragon, boy that was a big day. When I heard about teachers using video games in education I couldn't find a reason as to why that would be a good idea. I thought, "I will never be one of those teachers." Until now.
One day in my ECI 296 class, Jennifer LaGarde came and spoke to us about how she used video games in her school to boost math scores. My mind was blown. Video games have something that positively affects the brain. It totally makes sense. Why do people spend so much time on one thing in a world full of short attention spans? How do video games motivate people to try over, and over, and over despite their failures? How do video games keep people's attention for such a long time? The Ted Talk by Tom Chatfield explains all of these questions.

In short, video games provide just enough challenge in relation to rewards to keep people motivated. They aren't so hard that people give up, however its just easy enough to keep people engaged. Implementing this idea into education is probably the most brilliant thing I've ever heard! 5 million students play 45 plus hours of video games a week. If students spent half the time they do playing video games, working on math and reading skills America's education program would sky rocket through the roof. So why not combine these two things to give students a way to learn and enjoy it at the same time. 

It requires some work on the teachers part, but it is possible to take a video game that students already enjoy playing, and make it educational. Ms. LaGarde used Wii games and had students calculate percentages and ratios using bowling and basketball stats. There are also educational games already made for teachers to use such as: Lemonade Stand, Carmen Sandiego, and Oregon Trail. 

After being enlightened on the benefits of video games and how they can can be implemented into education I am so excited to use them in my classroom. I want to inspire my students to learn and if video games make them eager to learn I will give them that opportunity. Video games may get them excited to come to school and give them something to work for. This will trigger something in their brain that helps them to stay engaged and motivates them to learn and attain their goals. Part of teaching includes meeting the students where they are. We have to inspire them and give them a reason to work. We have to try to make it fun and exciting. It's our job to do our best to find what it is in them that motivates them to work hard, and ignite that with a passion to learn. I think I just found a new way to do this.

Grading and Rubrics

As a future teacher I don't think there is one "best" way to assess learning. Students show their abilities is different ways and to test all students the same way may not be the most accurate assessment. When dealing with a classroom of 20 plus students it is difficult for one teacher to determine the knowledge and abilities of each individual. This being a current issues with standardized testing I want to attempt to mold my teaching and grading style so that I will be able to assess each student individually. This would include giving my students more freedom in projects and presentations. Some may be better at writing while others are better at speaking. Some students like to be artistic and would like to present something they learned in the form of an art project. Others may like to create a slide show or a movie. Doing projects that require students to put the knowledge they obtained better demonstrates their ability than a test. It allows students to take the time to think through what they have learned without the anxiety of a test. I would really love to be able to test my students in this way so that they can present their knowledge of a topic in their best element. Despite this, in the real world, one is not always in their comfort zone and as a teacher I need to prepare my students to be able to perform in any circumstance. Therefore, some things have to be measured by test scores and I will need to have my students do certain things that aren't "their thing" or in their comfort zone. 

 In my opinion, certain things should be tested by giving the students an assignment that challenges their use of knowledge. This way I will know that they understand the topic or idea, versus simply memorizing a definition or the steps to a process. I want them to know why they did something, or why something happened. I see this problem a lot in math. Students will follow a process of steps without knowing why they did something, or what that step did and how it got them closer to their answer. Memorizing steps may get them an A on a test; however, when they build on that knowledge without knowing the reasoning behind the simple steps, they will have trouble understanding how to do complex problems. I feel as though projects and other activities will build this kind of knowledge in my students better than studying for a test.

 As a student now, I prefer projects, writing assignments and presentations better than tests because I experience this ideology in my own education. When I prepare for a test I learn only what I think will be on the test. I often only learn the surface value of the topic and I don't go into in depth application of the knowledge. Using the knowledge in "real life" application scenarios versus simply being "quizzed" on their understanding helps move the knowledge deeper into their long term memory.

Going about creating these projects as a teacher or as a student can be a difficult task. I have come to learn that rubrics are my best friend. They help clarify what my teacher wants from me as a student, and they help grading as a teacher. While doing projects myself I often have the problem of not knowing what to include or what direction to go. Teachers that share their rubrics with students provide a concrete mold that I know I need to fit. Making students guess what they need to do to make an A is not teaching. I fully support leaving room for students to do be flexible and make projects their own, however, they should know ahead of time where the points are coming from. As a teacher, using a rubric helps grading in that it is consistent and uniform. It also helps to plan the project before sharing it with students. Sometimes it can be hard to decide what I want my students to present to me. Making a rubric helps these decisions and it also helps me to decide what is more important in the project and what isn't. Basically, rubrics serve as an additional set of instructions that helps build the assignment and guides the student.

*photo credit to cybrarian77 (flikr)*

 http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/thinking/docs/rubricar.htm 

 This website that explains why and how to use rubrics along with tips on creating them.

Why use Digital Storytelling in the classroom?

Digital storytelling, when used properly can be a great tool in the classroom. It enables a change of pace and a new angle on learning. Presenting information in different ways enable students to go about different though processes in learning. Teaching through stories drive education away from lecture style and towards Digital stories are a way to engage students in a fun and exciting way because it brings the the focus away from the classroom. It makes things outside the classroom available to the teacher and the students. Digital stories expand the limits and this can be exciting for kids. 

Digital storytelling can teach students through creation. It doesn't always have to be something the teacher makes or borrows. Students can make their own story and this often teaches them more compared to simply watching one. They have to do their own research and figure out how they want to present it in a creative way. It also teaches them about ways to use technology and how to share information in a unique way. 

Digital storytelling can be used for teachers to provide an intro into new topics. Short videos are a great change of pace and are likely to grab the students attention. They take the students out of the classroom mentally for a few minutes. This is great for younger students because they have a desire to discover and digital storytelling takes away the limits of the school walls. 

Digital stories could also be used to briefly and visually explain difficult topics for students. Sometimes learning in the form of a story or through video can help students grasp difficult methods. They mentally approach the issue in a different way that is often less intimidating. In my classroom I will use this approach for math concepts such as long division, multiplication or order of operations. These can be hard at first, but with a patience students will be able to master anything. 

Using Video in the Classroom

I think videos have their place in education. There are many pros and cons to to videos, so I believe it is very important to use them properly. Videos are not often interactive, therefore it is easy for students to tune out while watching. As an addition to curriculum, videos are very limited. I wouldn't want to use videos that were too long in my classroom for fear of losing the interest of students. Students may have the attitude that movies and videos are what makes for an "easy" class. However, short videos can be an exciting change of pace. Listening to lecture can become just as boring, so switching up the way the information is presented is always good. Some students may learn or remember things better through digital storytelling. Videos are great for these types of students. It's all about finding the right balance for your students. 

Videos can come in handy when a teacher has a substitute. The teacher can video her/himself teaching the lesson or explaining the topic. This way the students have a familiar face and there won't be any mix ups or misunderstanding from the sub. Videos are also handy when a teacher wants to do an experiment that is not ideal for the classroom or if the school does not have the materials. Videos can convey the main ideas and student can see what happens from their seats. I will definitely take advantage of these benefits in my classroom. 

Another way I would like to use videos is by allowing the students to create their own mini-movies. This opens up a world of possibilities for their creative side, their tech-savvy side, as well as their producer side. Video is another form of digital storytelling just like blogs or journals. Students should become familiar with all their resources. I prefer making videos over watching videos in the classroom. The only problem with this is that it requires a lot of time, equipment and help from the teacher, especially with younger age groups. 

Photo Credit to Fotokannon

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/blogs/  --> Here is an example of video being used in the classroom. The length of the videos are perfect and the characters make it interesting for the students. There is also a quiz at the end that makes it interactive for the students. 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/09/teachers-simple-guide-to-teaching-with.html  --> Here is a great website with resources, a youtube video and a general guide for teaching with videos. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRBlNl3KUdo  --> This is a practice lesson for 1st grade students learning addition. This shows how video can be incorporated into everyday lessons. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33IjFmUoAPs  --> This is a demonstration video about go animate. It is a teacher friendly way to create your own videos for the classroom. 

Web 2.0 in the classroom

Web 2.0 is shaping education and providing new opportunities for the classroom. It is changing the way we teach and also creating new resources. With the rise of technology in the schools, the classroom becomes so much bigger. Teachers now have access to teachers around the world. Students can interact with people on the other side of the world. Ideas are being shared faster and in more detail than ever before. The classroom is no longer confined to the white walls of the school, but now has not limits. Students can see videos and images of places they have never been. They can create and contribute to the wide variety of information and materials. This teaches them that it isn't just about consuming what is available to them, but to give back to the world and create something themselves. Students now have an identity outside of their community. This teaches responsibility and shows them how their decisions do make a difference.

 These tools give teachers a way to reach out and access things outside the walls of the school while engaging the students. Web 2.0 (when used properly) pulls teachers away from lecture style teaching and encourages student involvement and interaction. These new tools and resources can give students a voice they didn't have before. Students can communicate with more people through their digital voice. Students can create things that will last longer than paper and have a wider impact than they would in the classroom. Web 2.0 allows students who are shy in class speak out louder than they could ever have without them.

 It also provides professional writing practice and starts building their digital identity in a safe and monitored environment. Students learn about safety online by exposing them to the availability of other people on the internet. This teaches them to be aware of the image their digital footprint shows. When using web 2.0 tools in the classroom teachers can guide students and set guidelines for them. This way they will make good habits that will better protect them later in life. 

My personal favorite web 2.0 tool is blogger, or any other blogging site. Blogs give their users so much freedom to embrace original creation and creativity. It is a great place to share opinions and voice ideas. For students, it gives them their own sense of entitlement. Each person creates their own personal blog that is theirs, and theirs only. They can do whatever they want in it. (Within the guidelines of the assignment.) Students can share videos, pictures, links, their own writing etc. Blogs are more than just writing an essay; it is presented for the whole world to see. They can make it colorful and they make it their own. 

A great way to use a blog is by using it to track the progression of a project. For example, if students were growing a plant in class they could post pictures of it on their blog. Students could also write about how they cared for the plant and what was going on below the soil and what causes it to grow. This is a great way to tie science and English together. :)

Photo Credit to mkhmarketing

http://www.edudemic.com/the-35-best-web-2-0-classroom-tools-chosen-by-you/  <-- During an #edchat talk on twitter web 2.0 tools were discussed and the top 35 to use int the classroom were posted on this site. 

http://cct.edc.org/publications/integrating-web-20-tools-classroom-changing-culture-learning <-- The Center for Children and Technology researched how Web 2.0 tools are shaping education. This link goes to a report about their findings.