Read Kiddo Read

ReadKiddoRead

I really like this group because not only am I an avid reader myself, but I feel very strongly about getting kids interested in reading, not only in the classroom but at home.  One of the resources about this group that I particularly liked was that it offers lesson plan ideas for different children's books.  I was surprised to find lesson plans for one of my personal favorites, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus."  They also offer things such as book suggestions to use for students, broken down into genres. All in all, it is a great resource that I plan on fully utilizing!

Everybody Loves Play Doh

A learner is like play doh.  They never stay the same.  They are constantly changing, being molded into different things.  Play doh inspires creativity and imagination, two things that are necessary in keeping your learner occupied and interested.  Under capable hands play doh can be molded into fantastic creations.  Similarly, under the proper tutelage learners can be molded into students with a lifelong love of learning.  As George Siemens wrote, "Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime."  Our job is to make sure that they are interested in learning throughout life.

Taking that into consideration, as teachers we must be lifelong learners too.  We must be willing to mix things up now and then, squish our play doh back into a ball and try something new with it, mold new lessons, incorporate new technologies and new ideas.  As depicted in George Siemens' video on the conflict of learning theories with human nature, "Its not just what we know today that is important, it is our ability to stay current as knowledge changes."  If we cannot change with knowledge, if we are not willing to re-mold our play doh, then we are not doing our job as educators.

George Siemens Article

George Siemens Video

Technology as a Pro and a Con

I watched the video, A Vision of K-12 Students Today and had mixed feelings about the message being presented.  Overall, I agree with the idea that teachers need to be up on technology, and need to integrate technology into their classroom and lessons.  It is a waste not to incorporate the interests of the child into your attempts to teach them something.  If a child is constantly glued to their ipod, why not give them educational podcasts to listen to?  You need to work with those interests to come up with the best learning experience you can give that child.  However, it really bothered me in the video where the signs were reading things that were implying that we should be giving the children technology based things all the time, anytime, whenever they wanted.  A friend of my is currently reading the book  "Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul" By Stuart Brown.  She was telling me how it discusses all the technology given to children today and that in addition to helping them, it is hindering them.  Back before all of this technology kids were forced to be more creative with their free time, making up their own games, using their imaginations.  But nowadays so much of that is done for them, with interactive toys that not only give them something to play, but tell them how to play, what to think, etc.  This has resulted in adults entertaining the workplace without the creativity to come up with innovative ways to do things that their predecessors had.  Some of the brightest minds in NASA right now are retiring, and they are concerned about the incoming people who are taking their jobs, because they lack the innovativeness and creativity that is necessary in a job like that.  Taking this into consideration, I found it ironic that some of the signs being held up referred to creativity as something that needed technology to grow.  So while I think that technology in the classroom is a good idea, I think that it is a fine line to walk, and that teachers need to be aware that not everything should be replaced by technology, because you risk losing valuable skills in the process.

Blogs Helping With Homework

Back in the day if we had a homework question outside of school hours, we would have to call a friend in the class and hope they knew the answer.  Now though, if you have a question, there are a variety of ways to get ahold of a classmate for help.  Kids can text, email, IM, and facebook chat with a classmate.  However, having a class homework help blog might be the more beneficial way to go.  With the other methods, it is restricted to one classmate helping another, and doesn't benefit other students in the classroom that might have the same question.  If the teacher had a homework help blog, students could post questions for each other on assignments, help each other out, and even help prevent misunderstandings on assignments that may occur when information is being exchanged between two students instead of the whole class.
TSLT Goal 3: Standard 1


I also find that blogging would be a good way for students to express their opinions on what is going on in the news in a safe environment.  Many times in the classroom it is intimidating to express your opinion on current events, especially for shy students, and being able to express your thoughts on different matters affecting the world through a blog can be much easier.  This is also a good way for teachers to make sure that everyone participates.  By posing a question to students and asking them to respond via blog, they are giving every student the opportunity to express their opinion, while also allowing them time to compose their thoughts and word their answers regarding what sometimes could be delicate topics, a chance they wouldn't have face to face in the classroom.
TSLT Goal 4: Standard 1


Lastly, Blogging can be used as a way to keep parents informed on what is going on in the classroom.  By allowing parents access to the blogs, they can see what is being discussed in school, and can continue the discussions/learning in the home.


TSLT Goal 4: Standard 1

Safety Tips

I think that many kids realize the safety tips we have been drilling into their heads all these years such as do not talk to anyone online that you do not know, do not give out personal information to anyone you do not know, do  not assume that people are who they say they are online, etc.  However, I think something that kids do not seem to understand is how easy it is for people they do not know to glean information about them simply from looking at things such as their blogs and Facebook accounts.  Too many kids are posting their school schedules for their friends, their works schedules, and other personal details that make finding them, and finding out about them, frighteningly easy.  Therefore I think it would be good policy to teach students how easy it is for a stranger to find out all about them.  Some good rules for students to keep in mind are:

(1) Never post when you will be out of town, or home alone

(2) Do not post any sort of schedules such as work, school, etc.

(3) Do not post personal details such as where you work, or where you go to school

(4) Do not post direct names of friends and family

(5) Make your settings private so that the only people who can find/access your blog are people you have invited/approved