Reflection

Final PLN Report

Click the image of Symbaloo or here to gain access to all my links!

My PLN was done on the symbaloo. After figuring out all the short cuts it allows to get to your most used web sites, it became a life line for me. I really on my symbaloo so much that when I find something really interesting that I think I may use in the near future, I literally I have to sit in front of my laptop and think about what to delete so I can put my new link in. So, over all the symbaloo was very useful and I will continue using it.

Summary of Comments for Kids

I had a wonderful time commenting on student's blogs from other schools. Helena was very interested in current events, mainly because their class has been doing them in groups. Another blog that I was reading was a fifth grade class who presents all their work together. Their assignments were truly interesting and intriguing, they were like very informative stories. So, I really enjoyed reading all their stories. Zoe is very hard working student who I commented on. She is one of those students who wants to succeed in all she does, and with the determination she had on all the projects she had to finish. My first comment in November was for Noel Elementary school, but they had and still have technical issues. All in all I really enjoyed all the different students I got to chat with and got to learn different things from all over.

Project 16

Summary Comments for Teachers 4

Dianne Krause was the teacher I had to blog with this week. I believe I was very lucky to be paired with her, and was able to comment on her blog. She had some very wonderful ideas for was of teaching, and allowing easier ways for students to learn. She gave her own opinion about smartboards and how they have been more useful to students in classroom because they allow the students to be more interactive, which makes them more eager to learn. Unlike when students were just expected to sit there, listen and take notes without getting antsy. Some other important things she touched on google doc templates for Mathematics and Science. It gives the students and teacher a way to keep in touch a collaborate on school work, projects, or questions they may have; and also allow students to share, create, and store other types of information. The last thing of many I will tell everyone about that caught my eye was a Smartbrief new letter. It is basically a news letter that is sent out daily, free of charge, for teachers and users of technology alike to help them better navigate the ever changing technology of computers. Overall I really enjoyed reading Mrs. Krause blog because she has a lot of information that can be used later or even know as we are still in school.

Additional Assignment 5

Just Teach them to Solve for X uses metaphors which maybe hard to catch I know I had to read it a couple times to catch it. And by using this form of solving for X involves how many teachers use the same way to teach basic skills to students, and by letting them solve for X may give them a new form of teaching. Sketchy portraits tells how eighth graders all have their own identity no matter how screwed up they may seem with their own set of emotions to go along with them. And all students want to do at that age is find a belonging or place that they belong in. He Just Likes the Class for the Pencils stresses how important it is to have a good teacher to student relationship with each student in your classroom. Allowing for teachers to have one on one conversations with each students allows the students to grow comfortable and trust their teacher. The Medium Shapes the Learning talks about how students like to do the most work that requires the least effort out of them. And so when Mr. Spencer assigns a lesson to the students, he does not want them to just slide by he wants them to put effort and thought into it.

Blog Assignment 13

ALEX is a website that is used to devote information to parents, teachers, students, and administrators who can all benefit from the information available.  The website is broken into eight categories so that who is every searching for a specific topic can find it with ease.  The eight categories are web links, lesson plans, courses of study, search, professional learning, personal workspace, podcast treasury, and ALEXville. The one I found very user friendly was the ones for lesson plans. All one has to do is click on the grade level and subject and follow the links and it will provide you with an Alabama State lesson plan. Another one that I really enjoyed learning about and will use in class would be the podcast treasury, mainly because it allows students to get more involved with learning. Then there is course of study, which basically provides the Alabama content standards for each subject. With all of these categories broken up it gives everyone a better opportunity to learn.

With the ALEX website I believe it would be a great asset due to all the information it provides, especially since I would be a new teacher.  Say for instance I could not come up with a lesson plan or a question about a specific standard.  I would not have to worry because all I would have to do is go to the ALEX website and go into what specific category suites my needs.  This website is great for all new teachers just for that reason and many others similar to that.  Because once you are fresh out of school with your first class you do not now what to expect.  So if worst comes to worst just use the site as a guide until you feel comfortable on your own.

ACCESS which is a distance learning program that provides recovery courses for students statewide.  ACCESS uses both interactive and web based online course formats for student uses.  These courses are taken during the day at school taught by trained facilitators.  The purpose of having ACCESS available for students to learn is so they can develop and learn to improve their skills by distant learning.  I believe this is great for all students especially  for those who maybe having a harder time more than others.