Tragedy

This was not the blog I was intending to post for this week.  I wanted to post something fun and upbeat as the Holiday's began.  In light of the terrible tragic events that happened on Friday, December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, I think we need to reflect on what happened.

We will probably never know what caused this tragedy to happen.  There was much misinformation floating around immediately following the disaster. Schools should be considered a safe haven.  We should be able to move around freely without fear of being shot.  The list goes on and on.  As the facts separate from fiction, some of the facts we do know:

FACTS WE KNOW

• 20 innocent school children are dead from a shooting in their elementary school
• 6 School teachers and personnel were killed in the shooting at the school
• Connecticut survivors to attend school in neighboring town
• We don't know what caused this person to do this unspeakable act
• Teachers and school personnel acted heroically  

I want to hear your thoughts.  There are no wrong answers.  The only wrong answer is not responding at all.  I have included a few links you can read for clarification.  

Links:

USA Today editorial

USA Today storyline

CoolCat Teacher Blog

Blog prompt:  

What do you think our country should do to insure that senseless violence like what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary,  does not continue to happen? 

Your post should be called "Solutions"  

This blog is due on Thursday December 16.  

Link to the blog rubric.  Click here

Are you Pinterested in Resources?

As you know, it is important to collect resources to use in lesson and activity planning.  There are many great ideas that are posted on Educational websites and blogs.  It is important for you to understand how to use the computer to search and research.


This week, you will need to put your thinking cap on and use Google to search for good useable teacher resources.

Locate three reputable and grade appropriate Blogs from teachers.  Search the blogs for classroom ideas.  Hyperlink the URL of the blog on to your blog page.  Give a concise description of what the blog is about.

After you have located three blogs, now find three great teaching ideas from Pinterest.  Copy the link and hyperlink to your blog page.  Again, give a concise description of what the Pin is about.  If you have a Pinterest education board, link it to your blog.  If you don't, you ought to!

Use pictures to create interest.

This blog will be due on Monday, Dec. 10.

As always, follow the blog rubric.

Destination Procrastination!

Procrastination?

This is a repost of a blog from last year.  It seems ever so appropriate again this year!

This Blog is Due November 12

What is Procrastination? 

Have you ever procrastinated?

  I think I probably know the answer to both of those questions.  Do you?

Click on this link and read about Overcoming Procrastination.

The Title of your blog this week should be: Why Do Students Procrastinate?

1. After you have read the article, choose at least one of the bullet points under "Why do students procrastinate?" and address how it relates to you. If you have never procrastinated, you can use someone you know as an example, but don't use names. 

• Your post should be well thought out and you should use complete sentences.
• Less is more. I would rather read three well written and thoughtful sentences than three rambling paragraphs!
• Restate the chosen topic, then write your comments. 

2. When you have completed part one, look over the "How to overcome procrastination" suggestions. Choose at least one of the bullet points that you will honestly try and write your comments in your post about how you will try to overcome procrastinating. 

• Your post should be well thought out and you should use complete sentences.
• Less is more. I would rather read three well written and thoughtful sentences than three rambling paragraphs!
• Restate the chosen topic, then write your comments. 

Refer to the Rubric if you are in question of how your blog will be graded. This is the rubric that will be used every week. Click here to view blog rubric.  This Blog is Due November 12

Field Trips are Fun and Educational

Field trips are an important part of the learning process.  The experience of seeing something in person versus reading about it in a book is beyond comparison.  Due to budget cuts and an emphasis on testing, many school districts are cutting back on travel.  Students still need the experience of hands on learning, historical perspective, the existence of other cultures and new places - in other words, students need to broaden their horizons.

Blog assignment:  Due October 15

This week you will write about the best field trip you ever went on as a student.  What made this field trip memorable to you?
Use the blog rubric for maximum points.

Virtual Field Trip Assignment:  Due October 19

In addition to the blog, you will create a "virtual field trip" using Prezi and the provided links to field trip resources.

You will create a virtual field trip using materials and pictures you collected from the State Fair of Texas OR You can use any of the resources below.  Use the internet to find pictures, video clips and visuals for the project.

Before you begin the project, do your homework and consider the following.

1. What is the objective of the trip?
2. What is the projected outcome of the field trip?
3. Where does it fulfill the TEKS?  Is it age appropriate?
4. Obtain information, costs, times from the facility.
5. What is your budget?
6. Follow steps that are needed in order to get field trip approval
7. District requirements (number of students to chaperones)
8. Transportation requests
9. Parent permission forms
10. Correspondance to parents / other teachers... 

Resources to use or use your own.

• Why and how to plan a field trip. Before and after.
• Fieldtripfactory
• Ft.Worth
• Classtrips
• Apple field trips
• HUD
• Virtual Field Trip guide to Texas

Use Prezi as the platform for your virtual field trip.

When you finish your Prezi virtual field trip, you will either embed it on your blog or hyperlink it.  Give a brief written introduction to your Prezi presentation.  Follow the Prezi rubric for maximum points.

The Blog is due on October 15.
The virtual field trip will be due on October 19.

An Ethical Dilemma

Most of us know the difference between right and wrong.  

Sometimes things fall into an area that causes an ethical dilemma.  

Teachers are called upon to make ethical decisions on a daily basis.  Your blog this week will be about an ethical dilemma that requires you to use critical thinking skills.  Click here to read the ethical dilemma you will be blogging about.  Read all the way through the document before you begin blogging.  This ethical dilemma is one that will be used to qualify for the FEA National conference in Orlando, FL in April.  See how well you do and maybe you will be selected to participate and debate on the National level.  

This blog will be due on October 1, 2012.  It is important that you use good grammar, spelling, punctuation and good writing conventions.  The blog rubric is available by clicking here.  Always refer to the rubric for the best possible score you can get.  Use concise thoughts in your writing.  

When I grow up I want to be a ...

Have you ever said the words, "When I grow up I want to be a teacher"?
If you have, you are in the right class. If you are just wanting to see if education as a profession might be something you want to pursue, you are also in the right class. If you are one of those that thought this would be an easy blow off class, you probably made a big mistake.

Your blog assignment this week is to give me your reasons for wanting to be a teacher. You must spell correctly, use proper grammar, use correct punctuations and capitalizations and no little i's. You will be using your "new" blog.

Your blog will be graded according to the Blog Rubric that you were shown in class. Try! You will get better as the year progresses. The Blog Rubric for this week is on my class wiki page. You can open the class wiki by clicking here.

Don't be a Grammar Goofball

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Begin with the End in Mind

Begin with the End in Mind

To start the year off right, we will be establishing ground rules and expectations for the Education and Training class.  It is important that you start fast and finish strong.  I like to begin with the end in mind.  By the end of the 5th six weeks you will be expected to complete an electronic portfolio.  A blog is only one of the many technology tools you will be proficient with by the end of the year.  

Next week,  you will be setting up your own blog account.  Blog grades can be the difference in a C or an A in this class.  I feel good writing skills are important for teachers to possess.   Since written communication is extremely important for you in your career,  why not start now?  More information on blogs next week.  

We will be establishing student made classroom rules.  

This week, your blog assignment is to comment on my blog.  Your comment is due by Friday, August 31.  I will show you how and where to post a comment.  

You may either comment on either 1 or 2 below.  Sign your name to your comment.  

1.  Why is written communication important?

2.  Post one rule you feel every classroom should have.  

2012 in Review...

2012 in Review...

Closure

Today is Monday May 7.  It is the beginning of your last official week as an intern in a site school.  Thursday will be your last official day there.  It is important to put closure to the experience.   This week's blog is putting everything into perspective and focuses on closure.

Your blog for this week will need to contain three things.
1.  A link to or an embedded version of your Animoto Video. (Due on May 11)
2.  A picture of your Photo Collage / the one you made for your teacher. (Due on May 14)
3.  A description of the last day in your classroom. Tell what you did, how the students reacted and how you felt. (May 10)

Name your blog, Closure.

This week's blog is due on Wednesday, May 16.  This is the last blog, so make it good!  As always, follow the Blog Rubric for a maximum grade.

Three more Monday's...

It is hard to believe that this year is nearly over.  We only have three more Monday's together as a class.  For some of you, you will be glad.  For some of you, it will be bittersweet and sad.  I am proud of the progress you have made over the year or two years for some of you.  I have seen growth and maturity and that is a good thing!

For this weeks blog, I want you to reflect on the past year or two years as the case may be.  How you felt in the beginning and how you feel now that you have spent nearly an entire school year (or two) as a teacher intern.  Are you more or less enthusiastic about becoming a teacher?  Do you still think teaching is for you?  If not, why?  If so, elaborate on your reasons.   How will you bring closure to your classroom experience?  

As usual, use the rubric for maximum grading potential.  This blog will count for two blog grades.  Be thoughtful and do your best work.  This Blog is Due on Monday, May 7, 2012.  

One more blog to go!

Smart Technology

You have been given the opportunity of learning how to use the Smartboard and iPad's in a classroom setting.  Cheryl McKnight and Jeff Samuelson are Birdville ISD Instructional Technology professionals.  They are responsible for teaching our teachers how to use cutting edge technology in their classrooms with ease.  Click here to explore the Instructional Technology webpage.  It has numerous ideas you can use when planning activities in your classrooms, or writing your blog this week.

Your blog post this week should be named:  "Smart Technology" and will need to be posted by Monday, April 23.

1.  Locate 2 free APPS for iPads that are not currently uploaded on the classroom sets of iPads.   Click here to visit the APPS for Education page from iTunes.   Copy the link and hyperlink it into your blog post so it will open to the iTunes page.  Explain where it would fit in the curriculum map and how you would use it.

2.  Locate 1 Smartboard lesson / activity that is curriculum appropriate for your site school grade level.  Click here to find an appropriate choice.  Upload the file / link to your blog.  Explain how you would use the activity in your site school classroom.

3.  Include what grade level you are posting.

As always, follow the rubric for best results.  Only six weeks of school left this year and only three more blogs after this week.

No Blog This Week!

No blog this week.  

You can still get partial credit for "What teachers really want to tell parents" and for the blog last week, Financial literacy can pay off!.

The last day for grading blogs this six weeks is Wednesday, April 11.  Get busy.

Don't forget, your Digital Portfolio's are due on Friday, April 13!

Financial literacy can pay off!

Connecting to the Real World

Watch this video and use headphones!

Click here to read an article from Edutopia about one school's ability to make real world connections relevant for students.

After you read the article, think about how different learning becomes when there is a connection between school and your life's goals.  It hardly seems like learning at all.

For your blog this week:  NO- YES or NO answers.  Expand your mind.

• Reflect on your own years in school.  Were there subjects that could have been taught in a more relevant way?  
• What subjects have been useful to you and could have been useful to you if they had been offered?
• Do you feel comfortable about your ability to manage money and finances?
• Would you feel better about your financial future if you had been taught a financial literacy curriculum in school?  

As always, use the rubric for a maximum score.
This blog is due on Monday, April 9 at the beginning of class.

What teachers really want to tell parents...

Earlier this semester, one of your mentor teachers gave one of you an article to read and you gave me a copy.  You said, "we should blog on this."  I agreed!  Coincidentally, the article is written by Ron Clark.

Read this article from CNN.

Your comments should come from the perspective of a future teacher / teacher.  Some of you have seen examples of this in your classrooms this year.

Use headphones and watch this news clip of  Ron Clark.  Click here to access the video.

Please post a blog from the perspective of a teacher and address the following:

1. What do teachers need parents to understand?  (give two examples or ideas)
2. Parents as partners rather than prosecutors:  What does this mean to you after reading the article?
3. The title of your blog post should be "What teachers want parents to know"

As always, use the rubric when writing for a maximum score.  

This blog is due at the beginning of class on Monday, April 2.  

Reality Check

Welcome to the last ten weeks of school.



You have many deadlines, so I won't add to them with a blog post this week!
 

The Rules

You watched The Ron Clark Story this week if you are a first year intern.  If you are a second year intern, you have already watched it.   Ron Clark founded The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA.  Please click here to look at his website.  If you missed the movie, rent it over spring break and watch it!

Ron Clark's # 1 Classroom Rule is:  We are a Family.

There are 54 other rules.  Why do you think he placed so much importance on rule # 1?  Explain the significance of Rule # 1 as it applies to a classroom.

Write your own classroom rules for your Education and Training class.  You should have no less than five and no more than ten.  We will review them after spring break and compile a combined set of classroom rules.  Be honest and realistic.  


Due Monday March 19 before class begins.  
As always, you will need to follow the rubric.  
Have a wonderful and safe Spring Break!  

Glogster in the Classroom!

Many of you have used Glogster.  Regardless of your previous experiences with Glogster, we are going to give it another try.  I have new student codes for each of you. Before you do anything...Please watch the video tutorials below.  You will have a much easier time with the assignment if you don't skip this step.  There are a few new features since the videos were made, but the fundamentals are the same.  


Use headphones while viewing so you don't disturb your classmates.  Don't waste your time!

When you are finished viewing the videos, ask Mrs. Harden for your new Glogster login.   If you don't use the code that is assigned to you, you will have to redo your assignment later.  

Create a Glogster during class today that includes:  

• Using a wall and graphics that make sense together and are appropriate for your grade level.  
• At least one grade level appropriate Video or song from YouTube or SchoolTube that is embedded on your Glogster.
• At least one grade level appropriate web based interactive activity.  
• At least 2 grade level appropriate graphics.
• Find one grade level appropriate "Pinterest education" link, copy the url and hyperlink on your Glogster.  

The name of your Blog this week is:   Glogster in the Classroom.  It is due at the end of class Friday, March 2.  Copy the URL link to your new Glogster and hyperlink it on your Blog / finished or not!  I know you may not be finished, but you must link what you have completed.  

You will be able to edit and add to your existing Glogster later. We will be putting grade specific content on your Glogster posters later.  You will be able to use your Glogster poster with Smartboards in your site classroom.  This will be a great way to present your final lesson in your classroom.   

You will be graded on whether you followed instructions and submitted on time.  Reminder, it is due at the end of class on March 2.  

Have a great weekend and I will see you on Monday!

Higher Education or Higher Debt?

How do you plan to pay for college?  Have you done enough?  Have you applied to FAFSA?

Click on this link and read about President Obama's initiative to require colleges to be more transparent with college costs and employment after graduation.

After you read the article post your thoughts and comments.  Answer the first three questions in your post. You should have at least two solid paragraphs in your blog.  As always, you should follow the rubric to maximize your grade.   Blog Rubric  The name of this week's blog should be "The High Cost of Education."

This blog is due Monday February 27, 2012.

Link to Mrs. Stevens' College Wiki Page.



http://news.yahoo.com/obama-takes-tougher-stance-higher-education-130608496.html

Creativity!

Follow the directions on my Wiki for watching the Sir Ken Robinson video.  You are responsible for posting your blog today, Monday, Feb. 13.  Your blog is due by the end of class.  


You are to answer the following using complete thoughts and phrases.  
You should give intelligent well thought out answers.

What is Creativity?
Why does Creativity matter in Education?

The name of your Blog post is Creativity Counts.
Remember to follow the Rubric.  This blog post is due today, Monday Feb. 13.

Give it your best shot!

Many of you are looking for jobs or will be called for scholarship interviews, soon.  This is a quick update to help remind you of interview techniques and how to give yourself your best shot in an interview setting.  Read this article! 

After reading the article.

1. What do your think your strengths and weaknesses would be in an interview situation? Explain why for each.  
2. How can you overcome your weaknesses?  How can you accentuate your strengths.  
3. Have you ever applied for a job? If you weren't successful in obtaining a job, what might you do differently next time?

Remember, always write your comments in complete sentences.  The name of this week's blog should be Hire me, please!

Always refer to the blog rubric when in doubt.  

Due Monday, February 13, 2012.  

Digital Learning Day :: Awesome Ideas!

Digital Learning Day :: Awesome Ideas!  Open this site and explore. 

Digital Learning Day is February 1.   

What exactly is Digital Learning Day?
It is an organized effort to encourage teachers to use digital technology in their classrooms on Wednesday, February 1.  I hope you have clicked on the link above.  It has some excellent ideas to use in a classroom.  

1.  Your blog assignment for this week is for you to choose a digital tool you could use in your site school classroom.  You will hyperlink the link or embed on to your blog.  Explain how you would use this tool in your classroom.  Explore the web tool and be prepared to show how to use it in class next week. Include if there is a free version and details of how to sign up for use.

2.  Describe any digital activities any of your teachers used in your classes on Wednesday, February 1.  Be specific.  What type of digital tool they used and how it was used.

If you are so inclined, here is a video contest you can enter.  The video is only 45 seconds.  Check it out!  If you decide to enter the video contest, embed it to your blog.

This blog will be due on Monday,  February 6.  Be prepared to demonstrate how to use the digital tool on February 10 and 17.  If there are too many duplications, I will assign a new tool for you to try.
Remember the rubric.  The name of your blog for this week will be "Digital Learning Day"

PS:  I have linked some good websites and blogs as well as some other useful digital tools (in the upper right corner) for you to use for activities in your classrooms.  Please look at them.

Cheers to a New Semester!

One down and one to go!

If you are a Senior, you have 18 weeks of school left.  

If you are a Junior, you have one year and 18 weeks of school left.

Some of you are well positioned for success after High School.  Some of you haven't thought about it yet.  Junior or Senior, you should be making plans.  As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."  Don't let things just happen to you, make things happen that you want to happen.  

This week, you will choose three things that you can do to change your second semester.   The title of your Blog this week is - Make It Happen in 2012!

You must list the three things you want to change, how you will make this happen and what you hope the outcome will be as a result of your efforts. 

Number them 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Example:  

1.  I want to make better grades during the second semester.  In order to accomplish better grades I will need to study more, Facebook less and focus my efforts on things that matter.  By focusing my time on what matters and meeting deadlines, my grades should improve.  If I improve my grades, I will have an easier time getting into college and will have a more enjoyable second semester.

This blog post is Due on Monday, January 23.  Always follow the blog rubric.  

It's Ketchup Week!

For some of you, not having a blog for this next week will be no big deal because you are caught up and it will give you a well deserved break and more time to study for your finals.  Some of you are seriously behind on your blogging.  The only two blogs I will still grade are the "Grinch" and "Ideal Classroom" blog.  There are five blogs this six weeks.  I will be dropping the lowest blog grade to calculate your blog test grade.  If you want me to grade the two remaining blogs, they must be posted by the end of class Monday, Jan. 9.  If your blogs aren't posted by that time, I will record a zero and include it in the test grade.

We will be blogging the second semester as well.  Don't forget to include two multimedia links each week. This is a free 5 points if you do this.  Show some attention to detail in your work.  There are still eighteen weeks of school left, don't waste your time and get behind.  If you are wondering why your grades are like they are, refer to the blog rubric.  Misspelled words are always a problem, lateness, rambling, shallow perception of the subject, poor writing conventions, there, their, they're... "i" could go on and on.

In the immortal words of Elvis Presley, TCB.  Take Care of Business!

Happy New Year!

Read the article below and on your blog, create a post about how your ideal classroom should be structured.  Include reasons that are educationally sound.  The title of your blog should be "The Ideal Classroom".  It is due on Monday Jan. 9, 2012.  

Lewisville ISD trades rows of desks for sofas - Your Houston News: News: DALLAS — There’s something missing from Angela Hamm’s
third-grade classroom.