Built for learning?

Are schools built for learning?  

What makes you want to learn something?  

Click here to watch and listen to Will Richardson's Ted Talk about the changing face of education. As future educators you will be challenged in your careers with making real world changes and reforming the way students will be learning.  

In your blog, describe an ideal learning environment for you.  Think about how this ideal setting could be incorporated into a future school day.  Use complete sentences. Try to find pictures of what an ideal classroom / learning environment would look like to you.  Include how long you think classes should be and why.  What measures would you use to evaluate students on their performance?

Remember to use good writing conventions and to follow the rubric for best results.  Blog is due on Monday, Dec. 7.

Activities for Learning

Your blog assignment.  Begin on November 9 and complete by November 12.

Create a learning activity for your grade level / subject level.  It should coincide with the Board Builder you made to use in your classroom.  Connect the two to have a complete learning experience inside your classroom.  You should take a screen shot and include a link to your Discovery Education Board Builder activity on your blog.  My Strategies and Activities Board.

Use your time wisely and you will be able to complete this in class.  Work smarter, not harder!

You may get your ideas from websites such as Pinterest or good quality teacher blogs - BUT make it your own.

1. Write specific details about subject / grade level (example: 3rd grade - Math, Multiplication Activity)
2. Write clear objectives for what the student is to learn (otherwise know as the outcome)
3. Write clear directions on how to make the activity
4. List the specific materials needed to make the activity - if it goes along with a book, include the book title with a link where to get it.
5. Take a picture of your finished product. Upload it to your blog.
6. The title of your blog due in class on Nov. 12 should be Learning Activity.  
7. As always... use the rubric for best results.  

First Day as a Teacher

This week, you are to reflect about your internship.

My first day as an intern:
What I was feeling as I walked into my classroom the first time. What was I wearing?  What happened next?

Year 1 and Year 2 should include the following information in your blog.  It should be a narrative, not in a list!

• What school you have been placed in?
• What is the grade level?
• Your mentor teacher / teachers name.  How long have they been teaching?
• Link your teacher's webpage to your blog.
• What subject is going on while you are there?
• What do you do when you are in the classroom?
• What are you most looking forward to doing in your classroom this year?
• Take a picture of your mentor teacher and include in your blog.  

Year 2 interns only, in addition to the above list, compare the similarities and differences to your experience last year.  

This blog will be due on Monday October 19.  As always use the rubric for best results.

What would you do?

Blog Due on Tuesday, October 6.  Year 1 Only

Read the scenarios below.  Choose ONE of the potential situations you could encounter in your internship.  Post an entry on your blog that reframes the outcome by generating a solution that would be an appropriate and professional way to handle the situation as an EAT intern.  Your response should have clarity while avoiding vague recommendations.  Be sure you state which Scenario you are writing about.  Discuss at your table.  This is due at the end of class today.  

Scenario 1

You left campus for lunch and when you returned to campus you missed the bus that transports EAT interns to your field site campus.  You don’t have a car, but your boyfriend (girlfriend) said that he (she) could take you to your field site.  You took him (her) up on the offer.  When you boarded the bus to return to your home campus, another intern asked why you weren’t on the bus earlier.  You asked the intern not to point this out to your EAT teacher, Mrs. Crabapple, since no harm was done.

Scenario 2

You are at your EAT field site.  Although you know you are supposed to have your phone put away at your field site, you check it and see that you have a message from another intern in your class.  He said that he had an early dismissal and left the field site campus just a little early, but when he did, he forgot to sign out.  You think this is a bit strange because you never saw him ride the bus to your field site in the first place, but you agree to sign him in and out because you want to let him know he can trust you.  After all, Mrs. Meddlesome, your EAT teacher, stressed that it is important to establish relationships with your students and others with whom you work.

Scenario 3

You have just arrived at your field site.  Your teacher is absent and you have a substitute.  Previously, you have been in charge of monitoring the reading groups each day, and even though you were not aware that your mentor teacher would be gone, you know that you need to follow the routine so the students will progress. The substitute tells you that she has everything under control and you may leave because there is nothing for you to do. You decide your field site mentor will have plenty of time to get the reading groups caught up tomorrow so you go to the classroom next door where your EAT friend is interning.  The two of you move to the corner of the room and work on homework the rest of the period so you won’t disturb anyone.

Scenario 4

You are about to change into your field site attire and realize you have forgotten your field site shirt and name badge.  The bus will be leaving in three minutes.  You have on jeans with holes, and a low cut top.  You saw Mrs. Picky, your BCTAL EAT teacher, at your field site yesterday.  Since you think she will not be stopping by to visit interns at your field site, you hop on the bus without your EAT attire, taking your chances that you will not be discovered.  After all, if your field site mentor teacher and principal don’t say anything, there is no harm done, right?

As always, follow the rubric for best results. 

Reading is Important!

We recently had Mrs. Pursley, North Richland Middle School librarian visit our classes and speak with us about reading to students.  She gave some good ideas on using voice, inflection, and questioning strategies.  Reading is important in everything we do.

One of the first things your new mentor teacher will probably ask you to do is to read to students.  It is important you feel comfortable doing this.

Your blog assignment is to choose one of the children's books from our selection or one of your own.

• Give the Title of the book, the author and illustrator.  You should give a one paragraph book review of the book.  
• Read it to yourself so you understand the story and how it should sound.  Is it a good read aloud book?  
• What is the age appropriateness of this book?
• Choose a few key words from the book that you could focus on with  your students.  
• Formulate higher order thinking questions and list a few.  
• Create an activity that you could do with your students.  Write the steps you would take for this activity.  
• If it has a sing song to it, practice and sing!
• Either find a picture of your book from google docs or take a picture with your phone of the book cover.  Insert in your blog.
• Look on YouTube and see if there is a recording of your book being read by the author.  Many have this.  If it is available, embed the video on your blog.  If there are other online activities available, include a link to the website.  

This blog is due Monday, October 5.  As always, follow the rubric for best results.

Becoming a Teacher

Becoming a Teacher

You are here because you have expressed a desire to either become a teacher or are interested in pursuing a career that is closely related to teaching.  In order for you to reach your ultimate career goals, it is important for you to understand the road that is ahead of you.  

Here are a couple of useful websites that will help you navigate the road to becoming a teacher.

1.  For information by state on which colleges have quality education programs, click here.
2. Teach.com  can help you learn about the many teaching possibilities for you. 

Use headphones and listen to this short video about becoming a teacher.  

 

After you have watched the video and explored the websites.  You will go to your own blog and create a new post called:  Navigating my path to teaching.
1.  Look for college programs that offer what you are looking for.  Give two possibilities for you. Include location, tuition costs, types of degree programs available, and scholarship possibilities.
2.  List steps for becoming a teacher from the video.
3.  Click on the map and choose a state you might like to teach in.  Give five good reasons according to the state's page for teaching in that state.  Include salary highs and lows.
4.  Click on Teaching Abroad.  What would you think about teaching in another country?  What would you need to do in order to be certified to teach abroad?

For best results, don't forget to follow the guidelines of the rubric.
Click here to follow the Blog Rubric.
This blog is due in class on Monday Sept. 28, 2015.

Word Crimes

I am so glad you are here.  We have a great group!  The blog this week is for all interns. 

Edutopia is one of my favorite and useful teacher sites.  I get lots of my ideas from this site.  It is funded by George Lucas, you know Star Wars fame?

I recently read this article Does Spelling Count? from Edutopia. I want you to read it.  Some of you will really like and agree with the thoughts of the author.

After you have read it, you will need to create a blog that addresses the authors point of view.

Your blog is due by the end of your class on Monday, Sept. 14.   As always, follow the rubric for the best possible score.  Remember, this blog assignment is for all interns.
This blog is due at the beginning of class on Monday, September 14.

Use headphones and watch / listen to this parody by Weird Al Yankovich.  

TEACH

The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time.  New clothes, new classes, new teachers and a fresh start for many.  I am happy you are here!  If you are a second year intern, welcome back.

If you are here, you have decided you want to explore becoming a teacher.  Teaching is the profession from which all professions begin.  Teachers can change the world, one student at a time. Teaching is rewarding, exhausting and the most influential career you can choose.  I hope you stay with it!

You probably have many reasons why you want to be a teacher.  Here are a few that might resonate with you.

I have a big year planned for you.  There are some changes.  FEA (Future Educators Association) is now called Educators Rising.  Get involved and together we will see the world!

When you leave this class, you will be a better reader, writer and thinker.  I am SO looking forward to getting to know each of you this year. Thank you for wanting to explore education as a career! You are making a smart choice!

Thank you for a great year!

Hello everyone,

I hope the seniors enjoyed their last day as a Richland student.

Thank you for another great year as a teacher. The sweet gestures and words are what make teaching worthwhile. You all surprised me, and THAT is hard to do. I wasn't expecting the surprise party and your kind words on Wednesday afternoon. It is those kind of things that are rewarding.

I love the charm bracelet,  I will think of you all every time I wear it. You shouldn't have, but I love it.  The flowers, speeches, and fun gifts were the icing on the cake.  Thanks for making me feel special.

Juniors, I am looking forward to seeing you next year. We have a lot of unfinished business next year!

Seniors, you were a large rowdy group. Some of us have been together for a while. It is really hard for me to say goodbye to you, but at the same time, I am so proud of you and all you accomplished.  I can't wait to see what your future looks like. You were ambitious, smart and always on the move. I have laughed with you and cried with you. I hope you realize how much I truly do love you and respect you as young adults. Please stay in touch with me and come by, just knock on the window and someone will let you in. You always have a place in my classroom!

So long,

Susan Stevens

End of Year Video 2015

Teacher Appreciation

Email from President Obama: My fifth-grade teacher

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week.  Click here and complete the form and thank a teacher.

During the next week, somewhere on your social media #thankateacher who has helped you or made you feel special.  Write a short blog thanking that teacher.  If the teacher is within this district I would like to forward your blog to the teacher.  Use your best spelling and grammar. Blog is due by Friday, May 8.

This is the 2015 National Teacher of the Year presentation.  Someday, I hope one of you will be the teacher standing next to the President!  You can do it!

The Smartest Kids in the World Part I

You should have completed the first part of the book study chapters one - four.  What did you think about what you read?

What was your opinion of the different types of schools in the three countries?  

Finland

South Korea

Poland

Which type of education model do you think would be best for the U.S.?

Click here and listen to an interview from NPR with Amanda Ripley

As always, use the rubric for best results.

Due - Monday April 27

Revolution or Evolution?

An Educational Revolution?

Using headphones, listen to this YouTube Video.

You should blog about your thoughts and ideas after listening to this video.  What do you think will revolutionize education?  In your opinion, what is the most important ingredient to the learning formula?  Is it the teacher, technology, class size, the student, the parents....

You must think in order to write this blog.  Think outside the box.  This blog should include your opinion, but it should be well thought out.  Remember the writing rubric.  It needs to hold the readers attention, be informative and reflective.

Blog is due on Monday, April 13 by the end of class.

Tribes

Please watch this short video from Teaching Channel.  It is called Tribes and is a classroom management strategy that helps build a classroom culture..  It has four main themes.  Click here to view a webpage that has good information about the Tribes method.  Read this article to learn about how the Tribes method builds character education.

In your post this week, address the following questions:  Refer to the rubric.  Your writing should reflect thought and your viewpoint.  DO NOT JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1. 2. 3.  What do you think about the Tribes method?  Would it work in your site classroom?  Would it work in this classroom?  Discuss your ideas about classroom management.  What role does character education play in a well managed classroom?

As always, follow the rubric for best results.  Blog is due on Friday, April 3.

Glogster

Now that you have completed your learning center using Glogster, it is time for you to embed your own Glogster on to your Blog. You should write a short desciption of what your learning center is about.  

If you don't know how to embed, ask me!
DO NOT just paste the link on your blog.  
This is due by Friday, Feb. 27 by end of class.  

The Ron Clark Academy

Click on the link to The Ron Clark Academy  and learn what it is and what it has to offer.

• Looking at the website, answer 3 of the 4 following questions.
• What is the Ron Clark Academy?
• How is it funded?
• Who gets to attend?
• What makes it so different?

If you have Mrs. Lundy as a teacher, ask about her experience at the Ron Clark Academy.  Did she view it as favorable or unfavorable?  

This blog is due Friday, Feb. 13 if you are not attending TAFE State, Feb. 20 if you attended TAFE State.   As always use the rubric for best results.  

Wiki Walk

This week's blog is easy.
1.  Hyperlink your Wiki to your Blog.  Example:  Click here to view my Wiki
2.  Give a brief but professional description of what your Wiki is.  Example:  My wiki serves as an electronic portfolio of my year or years as an education intern.  It contains artifacts and examples of my work.
3.  Publish
4.  We will be opening your Wiki's and viewing with peers in class.

That's it!

Grade yourself!

You will be receiving a copy of your mentor teacher's evaluation of your performance inside their classroom, soon.  It is important to receive feedback in order to improve over time.

Click here to evaluate yourself.  These are the same questions your mentor teacher is given to evaluate you.  It will be interesting to see how you see yourself and how your mentor sees you.
Please be honest in your answers.  Don't be overly harsh on yourself, on the other hand, don't think there is no need for improvement.  This is due by the end of class on Friday, January 9.

You will receive a 25 blog grade for doing this assignment.  You will receive a 0 if you don't do the assignment.