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!