Clicker Lesson

Here's the link to my lesson plan for my clicker lesson! Enjoy :)

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4Nam7g1tVCZSDdrYWdVdzlyd28/edit?usp=sharing

Multiple Intelligences Leave No Child Behind Review

This focused on the Key Learning Community in Indiana. It's a k-12 school that focuses on multiple intelligences, where one can be strong in 3 areas but not in the other 5. Elective periods are ways for students to play for their strengths, for example, if they are very good in music, they can have a music elective period for that intelligence strength. If you learn your strengths early,  you'll have better success in the future. Grades are based on a symbol system as well. They believe the testing is absurd and that test scores aren't everything if students are to have creativity and play to their strengths.

I definitely agree with needing to play to people's strengths. I do believe that's worked for me. If I am very good at history, I take the honors and AP class instead of the basic or CP class. However, you do need tests to see where a student is, though regular tests like state tests may not always be the way a child displays their mastery of content best. Performance based assessment, portfolios, or even observational grading can work out better.

Differentiated Instruction: Helping Every Child Succeed Review

This video focuses on Connie Erikson, the founding principal of Mesquite Elementary in Arizona. When her school first started, the state test scores were devastating. The students were only in the 39% in math. That is definitely below average! Everyone began to collaborate and implement a new system. If students didn't master something, there was time set aside in the day to help the student achieve mastery! After collaboration between teachers and administrators  the students' math scores soared, and the school became a school of excellence.

I found this interesting. Schools need more collaboration. Sometimes only higher ups in the administration do it all, but teachers need in as well. Also, I support the idea of setting time aside in the day for review to gain mastery. Some people do not gain things right away, and with this perhaps after school tutoring would not be needed :)

High School Child Care Review

This time I watch a video pertaining to high school child care at the Deer Park Teaching and Learning Center in Illinois. High school students are learning about child development by teaching lessons to the children here. The high school students get to try their hand at childcare while taking any of seven child development classes offered at the center. All this, just because the high school teachers wanted childcare for their children! The high school students have class 1 day a week while working with the children for 3 days a week to get experience and apply their learned theories.

I find this entire operation here a great opportunity! I've always wanted to teach, but did not really find out it would be younger children until the summer before my 2nd year in college when I worked at my church's daycare. If I had been able to do this in high school, I would have known sooner and could have better prepared for the path I wanted to take. I highly suggest that if you have an opportunity like this, take it! 

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Wings for Kids

I watched a video on Wings for Kids, an after school program for K-6th graders that teaches social and emotional learning 3 hours a day, 5 days a week in Charleston.  Their main teachings are monitoring your feelings, listening to each other, and making good choices for yourself.  It is a nonprofit that caters to a poor community. The lessons they teach give students confidence, allow them to overcome setbacks, and work well with others. The teachers are even local college students! They cover the skills that teachers can't during the school day. These kids are behaving better and performing better as well. 40% more graduate from high school! That is quite a significant number. 

I believe this is a great program! Kids need to be taught things to build their self-concept, self-esteem, manners, and more. Not all of that may be addressed in a classroom. Teachers don't even need to be the ones doing it! If college kids can do it, why can't I as well? If a child is surrounded with positivity and fun, they will flourish. I hope to see more programs like this in the future!

Module 1: Ipads

For our first Module in my technology class, we learned how to implement Ipads into our teaching. My lesson plan to teach a basic music lesson is here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4Nam7g1tVCZMnppZHlrUnhlc00/edit?usp=sharing

And here is my reflection. Enjoy!

For my first time teaching, I believe I did very well. I was able to effectively use an Ipad to teach my lesson, even though I'd never had one before. I was even able to engage the students with some music and then the learning material. I even had a nice little quiz, along with words of encouragement and praise while the students were trying to determine which notes were on the musical staff. My lesson may not have been extremely long, but it really hit home all of the information, and my students did learn, as demonstrated by how well they did on the quiz. I thought I was happy and engaging, so I believe for my first time as a teacher, I'd give myself a 4/5.