Online Math Module Link

 

Here is the link to my group's Google Classroom.

https://classroom.google.com/c/MzMwNDIyNDk0OTE5

Integrated Arts Assignment

 

After reading the article, “Art Integration Improves School Culture and Student Success,” I discovered that students and teachers alike thrive in a school where art is displayed and appreciated. The arts is an essential part of a well-rounded education for students. Integrating arts into all the core subjects helps students thrive. It has also been proven that when art is integrated into the classroom routinely students have less discipline problems and test scores increase. Art integration has been proven to specifically increase math and reading scores. It is important to be able to see what students are thinking through creative art expression. It helps teachers understand students. Art is the universal language and it connects students from different backgrounds and cultures.

From the article, “Shake Up PE’s Status Quo,” I learned as important as integrated art in schools is a well rounded and child focused physical education program is vital to healthy and well behaved students. The program should focus on each student and teach them skills that will translate into their adult life. The program should have a written-out curriculum and all students should be involved. Playing games should be a collaborative effort. Students should not be seen standing in lines or not participating. Every student should get a chance to play and learn about the importance of health. When done right, physical education can contribute to overall well-being, fitness, and improved academic behaviors.

From the article, “STEAM Ignites Learners’ Energy,” I learned that STEAM is shifting education from content driven to child-driven. It prepares students to be leaders. STEAM is about how we teach all core subjects to the next generation of learners. Used correctly it will increase test scores and prepare students to be innovators and leaders of the future. It teaches students to solve problems collaboratively. STEAM is how this generation of learners are inspired, and can be used to teach all core subjects.

Miro! M3 P3

 Miro was so useful to me to design and organize my thoughts. In fact, it is very similar to Microsoft Whiteboard which I have learned about and started using! This is  great tool to organize my own thoughts and plans, but it is a wonderful tool to collaborate with students on in a 21st century world! You can allow your student groups to create Miro boards, or you can collaborate as a class on lesson plans or projects! Miro is a wonderful tool! 

Module 3 Part 4 - Learning Tools

 Quizizz is a 21st century tool that engages all students and shows in real time answers on a screen. It is an app that can be competitive and fun, as well as help the teacher navigate where students are on their learning path. This tool can be used to drive engagement, but also it can be used to facilitate quality question conversations. Students can work together and collaborate or students can work independently. 

Kahoot is another 21st century tool to help with quality questioning. I like this tool because it can be used to foster creativity and friendly competition. It can be used anonymously or players can be identified by name. This app will present a question and allow students to work at their own pace to formulate answers to these questions. It can be fun and challenging. It will foster an learning environment where every student participates and not just the students that raise a hand to answer. 

Module 3 Part 2 - Word Cloud

 

Module 3 Part 1 - Quality Questioning Responses

 In chapter one we answered the question, what is quality questioning. I learned a lot of technical terms about quality questioning and some are posted on my Miro Board, but in simple terms, quality questioning is where I would create an equitable learning environment by thinking through some questions to pose that permit deeper understanding of key concepts. I will also allow what I would like to call, no wrong answer, which means I would use my skills to create environment where the class finds the path to the correct answer together. If I work hard enough I can examine the thought process of the student and use scaffolding to guide them to the correct answer. Quality questioning takes extra thought and preparing on the teachers end, but creates a much more confident student that uses critical thinking to learn collaboratively. The cycle of questioning is an important resource to help the educator build a framework of quality questions. I will use this by referencing it frequently while lesson planning. 

In chapter two the focus was on building the question itself. I would use the rubric for formulating and assessing quality questions to help me design lessons and formulate questions by using it before the lesson and asking myself these questions, but also this would be a fluid process. What I mean by fluid process, is I may have to reevaluate after this lesson depending on students reactions to the questions I ask. I may think it is a great quality question, but it doesn't work for my class demographic or age level. 

In chapter three we looked at different ways to involve students. Alternate responses that resonate with my teaching style the most are choral responses where every child participates together early in the classroom experience because this builds the confidence early on,  peoplegraph because it is an excellent source of critical thinking, moving around so everyone is up on their feet and excited to participate, and I like using technology such as Quizizz and Kahoot because this format can involve all students and be interactive to drive engagement.

In chapter four we looked at how teachers can assist students making learning connections and the use of scaffolding. It is important to establish the expectation early that each student will be required to participate and using "wait time" to navigate the silence and give students a chance to formulate answers. If students know that they are expected to answer and they also know that they will be given adequate time to formulate an answer the result will be maximum engagement and learning in the classroom. 

Chapter five discusses the importance of feedback to deepen learning and broaden knowledge. It is important that the teacher engage with the student response by asking follow up questions as well as asking peers to add to the answer or if they have a different answer. By providing feedback students take what information they have, collaborate with others, and therefore deepen their understanding. 

M1P4 Tools

 

              A 21^st century tool that I found is Facebook groups. Through my research I discovered several groups that cater to teachers wanting to enhance their knowledge of technology and discover ways to benefit their students. I joined some groups that post best practices surrounding incorporating technology in the classroom. I found a group for my city that is called Boaz City Schools 21^st Century Community Learning Center. This group provides academic enrichment for students and even their families that need help. I admire these programs and see them as a big benefit to our community. I think using Facebook to connect with the community and to help stay on top of the latest technological advances through groups is a huge benefit to the educator and the learners because it ensures TPACK is utilized. 

TPACK M1P3

 

            TPACK stands for Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge. TPACK is dedicated to ensuring that three important aspects of teaching are addressed and merged seamlessly to incorporate technology and accommodate the 21^st century student. The three aspects of TPACK are pedagogy, content, and technology. Pedagogy is the method of teaching. Content is our core concepts in the curriculum that students have to master, and technology is the ongoing incorporation of 21^st century digital content into the classroom. Each one in and of itself is important, but more importantly is where they merge for the students. Educators should ensure they all come together to drive a seamless experience of ongoing engagement for the learner. When I was in school, we had a typing class. Technology was apart of the curriculum, but it was separate. Now my children bring home tablets for homework, and I use apps to communicate with the teacher. It is a whole new world and we must merge it seamlessly in order to be successful. TPACK is essential to development of the students in this digital world.

Evernote M1P2

 

            I am a big planner. I use Happy Planner to write everything down and keep up with my school, my job, my hobbies, and my family. I have resisted digital planners because I benefit from physically writing down notes, plans, and dates. It helps me to remember important things and keep my life organized. I absolutely love Evernote for the simple reason it merges my digital and physical world. I can keep my planner and take a photo of it to save in my Evernote. I struggle to carry several planners. I am confessing I have three planners and two notebooks. It seems that I write something in one planner, only to leave it in my car when I need it, or not have it and forget something important. I want to use my phone, but I have yet to find an app that works for me until now. I love the fact that Evernote keeps everything together on every format of my life, from my computer to my phone to my planner. I will use Evernote for teaching, my personal life, and as a planner.

          I hope to teach fifth or sixth grade. While I agree Evernote would be difficult for younger grades, I think that the older learner could greatly benefit from using it. I think that it would help them when they accelerate to high school and classes become more difficult. It will help to keep them organized and keep up with their notes and classwork. I hope to incorporate it into my curriculum and show the students how to use it for personal use as well. I am including some examples below of my personal Evernote. I would highly recommend it for teaching in a 21st century classroom as well as for personnel use to keep your life and work organized. 

M1P1

 

I really didn’t understand the extent at which 21^st century technology has changed the education system, and even the world for that matter. I knew it had changed my life, and I know my son is much smarter than I was at his age, but I never stopped to think of the global impact it has had. I didn’t think it was important to stay up to date on the latest social trends, newest apps, and technologies. I would not describe myself as trendy, however, from reading and studying in the class so far, I can see that I would do a major disservice to my students if I didn’t ensure they had all the tools needed for them to be successful, and some of those tools are digitally driven. Students have to be prepared to enter the workforce with the digital tools they need. I have to be prepared to help them learn.

21^st Century learning is all about equipping today’s learners with the tools needed to be successful in a technology driven age. Today’s student is apart of what is known as the digital revolution. From the book, “Teaching Models Designing Instruction for the 21^st century,” it states that in many ways the digital revolution is similar to the agricultural and industrial revolutions of the past. The digital revolution is influencing employment, education, citizenship, and most other aspects of daily life (Pg. 4). Students today are more diverse than ever before and are globally connected in a way to help enhance communication from various cultures, (Teaching Models, Pg. 10).  It is important to consider the relevance of technology for the 21^st century learner in everyday life. Today’s learner has grown up in a digital age. Their pictures have been posted to social media from birth, they play apps, and digital games. They use technology every day, (Pg. 16). If we don’t adjust as educators to the ever changing and demanding digital revolution, then we would be doing a disservice to the learner by crippling their competitiveness for their future.

The onslaught of information can be overwhelming (Pg. 7). It is important to help the students organize, synthesize, and prioritize all the information they have access to in order to help them learn and grow. It is a gift to have so much information at their fingertips, but it can also be distracting and hinder them on their educational journey. I have to continuously research and stay on top of the latest tools and advanced technology. If I fail to do so, it changes so quickly I could be using out of date information. It is imperative that I incorporate 21^st century technology and learning strategies into all core subjects to help deliver the most current and up to date information to my students as possible.

                                   

Citation:

Kilbane C. R., & Milman N. B. (2018). Teaching Models. [Yuzu]. Retrieved from https://reader.yuzu.com/#/books/9780133557176/

                I am so excited to start this blog! I am in college at Jacksonville State University to be an elementary teacher. I got a bachelor's degree in 2012 in psychology. I really wanted to be a school councilor at some point. I had a tough time as a kid, and I wanted to be able to help others navigate that time in their life. I didn't have a tough time due to any particular factor. My family is great, and I grew up with a support system and several friends. In fact, I had a hard time for no reason. I found out later that I suffered from a mental illness. I struggled with depression for several years in my adolescence and even considered ending my life. Helping others is so near and dear to me, and I feel called to help children. I am currently at Walmart. I started Walmart right out of college as a manager. I have worked my way up in Walmart, and I have a wonderful career training managers. I have been training in class and via zoom for over four years now. I love Walmart, and all the opportunity it offers, but I have three small children. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with my career, and I want to be the best mom I can. I feel like teaching will align my schedule with my children. I am also so excited to teach up and coming generations and hopefully impact their lives in a positive way.