C4T #3

For my comment for teachers post five and six I was assigned Mr. John T. Spencer's blog called Education Rethink. For assignment 5 this blog was titled Seven Strategies for Avoiding Burn Out. In this blog post Mr. Spencer gave his readers insight on ways to avoid burn out. The seven strategies that Mr. Spencer covered are listed below.

Seven Strategies for Avoiding Burnout:

Strategy #1: Teach out of your identity.
Strategy #2: Choose a better story.
Strategy #3: Define success as faithfulness and growth rather than results or perfection.
Strategy #4: Set boundaries and stick to them.
Strategy #5: Be realistic but be grateful.
Strategy #6: Embrace a community of trusted friends, where you can be open and vulnerable.
Strategy #7: Understand the phases of your career and the potential burnout in each phase.

Below is my comment to Mr. Spencer:

My name is Kaley McManus and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. As a future educator, I really enjoyed reading your post. I find the 7 ways that you listed to avoid burn out to be very inspirational. I currently live with a "first-year" elementary teacher, and I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I will make sure to share these points with her to lift her spirits, and provide her with effective advice on how to avoid "burn-out". I feel like so many teachers lose sight of "why they became teachers," because of frustration and stress faced throughout their career. Again, this is a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

For assignment six I commented on Mr. Spencer's blog titled Thinking Creatively About Student Blogging. In this blog post Mr. Spencer provided multiple links for his readers. He also provided very beneficial information for improving "student blogging." Mr. Spencer also provided session and workshops that he himself does, and he also provided his readers with his email address.

Below is the links that Mr. Spencer provided:
Five Ways to Fix Student Blogging
Geek Out Projects
How Should My Students Approach Blogging?
Ten Thoughts on Visual Writing Ideas
The Story Behind Write About
Thirteen Thoughts on Student Blogging
Ways to Reach Reluctant Writers
What Do We Mean by Authentic Audience?
Writing Ideas for the First Week of School

Below is my comment to Mr. Spencer:

My name is Kaley McManus and I am a student from the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading this post, and I found the links you provided very helpful. I also really like the slide show that you provided. As a future educator this post is very helpful because I want to make sure to incorporate student blogging into my classroom. I think it is really great that you also offer session and workshops to your readers. Thanks for the read!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

Blog Post #10

In this weeks blog post we were assigned the question, "What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?" In the first video "Little Kids… Big Potential," Mrs. Cassidy focuses on the kid's reaction to the use of technology in the classroom. In this video, the kids are very enthusiastic about their use of technology. They explain in detail what they use (like blogs, classroom webpage, wikis, Skype, and Nintendo DS) to collaborate and learn in the classroom. They also explain why they like using technology in their classroom. I think Mrs. Cassidy conducted this video to give insight into the kid's thoughts on using technology in the classroom.

The second video provided (Cassidy 13 part 1)  is a conversation between Mrs. Cassidy and Dr. Strange about how Mrs. Cassidy began her journey with the use of technology in the classroom. In this video Mrs. Cassidy also teaches us how to include classroom privacy when using the web by posting student's first names and not last, and also by posting student's pictures but not matching it with their names. Mrs. Cassidy also believes it is vital for us to teach the students of this generation with technology. She believes that "technology is not going away, technology is here to stay." Mrs. Cassidy also explains that a blog gives the students an audience, and benefits their writing skills. She discusses that this helps the students because the comments that are posted helps them improve their writing. She also encourages educators to keep up with technology, and for future educators to develop there own personal learning network.

The third video is "Cassidy 13 part 2", and it is also another conversation with Dr. Strange. In this video, Mrs. Cassidy starts off by encouraging teachers that are new to technology to start off their use of technology with "using something they like." She explains that this will help them build their knowledge and use of technology. She also talks a great deal about the positive uses of Twitter and other personal learning networks.

The fourth and final video is a continued conversation between Dr. Strange and Mrs. Cassidy (Cassidy 13 Part 3). In this video Mrs. Cassidy explains that the classroom size and year depends on how much they blog. She gives details, and she explains that with a small group she can blog at least once a week and sometimes twice a week. She also explains that in the past, she has used blogging as a small group activity when the kids break off into their guided reading groups. She then explains to the physical education student on how a blogging could be used in a physical education classroom. Mrs. Cassidy then discusses the issue of plagiarism with another student. She explains that it is up to the teacher to allow their students creative ways to express their learning, and that avoids the use of plagiarism on the web. One thing I found interesting is that Mrs. Cassidy discusses how some school systems have their students set up a separate Facebook account for school use only. Then, Mrs. Cassidy answers a question based on the issue of protection when using the web. She explains that she encourages her students to always be positive when using the web, and then she explains that it is the teachers responsibility to teach the students "safe places" on the web. She gives extensive details on how to teach the students what external links are on a website, and how to avoid them. She then explains her biggest problem is that some students tend to play games that are not educational. Mrs. Cassidy also explains how as teachers, we need to focus on balancing our work and family life.

I think I would use more than one of Mrs. Cassidy's techniques in my classroom. I particularly like the use of blogs to improve writing. This gives the opportunity for other students to reflect and peer edit my future student's work. I guess certain impediments that I would encounter would be things like parental consent and federal funding. I feel like from a small town stand point, there are very few people that accept this new style of learning. I feel like they do not understand the importance of "change." I feel like the world is changing, and education should change with it. Also in terms of federal funding, small towns face dilemmas when it comes to educational funds. Most small towns in rural areas of alabama are unable to afford the equipment needed to promote this new use of technology in the classroom. I am anticipating many benefits when using some of Mrs. Cassidy's techniques. Personally, thinking about teaching my students by using technology makes me excited. I will definitely see the use of blogs in the classroom to be very beneficial not only for my students but also for my parents. Classroom web pages can also keep parents informed and up to date with what their children is learning in the classroom.

C4K Summary for March

My first assignment for the month of March was Fernando O's blog post "Life on the Trails" from Mrs. Weil's fourth grade class in Kansas. Fernando O's post was about the Oregon Trail. In this post Fernando contained a little information about the Oregon trail, and he also explained what he thought he would like about the Oregon Trail. He also included that he believed "his family would not like the Oregon Trail because they do not like being outside." After reading and commenting on Fernando's post, I also included a link to a website that contains information about the Oregon Trail.

Below is my comment to Fernando O:

My name is Kaley McManus and I am a elementary education student at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your thoughts on why you would like the Oregon Trail. The Oregon trail served for many years as the only way possible for emigrants to make it through the mountains and reach the west side of the North America. At least a half million pioneers traveled this trail. This trail was used until the transcontinental railroad was built in 1869. My family likes the outdoors, but I am not sure that they would like to walk two thousand miles. It would be interesting to travel through the mountains because you would get to see things that you have never seen before. The Oregon Trail is a big part of American History. If it wasn't for the Oregon Trail, It is possible that the United States would not have any of the western states.

Here is the link to a website that you can view about the Oregon Trail:

http://www.america101.us/trail/Introduction.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

The second post that I was assigned for this month is Per 6 Karlee's post "Job Shadowing Experience" from Mrs. Malowski's class at Joliet West High School in Illinois. In this post Karlee discussed her opinion of her job shadowing experience. She shadowed a history teacher, and she included in her post what she did and didn't like about this certain occupation. She also included that she was interested in a career in the medical field. 

Below is my comment to Per 6 Karlee:

My name is Kaley McManus and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. Good posts, and I think it is really great that you shadowed a job that you are not necessarily interested in. I never did that, and I ended up changing my major as a junior in college. I personally think that a career in the medical field and teaching go hand in hand with each other when it comes to personality type. You really have to be compassionate for others, empathetic, and patience to hold a job in either of these career types. Keep shadowing different types of careers, that is the only way you will truly find out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Keep up the good work!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

The third and final post that I was assigned was Sean J's "Jonah" post from Mrs. Lombard's 7th grade english class in Oklahoma. In the post Sean J discussed what he thought God was teaching Jonah by destroying his shade plant. Sean wrote that he thought that "God was trying to teach Jonah to start thinking about others, and to not just think about himself." 

Below is my comment to Sean J:

My name is Kaley McManus and I am a student from the University of South Alabama. Great post! I agree that God was trying to get Jonah to focus on someone else beside himself. There are so many morals that are taught in just this one piece of scripture. Not only is God trying to teach the importance of being selfless, but I also believe that God is trying to teach us that even when we are at our "lowest in life;" there are still others out there that are suffering more than we are. Keep up the good work!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mcmanus_kaley

Gmail: kaleymcmanus2016@gmail.com

URL for class blog: http://edm310.blogspot.com

URL for my class blog: http://mcmanuskaleyedm310.blogspot.com

Link to scripture provided below:

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

1But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant^a and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

9But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

10But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”