C4K Summary for April

The first student I was assigned to for the month of April was Lauren R from Mrs. Lombard's 7th grade english class in Oklahoma. I commented on Lauren's "The Anatomy of Grey's" post. In this post Lauren talked about the show that she is currently watching on Netflix, Grey's Anatomy. She compared what season she was on to the current season that is now being shown on TV. She also explained some of her favorite things about this show, and highly recommended everyone to watch it. I told Lauren about the current show that I was watching on Netflix, and I also gave her some back ground information on the setting of the show. 

Below is my comment to Lauren:

My name is Kaley McManus and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I love Netflix!! I have not gotten into Grey's Anatomy yet. That may be the next show that I start. I am currently watching The Hart of Dixie. I love it, mostly because the setting is in "Blue Bell", Alabama. "Blue Bell" is a fictional town, but its location in the show is where the city of Fairhope, Alabama really is.  It is also just fun to relate to some of the scenes in the show. I do feel that the show does exaggerate southern tradition to the extreme though.  My favorite shows so far have been Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. Great post and keep up the great work!

Here is a link to direct you to the home page of Fairhope, Alabama:

http://www.cofairhope.com

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 student that I was assigned to was Laurin from Ms. Thomas's class from John Hanson French Immersion School in Prince Georges, MD. I commented on Laurin's "How to fit in" post. In this post Laurin tells her readers that she has never fit in. She encourages her readers to just be themselves, and that true friends will eventually come. I agree with Laurin, and also gave her some additional advice on why it doesn't matter if you "fit in."

   

Below is my comment to Laurin:

My name is Kaley McManus, and I am a student from the University of South Alabama. Wonderful advice for others on how to "fit in." It is important to just always be yourself. If we were all alike, then this world would be a boring place. It is not important if you fit in or not, especially in school. Trust me, you will never see a lot of people that you graduated in high school with ever again. My sister is 11 years old, and I always try to give her advice on why "fitting in" is not important. Just be yourself, and give 100% at everything you do in life. Keep up the great 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 student I was assigned to was Tyson Mr. Webbauro's Room 3 class at Auroa School in South Taranaki, New Zealand. In Tyson's "Aurora School Drive-in Movie Night", Tyson discussed his school's drive-in movie night. He explained how their will be lollies and other movie goods at this movie night. He also tells his readers that they will be watching the movie off of a movie trailer. I enjoyed Tyson's blog post. I told him about our "movie event" at the high school that I attended. 

Below is my comment to Tyson:

My name is Kaley McManus, and I attend the University of South Alabama located in Mobile, Alabama in the United States. A drive in movie night sounds really great. One year my school sponsored a movie night, but it was located on the football field. Students and parents laid their blankets out on the 50-yard line, and we watched the movie on our new jumbotron. I looked through the slideshow provided on your teacher's blog. It looks like y'all had a great time. Good post and keep up the great 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

Slide show of Drive-in Movie Night

Blog Post #16

Blog Post #13

In this blog post assignment, we were asked to create our own blog post assignment that we thought our instructor should have included in this course regarding our area of specialty. As an elementary education major, I think it is really important to focus on a parent-teacher relationship. It is important for elementary teachers to keep the parents informed and updated on what is going on in the classroom.

My blog post assignment question is:

What ways can teachers use technology to promote a parent-teacher relationship? Give 3 or more examples and explain why you as a teacher would use these certain devices, apps, or websites. Also, how would using this technology help keep your parents informed of what is going on in the classroom?

Links that can be used for this assignment:

Using Technology for Effective Parent-Teacher Communication

Using Technology to Enable Parent Teacher Communication

Learning With Technology Conference: Parents and Teachers Working Together

Technology

6 Tech Tools that Boost Teacher-Parent Communication

A Teacher's Guide to Communicating with Parents

Here is a list of tools you can use to enhance a parent-teacher relationship:

1. Swivl

The Swivl is a robot that uses your iPad to record your classroom lectures. It moves when you move, and it even knows to lift and tilt the iPad when you decide to bend down and work with a student individually. This device can be used to enhance a parent-teacher relationship by always keeping parents informed of what is going on in the classroom by letting them watch video recorded lectures. It gives the parent a "seat in the classroom." As a future educator, I would use this device to keep my parents updated on how we learn certain standards. A lot of parents have trouble with the common core. This device could watch this videos so that they could help their kids with the tricky math homework at home. This device could also be used to help students "make-up" work. If they missed a certain lecture, they could just go to the certain location that I have these files stored and watch the video. It's like they didn't even miss class. 

2. ClassDojo

The classdojo is a way to encourage positive classroom behavior. It also encourages a parent-teacher relationship by being able to inform parents of child behavior instantly. You can engage parents by easily communicating through class dojo's messaging system. It allows students to reflect on their own progress. The students can also create their own avatar when using classdojo, so this encourages creativity. As a future educator,  would use the ClassDojo to help encourage positive student behavior. We will also reflect on student's Dojo points weekly, and I will give a reward to the student with the most Dojo points. 

ClassDojo app for iTunes

ClassDojo app for Android

3. Dash4Teachers

Dash4Teachers gives us a deeper look into classroom behavior. It can be set aside for the more in-depth  conversations with parents regarding student behavior. Dash4Teachers requires a little set-up, but once you have downloaded individual student documents; you are set to go. You can then download the app, and start tracking student behavior. It also helps the teacher keep track of teacher-parent conversations. This would help keep parents on track with student-teacher interactions. As a future educator, I would use this to help document all my parent-teacher interactions regarding their child. 

Blog Post #12

Blog Post #11

For this particular blog post we were assigned the question, "what can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?" The first video assigned was Back to the Future, a video by Mr. Brian Crosby. In this video Mr. Crosby starts his lecture off by explaining the negative effects of having a narrow curriculum. Mr. Crosby believes that a narrow curriculum prevents kids from building a world schema. This lack of "world schema" makes it hard for kids to imagine what could be, if they don't know what it is even about. Mr. Crosby also proposes the question "if you don't have imagination or creativity, then where do you build passion from?" Mr. Crosby goes on to encourage actively engaging students into each lesson. He teaches his viewers that you can take one idea, and build a variety of lessons off of that idea. For example, science experiments can be turned into history lessons, and can also be used to work on language arts/reading skills. Mr. Crosby also included that his students blog, and that student blogging encourages collaboration and student learning. He also includes that motivational and meaning content captures the student's attention and makes them feel a sense of empowerment. Mr. Crosby sums up his lecture by stating, "we can't keep racing kids through school, we have to provide an opportunity for them to build world schema."


In Mr. Paul Andersen's Blending Learning Cycle video, he explains his blended classroom. He starts out by defining the blending classroom as a blend of online, mobile, and classroom experiences. He also introduces the 5 e's, which are engage, explore, explain, expand and evaluate. Mr. Andersen then explains his "blending learning cycle" by introducing an acronym. Below is Mr. Andersen's "Quivers" acronym.

Six Components of the Blended Learning Cycle:
QUIVERS
Start off with a good Question
Investigation/Inquiry
Video
Elaboration
Review
Summary Quiz






In Making Thinking Visible, Mark Church focuses on documenting student thinking. He thinks that teachers should work on connecting, exploring, and moving certain ideas forward so observers have the opportunity to assess thinking. He explains that teachers need to work to make student thinking visible by either documenting or recording their thoughts. He explains how it is not only important for the students to see these ideas, but to carry these ideas forward.







In Sam Pane 4th Grade, Sam Pane explains to his class how to use the internet safely. He focuses on the strategy of letting his students discuss within their groups, and then answering the question out loud. He explains how to build their own digital super hero. He takes time to explain how to build a super hero and then he gives his students the opportunity to build themselves. He then turns this into a language arts/reading lesson and allows his students to build comics with their own digital super hero. Mr. Pane encourages teachers to strive to always make the lesson more personal and meaningful. Mr. Pane then had each student to go around to the other student's computers and take a look at their peers digital super hero. Below are ELA take aways as seen in this video.

ELA Take Aways:

1. Write narratives to develop imagined experiences or events
2. Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to text
3. Ask and answer questions

In Mr. Dean Shareski's Project Based Learning, Mr. Shareski begins his video by stating "research  clearly shows that using integrated studies by using projects increases student engagement and provides opportunity for deeper understanding not easily done in segregated classes. He focuses on the use of technology to enhance student learning, and to use it as a tool to bring the content to life. Mr. Shareski also explains that integrated studies makes the students feel proud of their own work.

In the video Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program, Ms. Trish Taylor explains project based learning as in depth learning that integrates thematic instruction and something that is based on a "real-world" problem. She also includes that Project Based learning is research based. She explains that PBL teaches students on how to think for themselves. PBL lesson really shows that the student really understands a certain concept. PBL is a great learning environment for students. It also encourages public speaking at a very early age. Mrs. Taylor explains that PBL is all about student choice, and that it gives the students a sense of empowerment. She also explains that when using PBL that students learn real-world skills and/or 21st century skills. PBL teaches students how to work independently, and it also encourages students to work corporately together by working in groups. PBL also encourages community involvement. PBL focuses on differentiation in the classroom and incorporates multiple intelligences and learning styles. 

Overall, these videos teach us all about Project based learning and student engagement. It introduces to us the different concepts of Project Based learning, and the different styles of teaching that use this method of project based learning. All of these videos cover the importance of student engagement, student choice, and revision. All things change with time, and that includes education. 

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.