Blog #8

Being an educator means that learning never ends, for both the students and the teacher. In order to be successful as an educator, one must be committed to constantly gaining knowledge in their profession. A great way to constantly develop the knowledge in the education field is to read journal dedicated to education. A website that I recently viewed is http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/, and I found it useful because it contains many articles regarding education in technology. I viewed several journals, and the one that I actually found interesting is “Use of Second Life in K-12 and Higher Education: A Review of Research.” I’ve used Second Life as an educational tool as a college student, so it was intriguing to see what research has found in regards to how successful it is in education. As an educator, we must be committed to constantly grow in our profession for our selves, and more importantly the students.

Blog #7

Reading was always a passion of mine when I was younger, and I loved when the “Scholastic Book Fair” came to my school. I would take the pamphlet home and circle the many books that I wanted, and I would wait anxiously for the day the fair came to my school. As an adult, I’m excited to see that there is a Scholastic website for teachers, http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp. As one would typically assume, the website offers a variety of books for sale, but it also offers a variety of useful resources for the teacher.  There are lesson plans, student activities, teaching strategies and ideas, tips for new teachers, etc. Whether a pre-service or in-service teacher, there are many tools available to include technology in the classroom. Both the teacher and the student benefit from the multimedia activities available because it allows for practice and learning while having fun.  

Blog #6

As an aspiring educator in my teaching blocks, I am currently studying to be a bilingual teacher. It is a career that has its challenges, but just as any teacher would agree, there are many rewards. A great website that I’ve just reviewed is http://www.4teachers.org/, because it offers a variety of sources for the different needs in a classroom. Under a section named “Educator’s Resources” there are a variety of resources for assessment, assistive technology, grant resources, bilingual education and ELLs, professional journals, special needs, and technology planning. The resource section then recommends numerous sites as an aid in a certain task, such as having the Bilingual and ELL section that has sites for learning English, learning English grammar, extensive grammar practice, etc. The website also offers a variety of tools, such as having online quizzes with multimedia, creating rubrics, educational games, designing floor plans for the classroom, etc. Every classroom will have its challenges, because not all students have the same needs. Teachers may have bilingual learners, exceptional students, and gifted students, so it is necessary to have tools in order to help meet the different needs that each child. I find this website to be specifically helpful for the numerous needs that teachers will eventually face.

Blog #5

A site that I found to be particularly interesting this week is, http://www.pbs.org/teachers/, because it offers numerous resources for teachers that are categorized by grade levels. The teacher can simply click on the desired grade level, and a variety of resources are displayed. Everything from lesson plans, to interactive videos, to a variety of games is available to the teacher whom is seeking additional resources. Another interesting tool available is the discussions available to educators, since sometimes teachers enjoy conversing with their fellow educators. Different discussions and blogs are available to the “PBS Teacher,” whom is a teacher that is enrolled within the website. It is easy to become a member, and it has a variety of benefits. A PBS teacher can save, or bookmark, the resources they choose and are able to communicate with other PBS teachers to share information, resources or lesson plans. Something that I have learned within the education blocks is that it is healthy and helpful to talk to a peer whom is facing the same obstacles, challenges and experiences as I am currently experiencing. The website offers the same type of interaction and communication, but it can be shared with teachers around the nation.

Blog #4

One of the most recent sites that I have visited, and that I found useful, was http://www.adobe.com/training/. It is one of the most useful tools for the teacher whom is incorporating technology in the classroom. Technology allows for exploring and learning new information and ideas that are otherwise impossible in the real world, and it is an experience that helps all students. However, before a teacher can provide education through technology, the teacher must have the necessary training in order to have a successful education experience, for both the teacher and the student. The adobe website allows for training in numerous technology fields that teachers may want to develop, such as having certification to recognize that they have developed knowledge and skill in a certain area. Numerous courses and training is available to meet the varying needs of the teacher whom is seeking additional professional development.  Overall, I have found it to be a useful resource for the teacher in our technology era.  

Blog #3

The latest website that I have reviewed and have found to be immensely interesting and informational is K12 Education, http://www.k12connection.org/. The section that I have reviewed is name “Classroom Education Advice” and it offers advice to newly certified teachers, and in this case, aspiring teachers. Although we are not currently teachers of our own classroom, many of my peers and myself have already encountered “difficult” students in our field observation classes. Personally, what I have witnessed has been a “rude awakening” of what I may find in my future as an educator. As the website states, “students who may not be as respectful of their elders as was once commonplace, many teachers need to know as much as crowd control as they do about mathematics or English lessons. An unruly classroom is not conducive to learning, and if allowed to get out of hand can cause real problems for the teacher and the students.” There are four sections that offer advice: first impressions in the classroom, seating arrangements, music and body language. The section that I’ve found to offer the most information that can be useful in my future is Body Language. The reason why I found it to be most important is because I feel that this is the topic that can help me, since I tend to be shy and only want to be seen as friendly at times. Some of the suggestions that are given are that, “when you walk into the room, walk in like you mean it, stand up tall, walk with purpose and look like you mean business. When you speak, speak clearly and with authority, shouting isn’t the answer, but speaking in a loud and determined voice will soon let the class know that you are there and it’s time to start work.”  I feel that this suggestion will give me the means to take better control of my future classroom, and I would like to get better educated in this topic. We, the students in the blocks, can be taught all the strategies and be given all the resources to teach the content, but without proper classroom control, we cannot teach the class properly. Unfortunately, we will inevitably face a classroom within our career that will prove to be tough to handle at times, but perhaps with strategies and methods, we can learn how to take control of the class environment.

Blog #2

The most recent website that I’ve visited is Edutopia, http://www.edutopia.org/, and I’ve found it to have a wealth of information for educators. I find this site particularly interesting because I enjoy the fact that it has video’s that educators can utilize in instruction or for a demonstration. Personally, I do not particularly like using YouTube as a source to find videos because of the fact that there are so many different videos that can be posted that have irrelevant or inappropriate videos. Unlike YouTube, all the videos that are available are related to education in some form or another, and they seem to be all very appropriate for any audience. Additionally, Edutopia does not only offer videos but useful information as well, which is sorted by the type of strategies and the grade level that one may choose. An example of information that is available on Edutopia is a blog regarding the hiring process of charter school. I found this information interesting because it gives me the insight I need as not only a teacher, but a person whom is looking for employment. A topic that I would appreciate learning about is not in regards to teaching techniques, but instead information that we, the future educators, can utilize which can aid us in the hiring process we will hopefully encounter in the future.