It's like a box of chocolates...

To began this weeks blog, I just want to point out the differentiation discussion. I know that Melissa works with hearing impaired students and interprets for them in a first grade classroom and probably was the inspiration for this discussion this week. I never really put much though in how much consideration goes into having a hearing impaired student in my classroom. I could only imagine the type of planning that is involved, as well as instruction-- giving the interpreter enough time to transfer the information and the student enough time to comprehend it.
Teachers already have their plates full with just basic everyday instruction, but having a student that evidently needs assistance (yet still trying to keep them equal) can be challenging. I pray that I have the tools and strategies to conquer this challenge if this should be my story.


Secondly, I find the TPACK and the SAMR are great benchmarks for making sure that teachers are teaching through a pedagogical, technological and conceptual lenses-- along with being able to measure the level of technology use. I remember being introducesd to these two frameworks in a class with Dr. Clark , so its nice to not be totally oblivious to what they are. I found TPACK to be interesting because it is a combination of everything that I have learned separately (pedagogy, technology, and concepts) wrapped into one framework. SAMR gets a little bit tricky as you have to measure the the level of technology within the content. These infographs were easy for me to follow as I trully begin to undersatnd what both of these frameworks mean and how I use them within my own classroom. I really liked the SAMR inforgraph because it correlates with Bloom's taxonomy, which I am more familiar and comfortable with.

Outside of being reintroduced to TPACK and SAMR and a refreshing differentiation discussion, it has been work as usual. We are learning so much in this class. It's been like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you are going to get! But I hope everyone is continuing to give it all they've got and push through the semester. We are half way there!!

Connection to the standards: 4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods. 4d.Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction.

Celebrating Black History Month

So my experience from this week comes from my own preschool classrooms. Like almost every classroom, we have been talking about Black History Month : why it is important and acknowledging some achievements of certain individuals. February is almost over and I wanted to make sure that the students were grasping what MLK, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, etc.., helped do for our community as well as our country. I had remembered a lesson that I had watched in our diversity class. It was of the teacher that separated her students-- giving one group hats and the others a white collar. She picked one group and told the class that the groups she picked, whether collared or hats, was the better, smarter, prettier group. However, the other group was mean, stupid, smelly (negative things).

So I tried this approach with my preschoolers. Since we wear  uniform shirts that the students choose from to wear daily, I chose the color I was wearing (blue) as the "better" group. The other students not wearing my color was a bunch of negative things (preschool lingo: bed wetters, booger eaters, do not color in the lines). The blue group was deemed smarter, prettier, never had accidents, not cry babies, colors in the lines, etc. and I began to reward them with treats and goodies fir their "awesomeness". Eventually everyone began to react to the things I was telling them.

To my surprise, majority of the non-blue shirts denied everything I told them they was not. They said, "yes we are smart!" "Yes, we are pretty, or handsome!" Some of the younger ones revoked their friendship of the blue shirts, others cried. The blues shirt students began to tease the other shirt students. They began to call them "pee-pee" kids and saying "na na na na na, we are smarter!" Even when I asked the blue shirt students if they were friends with the other students, they replied "NO!"

I did not allow the example to go as long as the other teacher but I just long enough to be able to get my point across to them.I showed them that just from one person saying something can divide or unify people. MLK fought for unity along with many others. I elaborated from here asking them if it was fair for the blue shirts to turn on them the way they did. I asked both side how it made them feel. You would be amazed how three and four years old respond to prejudice and discrimination.

I enjoyed doing this example with my preschool students. It opened up for a bunch of discussion and they were make a connection in their own lives. I even learned from them as well. I can  connect this experience to Standard 2:Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students, with a focus on standard 2b. Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and in the world. I can also related to standard 3d. Teachers make instruction relevant to students.

Re-Vampped.. On my way...

Okay, so last week I was little emotional about things was turning out within this class. The grading and workload was beginning to get to me and I was seriously contemplating everything about this program. But as you can see I am still here, I have talked about my struggles in the Monday night meeting, released and forgave, and now I am re-vamped and on my way to begin again.

So we have been putting in a lot of work in our units and some on our museum. These assignments require us to think outside the box (or comfort zone) to make Social Studies lessons powerful and meaningful. Within in this, I have been trying to get use to new avenues of technology (which is one of my goals on my PDP) so that I can present lesson/ assignments on something other than a PowerPoint. Fortunately, I came across something called Powtoons. Powtoons is a free Internet software where you create animated videos. It allows you to add images, movement, music, voice overs and much more. I was going to try to use it in my wisdom from experience assignment, but I think I was over thinking it and was therefore unable to bring it together.

I  definitely think that Powtoons is a great asset to the technology resources that I am endeavoring to learn.So far,  I have enjoyed getting to know all that it can do on Powtoons and playing with the voice over tools. I know that if I gave it more time, I could master me a Powtoons video and probably love it. If you guys find yourself in need of a new technology tool, for this class or any other class, give Powtoons a chance.

Next Challenge... a Prezi Presentation..


Connect the Standards 
d. Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction.

Teachers know when and how to use technology to maximize student learning. Teachers help students use technology to learn content, think critically, solve problems, discern reliability,use information, communicate, innovate, and collaborate.

1.Integrates technology with instruction to maximize students’ learning.

It's Gonna Get Better...

Whew, I am ready for this week to be over!! It has been a little challenging staying on top of things in this class with a full-time job, family life, and 3 other classes. I feel like I am trying to learn my whole degree in one class. I get that eventually this will benefit me in the long run, and I am grateful for the experience, but sometimes I feel like this class is not family-life (or any other life) friendly. Its like, where is everyone finding all this time? Just when I think I am getting it all done, something slips through the cracks. This week my emotions have tried to take the best of me. I felt like my life could not fit such a large workload in it. But thank God for a great support system.

My husband is my anchor (after Jesus). He reminded me that it is going to get better. This week may have been rough, but I cant let it set the tone for the rest of the semester. I have work to do, goals to accomplish and children to impact. I have to keep my eyes on the prize. I also want to shout out to my friend Melissa Meekins, who was placed in my life through divine appointment. We have each others back and refuse to let one other quit. It was a "mistake" that led us right to each other, and since then we have build a strong friendship and support.

Having a strong support system can be important to your success. Who is to say that you wont be placed in a teaching environment where you may feel "inadequate" or discouraged? Do you just quit? No. IT WILL GET BETTER. Sometimes I feel like I do not have it all together, even when I think I should. Being a mom and a wife alone can make me feel like a super hero-- but I'm not. That is why God places certain people in our lives to lift us when we are weak. In this case it was my husband and Melissa.  We are supposed to pray for one another, and encourage one another-- and sometimes that may mean you are the one who needs it.


I just want to encourage everyone that may be in their emotions about their class(es), jobs, or even home-life-- It is going to get better!We can do it: Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world ( 1 John 4:4)! We are more than conquers, world over-comers and have the VICTORY!!!

Appreciate your support team. Allow them to lift up your arms, encourage you, and pray for you!!

I am learning a lot from this class: differentiation, how to write a SS unit, how to flip a classroom and much more. But this week, I have really learned the importance of a support team.  I can connect my experience to standard 5B: Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals. I realize where support teams can be important within my personal life, professional life, and future career. I set a goal to embrace my support team, collaboration, and team work-- at home,school and in a teaching community.