A Reflection from My Instructional Technology Plan

I had to refresh my memory on what I'd originally planned to do in my class. I found that my original plans were not that far from the reality this year. My big goal was to develop a class blog for students to discuss books. After a veto from my building principal, I chose to use Blackboard to do my bidding. The site was visually less cool but offered the same amenities that my blog did and more. I started out having the students use the site for posting about books they were reading outside of my class. After a while, and the novelty of the site wore off, I began to feel that Blackboard was just another place to turn work in- not a transformational technology for my curriculum. I then used the site for discussions online about literature circle books. This was more meaningful and I was impressed with what the students talked about, with the exception of the random comments back and forth on the discussion board.

I feel that the online resource opened communication and fostered more book discussion than I was getting in class. It also allowed students to talk to other students not in their class but reading the same book. I believe that by adopting this new usage I moved from literacy to transformational on the Grappling's continuum.

We also did a web quest over historical conflicts in the books the kids were reading. It was not the best and I would do several things differently next web quest but it got my feet wet in creating one as well as explaining to students how to find information online.

Currently my students are using photo story to share what they've learned in their books. See the previous blog post for more on this wonderful, free resource.

I am planning on keeping this blog as I continue teaching... if you're a fan, keep checking in from time to time for more adventures of this first year teacher!

Photo Story- A Free and Wonderful Tool

To wrap up our historical fiction book clubs, I am having the kids create photo story projects about the historical conflicts of their novel. These topics include the Holocaust, Japanese Internment, Apartheid, and Civil Rights.

They've been using the district databases to find photographs pertaining to their topic (although many are resorting to Google images). The final product will be a multimedia slide show with text and images intermingled. I might try to publish a few of the finished products on the blog. They also have the chance to create their own music and determine motion and transition in between their slides.

This program is a free download, just Google: Photo Story 3 for Microsoft.

Is Anybody Listening to Me?

So I think the kids have stopped listening when I speak. Literally, one minute after explaining how to save a picture to the share drive, three students hands shoot up, "How do I save this?" "Where we supposed to put these pictures when we find 'em?" "I don't know what to do next." Really, I just demonstrated and spent 5 minutes explaining the process. I even had a few students repeat it back to me and you STILL don't know how to save a picture?

This leads me to my next pondering question? Why do students think repeating my name over and over, raising in volume, is going to make me come to their side faster? Especially when I've given them the one minute finger as I speak with another student. If I never hear my name repeatedly again, I'd be okay.

"Mrs. Jaeger. Mrs. Jaeger. Mrs. Jaeger. Oohhhh Mrs. Jaeger. Mrs. J. Mrs.... Teacher."

MAPapaloooza!

We started taking the MAP test Tuesday. Those days, are long and draining. The kids behave as if they're captives recently set free when they come to class after the testing. Something that I noticed is someone somewhere must have told them that it was such an incredible task to completed the standardized tests because all of them feel entitled to a day of mindless games once testing is over. "We actually have to learn today?" was the common question yesterday. I am learning to ignore that question and plow ahead.

I did do a really fun activity with my classes Tuesday. It's called write it and you put out scrap pieces of paper for the kids to use in the middle of their table. They have to write notes to people in class with one compliment and one question. They then walk the note to the recepient (no airmail) and sit down to write another note. You have to respond to all the notes you receive and there is no talking. Anyone who talks sits out of the game for 2 minutes. It worked beautifully for 24 minutes in class. They begged to play again Wedensday but I had other plans. I got the idea off another teaching blog learningismessy.blogspot.com.

I am enjoying the hour and a half to sit and read or work on Fellows papers.

The Wait is Over

Well, I get to stay. My principal told me the good news last Thursday and I am relieved to say the least. I am really glad I get to stay with the kids and get to stay in my trailer, I can't imagine what it would be like to move the mountains of stuff I have drug into that room!

I went to Barnes and Nobel this weekend, in need of a little professional pick me up. When ever I get that way I peruse the professional literature section at the back of the store. I flipped through a book called something like Underpaid and Overworked. It was pretty depressing and I soon put it down. I found solace in a book about the seven things that make a teacher effective.

The one thing that stuck me the most in this book was that effective teachers are proactive rather than reactive. I like to think of myself as a proactive teacher, however, after looking at some vignettes in the book I think I might be a bit more reactive than I originally would have thought. It got me thinking about management and some of my frustrations with the little misbehavior of my class. I even resorted to shushing the students when the inevitable murmur grows to a dull roar. It brought me back to my management roots and I've been cracking down, preteaching, and reteaching ever since my revival.

So much to think about at the end of the year. Tomorrow they take the MAP and I am looking forward to two mornings of silence to work on my research paper, grade, plan, etc. I have enjoyed the quiet moments when everyone is working and productive.

So, anyway, Smithton is here to stay. I am happy.

I am seeking out information on being an emints teacher for the upcoming fall.