This week we read and reviewed the last half of Module 3 in the Kellough and Karjuzaa textbook. It had a great wealth of information for new teachers. I agree with the text's claim that transitions can be hard for new teachers. I find it hard to myself on an individual basis with students or even with the little activities I do with my after school care kids. Another point mentioned in the book is anchor activities. If you are going to be teaching a diverse group of students, this is one technique that is important to conquer. Anchor activities are assignments that can be done by students while they are waiting for the rest of the class to finish up the original activity. Effective teachers carefully plan out their lessons and ensure that they have anchor activities that will keep all children engaged.
The text also explained different types of misbehavior and how to effectively combat each. It also went into great detail for creating a proactive classroom. The book provides examples of mistakes made by teachers that may result in misbehavior.
Friday, September 30, 2011
References for Social Science Education
After searching through a few boring and uninteresting reference options for the week, I finally came across this website, HistoryTech. It has a lot of great posts related to using technology in our history classes. Since we have been working on our first day of class and thinking about classroom procedures, I thought I'd share with you HistoryTech's "Five Back to School Ideas for Social Studies Teachers." (Too bad I couldn't come across this page earlier when we were working on our Classroom Management Plans)
Here's the link to the article post:
http://historytech.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/tip-of-the-week-5-back-to-school-ideas-for-social-studies-teachers/
It has some really awesome ideas. I thought the History in a bag idea could be serve as a great icebreaker for the first day! It asks that you get bags for each of your students. The students than fill up their particular bags with personal items. The students trade bags anonymously. The student then has to try to use the "artifacts" in the bag to decipher who is the original owner of the bag. This is a great way to get the kids to learn about one another, while at the same time having them understand the role of historians. They will learn the historical process and how we must use artifacts, as historians, to help unravel our past.
The article also had some great ideas that I would love to use as warm-ups for my class. I really like the idea of the Timeline Challenge and History Couples. Check them out for yourself!
In my opinion, this is a really neat resource that I will definitely keep in mind!
Here's the link to the article post:
http://historytech.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/tip-of-the-week-5-back-to-school-ideas-for-social-studies-teachers/
It has some really awesome ideas. I thought the History in a bag idea could be serve as a great icebreaker for the first day! It asks that you get bags for each of your students. The students than fill up their particular bags with personal items. The students trade bags anonymously. The student then has to try to use the "artifacts" in the bag to decipher who is the original owner of the bag. This is a great way to get the kids to learn about one another, while at the same time having them understand the role of historians. They will learn the historical process and how we must use artifacts, as historians, to help unravel our past.
The article also had some great ideas that I would love to use as warm-ups for my class. I really like the idea of the Timeline Challenge and History Couples. Check them out for yourself!
In my opinion, this is a really neat resource that I will definitely keep in mind!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Reflection on Reading Module 3
I really liked that in this chapter they included "Mistakes to Avoid." I really hope that reading this chapter will help me right now with my after school care kids and in the future when I have my own classroom to deal with. This chapter seems to be the most vital for any new teacher and it is something that I see myself re-visiting and re-reading.
I found that one mistake that I have been making is spending too much time focused on one activity or one group of children. Before I realize it the rest of the class seems to be going 'buck wild.' I feel like I need to deal with situations with specific students more effectively and, in turn, spend more time with the classroom as a whole. I also have noticed that I speak to the class with my 'normal' voice. I have to remember that when working in a classroom, I need to create and use a new 'classroom voice' in order to be heard and respected. I also need to learn to effectively use non-verbal gestures to gain attention (eye contact, mobility, frowning, and proximity). I also have noticed that I use "shh" too much in the classroom. I never realized how ineffective this method truly is at quieting the class. I also should remember that reprimanding should be done as privately as possible. I find myself too often yelling across the room to get a child's attention. I find that my absolute biggest problem is that I try too hard to be liked by the children and do not spend enough time establishing a supportive and disciplined classroom environment.
Hopefully the tips learned in module 3 will help me get through the rest of the week and eventually become natural by the time I have a classroom of my own.
I found that one mistake that I have been making is spending too much time focused on one activity or one group of children. Before I realize it the rest of the class seems to be going 'buck wild.' I feel like I need to deal with situations with specific students more effectively and, in turn, spend more time with the classroom as a whole. I also have noticed that I speak to the class with my 'normal' voice. I have to remember that when working in a classroom, I need to create and use a new 'classroom voice' in order to be heard and respected. I also need to learn to effectively use non-verbal gestures to gain attention (eye contact, mobility, frowning, and proximity). I also have noticed that I use "shh" too much in the classroom. I never realized how ineffective this method truly is at quieting the class. I also should remember that reprimanding should be done as privately as possible. I find myself too often yelling across the room to get a child's attention. I find that my absolute biggest problem is that I try too hard to be liked by the children and do not spend enough time establishing a supportive and disciplined classroom environment.
Hopefully the tips learned in module 3 will help me get through the rest of the week and eventually become natural by the time I have a classroom of my own.
Humor & Classroom Management
Video - "David Spade Uses Classroom Management"
Funny spoof on dealing with classroom management in secondary schools. Spade uses humor in the classroom to show who is in control.
... BUT now I ask how do you use humor if your not necessarily a "Seinfeld?"
Here are some tips for using humor in the classroom:
Here are some jokes that I want to start sharing with my preschool kids:
What do skeletons say before a meal?
Bone appetite.
Where do very smart hot dogs end up?
On honor rolls.
Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine!
What did Zero say to Eight? Nice belt!
What has ten letters and starts with gas?
An automobile.
What's a pirate's favorite letter?
A: aRRgh (R).
B: No, it is the Sea (C).
How do you get a Pikachu on a bus?
You Pokemon! (poke-him-on)
Funny spoof on dealing with classroom management in secondary schools. Spade uses humor in the classroom to show who is in control.
... BUT now I ask how do you use humor if your not necessarily a "Seinfeld?"
Here are some tips for using humor in the classroom:
Here are some jokes that I want to start sharing with my preschool kids:
What do skeletons say before a meal?
Bone appetite.
Where do very smart hot dogs end up?
On honor rolls.
Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine!
What did Zero say to Eight? Nice belt!
What has ten letters and starts with gas?
An automobile.
What's a pirate's favorite letter?
A: aRRgh (R).
B: No, it is the Sea (C).
How do you get a Pikachu on a bus?
You Pokemon! (poke-him-on)
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Reflection on Reading
Pages 351-354 in the Kellough and Karjuzaa book offered a great deal of information on how to work with parents. The most vital part of the chapter was dealing with "Angry Guardians." I really do believe that remaining calm show strength. This is a quality teachers must have when dealing with parents. I like the suggestion of scheduling another conference with the parent, when you feel like things have escalated out of control.
Reading this section made me a bit nervous. It really got me thinking about dealing with parents and preparing for conferences. I found a conference checklist online. I think something like this would be a good idea to pass out to parents before a conference takes place. It will help them keep track of important information and allow them to take home a progress report about their child.
Reading this section made me a bit nervous. It really got me thinking about dealing with parents and preparing for conferences. I found a conference checklist online. I think something like this would be a good idea to pass out to parents before a conference takes place. It will help them keep track of important information and allow them to take home a progress report about their child.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Pre-K Behavior problems
Seemed like the students in my class today had a severe case of the Mondays... I tried to settle them down and this is when I realized how little I know about classroom management and disciplining students. I decided that looking for classroom management tips online would be a good start for this week's Resource Site.
The first website I found was Discipline by Design.
I learned a great deal about dealing with children. The tidbit that I found most beneficial was using "assertive I messages." This means getting children to behave by telling them "I need everyone to be quiet" or "I need everyone to take a seat." I'm hoping to use this one in class tomorrow. The site also mentioned a tactic I had forgotten from my schooling. FLIPPING LIGHT SWITCHES! Don't know why I hadn't thought of it earlier but it is definitely a great way to grab the attention of a bunch of rowdy munchkins.
I also checked out this video:
In the video they exposed the problems behind bribing children and negotiating. She also spoke about giving children ownership of their problems. One problem I am faced with quite frequently at school is sharing toys. I usually end up taking the toy away from both parties. The video explained how you can take the toy away and explain that they could get the toy back when they negotiated among themselves how they will share the toy. This allows the students to try to find a solution to their own problem.
I really hope these sources will help me manage the after school kids. I guess will figure out later down the line. :)
The first website I found was Discipline by Design.
I learned a great deal about dealing with children. The tidbit that I found most beneficial was using "assertive I messages." This means getting children to behave by telling them "I need everyone to be quiet" or "I need everyone to take a seat." I'm hoping to use this one in class tomorrow. The site also mentioned a tactic I had forgotten from my schooling. FLIPPING LIGHT SWITCHES! Don't know why I hadn't thought of it earlier but it is definitely a great way to grab the attention of a bunch of rowdy munchkins.
I also checked out this video:
In the video they exposed the problems behind bribing children and negotiating. She also spoke about giving children ownership of their problems. One problem I am faced with quite frequently at school is sharing toys. I usually end up taking the toy away from both parties. The video explained how you can take the toy away and explain that they could get the toy back when they negotiated among themselves how they will share the toy. This allows the students to try to find a solution to their own problem.
I really hope these sources will help me manage the after school kids. I guess will figure out later down the line. :)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Virtual Museum Tours
I think Virtual Museum Tours are super NEAT! It is so exciting what you can now do with technology but these tours will make great supplemental material in any classroom. Having children visit areas or time periods that you are referring to in the virtual world allows them to relate to the lesson. These sites are great because they provide you with photographs, artifacts, specific individuals, recordings, and video clips.
Here are some Museum tours to suggest for Social Science Education:
You can check out Anne Frank's House and the movable bookcase
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/Enter-the-3D-house/#/house/20/hotspot/4102/audio/
A Holocaust Virtual Museum Tour:
http://mznet.org/mzintro.html
Take a tour at the White House:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events/
Tour Colonial Williamsburg from your computer:
http://www.history.org/almanack/tourthetown/index.cfm
Here are some Museum tours to suggest for Social Science Education:
You can check out Anne Frank's House and the movable bookcase
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/Enter-the-3D-house/#/house/20/hotspot/4102/audio/
A Holocaust Virtual Museum Tour:
http://mznet.org/mzintro.html
Take a tour at the White House:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events/
Tour Colonial Williamsburg from your computer:
http://www.history.org/almanack/tourthetown/index.cfm
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Online Culture Training
"http://www2.pacific.edu/sis/culture/">
http://www2.pacific.edu/sis/culture/
After reading Module 2 in the Kellough & Carjuzaa book, I recalled this website from a past education course. I took TSL 4234 a few semesters ago and still find this website to be entertaining and interesting. In our Module we discussed a few things about ELL learners and I think this website is great supplemental material to learn about cultures outside of America.
This website was designed for students to use before going on trips abroad. It is especially interesting to learn about the different cultures, manners and formalities that we are not exposed to on a daily basis. The website discusses stereotyping, naive realism, and ethnocentrism. It has a bunch of neat activities that can help you learn about the ethnicities of the world, as well as about yourself and you own culture. It also discusses the differences between individualist cultures and collectivist cultures. Future teachers should also learn about universalism and particularism. The most interesting part of this website is the page pertaining to different body movements and how they relate to specific cultures. All of these activities will provide an understanding for the diversities that you will encounter in your classrooms.
It has activities that you can do that will help you rate yourself and your own culture to see where you lie on the spectrum. I really suggest checking out some of the little tidbits on the website if you have some free time. There are a bunch of interesting facts and activities that will teach you about yourself and the cultures that make up the world.
http://www2.pacific.edu/sis/culture/
After reading Module 2 in the Kellough & Carjuzaa book, I recalled this website from a past education course. I took TSL 4234 a few semesters ago and still find this website to be entertaining and interesting. In our Module we discussed a few things about ELL learners and I think this website is great supplemental material to learn about cultures outside of America.
This website was designed for students to use before going on trips abroad. It is especially interesting to learn about the different cultures, manners and formalities that we are not exposed to on a daily basis. The website discusses stereotyping, naive realism, and ethnocentrism. It has a bunch of neat activities that can help you learn about the ethnicities of the world, as well as about yourself and you own culture. It also discusses the differences between individualist cultures and collectivist cultures. Future teachers should also learn about universalism and particularism. The most interesting part of this website is the page pertaining to different body movements and how they relate to specific cultures. All of these activities will provide an understanding for the diversities that you will encounter in your classrooms.
It has activities that you can do that will help you rate yourself and your own culture to see where you lie on the spectrum. I really suggest checking out some of the little tidbits on the website if you have some free time. There are a bunch of interesting facts and activities that will teach you about yourself and the cultures that make up the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)