When talking about technology and the classroom, you can make teachers that been teaching for years very nervous and scared. Old teachers might not like technology in the classroom because they might not be interested in learning a new skill. This will widen the gap between teachers and students of today. Students have such a great interest in all technology today from computers, cell phones, and iPods. We as new teachers have to have a great interest in technology to communicate with our students.
Technology as a resource over the internet is a great tool to find out information that you may need. Any question you need answered anything that interesting topics you want to look up, or just to find people. Everything is on the internet. Now, since there is so much data you can get over the internet. One has to filter the good from the bad information you are reading. Student will use the internet to gather information on research papers, term papers, or for any other use. We as teachers will have to teach our students how to filter good data from bad. What is a creditable source and which isn’t? This way student have a better chance of learning what is right, rather then wasting their time and effort on some bad and false information.
Since student can do this, this makes life easy for students who try to take the easy way out by cheating or coping someone else’s work. Most students look for the easy way out whether because it might be a last minute thing or they are just lazy. So we as teachers have to keep a close eye on what our students are handing in as their work to us.
With the use of a cell phone today, students are always text messaging each other. These changes the way students communicate. They have there own language with I can’t understand at all when the text message. If feel like the mother in the cell phone commercial where the daughter is talking to the mother using text talk. I use don’t understand it, so you can see how communication is changed.
Now you can see you have you good thing and bad things about technology. The most important thing is to try to keep up with technology so this way we as teachers can keep a connection with our students and understand where they are coming from and how they think.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
NCLB
After taking a look at No Child Left Behind, the act seems to good to be true on paper. When I am reading it and saying to myself, finally there is an organization that is doing something about education and making it policy. Its great to see an organization come in and take control, but do policy makers really know what goes on in the classroom? Do they even understand how a child learns and all the different modalities there are in learning? So it might look good on paper, but does not do anything in the classroom. I have some problems with this policy.
I feel that it is great for all students to learn reading, math, and writing skills and do it well. As, soon as, a child is not doing well, you have to push them along to the next level and hope next year he/she can catch up with the rest of there class. So you can push along a child through first and second grades but it they can’t pass the third grade you have to retain them. No lets see retain them. Isn’t that the same thing as being left back for another year. Instead of just pushing them through, we should look into early childhood intervention. If school can use money they get from the state and try to figure out way child are having a hard time comprehending math, reading, and writing skills at an early age. This will benefit both the child, teacher, and the school. This way the earlier we catch the problem the faster we can solve the problem, rather than just passing them onto the next grade and letting the next teacher worry about the problems.
The school has to do well on standardized testing. The results of these test will not only show the skill of the students, but also grade the school itself, the district, and the state as a whole. So , a lot is being placed on these test in classroom curriculum to do well. If a the children do well it will have a domino effect which will lead to the school doing well, the district and state. In result if you do well you get money for your school and district. If you don’t do well money is taken away from your school or district and trust me nobody wants money taken away from them. Having the stress of doing well leads me to the curriculum. So many teachers are worried about there students doing well on test that we don’t teach them the daily needs or skills in everyday life. We should teach students how to get ready for real world problems and issues they will face once leaving school. Not worrying about how well they did so we as a school can receive more money next year. Also, teacher need more time to do this work, teaching math, reading , and writing that schools are cutting other subject areas. The areas they are cutting are the arts programs and physical education.
To me I have a major problem with cutting of classes for students to sit is the desk for another hour to learn math, reading, or writing. Children need a break from subject areas and need to run around and get involved. There is an increase in childhood obesity and it is becoming a major social issue in the county. But we want our children to miss physical education. That 40mins might be the only 40mins of exercise the child receives all day. Physical education promotes a health body, teaches students how to eat right and how to exercise to decrease health problems in the future. But we think math, reading, and writing is more important then a child’s health. It is a fact that students will learn more when they are in physical shape and not sitting in a classroom all day long getting ready for some test.
So we should look into earlier intervention and try to catch a child’s problem early and work on that problem. Also cutting time out of other classes to make room for getting children ready for the test is completely wrong and should not happen.
I feel that it is great for all students to learn reading, math, and writing skills and do it well. As, soon as, a child is not doing well, you have to push them along to the next level and hope next year he/she can catch up with the rest of there class. So you can push along a child through first and second grades but it they can’t pass the third grade you have to retain them. No lets see retain them. Isn’t that the same thing as being left back for another year. Instead of just pushing them through, we should look into early childhood intervention. If school can use money they get from the state and try to figure out way child are having a hard time comprehending math, reading, and writing skills at an early age. This will benefit both the child, teacher, and the school. This way the earlier we catch the problem the faster we can solve the problem, rather than just passing them onto the next grade and letting the next teacher worry about the problems.
The school has to do well on standardized testing. The results of these test will not only show the skill of the students, but also grade the school itself, the district, and the state as a whole. So , a lot is being placed on these test in classroom curriculum to do well. If a the children do well it will have a domino effect which will lead to the school doing well, the district and state. In result if you do well you get money for your school and district. If you don’t do well money is taken away from your school or district and trust me nobody wants money taken away from them. Having the stress of doing well leads me to the curriculum. So many teachers are worried about there students doing well on test that we don’t teach them the daily needs or skills in everyday life. We should teach students how to get ready for real world problems and issues they will face once leaving school. Not worrying about how well they did so we as a school can receive more money next year. Also, teacher need more time to do this work, teaching math, reading , and writing that schools are cutting other subject areas. The areas they are cutting are the arts programs and physical education.
To me I have a major problem with cutting of classes for students to sit is the desk for another hour to learn math, reading, or writing. Children need a break from subject areas and need to run around and get involved. There is an increase in childhood obesity and it is becoming a major social issue in the county. But we want our children to miss physical education. That 40mins might be the only 40mins of exercise the child receives all day. Physical education promotes a health body, teaches students how to eat right and how to exercise to decrease health problems in the future. But we think math, reading, and writing is more important then a child’s health. It is a fact that students will learn more when they are in physical shape and not sitting in a classroom all day long getting ready for some test.
So we should look into earlier intervention and try to catch a child’s problem early and work on that problem. Also cutting time out of other classes to make room for getting children ready for the test is completely wrong and should not happen.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Assessments
This was a lot of reading on assessment and how it can benefit both student and teacher. The main issue to know about assessments is “What do you do with the information given to you?” Also, “How do you apply your data to your teachings and your students?” We as teachers are always assessing our students to see where they fall into our classroom. If we assess them by using only one type of assessment then there will be bias among the results of the class. The reason I say this is because all children learn at different rates and learn by using different modalities. So we as future teachers or teachers already, have to change the way we assess our students and get a full understanding of our children in the classroom. This also gives the student of understanding of how he/she learns and comprehends topics in class. They get a better way of self evaluating themselves and try to correct their problems in what they lack in. I feel that you always have to keep an ongoing assessment for both student and teacher. We as teachers should take a hard look at ourselves and make sure we are doing the right thing in the class room to help the students out the best we could. We have to start off by always keeping up on our subject matter and knowing all the information out there on the subject. This way when we give assessments, we have an understanding why we are giving the assessment and have reason for it. Rather then just giving a test and marking a grade down and handing it back to our students with no explanation or reason behind it. It will be such a waste of time to give assessments and do nothing with the information given to you.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
TIP 567
As i read all the chapters we had to read, i still sit here thinking to myself how did i begin to read and try to remember when i first started to read. I guess i took alittle bit from here and there and just learning as you move on learning new ways to read. After reading all the different theories they have, i am still confused on some and now about some. I can't say i have a complete understand on all the theories and how they work. The one thing that i feel how children learn is as follows:
I feel that children will learn by what they are exposed to them, around them, and how they hang out with. I think that the sociolinguistic theory can best explain this if i read it right. children learn by what is around them and in their environment. that goes for their parents, close friends, school friends, teachers, family members, and the people in their society or neighborhood they grow up in. If you have a child that comes from a wealthy family, that goes to the best schools, and hangs out with people that want to go to college and persue a career after college. this child is going to have to work hard to become someone in society but at the sametime since he/she is always around this and see's it all the time, it will come a priority or second nature for the child to do well in school and learn how to read and write. If the child see's his/her parents always reading the newspaper or book, and see's friends reading the homework and doing the right thing all the time. that child will do the same cause he/she is learning for their enivornment. Now same goes for a child, who grows up in a poor neighborhood and has to go to school that is no where near the best. What does this child do? How is he/she going to learn or get a good education? What type of career setting child is this going to be? right away these children are at a disadvantage, but i feel that each child can learn and become someone successful in their lifetime. All it takes is one person to change the childs life and it can be anyone from a friend, parent, teacher, or coach. its up to the child, to surround themselves with good people and successful people. its all about what environment the child is in and what they see around them that will determine how successful they will be.
Another theory that is close to this is the critical literacy, which i think states that most children will end up in the same socioeconomical class as in which they grew up in. So i guess we have our parents to thank for bringing us into the class we will be in for the rest of our lives. Unless the child is willing to change and go after something they want, a better life then they have for their children. If a child is welling to work hard to succeed, he/she will break this theory and do great things in their lifetime and offer a better oportunity for their children.
In the end, i strongly feel that children learn by what is around them and who they surround themselves with. also children learn at a different learning rate from one another. so what might work for one student will not work for the others. so us as teachers have to find a way to reach out and communitcate with all the students in the classroom, not just the ones that can read because us as a teacher can only teach one way of reading. that is why i am interested in this course and hope to find different ways to teach reading to young child.
I feel that children will learn by what they are exposed to them, around them, and how they hang out with. I think that the sociolinguistic theory can best explain this if i read it right. children learn by what is around them and in their environment. that goes for their parents, close friends, school friends, teachers, family members, and the people in their society or neighborhood they grow up in. If you have a child that comes from a wealthy family, that goes to the best schools, and hangs out with people that want to go to college and persue a career after college. this child is going to have to work hard to become someone in society but at the sametime since he/she is always around this and see's it all the time, it will come a priority or second nature for the child to do well in school and learn how to read and write. If the child see's his/her parents always reading the newspaper or book, and see's friends reading the homework and doing the right thing all the time. that child will do the same cause he/she is learning for their enivornment. Now same goes for a child, who grows up in a poor neighborhood and has to go to school that is no where near the best. What does this child do? How is he/she going to learn or get a good education? What type of career setting child is this going to be? right away these children are at a disadvantage, but i feel that each child can learn and become someone successful in their lifetime. All it takes is one person to change the childs life and it can be anyone from a friend, parent, teacher, or coach. its up to the child, to surround themselves with good people and successful people. its all about what environment the child is in and what they see around them that will determine how successful they will be.
Another theory that is close to this is the critical literacy, which i think states that most children will end up in the same socioeconomical class as in which they grew up in. So i guess we have our parents to thank for bringing us into the class we will be in for the rest of our lives. Unless the child is willing to change and go after something they want, a better life then they have for their children. If a child is welling to work hard to succeed, he/she will break this theory and do great things in their lifetime and offer a better oportunity for their children.
In the end, i strongly feel that children learn by what is around them and who they surround themselves with. also children learn at a different learning rate from one another. so what might work for one student will not work for the others. so us as teachers have to find a way to reach out and communitcate with all the students in the classroom, not just the ones that can read because us as a teacher can only teach one way of reading. that is why i am interested in this course and hope to find different ways to teach reading to young child.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Acquire Language
I feel that there is no one right way for children to learn language or communicate in society. If one wants to learn, he/she will learn by using multiple ways and children at such a young age can absorb so much information and process it in ways we can not explain. Children are like sponges, so one always have to be careful how to act, how they talk, their body language and so on. Cause a child will observe you and try to mimic everything you do and think it is ok and the right thing to do. At a young age, I feel that children learn by what is around them and what they see at home. How parents send time with their children and what they do during that time will all help children learn how to communicate. I think some genes are passed on about learning from our parents, but a child will learn by what they see and how they interact with their surrounds. By using trial an error, a child will learn what is right from wrong, what feels good or what hurts, and so on. It up to the parents to guide their children along the way and help them realize what they do wrong and tell them the reason behind what they did was wrong. A child must not only be able to read, but must also be able to communicate in society with others.
I think there are some innate language skills in child, cause there has be some ground work or I should say a foundation to build on once a child begins to learn. So yes there is a innate skill in every child, but again it’s the environment around the child that is going to effect the language he/she learns. Such as Television, Video Games, Friends, Technology (Computers, I-Pods, Cell Phones), the Community the child lives in, all will have a major effect how a child learns.
Leaning a second language is such a hard thing to do as an adult. For some reason I can understand what they are saying and have an idea of what they are trying to say, but I just can’t reply back because I tense up and forget the words I want to use. I always had a problem with that and still till this day, I speak Spanish to my friends and still trying to learn. I feel like I have a mental brick wall that just want let me learn another language. But I will keep trying everyday to knock down that wall. I think it is a great idea for children to learn a new language at such a early age. With the way society is to and the communities, you have to speak more than one language to get along in your surroundings. I wish I could of take Spanish in early elementary I might not have the same problem as I do now.
I think there are some innate language skills in child, cause there has be some ground work or I should say a foundation to build on once a child begins to learn. So yes there is a innate skill in every child, but again it’s the environment around the child that is going to effect the language he/she learns. Such as Television, Video Games, Friends, Technology (Computers, I-Pods, Cell Phones), the Community the child lives in, all will have a major effect how a child learns.
Leaning a second language is such a hard thing to do as an adult. For some reason I can understand what they are saying and have an idea of what they are trying to say, but I just can’t reply back because I tense up and forget the words I want to use. I always had a problem with that and still till this day, I speak Spanish to my friends and still trying to learn. I feel like I have a mental brick wall that just want let me learn another language. But I will keep trying everyday to knock down that wall. I think it is a great idea for children to learn a new language at such a early age. With the way society is to and the communities, you have to speak more than one language to get along in your surroundings. I wish I could of take Spanish in early elementary I might not have the same problem as I do now.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Questions on Readings
First I feel that all three articles were filled with great interested and lots of surprising information. After reading all three articles, I think of reading and literacy as a major factor in society. All people no matter what color or how much money they have should learn how to read and right. I had no idea that school systems use literacy to control power among race and socio-economic status. This country is the land of opportunity and a place for better living, but in the educational field it seems to be very bias.
The article that I was most surprised at is the one written by the lady in the school system that got fired for caring for her students. In this article you can see the mis-communication among teachers and the administration. The teachers deal with these children everyday and know that all children learn at different levels. She had a program set up for all students at all different levels to learn how to read and write. When the administration came in with the “Open Court” program it set up a bad relationship among teachers and the administration. The new program changed the whole curriculum and teacher and student relationship was broken down. Once the communication was broke between student/teacher, now you have a situation where no one is happy and learning will not take place. I am wondering if this takes place in all school districts with poor or low economic status. There has to be a way of getting urban schools to increase literacy, but as I think about it, it might still fall back to the power struggle. I hope everyone one day will have the chance to have an equal opportunity at learning in the educational system in this country.
The article that I was most surprised at is the one written by the lady in the school system that got fired for caring for her students. In this article you can see the mis-communication among teachers and the administration. The teachers deal with these children everyday and know that all children learn at different levels. She had a program set up for all students at all different levels to learn how to read and write. When the administration came in with the “Open Court” program it set up a bad relationship among teachers and the administration. The new program changed the whole curriculum and teacher and student relationship was broken down. Once the communication was broke between student/teacher, now you have a situation where no one is happy and learning will not take place. I am wondering if this takes place in all school districts with poor or low economic status. There has to be a way of getting urban schools to increase literacy, but as I think about it, it might still fall back to the power struggle. I hope everyone one day will have the chance to have an equal opportunity at learning in the educational system in this country.
Monday, June 25, 2007
About Me
Hello everyone in Read 500, i am a future Physical Education teacher at North Bergen High School come this September. I enjoy all sports and learning new things in life. I wish everyone the best in this class and hope to get to know everyone by the time is class is over.
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