Smart Technology

This week we learned about new educational apps we can download for the iPads and that are useful to teach with in the classrooms along with Smartboard lessons.


Some apps I would use for my first grade class would be:

•  Kid Apps: All in 1 : This app has Common Words, Letter Tracing, Number Tracing, etc. With this app, I could help kids that are behind to recognize sight words. Also Number Tracing would be great for kids that tend to flip their numbers backwards when they write.
• My Spelling Test : With this app, you can input voice recordings along with the words. Taking spelling tests will become both fun and easy for my students!

A Samartboard lesson that I could use would be:

• Gumball Math- Graphing, Addition, Subtraction : With this, I could introduce graphing to my first grade students. I also really liked the word problems. This would make it easier to show both adding and subtracting number sentences.

Making Real World Connections

In an article from Edutopia, I learned that a school is making real world financial connections for their students. Doing so prepares them for their future and helps the students to make better decisions money-wise.

In my own years in school, I think that in math the teacher could have probably touched more on how we would exactly apply all of the equations we needed to learn in our daily life.  

I think the most useful subjects that I have taken have been Life Management Skills and Keyboarding class. In my Life Management Skills class I learned about relationships, how to finance a house, a family, etc. Keyboarding class helped me get more comfortable and faster with computers. This ability is needed and essential now days.

I feel okay about my ability to manage money and finances. I know that what I still don't know or need to learn on this matter, I'll learn from my parents.

I definitely think that I would feel more confidence in myself and on my ability to manage money if I had attended a school with a financial literacy curriculum.

What Teachers Want Parents to Know

I recently read an article written by Ron Clack called What Teachers Really Want to Tell Parents. 
After reading this, I learned that many parents are turning into prosecutors and critics instead of trying to support their child's teacher. More and more teachers are having "parent issues". These problems are making them want to throw in the towel and leave their profession. So, what two main things do teachers want parents to understand?

1) Teachers are not nannies. As educated professionals, if they give you advice, take it don't fight it. Some parents automatically start to fight and defend their child if anything negative is said about them. If parents took the advice instead of taking it in a bad way, their child would benefit from it.

2) Parents need to stop making excuses. Making excuses for their children will only make the kid irresponsible and teach him to turn to excuses when he isn't succeeding. This does not create a strong work ethic and will eventually only end up harming the child.

Parents need to be partners and not prosecutors. They should find a way to work with the teacher so they can both build a bright future for the student. By supporting the teacher and working with the system, the student will get a better education and learn to respect his teachers too.

Rule #1: We are a Family

Ron Clark's book has 55 rules that are essential for a classroom to function. Why is the first rule, "We are a Family", so important?

By having the students see each other as a family, it would unite them in a way that otherwise would have been impossible to achieve due to how different every individual looks, thinks, and acts. It would mean that the students would have to treat each other with kindness and respect. Instead of dividing into different cliques and gangs thinking that one is better than the other, they could come together as one.

My own classroom rules for my Education and Training class could be:

•  The Golden rule: Treat everyone the way you wish to be treated.
• Make the right decisions
• Get there on time
• Follow teacher's directions
• Do work before being distracted by YouTube
 

Glogster in the Classroom

The link to my Glogster for my first grade class is: http://s2jcukm.edu.glogster.com/first-grade-seasons/

The High Cost of Education

I plan to cover at least half of my college expenses with either scholarships or loans. I don't think I've done enough yet, but I'll keep applying until I do. I haven't applied to FAFSA just yet but I will soon.


I agree with President Obama's initiative to get more colleges to be more transparent with college costs and employment after graduating.  An article on The Reporter talked about how students with loans are graduating with an average of $25,000 in debt. On top of that, unemployment still remains high. The cost of college is so much that a fifth of the students don't return for a second year.

I really liked how Obama also said, “Higher education can’t be a luxury— it’s an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.” I think this is very true. Everyone should be able to afford an education that will later on ensure a job that's worth while. The secret to a successful nation is its higher education.

Do schools kill creativity?

What exactly is creativity? Sir Ken Robinson explains his point of view in his video Do schools kill creativity? 


Creativity is the ability to use your imagination and to come up with your own valuable and original ideas. Picasso once said, "All children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up."

Creativity is very important in education because it brings out new and innovative ideas that make things interesting and exciting. If there wasn't any creativity, then everything would be the same and there would never be any progress. Creativity in education helps children find themselves and to think outside the box. 


I see creativity the most when I'm out at my site school. When my first graders write a story or draw a picture, you can see their imagination working and creating. It's truly fascinating what little kids of that age can do. Rather than "killing" their different and spontaneous way of thinking, it should be encouraged.