Since this is a free post where we can discuss any topic we want, I have chosen to share my experiences with my cooperating teacher. This week I have had to do a math assessment interview, science demonstration and a literacy lesson. I really enjoy my 4th grade classroom and have already had some rewarding experiences with them. My cooperating teacher is very wonderful to work with and she was a Meredith graduate so she understands some of the work I am having to do.
For my math assessment I worked with a very vocal child who loved the attention he received from me when doing the math assessment. It was a pleasure to work with him because he was very bright and told me how much fun he was having the whole time I was assessing him. For this assessment I gave him several math problems that Dr. Gleason gave us to ask them. I had to pay attention to his thinking while working the math problems. I really enjoyed listening to his thinking and explanation of the problems. I learned a lot about his thinking process from watching and listening to his explanations. He was not scared to answer and he was very sure of himself which made me proud to see. I belive Mrs. Shaw is really doing a great job in the classroom with making them feel comfortable explaining and talking in front of their peers about answers. I know I would've had a hard time doing that when I was that age because discussion was not integrated into our activities as much as Mrs. Shaw puts it in her activities. He understod almost all the problems and was able to explain them effectively
Today during my science demonstration I struggled a little because students had not previously talked about the different types of rocks. I was very nervous so I looked down at my notes a little and did not ask questions while I was demonstrating how to form the different rocks. Other than those few things, students listened to the demonstration well and enjoyed learning about the different rocks and seeing the rocks go from igneous rocks to sedimentary to metamorphic rocks. I believe students understood the different types of rocks because when I asked them questions they seemed to understand. When Mrs. Shaw asked students questions about the different types of rock and the rock cycle they seemed to understand as well. Before I began the demonstration, I told students what type of a rock granite was that they had been studying. This way students were able to see an example of an igneous rock. Overall, this was a good experience!
My literacy lesson overall was good. We used a Social Studies book as our nonfiction text and practiced locating information for specific purposes. I really enjoyed this lesson and think the students got a lot out of it. I was much more comfortable teaching to a small group and not being videotaped. It was easier than the Science demonstration. The only problem was that there were some behavior issues. Some students talked while I was talking and while their peers were talking. This was a little expected because some of the students that I worked with had attention deficit disorder. In the end the students were able to successfully complete the evaluation and seemed to understand the concept I was trying to teach. I did realize however, that while teaching you have to repeat yourself a lot and scaffold the students.
Overall, this week I learned a lot about myself and about being a future teacher. It is not easy whatsoever and you have to be prepared all the time. You never know what comment or answer a student will give. In my literacy lesson one student brought up the fact that you can use the glossary to locate information. I did not know this and so not only did he learn from me but I also learned from me. I am learning some exciting things and can't wait until I have a classroom on my own!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Integration of social studies into other curriculum
It is important to try to incorporate different subject areas into other areas in the curriculum. I have heard over and over again that social studies should be incorporated into literacy, science should be incorporated into math or vice versa. I personally believe that the subjects are not watered down when they are incorporated into other subjects. I believe students almost get more out of social studies when it is integrated with literacy. It is being used for another subject, so students are able to see how it is more relevent in their lives and see how it affects other parts of their subjects and lives.
The other day, my cooperating teacher incorporated social studies into the literacy time by informing students that the social studies textbook they use is an informational nonfiction text. In the students literacy time my cooperating teacher was talking about nonfiction text and made sure to mention the social studies text as a part of the nonfiction text. She had students make predictions about what they thought would be in the book by looking at the pictures on the front of the book and looking at the title of the social studies book. After they made predictions students read some of the headings and some of the text to see if their predictions were accurate. Also, for my read aloud for my literacy class I read a social studies level reading book to my students. They really enjoyed this book and were able to learn more about geography of North Carolina. Students were able to answer literacy questions and use sticky notes to answer them. These are usually techniques that are used in literacy but they were used with a social studies reading book. In this case, students were learning a lot of social studies concepts while using literacy skills to reflect on their reading. Social Studies content was NOT watered down in anyway. For my Science Unit, one of my activities had students collect the high and low temperatures for a week and then find the average for each day and week. Once they were done they plotted the data on a line graph. For this assignment students are fully learning math and science concepts. They are learning how to measure temperature and how to find the average and plot those points on a line graph.
I believe it is impossible to dedicate enough time in the school day for an ample amount of time for social studies, science, math and literacy so I believe that incorporating other subjects into one subject is necessary. Students might be learning about the regions of North Carolina in their social studies class but there learning about that subject matter does not have to stop there. To receive additional information about the subject areas, students can read or do some activity with the subject matter in literacy. There are many ways in which two subjects can be incorporated without one being watered down. There are many math books that can be shared with the class and students can make predictions with in the reading but also work math problems. Overall, I do not believe that when incorporated into other subjects, social studies is watered down. The subject is only developed more and practiced more by students as they explore the concept integrated into another subject matter!
The other day, my cooperating teacher incorporated social studies into the literacy time by informing students that the social studies textbook they use is an informational nonfiction text. In the students literacy time my cooperating teacher was talking about nonfiction text and made sure to mention the social studies text as a part of the nonfiction text. She had students make predictions about what they thought would be in the book by looking at the pictures on the front of the book and looking at the title of the social studies book. After they made predictions students read some of the headings and some of the text to see if their predictions were accurate. Also, for my read aloud for my literacy class I read a social studies level reading book to my students. They really enjoyed this book and were able to learn more about geography of North Carolina. Students were able to answer literacy questions and use sticky notes to answer them. These are usually techniques that are used in literacy but they were used with a social studies reading book. In this case, students were learning a lot of social studies concepts while using literacy skills to reflect on their reading. Social Studies content was NOT watered down in anyway. For my Science Unit, one of my activities had students collect the high and low temperatures for a week and then find the average for each day and week. Once they were done they plotted the data on a line graph. For this assignment students are fully learning math and science concepts. They are learning how to measure temperature and how to find the average and plot those points on a line graph.
I believe it is impossible to dedicate enough time in the school day for an ample amount of time for social studies, science, math and literacy so I believe that incorporating other subjects into one subject is necessary. Students might be learning about the regions of North Carolina in their social studies class but there learning about that subject matter does not have to stop there. To receive additional information about the subject areas, students can read or do some activity with the subject matter in literacy. There are many ways in which two subjects can be incorporated without one being watered down. There are many math books that can be shared with the class and students can make predictions with in the reading but also work math problems. Overall, I do not believe that when incorporated into other subjects, social studies is watered down. The subject is only developed more and practiced more by students as they explore the concept integrated into another subject matter!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hello!!! Technology is ingrained into our society...
So when I saw what we had to post about today I thought it was a very interesting and necessary topic to talk about. This issue is heavily debated right now. A boy from Rutgers University committed suicide because of a sexual encounter he had that was posted on the internet. Many children are being harassed on the internet everyday on sites like facebook and myspace.
While there are many dangers and hazards with technology it is important that students know how to effectively use technology. Afterall, technology is our future. Students are going to have to use technology when they go out into the workforce and if they don't know how they will have a huge disadvantage. Students are going to be interested in technology because they are surrounded by it in society. Popularity revolves around who has the latest ipod or cell phone. I think most people today would be lost without these technologies. No one can even remember the last time they weren't able to talk to someone when they were away from home. But there was a time. Technology has progressed so much in the last couple of years and it is only going to progress more. If we do not teach our students how to use these technologies they will become even further behind the country in their education.
Why don't we use technology to enhance our teaching. There are so many lessons that can be augmented with the use of technology. Students are going to be using technology outside of the classroom so why not let them use it in the classroom. A lesson can be built surrounding technology. It is important students be able to search the internet and at least be able to make a powerpoint because these are common tasks they will need to know how to do to be competitive at the workplace. Students need to be taught in the classroom because their employers will not take the time to teach them.
Overall, In order to connect with your students you need to engage them into technology. They already know a lot about technology that many teachers do not know about because they grew up with it. Technology is a benefit of our society not a hinderence. If students know how to properly use technology then they will have an advantage over the students whos teacher did not introduce them to the technology of the time.
Image retrieved from Curtis Palmer on flickr
While there are many dangers and hazards with technology it is important that students know how to effectively use technology. Afterall, technology is our future. Students are going to have to use technology when they go out into the workforce and if they don't know how they will have a huge disadvantage. Students are going to be interested in technology because they are surrounded by it in society. Popularity revolves around who has the latest ipod or cell phone. I think most people today would be lost without these technologies. No one can even remember the last time they weren't able to talk to someone when they were away from home. But there was a time. Technology has progressed so much in the last couple of years and it is only going to progress more. If we do not teach our students how to use these technologies they will become even further behind the country in their education.
Why don't we use technology to enhance our teaching. There are so many lessons that can be augmented with the use of technology. Students are going to be using technology outside of the classroom so why not let them use it in the classroom. A lesson can be built surrounding technology. It is important students be able to search the internet and at least be able to make a powerpoint because these are common tasks they will need to know how to do to be competitive at the workplace. Students need to be taught in the classroom because their employers will not take the time to teach them.
Overall, In order to connect with your students you need to engage them into technology. They already know a lot about technology that many teachers do not know about because they grew up with it. Technology is a benefit of our society not a hinderence. If students know how to properly use technology then they will have an advantage over the students whos teacher did not introduce them to the technology of the time.
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