Friday, May 14, 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday, April 16, 2010

Math Unit Plan

Unfortunately I cannot upload my video so I will sumarize. For this assignment, we had to complete a math unit plan using a strategy from our text Rethinking Mathematics. I chose the unit Ten Chairs of Inequality. For my unit, I decided to change things up a bit from the approach of this unit. My hypothetical class was going to learn about The Great Depression with a focus on how people were impacted and what this event as well as wars do to the economy. On day one, students had to discuss how financial deficits and unemployment impact families and the economy. On day two, the class began to watch a video on The Great Depression and understand the drastic changes people faced. Next students had to pretend they were living during that time and explain, mathematically how they would survive and provide for their families. I think it was most important, as the teacher, to not only have a presence in the class but also understand what happened during this time. Prior to showing the video, I watched it myself so that I could speak about it before showing the video in a more confident and knowledgeable manner. Students found the assignments fun and made connections to the video having family members who are unemployed, under-employed, and facing some of the same hardship as people we've seen in history.I found this assignment fun and of great importance as a past self-contained classroom teacher who never thought of actually incorporating history into math.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Friday, April 2, 2010

Friday, March 19, 2010

Literacy Across Content Areas[1]

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Right To Literacy In Secondary Schools2

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

You Gotta Be The Book2

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Thursday, March 4, 2010

You Gotta BE the Boook PowerPoint

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.MSO\PowerPointWebPagePreview\You Gotta BE the Book2_files\frame.htm

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Friday, February 19, 2010

Blog 2 Matrix and Toolbox kit

What to include in your content literacy instructional toolkit

What to include in your content literacy instructional toolkit

As an educator, it is important to find innovative tools to help students be more successful in the classroom. Consider the following:

Before every presenting the topic to the students, find other references.
Practice you lesson and what it should look like in your classroom. As the instructor, it is important to find other texts other than the textbook to make the lesson more relevant and appraochble by your students.

Make the lesson exciting.
The first day of class, you should be excited about the new lesson and want to teach. Students sometimes react off of our emotions and if they think we are not interested they will not want to complete it.

Encourage the use of technology.
Allow students to work together and share ideas. The interactive white board is a great technology tool to get students out of their seat and interacting. Other technologies and stations in the class require students to be more active and reinforce the need for students to think.

Encourage teamwork and discussions.
Have students read their texts and compare ideas and views on the topic. Students should read and after reading some things quietly have them share responses. Students can be more successful in the classroom learning to respectfully share their responses and ideas on the topic.
Have student investigate.
Students should feel comfortable challenging ideas and information. Encourage students to conduct their own research to compare the information from the text and textbook.

Have a presence in the class.
While students are working in groups and discussing ideas, as the teacher you should be walking around asking questions and challenging students to think deeper. Encourage students to think in another way or think about the topic another way.

Praise students’ effort.
As you walk around give students praise for their efforts. A pat on the back or words of encouragement can stop a student from giving up or refusing to participate in the discussion.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Friday, February 5, 2010

Response #1 Moje's Secondary Literacy Podcast

Dr. Moje emphasizes the need for educators to involve students in the learning process and incorporate reading in subject areas. Moje explains that students are not in school to learn things they already know; they are in school to learn a new way of thinking, to challenge information and read to locate proof of the topic. It is through reading and questioning, Moje says that students who read in all subject areas and better thinkers. I agree with this, reading should not be left to English class. Reading includes the ability to read a select article of information and gather data; however, it always includes the ability to read and then apply this prior knowledge to understanding the language of science, mathematics even health and history. Having students read in all subject areas first, provide more opportunities to read, second, it broadens the students’ vocabulary. Dr. Moje’s emphasis on secondary literacy is a great and ideal learning experience to have better readers and thinkers. While I agree with her stand on literacy in secondary schools in subjects classes, I feel that schools need to provide staffing and the opportunities for educators to allow students to read more instead of focusing on upcoming standardized tests. It is with the assistance of the school system that educators can begin to believe in providing more opportunities for students to read more approachable and interesting things instead of almost being force feed strict lessons to meet indicators.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Personal Description

I currently teach at The Good Shepherd Center while working on my Masters in Teaching. I have been teaching for over a year now and find that it has its rewards. I enjoy working with adolescents usually adolescent females. My goal is to obtain my Masters in Teaching and Rehabilitation Counseling and open a group home and training center for young women and families. My expectation for the class is to continue to grow as an educator and develop methods to help readers retain information that is approachable and meanigful.