This year is by far the fastest year of my teaching career I believe I have had. I can absolutely not believe that this year has just flown by. I mean goodness ... It's already DECEMBER next week!!
As this 2012 year comes to a quick close out, I would like to take a moment to enjoy the Christmas lights and reflect on how this amazing year is going :)
Learner-Centered Teaching - I have absolutely loved having the laptops with my classes. They have definitely been helpful and effective in my classroom. Students have enjoyed working with Google Docs and Google Presentations. With Google Docs students have worked individually to type and finalize their Peter Pan Essays along with an Ancient Mesopotamia writing prompt. Google Presentations have gone great with both the Blue Dolphins and Gray Dolphins. Blue Dolphins have focused their attention in small groups, of four or five, with presentations on Peter and the Starcatchers. Gray Dolphins are beginning to work in partners with Vocabulary Webs in presentation on key literary terms. I definitely believe Google Apps have my students mesmerized ;)
Relation to Common Core & Essential Standard - Using technology with the new curriculum and Common Core is a BREEZE! It fits so well! Students are able to do research more regularly with technology and the curriculum, students are able to interact with text through NOOK and Kindle Apps for PC as we read as a class, all sort of goodies within the classroom! I feel like my students are using technology on a daily basis, either as a class or small group, individual work!
21st Century Skills - Students have used Google Apps multiple times throughout this year, as well as for various projects. Students have also been able to realize the difference between credible and un-credible sources through our research processes. Students are able to realize valuable websites and understand which can be factual, and which can be "useless." Students are also learning how to interact with text in a way that they have not been previous used to. Students are able to write on books (through NOOK and Kindle), highlight passages, key words, etc. Students are also using KidBlog to communicate with the entire Dolphin team in order to relate and continue classroom conversations on our content topics. Students are learning proper Blogging and communication techniques through the internet.
Student Work Samples - Click Here for Google App Wonderfulness :)
Sarah, I need to meet up with you and exchange ideas on how to make some of these things work in my classroom! I am envious of the excitement you have engendered in your students. :-) Thanks for sharing the students' thoughts on Peter Pan...I love the one who stated you chose the book because you thought it was good, but he/she didn't think so. Student critics are the best. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see how you're utilizing technology daily. The student's comments about less foreshadowing and having more surprises was great. The review of the book is an honest student assessment which we all need to hear from students. Glad to see 6th graders looking at reliable sources and learning proper communication skills online.
ReplyDeleteYour descriptions of instruction, technology integration and student engagement sounds like the 21st Century classroom! Nice work!
ReplyDeleteYou have all the elements of a 21st Century classroom happening in your classroom! I love seeing the pics of student groups working together to learn..You can pick up on so many nuances on facial expressions and body language. They look very engaged! Great job! :)
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have seen first hand how well you are incorporating technology purposefully in your classroom. You are doing a great job and are truly using what you have learned in Pinnacle to the benefit of your students.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Sarah! I like how you are incorporating all the technology! You seem to have found meaningful applications for the use of technology as well.
ReplyDeleteWow! I didn't think about using the Kindle app in the classroom for book interactions. It looks like your students are enjoying using various forms of technology as a way to improve learning.
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