FLASH

I am constantly searching online for a site or a game that complimets my lesson. Often I come across games and sites that use Flash. I have always been impressed by many of these games that other teachers have made. I have always wanted to learn how to make my own games for my students since there is always content I wish was included or omitted. The opportunity is now here where I can learn how to use Flash and utilize it in my classroom.

How would I use Flash in my classroom? I loved the Endangered Species Photo Mapo on the National Geographic website. I could use something like this when I teach the 14 colonies, French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. I could create a map that has landmarks and pictures.

Another example of how I can use flash in the classroom is by using the technique found in the African Voices site. I would create an interactive timeline where kids could manipulate the pictures and match up with the dates that they learned about in Social Studies. One idea is matching up pictures with the proper event and date of the steps leading up to the Revolutionary War. (Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Sugar Act etc)

The Forgotten: The Armenian Genocide site gave me some ideas as well. I think that integrating video clips is an invaluable tool for the students. I would like to maybe have a site where there are different videos matched up to different parts of the body and explains how they work. Of course I would also like to have photos as well.
Exploring these sites that use Flash and really taking notice of this technique I am quite excited about the possibilities. Hopefully I will be a natural Flash master and my students will reap the benefits of my new technological skill.

Schools That Learn

Teachers love to complain. Lack of resources, lack of cooperation, lack of motivation. It seems some teachers let the negatives stop and prevent them from moving forward. As a community in a school teachers and administrators need to stop and ask themselves the following questions. Why do we exist? What do we want to accomplish? What do we stand for? and most importantly What do we believe about teaching and learning?

Things are constantly changing around us, from technology to laws. Schools need to do the same. We need to refocus their goals and collaboratively come up with a way to achieve them. However, with the NYS Standards and Tests it can be difficult to come up with exciting programs.

Isn't the goal of schools to prepare the students for the future. If that is the case then aren't we suppose to model and teach them how to take care of themselves, think for themselves and problem solve. Schools should not just be a place where students are "given" knowledge. There is so much more a school could offer.

It is imperative for the school community to work together for a common goal. There should be ongoing collaborative assessments, school quality reviews, students input and ongoing dialogue. So teachers, stop complaining and get motivated. Motivation and enthusiasm is contagious...and isn't that what we want? Having students excited to learn.

What am I going to do? Well I would encourage my colleagues to try and do the following: Make learning fun, meaningful and authentic. In my Social Studies class last year I gave the assignment of "Learn Whatever You Want." The students were able to pick a topic and just learn about it. Then they gave a presentation or a lesson on the topic. Some students did PowerPoints, Reports, posters, cooked food...etc...The students were motivated about learning and excited to listen to their peers. If I could do this everyday then I would be on my way of reaching my goals as a teacher.

Digital Photograpy Project

project farryl, melissa and dennis

From: guest021baa, 4 minutes ago

project farryl, melissa and dennis

view presentation (tags: nature digital photography)

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The way it was

Nawlins

I Am So Much Cooler Online

Ability Grouping

I am frequently reassessing my students for placement into
different groups in ELA. These are groups are arranged so it is easy
to reassign the students based on student progress and topic of
lesson. At the beginning of each year I receive an Individual
Evaluation Plan (IEP) for each of my students. On these reports the
students WAIS and Stanford Binet IQ test scores are present. They
are placed in the self-contained classroom based upon these
scores. I use heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping in my
classroom based upon lesson and topic.

I have a 90-minute ELA block for my 11 self-contained special
education 7th grade students. The program we is a called Read 180
which is remedial reading and writing program which is structured
into three groups. One group uses the computer program, which
touches on different ELA skills. This program keeps track of their
progress. Also I am able to print out reports based upon different
skills, Main Idea, Inference, etc. I am able to use these reports to
group my students in the appropriate homogenous group for a
specific topic.

The second station of Read 180 is small group instruction. This is
the group that is teacher facilitated and focuses on a specific
reading or writing skill. It is very helpful to be able to work in a
small group of students that are on similiear levels. This allows me
to provide adequate direct instruction for each group.

The third group is independent reading. This is the time where the
students can pick a leveled book and enjoy reading. There are
packets and project that accompanies each book. Since the
students are group homogeneously they can work together on
these books and questions.

I incorporate a myriad of teaching techniques in my lessons. Since I
am teaching students with disabilities it is important to present the
information in a variety of ways. I feel the ELA program I have set
up in my class reaches both the Global and the Analytical learner.
This is important so all of the learning styles are met for each
student.

I agree a teacher must take many factors into consideration while
planning their day. I also believe this comes with experience and
being in tune to behavior and performance in the class. According
to LEARING STYLES – UTILIZE YOUR POTENTIAL PowerPoint, there
are perceptual, environmental, emotional, psychological,
physiolgical, sociological elements in the classroom which effect
learning.

I know I am teaching differently after lunch, than before. I try to
incorporate more reading in the morning as opposed to after lunch.
This is because the students focus more in the morning. Also there
are certain students I can not have work together after lunch,
because they dont ”play well” and they come back annoyed.
However, before lunch they work wonderfully togehter.

The learning of environment in my classroom are always
differentiated. Some students learn best walking around or
standing while reading. Other students like to be near the window.
I also have a lounging beach chair that one of my students uses to
do work. As a teacher it is important to be aware of the different
needs, ability accordingly.