Well today I met with Dr. K. and I'm officially in the Masters Reading Program. She helped me plan out the next two years. I'm really excited and this is my first class.
I was happy that the weather cooperated and I was able to make the trek to college. Luckily my son felt like driving (he got his permit this summer) and I was just a passenger. It's tiring to drive after working with children all day.
We're in the midst of test prep, and it's not my favorite time of the year. I can't wait for the spring when I feel like I can teach again without worrying about the NJ ASK4. Does anyone have a good lesson or suggestions for teaching open-ended reading questions? I'm struggling with this particular class. They are really having a hard time; I could use a few suggestions. Thanks!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Weekend Blues
I spent most of my weekend doing chores and errands. My husband is remodeling our den, my daughter is away at college, and I hardly saw my son. He helped my husband, worked at his part-time job, and played computer games. I found myself feeling overly sorry for myself. Does anyone have any ideas on how to have a good time on a budget? I want to plan something for next weekend so that I can at least go back to work and have something to contribute to the lunchtime conversation. Everyone at work always seems to make the most of their weekends. I hope that next weekend I will have a better time.
Book Clubs
I'm in the process of trying to establish book clubs for my fourth grade students. My goal is to incorporate what I learned at a book club workshop and have students read on their level. I have a limited classroom library. I have been using my Scholastic points to aquire books, and one of our PTA grants was very helpful. I want to be successful, but I have only taught literature circles where the students have special roles. I was wondering if anyone enrolled in READ 525 has had experience teaching reading with book clubs. I would welcome any input or suggestions. I'm curious to find out what would make this experience successful.
Reaction to "What Next? Toddler Netizens, Playstation Thumb, Techno-literacies"
I agree with the author Carmen Luke that new technologies have changed children's experiences over the years. He discusses the history of communication from books to movies and TV and MTV to home computers and playstation. Throughout history people have worried about the effects of the latest technology. In the last ten years, so much has changed and we now have seen a new family structure with young children becoming well-versed in computer technology. The article explained that new technologies will create new jobs and we need to prepare our young for a world with unfamiliar technologies.
This article discusses four major issues. First, children's experiences are being shaped by technology. Children's developmental stages are no longer traditional. They are processing various types of information when they acess multimedia text. They have different literacy skills today. Second, parents and educators need to be informed prior to purchasing software and gender stereotypes exist today in popular software. Third, children need to apply analytical skills to the new technology. Fourth, socioeconomics affect acess to the new technologies, and this needs to be addressed so that all children are equally able to use new technology.
My own children grew up in the 1990s and watched TV as entertainment. They grew up watching Sesame Street and Barney. Their childhood was much different from my childhood because of computers. They played various games on the computer such as Math Blaster and American Girls CD-ROMs. They were able to use the computer also as a tool to help them do their research for their assignments. My son in particular graduated from Playstation2 to playing games in cyberspace. He knows so much about the computer, and I can't figure out how he taught himself how to do the things he does.
My daughter now has her own laptop and it is constantly on. She's either emailing someone, watching a video, listening to music, downloading music, or surfing the web. My daughter's education is dependent on this laptop. She communicates with her classmates, professors, does her research, and writes her papers with it. It's hard to imagine the world without all of this technology.
Technology has changed the way we live and has changed family dynamics. I remember watching TV together with my parents and having limited choices before cable TV. Now we have so many more choices and my family of four rarely watches TV together. Everyone is so busy. My children are dependent on technology: cell phones, computers, Ipods, and other devices.
I realize that we are fortunate to be able to have the latest technology. Having taught in different school districts throughout my career, I am aware that not everyone has access to technology at home. Where I live and teach now everyone has a home computer and they are computer literate.
I agree with the author that educators will need to "reshape curriculum." I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to best use technology in my classroom. I realize that I have a lot to learn, and I welcome your suggestions and input.
This article discusses four major issues. First, children's experiences are being shaped by technology. Children's developmental stages are no longer traditional. They are processing various types of information when they acess multimedia text. They have different literacy skills today. Second, parents and educators need to be informed prior to purchasing software and gender stereotypes exist today in popular software. Third, children need to apply analytical skills to the new technology. Fourth, socioeconomics affect acess to the new technologies, and this needs to be addressed so that all children are equally able to use new technology.
My own children grew up in the 1990s and watched TV as entertainment. They grew up watching Sesame Street and Barney. Their childhood was much different from my childhood because of computers. They played various games on the computer such as Math Blaster and American Girls CD-ROMs. They were able to use the computer also as a tool to help them do their research for their assignments. My son in particular graduated from Playstation2 to playing games in cyberspace. He knows so much about the computer, and I can't figure out how he taught himself how to do the things he does.
My daughter now has her own laptop and it is constantly on. She's either emailing someone, watching a video, listening to music, downloading music, or surfing the web. My daughter's education is dependent on this laptop. She communicates with her classmates, professors, does her research, and writes her papers with it. It's hard to imagine the world without all of this technology.
Technology has changed the way we live and has changed family dynamics. I remember watching TV together with my parents and having limited choices before cable TV. Now we have so many more choices and my family of four rarely watches TV together. Everyone is so busy. My children are dependent on technology: cell phones, computers, Ipods, and other devices.
I realize that we are fortunate to be able to have the latest technology. Having taught in different school districts throughout my career, I am aware that not everyone has access to technology at home. Where I live and teach now everyone has a home computer and they are computer literate.
I agree with the author that educators will need to "reshape curriculum." I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to best use technology in my classroom. I realize that I have a lot to learn, and I welcome your suggestions and input.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
READ 525: Hopes, Concerns, and Purpose
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my graduate reading course was going to focus on new literacies and techology. I want to discover new ways to teach reading and writing that will appeal to my students. My goal is to have all of my students excited and motivated to learn by using technology in our classroom. We will be getting laptops for each of my students and myself, and I want to learn how to integrate technology into my literacy period. I hope that I will be successful in fulfilling my goal.
One concern that I have is being able to keep everyone on task while I work with individual students on the laptops. Young children are not patient and do not like to wait. I'm also nervous about them using the equipment appropriately, computers crashing, and children going to sites that are not suitable for young children. Good classroom management of the new technology will need to be established. I have experience teaching older students in this manner, but I am concerned about teaching young children.
My original purpose for taking the graduate reading course was because I want to become more proficient in creating powerful literacy lessons. I have attended various reading/writing workshops and I have yet to find what fits my teaching style. I'm hoping to grow and develop in this area. My school principal is very interested in setting up leveled libraries and having the students read on their own level. We are in the process of creating the libraries and I'm interested in starting book clubs in the spring. It's similar to literature circles, but the students do not have specific jobs. I have taught literature circles and I am excited about this new adventure in reading.
My new purpose with READ 525 is to be confident in exploring new ways to teach reading that will help me reach all of my students. Differentiation is a key approach that our school administration wants us to implement in our classrooms. I want my students to love reading, and I want my classroom to be a place that is conducive to learning. I also want to integrate new literacies and technology in my classroom. I'm very excited about this new graduate course. It's exactly what I need to meet my personal development plan.
One concern that I have is being able to keep everyone on task while I work with individual students on the laptops. Young children are not patient and do not like to wait. I'm also nervous about them using the equipment appropriately, computers crashing, and children going to sites that are not suitable for young children. Good classroom management of the new technology will need to be established. I have experience teaching older students in this manner, but I am concerned about teaching young children.
My original purpose for taking the graduate reading course was because I want to become more proficient in creating powerful literacy lessons. I have attended various reading/writing workshops and I have yet to find what fits my teaching style. I'm hoping to grow and develop in this area. My school principal is very interested in setting up leveled libraries and having the students read on their own level. We are in the process of creating the libraries and I'm interested in starting book clubs in the spring. It's similar to literature circles, but the students do not have specific jobs. I have taught literature circles and I am excited about this new adventure in reading.
My new purpose with READ 525 is to be confident in exploring new ways to teach reading that will help me reach all of my students. Differentiation is a key approach that our school administration wants us to implement in our classrooms. I want my students to love reading, and I want my classroom to be a place that is conducive to learning. I also want to integrate new literacies and technology in my classroom. I'm very excited about this new graduate course. It's exactly what I need to meet my personal development plan.
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