This week in class, we have covered a lot of information! We have been discussing our unit plans and the types of content that we need to include. We have gone over concepts, generalizations, and now guiding questions. With that, we are taking our unit and beginning to really develop it. I am looking forward to how it comes along, especially with all of the techniques I am learning.
Also this week, we finalized our Professional Development Plans, or PDP's. With that, I am going to be researching different technology tools and sharing them each week, as well as looking at looking at ways to integrate fine arts into other subjects. The first website that I found was Prepdog.org. It is a website that is divided into grade levels. Under each grade level, there are assessments that connect with common core standards. Students can use the website to determine their level on reading and math. It is a different way to take a test than just a paper and pencil and connects with standard 4 of the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards in that teachers facilitate learning and utilize technology in their classroom. http://www.prepdog.org/
I also found a website that has multiple plays on it for students to learn and act out. There are some plays that relate to social studies topics which can help students better understand the units that they are learning, as well as some other content related topics such as science and ELA. Plays are a great way to incorporate the arts into your lessons and it also relates to standard 4 in that teachers use a variety of instructional methods and teachers help students work in teams and develop leadership qualities. Here is the website for the plays: http://www.teachingheart.net/readerstheater.htm
I am looking forward to sharing all of the technology tools that I discover because I know that it will be extremely helpful to use in my classroom as an educator. Technology is something that nearly every young student has grown up with in this age and it is important that as teachers we keep up to date with that. I am also excited to learn ways to integrate fine arts into my lessons because I know that including the arts can really help connect some students to what they are learning.
Megan, I am also very excited to see how our units turn out while we are developing them every week! Your goals for the PDP are awesome, I can't wait to see what kind of technology resources you find throughout the semester! I will be taking a look at the website you provided and hopefully I will find it useful as well! The second website you talked about seems like a great way to integrate the fine arts into your other lessons in your classroom. I agree that technology is important because our students have never been without technology and it is a very important aspect in their lives. If we integrate technology, our students will be more engaged.
ReplyDeleteMegan, I just took a look at the website you gave (prepdog.org) and it has some really awesome resources to help us assess students on how well they are retaining the standards! It would definitely be helpful when we are teaching! I must say that I am also very excited to see how my unit plan will come together! It seems that I learn something new about it and get a new understanding of how to construct a unit every day! I agree that plays would be a wonderful way for students to show their understanding of lessons we teach and take leadership in the classroom. This would reach the visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learners! I must also say that I am excited to integrate technology into my unit and learn a bit more about how to effectively use technology in my classroom. This will be so beneficial, as the students we will be teaching have grown up, for the most part, with technology nearly always at their fingertips.
ReplyDeleteMegan,
ReplyDeleteWow the website, "Prepdog.org" is so awesome and very helpful! I'm definitely saving that to use in my future lessons/classroom. Whenever you're finished with this semester's PDP, you're going to have a great portfolio or resources to use. In today's day and age technology is only becoming more complex and more widely used. So, as future teachers we need to keep up with this area and constantly incorporate it into our classrooms, because the students will have to know how to use technology and the great benefits of it. Awesome post!!
Megan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for a clear description of your learning experiences this week. Make sure the connections to the NCTCS and your future classroom are specific.