Blog #9

• Reflection: 
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• Hey, guys! We had two weeks off from blogs, and that was amazing! Thanks, Dr. Parker! That means, however, that I have lots to share from these two weeks. In my work this week, I was most satisfied with completing my first clinical observation at my placement school. I am satisfied with this, not because I did anything spectacular, but because of the hard work and wonderful things, I am seeing at my clinical placement. I LOVED going and observing the teacher that I am with this semester. She makes the students feel as if they are the BEST in her eyes. When she has these conversations about them being the best, she says that it is a "closed door kind of conversation." She says that because she doesn't want to 'hurt anyone's feelings.' This just made me so proud to be a teacher because the expectations she has for her students is so high, and they rise to meet her expectations. I encountered struggles this week with getting the science fair project completed. The research got a lot more complicated than we were expecting, and we do not have the equipment to test the germs on the bread. To remedy this struggle, one of my groupmates has made contact with a science teacher on campus in hopes that we will be able to borrow some equipment or have some help from her. I am most proud of my ability to work through an EdTPA lesson plan for math with minimal tears being shed and a mostly positive attitude. The action steps that I want to complete over this next week are to spend time with my family on fall break, get caught up on assignments, and get ahead on my assignments. I want to complete these things for the well being of my mental health! Spending time with my family and getting my school work checked off my to-do list are sure ways to make me smile. For class this week, I participated and was there with a smile. By the end of class, however, I did not have a smile on my face. I can contribute more in the class by making sure to keep up my positive attitude all throughout class. 

• Outside Research:

• For my outside research, I looked into what a restart school was. In my school visit this week, I learned that there was a restart school in our county. I had never heard of this before, and I wanted to know more about it. What I learned was that restart schools did not have as many strict guidelines and rules as other schools do. They don't have to test as much, and they receive more support and resources. Here is a website that I visited.   

• Top Tweets: 

As a teacher candidate at GWU, I have personally often felt like I just didn't know enough strategies to plan my lessons efficiently. I love twitter because I can find strategies for just about everything. This tweet has 50 or more teaching strategies. 

I loved @alicekeeler 's tweet because she talked about her principal personally sewing the curtains on the stage. This was something he could have easily said was not his job, but he didn't. I want to be the kind of woman, teacher, wife, friend, and coworker that doesn't worry about whose job it is. I just want to have the initiative to just do it. 

For my third and final tweet, I tweeted about being positive. I know every day in education is something new and any minute something could go wrong. That is what keeps life fun and exciting. So, put your positive pants on. 

• Scientific Thinking:

This week, I learned about the current event of data being released that showed high lead levels in school water fountains. This was very surprising to me because I thought schools would have clean and safe drinking water. This link included above is a really neat way to combine science, literacy, and math! The link has data for students to analyze and evaluate which would be a great math tool. 

Hyperdocs: We have had three hyperdocs this week to review, and they have been jam-packed with information. 

The first hyperdoc was week 5! In week 5 there was a lot of discussion about formative and summative assessments. This is something that we talk frequently about in education. It was a great refresher; it gave some great ideas for assessments, too. The second hyperdoc was week 6, and it was my groups week. I learned a lot from this week because we really dug into the material and advanced our knowledge. The chapter had a really big buzz word that we have been talking about in SCED, "inquiry." It talked about how to foster inquiry-based learning and how to engage using the 5E model. The last one for this blog discussion is week is week 7. It talked a lot about questioning effectively in order to foster inquiry. I found some wonderful strategies here about the wait time. 

NCTCS: NCTCS is always a good reminder of the standard I am being held to and my personal goals as a teacher candidate. In my school visits this week, I really learned a lot of information! At my clinical placement, I observed a team of teachers working so flawlessly together that the kids did not even miss a beat when plans were changed. This goes along with standard 2E: Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students. In the lives of their students are three other teachers because they do guided reading groups. The students are grouped by ability level, and their transitions were flawless. The teachers have only implemented this for about two weeks, and the students seem so well adjusted which speaks highly of the educators I am learning from. They work well together for the greater good of each child. This relates well to my science instruction because in the future I may be on a team in an upper grade in which I switch classes. This learning experience is a great one to have now so that I can learn how to collaborate well with my team just like they do. 

EDUC 350

This week, our class as you all know, went to a school to observe from the beginning of the day until the end of the day. This was an interesting experience, to say the least. I learned a lot about the culture of the school. When we arrived, I noticed a parent in the hallway who was not too happy about something, and a staff member was helping them, and they were very patient. Although I was only able to see this encounter for a minute as I was passing, it was a wonderful example of professionalism. This connects to  NCPTS Standard 2 E: Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students. After arriving, we gathered in the media center where we were given a lens into the school. The CTC gave us an overview of the last few years and the great things happening at the school. The report card data was not a surprise because we had already discussed it previously.  I was placed in a fourth-grade class. When my partner and I arrived, the students were in WIN groups. WIN stands for what I need. We were able to observe math, guided reading, whole group novel reading, lunch, specials, and dismissal. During the class time, the students did not always seem to be engaged. In my future classroom, I want to structure my lessons to where the students have a good chance of being engaged. During guided reading, the students all worked at their own pace and the teacher called them up by ability groups to her table. The lunchtime was great because I was able to sit with the kids and converse with them. During specials, the students were not as well behaved as they were in the classroom. One thing I thought and this day confirmed it was that kids will meet the expectations you set for them. If you have really low expectations for a child, they will only meet those low expectations. Our teacher had really high expectations for her students and they rose to the occasion. When I am a teacher, I will hold my kids to my high expectations so that they know I believe in them. Overall, I took away from the experience what one day at a low-performing school looked like. It was different than any other school I had been in previously.

Blog 7: EDUC 350

Hey, friends!

It is great to be here with you again on the blog! This week in EDUC 350, we had some very good conversation concerning laws and policies. We also had a guest speaker, Dr. Mitcham on Wednesday. While I had most definitely heard of MTSS, I had never had someone talk to me about it on an in-depth basis. One of the topics that I learned a lot about during this time was that MTSS: Multi-Tiered Prevention System is an umbrella for all the intervention that is done for supporting students. I knew that differentiation, IEPs 504s, PLCs, and so much more went into getting students were they need to be. One thing I did not know is that no student leaves the Tier 1 level of classroom instruction. Even if students need Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention, they still need Tier one core work, too! Being responsive to the needs of students and advocating for those needs through law and policies falls under the NCPTS Standard 1:D:Teachers advocate for schools and students. I want to be knowledgeable in all the ways that I can for my future students so that I can be the booming voice where they are hoarse. Knowing about MTSS and other RTI strategies can make the difference in a positive or negative student outcome. In my future classroom, I will be responsive to the needs of my students, hopefully catching problems early, and staffing my students with the resources and people they need to succeed.

For my outside research, I looked for some classroom management tips. I found this website. It was a wonderful read, and I encourage you to bookmark it for a later time. The first point about managing your classroom is to create your classroom environment. This is a topic that we have talked heavily about in EDUC 350. I feel more prepared now than I ever have to create a positive and inclusive classroom environment.

I will sign off with a quote of positivity:

I make you stand firm in Christ. I have anointed you, set my seal of ownership on you, and put my Spirit in your heart as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. I love to do far beyond all power, which is working in you- even when you don't realize it.
Love,
Your God of Victory
Based on:
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Ephesians 3:20

Blog # 6

• Reflection:

Hey, friends. It is wonderful to be back with y'all again on the blog! In SCED 330, we didn't have class Tuesday, thanks, Dr. Parker! On Thursday, we learned about Science Writing Heuristic. We did an experiment of creating parachutes, we designed 4 parachutes, a basic parachute, and a control, which was a paperclip. We were trying to see how each design affected the air resistance. As we did not finish in time to go over our results, I will have to get back to you next week. The picture below shows one of our designs. This was a very inexpensive way to engage students in a scientific experiment. 

The most satisfying part of my work this week was being able to make a to-do list and get things done on it! While my to-do list is still pretty lengthy, it was a good feeling to check things off that I had done already. I encountered struggle this week with making headway on my unit for SCED 330. I am still unsure of some of the wording and expectations on my unit. To remedy this, I plan to look back at my unit for SSED307  and review what I have already completed. This week, I was most proud of being able to get one learning segment done for edTPA with my good friend, Gabrielle! We worked really hard to think critically about what was best practice for our students with this learning segment. I was also proud because it was a first-grade learning segment, and I have never been good at bringing things down to a first grader's level. Thankfully, Gabrielle was able to help me and give me some pointers about my language. Many thanks to her! The action steps that I want to complete this week are just two simple things: spend time with my family, and knock out some more things on my to-do list before Friday! I really want to spend time with my family this weekend, because no matter what, people are the most important in this life. Material things are wonderful, but life is just not as special without the ones we love. I want to complete more things on my to-do list before Friday so that I will be able to spend time with my family and not worry about homework. I contributed to class overall this week by being a team player and getting the group project done with a can-do attitude. I can try to be more ready for class next week by reviewing the material before we come to class to ensure I can contribute to discussions. 

Outside Learning/Research: 

This week I have been looking for more materials to help create a positive learning environment. I found a great article outlining 32 ways to create that positive classroom environment. Check it out here. My top favorite strategy is to just build relationships with students. This is so crucial because students have a much harder time learning from a teacher they don't like. Building relationships with every student is NOT in any way easy, but worth it, definitely. One book that I found to create a positive learning environment is: Vision of Beauty

Sarah Breedlove Walker rose from a bleak world of poverty and discrimination to unprecedented success as an influential businesswoman and philanthropist. In renaming herself, Madam Walker, in founding her own company, and in establishing herself as a powerful role-model, she proved that if something can be envisioned, it can be achieved.

Often, for young women and young men of color, they grow up thinking they don't have many options in life because poverty is so prevalent in their lives. This is a story of Sarah Breedlove Walker and her journey through struggle and success. This would help to create a positive classroom environment because my African American students and other students who are living in poverty would hopefully see that they can overcome whatever situation they find themselves in with hard work and determination. For my students in the class who are not impoverished, it gives them a lens into the lives of their classmates indirectly, through Vision of Beauty. This directly relates to standard 2 of NCPTS: Teachers Establish A Respectful Learning Environment For A Diverse Population of Students.

Top Tweets: 

This tweet was one of my top three because it goes a long way for a teacher to step back and let his/her students shine. There is nothing more powerful in learning than learning so thoroughly that one can teach another. These are 6 principles of guiding "Genius Hour." 

I am a firm believer in the fact that once a student leaves my classroom they should be better off academically and personally. The world has to deal with them when they leave my classroom so I feel as if it is important to address these 6 skills in my classroom. 

Another thing I have firmly believed in for a while is that technology is not everything. Worksheets work, too, but technology, when used effectively, can be a game changer for both students and teachers. The tweet outlines 7 characteristics of teachers who use technology effectively. 

Scientific Thinking:

This week a current event that I learned about was the Flu shot and genes. I realized when I got a phone call from my doctor that I had not gotten my own flu shot for the year, yet. This prompted me to do some research on the flu shot. There is new research that shows some very interesting points about the effectiveness of the flu shot.

"A genetic “crystal ball” can predict whether the flu vaccine will work well for certain people.

Nine genes are tied to a strong immune response to the flu vaccine in people 35 and under, a new study finds. If these genes are highly active before vaccination, a person will respond to the flu shot by making lots of antibodies. This is true no matter what flu variety, or strain, is in the vaccine. The response can help a person avoid getting the flu." Read more here. I thought it was very interesting that our genes could predict the effectiveness of the flu shot. 

This week the Hyperdoc was very informing. One thing that I really connected to was this graphic. We have been learning A LOT about inquiry and how it is important to inspire inquiring minds in our classroom. This graphic was really helpful for me to get some ideas about how to create inquiry-based learning in my own classroom. This relates to NCPTS Standard 4F: Teachers help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This relates to inquiry-based learning in every way! Teachers who help students develop inquiring minds also help them with critical thinking! This will relate to my future classroom because I want to make sure my students are prepared for 21st-century jobs that require problem solvers and critical thinkers. Hyperdoc link here!

EDUC 350: 

This week in EDUC 350, we concluded learning about cultural competency and moved on to laws and policies of education. To a lot of people, this may not seem like much fun, but it is most definitely important. Dr. Clark gave us a list of most important things to be aware of as teachers. 1.Bleeding kids 2. Hurt kids 3. Money. I didn't realize that money played such a huge role in the life of an educator. Another thing that we learned about what Least Restrictive Environment. Here are some notes that I took during class: 

4 settings for LRE(Least restrictive environment):

1. Inclusion- Students who with assistance who can stay in a regular classroom. Usually, have an assistant for the math/ELA in order to help that student. Included in the regular classroom. We provide accommodation.  
2. Resource- Students are in classroom/ no other teacher for support/ they go to a resource teacher during certain times of the day.  
3. Self-contained- Students are in their own classroom not the regular classroom for part of the day or the whole day.
4. Separate setting- Like North Shelby-Separate school
5. *Monitoring*- The EC teacher comes in and checks to see if they are progressing

This was an eye opening topic because I realized that day there was so much I still had to learn! Meeting the students needs with the LRE relates to NCPTS Standard 2D: Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs. In my future classroom, I strive to have every student feel important, valued, and loved. This is especially so, for me, with students who have special needs because they often are picked on or embarrased for their uniqueness! 

To leave on a positive note, I found this picture below. Every child needs a champion. You can be that champion. These are MY kids, say it, own it, love it.

 

Until next week, 

Mallory H. 

Blog # 5

Hey, friends. Another blog coming your way about the great world of education is here! This week was eventful, to say the least. I learned a lot both in and out of class, and it has ALL made me a better educator and person. 

• Reflection:
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• This week I learned about how to teach word problems in MAED 330. I had to get up in front of my peers and teach a word problem. To some, this may not seem like a big deal, but to me it is! I have never been a big fan of math, so to conquer a fear of teaching others math was a good feeling. I was proud of that. My presentation wasn't perfect, but it was definitely a start. I encountered struggle this week when I realized that I had stretched myself just a little too thin. Between projects, tests, quizzes, homework, classes, family, friends, eating, sleeping etc. I felt as if I was SO overwhelmed. My professors really helped me through that this week. I was honest with them about my overwhelming week; they provided encouragement and perspective. In order to get through this, I reexamined my schedule, study habits, and time management. I was focusing too much on every detail of every assignment, therefore, it was hard for me to check many things off my to-do list. My collaboration with my group members this week in social studies brought me great satisfaction this week. I feel as if we worked hard to accomplish our first trial of our experiment and we did a great job of being timely and efficient. My action steps that I want to complete next week are finishing my blog within an hour time frame, go visit my new school(hopefully😀), and spend meaningful time with a friend at dinner. I want to do all these things in order to spend time wisely and grow and nurture relationships. Overall in class this week, I contributed to my peers by thinking deeply about topics that we discussed and asking questions to benefit the group. Next week, I aim to have a more positive mindset. 

Outside Learning/ Research:

This week in my research I found a book relating to immigration and the difference that I child could make. After reading about multiculturalism in EDUC 350, I felt it was important to dive into the real-life situations that my students could be facing.  

"After Saya's mother is sent to an immigration detention center, Saya finds comfort in listening to her mother's warm greeting on their answering machine. To ease the distance between them while she’s in jail, Mama begins sending Saya bedtime stories inspired by Haitian folklore on cassette tape. Moved by her mother's tales and her father's attempts to reunite their family, Saya writes a story of her own—one that just might bring her mother home for good.

With stirring illustrations, this tender tale shows the human side of immigration and imprisonment—and shows how every child has the power to make a difference."

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mamas-nightingale-edwidge-danticat/1121100395

TTOTW:

I could imagine as a classroom teacher that it gets pretty frustrating to hear, I don't know, over and over again. This teacher proposed three things to say instead of I don't know! This is a great strategy to get the students to push past the wall they cant seem to break through. 

This tweet showed a great graphic about what skills are important for students to have that are not academic. I do believe that academics are important, more than important, foundational to the rest of their lives. However, being smart does not make you a good person. The world has to deal with the children that come out of my classroom, so I want to make sure they are growing personally, too. 

This tweet was really relevant to science methods because it talked about a virtual lab in classes using STEM standards. I realized this week that so much science could be taught through worksheets, quizzes, and tests, but if it is more hands-on, students are more likely to make deeper connections.

Scientific Thinking: 

This week, a current event that I learned about was the earth quake that hit Mexico. "A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked central Mexico on Tuesday, killing 225 people." This was devastating news especially after all of the hurricanes that have come through this area of late. This could directly apply to my future classroom if my students have family in Mexico or are from there. 

(Newsela). https://newsela.com/read/mexico-city-7-earthquake/id/35417/ 

The hyperdoc chapter #3 was done by my group this week. From this, I learned the difference between knowing and understanding and how to a child, that makes all the difference in the world. I also learned a good bit about creating a hyperdoc using the 5E model. I am still a little unsure about the 5E model in a real classroom setting, but I look forward to exploring it more. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pVnkt1hh9mksnulcS3ijFLjOeVD6EvsOKntj0e-L0kw/edit?usp=sharing

This week in SCED 330, we learned about the Cl-Ev-R model. It stands for Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. Dr. Parker brought up a great point about the way teachers are usually great at teaching claim and evidence, but we are not so great at encouraging students to explain their reasoning. This is crucial because it gives students a whole new level of knowledge and connections. This relates to  NCPTS Standard 4: Teachers Facilitate Learning for Their Students: Teachers help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This relates to my future science instruction because I want to help my students not only know why something happens but how it happens, too. If students can go through the Cl-Ev-R model, they will be better able to reason and think abstractly. 

EDUC 350: 

This week in EDUC 350 was wonderful! We participated in a game called C'est la Vi, (Spelling?). It was extremely eye-opening to talk about the way you started out in life, often in situations beyond your control, could decide your future. For my future classroom, I want to be able to identify generational poverty, understand it, and assist where I can. We also talked about multicultural education this week. One big connection that I made this week about multicultural education was that the way we look at students who are learning English as a second language. If we look down on them and think about having to teach them English as being a problem, it disadvantages the child. If we look at it as an opportunity for them to become bilingual and have so many opportunities in their future, it benefits them greatly and makes the relationship better. This relates to NCPTS: Standard 2C: Teachers treat students as individuals. If we see their language as a positive addition to them as individuals instead of a negative addition, that could open up a new world for relationships and a more positive and embracing classroom environment. Overall this week, I have learned that no matter what culture/background/ethnicity a child is, that makes them who they are. They bring something unique, special, and wonderful to my classroom. I cannot wait to love on my kids!! :) 

• To sign off, I will leave you with a video and the words, "Every child needs a champion." -Rita Pierson 

Have a great weekend, y'all. 

Blog #4

• Hey, friends!

Weekly Reflection

I am so blessed to be with you this week sharing this blog and learning about education. There are so many things that I have learned this week in all my classes. Over this week, I was most proud of the fact that I got ahead in one of my classes so that I would not have to worry about it this week. One struggle that I had this week was forgetting about my Spanish Lab, oops!! I forgot to go this week and last week. I made a sign for my room and for my refrigerator reminding me to go to the lab. I also set an alarm on my phone! Learning about edTPA in math class brought me the most satisfaction this week. Dr. Nanney is helping us take edTPA piece by piece and providing us with feedback. It has been the most satisfactory part of my week because I realized that I can do edTPA piece by piece. It won't be easy but I can persevere! My action steps over the next week are to make sure my laundry is kept up with (because doing big loads on the weekend is never fun), work on my PDP, and eat lunch or dinner with at least two friends intentionally spending time with them and being present. I would like to complete these things because they would be really helpful in relieving stress, building relationships, and advancing my professional development. Overall in class this week, I brought a positive can-do attitude. I also helped with research and met with my fellow classmates outside of class to work on projects.

Outside Learning & Research

For my outside learning and research, I have been searching for ways to create a positive and accepting classroom environments through literacy. I found a book called, The Sandwich Swap and it is a really great way to teach acceptance in younger grades. Here is a summary of the book that I pulled off this website: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6644750-the-sandwich-swap

"Lily and Salma are best friends. They like doing all the same things, and they always eat lunch together. Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus--but what's that between friends? It turns out, a lot. Before they know it, a food fight breaks out. Can Lily and Salma put aside their differences? Or will a sandwich come between them?

The smallest things can pull us apart--until we learn that friendship is far more powerful than difference. In a glorious three-page gatefold at the end of the book, Salma, Lily, and all their classmates come together in the true spirit of tolerance and acceptance. "

Top Tweets of the Week

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This tweet meant a lot to me personally because I had friends and people very close to me experience this situation. Being intentional about building relationships with students outside the classroom is a way to build a strong bond in the classroom. Kids just really want to know you care, and you just may be the only one that does. 

This infographic is a wonderful way to see the inquiry process; it can be very helpful to know when thinking about applying to a classroom setting. Students deserve to have a teacher who knows how to dig deep in learning. This was helpful to me, so I thought I would share it. 

This tweet is absolutely so sweet! It is great to see what would be considered small accomplishments to some being celebrated. It goes a long way when a student feels like their teacher believes in them!  This tweet was SUPER sweet! It is so true, kids deserve it. They deserve for us to celebrate their accomplishments. It may seem trivial to some to celebrate on a test by test basis but it helps the classroom atmosphere! It also helps boost self-esteem for those amazing kids! 

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• Scientific Thinking

  This week we learned about hurricanes in SCED! As a current event that was happening that day, it made it real to discuss what was happening. One really awesome teacher experience that we had today was talking about what we would say if a student asked, "How do hurricanes form?" From there we researched it and made a presentation and then presented. It was really great!! I felt like this was helpful to me. This week had a text facilitation from Chapter https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1S9JGaGqppMEuW8uVJ8wNrUNtBlaqeME-s7Hbhxj412U/edit?usp=sharing  It talked about scientific inquiry and involving students in their learning using the 5E model. Although I am still unsure of how fond I am of the 5E model, I am learning more about it. This week I learned how important it was to know the content that I am responsible for teaching. I realized when Dr. Parker asked from the perspective of a student, "How is a hurricane formed?" that I needed to review my content for 5th-grade science. This relates directly to NCPTS Standard 3 Teachers know the content they teach! This directly affects my future classroom because I most assuredly would benefit from knowing my content!! 

EDUC 350

In EDUC 350 this week, we had the wonderful experience of getting a lens into the life of poverty vs wealth. It was an eye opening experience. We each drew slips of paper out of a cup to tell us our socioeconomic status. The low SES group got torn papers, two markers, a paperclip and an envelope. The high or middle-class SES group got many resources such as posters, food, many markers, technology etc. The point of the experiment was to give us an understanding of what many students go through every day! Going through this simulation reminded me that what my students are going through directly relates to their home life. It is important as educators to note, we must be aware and alert to what is happening in these kids lives. One way to do this is to keep relationships open with parents. NCPTS Standard 2 says, "Teachers work collaboratively with families and significant adults in the lives of their students." In my future classroom, I want to ensure that students and parents feel as if we are all working together to ensure their student is getting the best education that they can. 

I will sign off with some words of encouragement. If teaching was easy, a lot more people would be in the profession. You, yes you reading this blog, are valued, loved, and appreciated. Thanks for your hard work because #kidsdeserveit. 

-Mallory

Blog #3- Do you believe in me?

Hello, friends!

As a future educator, this week has been eye opening. We discussed race, racism, bias, and believing in our students. There is nothing more powerful in this world than love. This week I am most proud of reviewing my lens of bias in EDUC 350. This was a wonderful experience for me because so often I don't realize the lens in which I am using to look at the world, especially in my classroom. I struggled this week with making sure I did not procrastinate on my school work. I dealt with the struggle by creating deadlines of my own for my school work. In my learning, the video below brought me the most satisfaction. It reminded me of the reason that I am becoming an educator. Every student in my classroom deserves for me to believe in them. They deserve love, encouragement, and so much more. I may be the only person to smile at them or speak to them that day. It breaks my heart to know that children go through this, but my heart is overjoyed at the opportunity that I have to make a difference in this world.

The action steps that I want to take this week are to learn three new words, spend time with my roommates, and dedicate 15 minutes of prayer time every day! I want to do these things in order to build relationships and become more linguistically capable. This week in class I worked with my colleagues discussing important academic issues. In order to contribute more, I can make sure that I have researched important topics in order to allow for more discussion.

In my outside research, I searched for ways to make a classroom environment more like a family where everyone can feel loved and supported. The website I found mentioned several strategies to help build the classroom community. One of those was building the classroom through identity. When a child walks through the door they feel as if their classroom reflects them, their culture, and their identity. For example, a teacher could invite families to send in family photos to decorate the classroom with before the year begins. This would help with parental involvement too. 
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/building-community-classroom/

Top Tweets:


These three questions are so appropriate. When I walk into a classroom, I want to know the answer to those three questions. As a college student and a student for many years, I can honestly say that not every teacher that I have had could answer those questions, "yes." I strive to be a teacher that can answer, "YES," for all my kiddos.  

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With this tweet, I appreciated how it pointed out getting to know the students and building relationships was essential to showing how much you care. This is absolutely true. In the words of Dr. Clark, "Kids will do anything you ask of them if you show them that you care." 

In my classroom, I want to encourage my kids to be world changers. In order to do that, I must involve them and help them learn about ways in which they can change the world. 

Scientific Thinking: 

This week I have been learning about the current event of Hurricane Irma. I found a Newsela article that explains what a hurricane is to children. https://newsela.com/read/lib-nasa-what-is-hurricane/id/22629 We are talking in SCED about how to connect make phenomena become real to kids, and this is a definite way to do just that. 

This week I learned that believing in students and loving them is the first and foremost important thing. Standards, lessons, and assessments can come later. This directly relates to NCPTS standard 2: Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. This relates to my science instruction because my students will not care one iota about science if they do not know that I care about them. 

Over this week, I have made connections about the importance of being that person for my kids, each one of them. This is a tough job, I won't reach every child, but I know I can try. 

To end on a postive note,

I have a deep respect for all of you future educators. You have the power to empower. Have a wonderful weekend!! 

Mallory

Blog #2 SCED 330

Hello, all!

SCED 330:

This week I have learned the value of exploration not only in the classroom but outside as well. I have been exploring the possibilities open to me; life is simply full of wonderful opportunities. I am proud to have learned specifically to explore time for relaxation. It is probably going to add 10 years to my life expectancy. I jest, but it may be true. You may be wondering, why I am proud of this? The reason I am is that MANY people in my life have just told me I needed to relax and just breathe. Finally, at this point in my life, I am exploring 'breathing'. This week I struggled with the rush of getting back into the swing of classes, working, and 'breathing'. I dealt with this by relaxing and taking it one step at at time. As we work on cultural competency, reading, and researching for EDUC 350 has to be the most satisfying work I have done this week. Learning more about how to become a better educator through the lens of another person's culture has to be one of the most eye-opening experiences. My action steps that I want to complete over the next week include, read my Bible every day, study my Spanish vocabulary, and learn 3 new GRE words!  I want to read my Bible every day in order to grow in my walk with Christ, study Spanish vocabulary to be prepared, and learn 3 new GRE words for fun! In my outside research, I have been studying literature for multicultural classrooms. I found a great book to begin the conversation of citizenship and being accepting of their classmates. The book is in English and Spanish! 

I contributed to my classes this week by truly being present not just there. I also helped out my colleges on our group projects. Next week I can make sure to be aware of my body language so that I am making sure I am being attentive in my body language as well. 


I retweeted this and said, "Always make a positive phone call home before a negative one." I firmly believe that this is a good way to enhance parent/ teacher relationships. If the first time they hear from their child's teacher is a negative phone call, they are more likely to look at the teacher in a negative way.


I tweeted this for growth mindset because I believe that we can always grow in any area of our lives, but that starts by not giving up. The moment that a person gives up, they stop growing in that area of their life. In my professional life, I never want to give up on any student.


Love everyone's someone. Every child in my class has someone that cares for them. If not, even more, a reason to love them without discontinuing. If we could look at all the children in our classroom like our own children, what a comfort that would bring to the family of that little scholar.

Although we did not specifically talk about it, the flood in Texas is a current event happening that is related to science. I am praying for all involved, it is simply devastating. In science methods, we talked a lot about Phenomena. If I had not had this class, I would have had the entirely wrong idea about phenomena. I learned that a phenomenon is an observable event in nature that can be used to drive student learning.

This week, as we talked about phenomena in science, I realized just how important it is to know the content that I teach every day. Especially, in science, to be able to look and find the content in everyday life. I related this to the NCPTS number 3 Teachers know the content of their specialty.

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Blog #2 EDUC 350

Hello, all!

Week 2 has been wonderful to me so far. I have learned so much this week about my classmates and about tools to help me in my future career. In my classroom learning this week, I have gained a lens of how to approach teaching in a multicultural classroom. I have learned that token phrases I may have been taught my whole life such as, "sit Indian style" could be offensive to someone in my class. I also learned that the people writing history may not have always been the best to do it. They were most likely the "winners" of the war or privileged members of society. So in my classroom, I know it will be important for me to present the underdog's view of the event.
In my outside research, I have been studying literature in multicultural classrooms. I found a great book to begin the conversation of citizenship and being accepting of their classmates. The book is in English and Spanish!




Being able to make content relative to my students, relates directly to standard 3 in NCTCS, "Teachers make instruction relevant to students."

I am so thankful to have made a connection during the privilege walk that not all my students will come from the same place even if the majority of them resemble one another.

In my future classroom, the privilege walk is something I want to do every year. It builds trust in the peers and allows them to bond over past experiences. I also want to ensure I am respectful of every culture in my future classroom. Being respectful starts with being knowledgeable. I am working diligently this semester, and I will continue to work hard as I become a professional to ensure all my students feel wanted and loved in my classroom.



In a time of such turmoil and hate, remember the quote above. Take your education, and go change the world!


With joy,

Mallory

Guess Who Is Back... Back Again...

Hey, friends.

     We're all back together again on the blog spot. I hope that you all had a great summer and are ready to begin learning again.

     This week I have been really proud of how open minded I have been toward the new semester. Last December, I was very anxious about the new set of upcoming classes. This semester, I am just ready to learn all I can for my future scholars. I struggled this week with the change of being away from my loved ones. To deal with this, I gave them a call just to chat and say, "I love you." This may seem trivial to some, but not to me because anything could happen. The most satisfactory learning I did this week was in MAED 330. Dr. Nanney taught me that it is perfectly okay to be a human and be a teacher, too. Up until this point, I have really struggled with the idea that I had to be perfect. This isn't true, and I am so thankful and satisfied to have discovered this. Some action steps I want to complete this week include: write all due dates down, get my FAFSA verification paperwork turned in, and read my Bible every day. This week I felt like I contributed a positive attitude and a helpful hand to my fellow classmates during our classes. I had someone ask me for help learning how to blog in 350, and I happily obliged. Next week, I can make sure I am prepared with all my materials. This week I researched new technology tools to help me create infographics and sketchnotes. The two apps I found helpful were SparkPost and Paper53. These two apps could help me greatly in my future classroom with many tasks from advertising parent nights to helping students visually learn a concept.
     I also researched culture this week in EDUC 350. This was an interesting topic because it is so broad. We made a class definition which was: "Culture is the growth/development of human characteristics and social norms through the integration of beliefs, values, and traditions based on place and time, shared by a group of people." It was wonderful to connect this to Standard 2 which states: "Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and the world." As a future educator, I want to embrace my students for everything that they are. Their culture is a HUGE part of who they are, and in my classroom everyone is welcome. 


I had to throw this tweet in here because of how Dr. Clark made a point to talk to us about Brain Breaks this week. I never realized how important it was for ME to have a brain break as a 20-year-old adult much less for my students. It must be crucial. I loved how this teacher did the brain breaks in her class because her students were up moving, learning, and working all at the same time.



One of the most important traits we can have as humans is the ability to empathize with one another. This graphic was great, and I cannot wait to use it in my classroom. I am a firm believer in positive reinforcement not only from me but also from their peers.

This next tweet included 5 questions that we should ask ourselves every day. I love the idea that every day I could start a new day with a clean slate, so I think that I should afford that to my scholars as well. The first question resonates in my heart. "Am I excited about going to school today?" If I am not excited, my students are not receiving the proper energy from me. 

This week I did not learn about any current events per se, but I did learn that science is an everyday minute by minute learning experience. Sitting on the porch in SCED 330, we looked out all around us and pointed out scientific principles at work in nature. Under standard 4 of NCPTS, it states that "Teachers use a variety of instructional methods." We did an experiment in SCED 330. This was incredibly tactile and hands on. I learned a LOT from doing the experiment. This makes me want to ensure that I reach out to my tactile learners in my future classroom. 

As always, I will sign off with an encouraging word. 

Everyone that you have in your life knows something that you do not. I implore you to take a look at life through this lens. It could just change your life. 

See you next week, 

Mallory H. 

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Final Blog

Hello, friends.

Well, we are almost there. We are getting closer and closer to the finish line, and it is absolutely scary and exhilarating at the same time.

This week has been all about my unit. I am so thankful that I have worked on this unit a little bit along. It has still been pretty overwhelming, but it has been manageable. During this time of reflection, I have learned a few things about myself.
1. I am not very good at seeing the big picture.
2. I am working on being more positive.
3. I am going to get this done.

In my research this week, I found some great resources that I would love to use in my future classroom.
http://www.readingrockets.org/literacyapps
This website has a list of apps that aid in the teaching of literacy. They have a variety of options. Some I have never heard of and I am eager to try.

For my DOK strategies, I found a website that has a resource for DOK in many subjects.
https://sites.google.com/a/bayhaven.org/power-curriculum-test/webb-dok-resources
There are some great downloads that are available to you.

I loved these websites, and they would be a great asset to my future classroom. DOK resources are always helpful in order to maintain a growth mindset. In Standard 4: "Teachers help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving." This applies here because with DOK students often have to think critically. 

For your weekly dose of encouragement: 

YOU CAN DO IT!!! 

BE BOLD. BE STRONG. BE YOU. 

Until the next time I have Parker/Clark and have to blog, 

Mallory