I simply cannot believe that we are already in week 6. Time is truly flying by.
This week in SSED 307 we have been focusing on Learning Experiences. it is interesting to me how each learning experience builds toward the final performance task. Learning experiences give teachers and students the opportunity to learn together and see where the learning will need to go next. I look forward to exploring learning tasks that can enhance student learning.
When I walked into my classroom on Tuesday, the students were actually working on a Valentine's Day worksheet. They were supposed to make as many words as they could out of the letters in Valentine's Day. Then, they took a break to get the wiggles out and they went outside for recess. I got to meet a new student in my class, and he was very sweet.
Speaking of sweet, it was Valentine's Day and there was candy and treats GALORE. I remember when I was a young child, enjoying V-day so much. Everyone brought their sweet candies and cards. My students loved being able to give out cards to their friends, and it was a great thing to see them interacting with one another. It is great to see the learning from lessons, but often students learn from their peers, too. It was organized chaos, and I loved EVERY.SINGLE.MINUTE.
For my research this week, I have found some interesting and helpful tools for the classroom.
For literacy, I found the app Bookcreator. It allows students to create their own books to read and share. I think that this is a great way to have students be creative, and they can become authors! It gives students a way to have options as well for their stories and books to be as elaborate or as simple as they would like.
I have also been researching how to challenge my students. I think a neat way for students to also create and explore different avenues of learning is to do a mind map. It is a type of graphic organizer. It would work great for problem solving, and I think it would be valuable in a discussion forum.
The next picture is an example of a mind map.
I found this great resource from https://litemind.com/what-is-mind-mapping/
These two things can help in various ways in my future classroom. I think that they would be helpful to my 21st century learners in a way that they allow them to create. I learned from my Today's Learner project that today's learners love to create and collaborate. Both of these resources could be done in groups or pairs.
Both of my resources connect to Standard 4 of the NCPTS. They also connect to the sub-standards "Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their classrooms." and "Teachers help students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills." Bookcreator is an app that students could use on an ipad and the mind-mapping could be used for a variety of HOT skills.
This is not an easy major. Every week we go into schools where students may not receive the love, attention, and care they need. It is our job to love them through those rough times. Be corageous, my friends. It is not easy, but it is worth it. Teaching is not a job for the weak. Be strong and have no fear. The creator of the universe has you right where you are supposed to be.
Stay encouraged, friends.
Mallory
I truly loved your post. I have never seen an example of mind mapping before. It is a great way for students to learn from one another and record what they have learned from the lesson. Bookcreator also sounds like an awesome tool. Some students do not like to read, therefore this is a great resource for students to learn more from each other and develop even better reading skills. I also like how you incorporated Valentines Day into your theme of your blog. The holiday connected all of your thoughts together, especially at the end when you mentioned about how important it is for teachers to give love and care to their students. Thank you for your encouragement at the end. I know you are right where you need to be. From you blog post, I can tell you will make a great teacher.
ReplyDeleteMallory, very impressive post. I really like you post on benefits and uses. It kind of reminds me of something we use in nursing.Often we may get off task. This helps students take facts turn them into ideas and then compose work. I find it very helpful. The mind map is creative and can be applied to almost anything. I think I may even use it myself.
ReplyDeleteMallory, You hit the nail on the head with your perspective of this major. IT. IS. NOT.EASY.
ReplyDeleteMaintaining the proper perspective is required! I am glad you have already found mind maps - they are crucial in helping your students make deep connections.