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.