Two More for the Roll!

Recently I've been looking at other blogs that will help me in the future with my educational career path towards teaching. Two that I've recently found are jam-packed with tips, tricks of the trade, personal experiences, and other goodies that will definitely help me out on my journey to having my own classroom! For Special Education, this blog shares information that will hopefully help those who are around those with special needs. I really love the links on the side that are grouped by academic subjects. These would be useful in the classroom as handouts or just for extra practice. There are also helpful links for parents which I feel is great so that they can learn how they can help their children at home as well! Now another blog I found shows ideas on how to let children play! People can share their ideas as well as look at photos of how the creator is creating fun ways for her children to play. I feel this is important especially for young children. Playing helps their creativity and helps them build an imagination! I am excited to follow these blogs for future reference. The personal experiences shared on these blogs can help paint a picture in my mind of what I'm getting myself into, which is something I need to be aware of. I want to have the best classroom environment possible for each of my students so that I influence their life in some shape or form! I'm hoping these blogs can help me in making the best choices I can to become the teacher I know I loved when I was in school. So, hopefully you will enjoy looking at these blogs like I have(:

My Beliefs about Technology and Learning...

One thing I have observed since starting the teaching program here at Edinboro is the increase in technology use. Many of my professors have highlighted this in their teachings. So, as I thought about it, it's crazy how much of our daily lives now revolve around some sort of technology. For example, many can't live without their smartphone in their pocket, or function without their iPod to walk between classes. I've also noticed that now children are starting to learn how to use technology at such young ages. Some adults probably hate to admit that their 2 year old can navigate an iPad quicker than they can. So, since these youngsters are learning these habits at home, it's no wonder that technology is also creeping into our classrooms.

 

 

Personally, I feel it's a great thing that technology is making its way into the classroom. For one, its teaching both us teachers and our students. Another plus I see is being able to explore beyond paper and pencils. I also feel technology may give more room for interaction within the classroom. For example, smartboards can be used for educational review games such as jeopardy. This can promote classroom involvement for every child. Another plus I see from having technology is not just its cognitive affects but also helping with physical affects. Many schools are now investing in Kindles or iPads to give to students, which I feel can help children get away from carrying a 15 to 20 pound book bag to and from school everyday. Another positive I see is possibly gaining more interest in class from students who would typically become bored after sitting for a few hours in a classroom. I definitely believe that technology and learning go together. Because our world is now so deep into technology, it only makes sense that we as teachers incorporate technology into our classrooms!

 

This video sums up a lot of my beliefs on why we should use technology:

Reasons FOR Technology in the Classroom

Important to Me...

 

One of the things most important to me as an up-and-coming teacher is having The Arts around for my students when I finally graduate college and obtain my own classroom. Growing up, music and art were always an outlet of expression for me. With budget cuts happening across the globe, many of these programs are taking the hit. I feel this isn't fair to those who excel in these areas or need these programs to do well in other areas.

 

 

 

Music encompasses both math and vocabulary skills if you think about it. From counting rhythms and finding patterns, to learning key terms and phrases in other languages such as legato or crescendo. If school districts would realize the benefits that The Arts give children, maybe they'd realize the harm they're doing by cutting funding to those programs!

   Watch This!!!