Followers from all across the world:
Can you believe it? Half of the semester is already over! Where did the time go? This link shows my frustration.
Anyways, time to review the PLN. The personal learning network is a very new thing to me. I have never experienced such a thing, but I really enjoy it. I think this is a valuable experience for us as future classroom teachers because as technology becomes more and more prevalent in today's education system, the more we need to keep up with the new ways of teaching and learning. I am benefitting by using the PLN because I am now able to familiarize myself with such a modern way of communication and learning. I will use this knowledge and experience to incorporate such technology in my own classroom. In all honesty, I am really not experiencing any challenges. Yes I admit I was challenged and frustrated at first, but now I am confident with this system of learning.
Here is the list of my 5 professional blogs I have subscribed to:
1. Education Tools for 6th-8th Graders. Not too good of a blog so far. The title sounds good, but thats about it.
2. ELA 6th Grade. Written by a teacher. First blogs nothing too special. I think there is some potential.
3. EZ Tech Integration for Teachers. A lot of posts. Wide variety of things dealing with technology in schools. Could be valuable.
4. Write Out Loud. Used for a creative writing class I believe. Many posts. Many teaching ideas to use for own classroom. A lot of writing prompts.
5. Resources for Teaching Reading. A lot of posts. POV of college professor. Knowledgeable and could be valuable.
Here is the list of the professional Twitter accounts I am following:
1. CRHeitz. 7th grade ELA teacher. Many tweets. Some resources. Followed by many.
2. enpsteacher. 7th and 8th grade teacher. Many tweet. Many links to look through.
3. cmbelu. Yeah I don't know why I am following this person.
4. DerekBraman. 5th grade teacher. Not too many tweets about education. Potential though.
5. MissBartel. Looking for resources as well. Many tweets. Interesting person to follow because of same reason I am tweeting (to find educational resources).
6. jruggiano. 5th grade teacher. Not too many educational resources.
Well that is all for now.
Carpe Diem
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Critical Literacy: What Exactly is it?
Greeting subscribers:
I am so happy you have subscribed to my blog. Even though you may have to for class, I hope you see this as an opportunity to "enrich your knowledge base of education."
You all probably know the blogging prompt for this week (if not, here is the link). The emphasis of this prompt deals with critical literacy. Before taking this course, I really had no idea what critical literacy dealt with. Because I have done a little research, I now feel comfortable explaining my thoughts and opinions.
Like myself, you have probably wondered, "What exactly is critical literacy? Why is it at all important?" I was able to figure out that critical literacy deals primarily with the relationship between readers and the reading process. Critical literacy encourages readers to look past the author's view, often times challenging and questioning such ideas. This philosophy encourages readers to actively engage themselves in the reading.
As a future classroom teacher, I see teaching and utilizing critical literacy essential in the classroom. Because of today's ever-changing society, more and more pieces of research and information is being placed on television, the internet, and the general media. By teaching the uses of critical literacy, teachers are educating students on how to choose the right information. Just because something is on the internet does not mean it is credible and legitimate. Educators need to show children how to question and speculate certain issues to combat this very problem.
I understand in the necessity of teaching critical literacy, but I see such a feat as being quite challenging. How do we teach children to question power and the author in a respectful way? Will children ultimately question everything we do? Is that what we really want? Plus, I can imagine some administrative systems to not want children to question authority figures too much. There is a line to draw. Where exactly and how do we draw that line?
I like the idea of critical literacy, but I think it will be difficult to effectively teach it. If we do master such a lesson, we just add to our "bag of tricks" as teachers. I am happy (hopefully you are too) that we are exposed to such a philosophy because I believe children have the right to think.
Carpe Diem.
I am so happy you have subscribed to my blog. Even though you may have to for class, I hope you see this as an opportunity to "enrich your knowledge base of education."
You all probably know the blogging prompt for this week (if not, here is the link). The emphasis of this prompt deals with critical literacy. Before taking this course, I really had no idea what critical literacy dealt with. Because I have done a little research, I now feel comfortable explaining my thoughts and opinions.
Like myself, you have probably wondered, "What exactly is critical literacy? Why is it at all important?" I was able to figure out that critical literacy deals primarily with the relationship between readers and the reading process. Critical literacy encourages readers to look past the author's view, often times challenging and questioning such ideas. This philosophy encourages readers to actively engage themselves in the reading.
As a future classroom teacher, I see teaching and utilizing critical literacy essential in the classroom. Because of today's ever-changing society, more and more pieces of research and information is being placed on television, the internet, and the general media. By teaching the uses of critical literacy, teachers are educating students on how to choose the right information. Just because something is on the internet does not mean it is credible and legitimate. Educators need to show children how to question and speculate certain issues to combat this very problem.
I understand in the necessity of teaching critical literacy, but I see such a feat as being quite challenging. How do we teach children to question power and the author in a respectful way? Will children ultimately question everything we do? Is that what we really want? Plus, I can imagine some administrative systems to not want children to question authority figures too much. There is a line to draw. Where exactly and how do we draw that line?
I like the idea of critical literacy, but I think it will be difficult to effectively teach it. If we do master such a lesson, we just add to our "bag of tricks" as teachers. I am happy (hopefully you are too) that we are exposed to such a philosophy because I believe children have the right to think.
Carpe Diem.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Houston! We Still Have Problems!
Beloved Subscribers:
As you may know, this is one of the last blogs during our reading unit. With that said, I intend on ending it with a bang.
Even though we have been taught effective ways to teach reading in our own classroom, there still looms many problems and questions. What is the best way to teach reading? How much time should we use to teach reading? Should we focus on phonological awareness early on or instead teach whole word concepts? And the list continues.
In this blog post I want to focus on this question: "What do you as a teacher do when you just feel you cannot do anymore to help a student with his or her reading? You have tried everything and just none of the concepts are sticking."
Unfortunately I am sure this will happen to some of us. I am dreading that day! So quite frankly, what do you do? Without a doubt you going to feel like less of a teacher. You are going to feel as though you have failed. This is just a reality that comes with the job.
I know we have been told, "There are always new ways to instruct new concepts. As a teacher, find a way." I understand this may be difficult, but as teachers, I think we just need to stick with it. We need to keep pushing on, trying new things.
I am going to be blunt. ASK FOR HELP. This help may be from other teachers, school reading specialists, or even your students.
ASK FOR HELP.
KEEP PUSHING ON.
That is all for now. Carpe Diem.
As you may know, this is one of the last blogs during our reading unit. With that said, I intend on ending it with a bang.
Even though we have been taught effective ways to teach reading in our own classroom, there still looms many problems and questions. What is the best way to teach reading? How much time should we use to teach reading? Should we focus on phonological awareness early on or instead teach whole word concepts? And the list continues.
In this blog post I want to focus on this question: "What do you as a teacher do when you just feel you cannot do anymore to help a student with his or her reading? You have tried everything and just none of the concepts are sticking."
Unfortunately I am sure this will happen to some of us. I am dreading that day! So quite frankly, what do you do? Without a doubt you going to feel like less of a teacher. You are going to feel as though you have failed. This is just a reality that comes with the job.
I know we have been told, "There are always new ways to instruct new concepts. As a teacher, find a way." I understand this may be difficult, but as teachers, I think we just need to stick with it. We need to keep pushing on, trying new things.
I am going to be blunt. ASK FOR HELP. This help may be from other teachers, school reading specialists, or even your students.
ASK FOR HELP.
KEEP PUSHING ON.
That is all for now. Carpe Diem.
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