Here is a copy of our classes live binder that I participated in.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Web 2.0 Tool: Blabberize
Web 2.0 Tools bring lessons to life!
I am going to use Blabberize in my classroom!
Blabberize is a website that allows limitless creativity to explain or teach anything you would like. In blabberize you pick any picture and crop the mouth out to create the allusion of a moving mouth. You then record your voice and blabberize does the rest. The website creates the movement based on the recording and it appears as if the picture is talking. Click here to go directly to the Blabberize website!
Here is Blabberize's cute introduction!
Watch this tutorial so you better understand this tool!
How do you establish an account one may ask?
1. Open the application and click register
2. Create a username and password
3. Let the creativity begin
This program is completely free and doesn't require parent permission nor does it have any age restrictions.
Applying it to real life:
I am using this web 2.0 tool in my 8th grade English class. I will be using this to liven up a vocabulary lesson. The class will be divided into groups and each group will be given a iPad. They will all log into my personal Blabberize account for convenience. (Blabberize allows you to log into the same account from different devices at the same time). I will then give each group five SAT words, each word having a different level of difficulty. The students will then need to give a definition of the word in their own words and put the word into a sentence being as creative as they can. All of which they can make fun and unique by using silly pictures and voices, thanks to Blabberize. Then once the class has finished, each group will show their Blabberize videos explaining their words so that the whole class learns the other words as well!
I wouldn't use this in high school for the students to do... but I would definitely use it as a teaching tool. I plan on randomly inserting funny blabberize videos into my lessons to keep the students interested. So whether it be for student use or teacher use, this is a great tool!
I picked this tool to present because though it may sound simple, it can work for ANY subject and any introductive activity. It is a very handy and versatile tool.
Here is an example of it working with History!
I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!
Monday, February 10, 2014
Truth about Rigor
Rigor- the quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.
How do you include rigor in your classroom?
First read this article to get a better understanding rigor. This article shows the most common myths of rigor and how to avoid them.
I plan to involve rigor in my classroom by lesson planing to include lots of critical thinking. I do not plan of including lots of work. More work doesn't mean more rigor. Though my assignment may seem short or even easy to the wondering eye, it will involve lots of deep thinking to create a stronger understanding. I think this is one of the funniest parts of teaching! As a teacher it is you're job to be creative and not only give assignments that cover the material but that cover it in a way that involves a higher level of thinking while keeping all of the students interested. And that is what real rigor is.
How do you include rigor in your classroom?
First read this article to get a better understanding rigor. This article shows the most common myths of rigor and how to avoid them.
I plan to involve rigor in my classroom by lesson planing to include lots of critical thinking. I do not plan of including lots of work. More work doesn't mean more rigor. Though my assignment may seem short or even easy to the wondering eye, it will involve lots of deep thinking to create a stronger understanding. I think this is one of the funniest parts of teaching! As a teacher it is you're job to be creative and not only give assignments that cover the material but that cover it in a way that involves a higher level of thinking while keeping all of the students interested. And that is what real rigor is.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Creativity
My views on creativity and how it impacts education.
Before I even started watching the TED Talk I really thought about my own opinion of creativity and all its effects. I started from the beginning. What is creativity? To me creativity is the capability to be able to think of original material or ideas. Creativity is the basis for individualization. Without creativity everyone would be the same and we would be stuck in a monotone world. Creativity not only makes things fun but it finds a way to apply an idea or even material to every individual specifically. Education would be lost without creativity. Students would be without interest and engagement. Some wouldn't understand anything because their learning style isn't being met. Creativity is a must in education. It keeps needs met and interests peeking.
After the TED talk, my original beliefs were confirmed. But that's not all... This video showed me that creativity has more of an impact then just keeping the students attention or meeting basic needs. Creativity can determine someone's whole future. If a teacher isn't being creative to help an average or a creative student then that teacher is potentially ruining that students future. Creativity unleashes aspirations and goals for students. It reveals capabilities that may have not ever been seen otherwise.
So be creative. Teach creativity. And inspire others to be creative as well... because without it not only education, but people, are doomed.
Click here to view the interesting TED Talk that reminded me just how important something as simple as creativity truly is!
Before I even started watching the TED Talk I really thought about my own opinion of creativity and all its effects. I started from the beginning. What is creativity? To me creativity is the capability to be able to think of original material or ideas. Creativity is the basis for individualization. Without creativity everyone would be the same and we would be stuck in a monotone world. Creativity not only makes things fun but it finds a way to apply an idea or even material to every individual specifically. Education would be lost without creativity. Students would be without interest and engagement. Some wouldn't understand anything because their learning style isn't being met. Creativity is a must in education. It keeps needs met and interests peeking.
After the TED talk, my original beliefs were confirmed. But that's not all... This video showed me that creativity has more of an impact then just keeping the students attention or meeting basic needs. Creativity can determine someone's whole future. If a teacher isn't being creative to help an average or a creative student then that teacher is potentially ruining that students future. Creativity unleashes aspirations and goals for students. It reveals capabilities that may have not ever been seen otherwise.
So be creative. Teach creativity. And inspire others to be creative as well... because without it not only education, but people, are doomed.
Click here to view the interesting TED Talk that reminded me just how important something as simple as creativity truly is!
Monday, January 27, 2014
My thoughts about Wendy Davis' educational plans for Texas... click here to read the article for yourself!
Though Wendy Davis may have only good intentions for Texas and it's education programs, I do not fully agree with everything she has to say. Wendy states her number one rule in her plan for Texas as, "High school students in the top 20% of his or her class during junior year who commit to teaching will be guaranteed early acceptance to college and a guaranteed teaching job in a Texas classroom upon completing his or her requirements and certification". Sounds nice to me as a junior in the top 20% of my class planning to become a teacher... but one must realize that not all juniors, in the top 20% or not, will make an adequate teacher. People should be hired on their capabilities and teaching skills... not on their high school ranking and or their plan to become a teacher. On the other hand, I do support one of Wendy's others rules being to "Reestablish the educational aide exemption to help teachers aides go back to school for certification as full-time teachers". I know many fantastic aides that would make incredible teachers but unfortunately they weren't able to go back to college. So if she would stay true to her word and really support aides in this way, I would be impressed. She has a plan for teachers pay being to "Attract and retain highly-qualified teachers by bringing Texas teacher pay in line with the rest of the country". Though I love this as well, I am a bit skeptical of this due to it being seemingly impossible without raising taxes.
I think Wendy Davis has some fixing to do with her planning before Texas should follow along, but I will agree that she has some good ideas when it comes to the education system.
Though Wendy Davis may have only good intentions for Texas and it's education programs, I do not fully agree with everything she has to say. Wendy states her number one rule in her plan for Texas as, "High school students in the top 20% of his or her class during junior year who commit to teaching will be guaranteed early acceptance to college and a guaranteed teaching job in a Texas classroom upon completing his or her requirements and certification". Sounds nice to me as a junior in the top 20% of my class planning to become a teacher... but one must realize that not all juniors, in the top 20% or not, will make an adequate teacher. People should be hired on their capabilities and teaching skills... not on their high school ranking and or their plan to become a teacher. On the other hand, I do support one of Wendy's others rules being to "Reestablish the educational aide exemption to help teachers aides go back to school for certification as full-time teachers". I know many fantastic aides that would make incredible teachers but unfortunately they weren't able to go back to college. So if she would stay true to her word and really support aides in this way, I would be impressed. She has a plan for teachers pay being to "Attract and retain highly-qualified teachers by bringing Texas teacher pay in line with the rest of the country". Though I love this as well, I am a bit skeptical of this due to it being seemingly impossible without raising taxes.
I think Wendy Davis has some fixing to do with her planning before Texas should follow along, but I will agree that she has some good ideas when it comes to the education system.
Friday, December 20, 2013
My Final Exam
Tafe Projects:
I did two Tafe projects, one being a Service project and the other is called Inside Our Schools.
For my service project me and two friends go to a retirement home once a week and teach the seniors all about technology. We call it "Teaching Our Teachers". So far, it is amazing. The seniors really enjoy it but aside from that, we as students love it!! I can't wait until next week so I can continue to get to know these sweet people.
My other project is a video showing me and two other girls teaching and some of our techniques. Click here to watch our video!
My wiki:
If you would like to view my wiki, my site where I post my links to everything, then just click here!
For my service project me and two friends go to a retirement home once a week and teach the seniors all about technology. We call it "Teaching Our Teachers". So far, it is amazing. The seniors really enjoy it but aside from that, we as students love it!! I can't wait until next week so I can continue to get to know these sweet people.
My other project is a video showing me and two other girls teaching and some of our techniques. Click here to watch our video!
My wiki:
If you would like to view my wiki, my site where I post my links to everything, then just click here!
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Perot Field Trip
Check out my Prezi that I made over my field trip to the Perot museum! It goes over some of the highlights of the field trip and includes a lesson for my students at the end. Hope you enjoy!
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