Home Stretch!

I enjoyed keeping a blog about the things I learned this semester. It will be valuable years down the road and easily accessible. I think a PLE causes for reflection and really gave me time to think about what we had learned that week.

Honestly the PLE was valuable and not a nuisance so I don't have anything that I don't like about it.

I plan on using blogs for my personal and professional use. I hope to have a class blog where I can keep parent informed. I think its a great way to record what's happened in the classroom.

Internet Safety

Part I: Reading

I chose to read Grade A by Marvin J Ashton. He said grade A products bring high prices and are high quality. He said the battle to be A Rated is a battle we can win. We need to be A rated in any form of media we use.

He gave the following challenges:

-to parents to be concerned about what your children read or view

-to grandparents to foster reading programs with your grandchildren.

-to youth to cooperate with parents who are concerned about your reading and your viewing. Be concerned yourself about what you take into your mind.

-to families to foster movie viewing that is wholesome.

-to every Latter-day Saint to come to a knowledge and an understanding of the scriptures.

I know good grades are valued in our society and so likewise should good media. I think its important for all of us to have a "withitness" when the media we spend time with. It is essential for our happiness! As a parent I want to hold meetings so that all of us our on the same page about our media choices. I don't want my children's moral understanding to be confused by what they see in the media. I want to define what true morality is, without them being desensitized by the media.

I can use this information with my relatives when it is applicable. I plan on being verbal about internet safety!


Part II: Watching

I watched several movie clips/podcasts from isafe.org. I was amazed at the statistics of computer use among youth. It doesn't surprise me because we live in a day where it's hard to even imagine life without the internet. I use it frequently.

First I realized how pop-ups are attractive to youth. They want to explore and are impressionable at this time. I as an adult need to make sure to buy anti-virus that also blocks popups.

Another scary thing to learn about was chatting online. The movie clip said 1 in 4 said they feel it's okay to talk to strangers online. The chance of meeting a cyberbulley/predator is too great. Youth do not need to meet people online. There are many people right up close that they don't even need to risk it. Plus chatting online robs children of developing communication skills necessary to function in the world. I know the internet can be of great value. It fascilitates communication in many ways, but the youth must be warned and aware of all that the internet means.

I plan to use these resources as a parent and a teacher. They pretty much speak for themselves. I'd use these resources as a springboard for a discussion. I want my kids to be educated! I am including these resources on this web page so that I can always refer back to them.

Here are some resources to choose from:

1. NetSmartz Video Resources:
(this site is the one officially promoted by UEN and has some great resources) (There are also some interactive online games that teach internet safety principles at the NetSmartzKids site.)

2. iKeepSafe Faux Paws Video: http://ikeepsafe.org/iksc_kids/
(This is a video developed by the BYU animation department that has also some great print resources to go with it.)

3. Frontline PBS Documentary:

(the most relevant sections to watch are . . .)

• 2. A Revolution in Classrooms and Social Life
• 4. Child Predator Fear
• 6. Cyberbullying
  

4. iSafe: http://www.isafe.org
(click on Webcast and use SchoolID 10079 or click on links below.)

• Webcast 1: Privacy and the Internet
• Webcast 2: Cyber Relationships
• Webcast 3: Intellectual Property
• Webcast 4: Malicious Code
• Webcast 5: Cyber Citizenship
• Webcast 6: Social Issues
• Webcast 8: Cyber Harassment

5. iSafe iLearn, iFifty+, or iParent Online series: http://ilearn.isafe.org/
(This is a really great resource that I would encourage students interested in the topic to explore. The training is fairly extensive and there are several hours of video-based training materials available. Those interested in doing all the modules can actually receive an internet safety certification that could be used in job applications. - completing the full training will require several hours.)

6. Internet Safety Podcast

Old Mill Elementary, the last leg!

I will miss Old Mill Elementary School! It's been a fabulous experience. I feel so lucky to work with Mrs. Valine and those 23 third graders. I've learned oodles. This week I continued to work with my guided reading group, taught a shared reading on synonyms, and Ashley and I even taught the whole day on Friday while Mrs. Valine was gone. Exciting!

On Monday I am going to teach the kids about Picasso before they make their own self-portraits Picasso style. I'll use a powerpoint to give a brief biography of his life and show some of his paintings.

Overall, Old Mill's attitude toward technology is positive. They use it a lot.

Old Mill Elementary School, Week 3

This week Ashley and I taught plural possessive nouns using a powerpoint. It is a really efficient tool to teach specific skills. We asked the kids to write on whiteboard the correct answers to the questions. This way the technology was interactive.

I notice the kids also spend lots of time in the computer labs each week. Today we went and the kids finished up a math test on the computer then they were allowed to play math games. Overall technology use is valuable at Old Mill Elementary School.

My idea to use technology in the classroom is what Ashley did in her lesson this week. She had the children write about wishes. Prior to their writing she showed a powerpoint of the many ways you make wishes; like a wishing well, a dandelion, and throwing a coin in a fountain.

Old Mill Elementary School, Week 2!

Mrs. Valine used a powerpoint presentation to teach 23 third graders about Singluar Possessive Nouns. It was effective because the children were active participants. After she taught the skill the children were given the opportunity to practice on the whiteboard. Mrs. Valine seems to have a great attitude about technology. She uses it appropriately and within what 3rd graders can handle.

I noticed how convenient it is to have a projector in your classroom. It is a great tool to bring the outside world into the walls of the classroom. I haven't used technology myself yet in this setting, but on Wed we will be teaching Plural Possessive Nouns with a powerpoint! I think it is a fabulous way to use technology in the classroom.

Old Mill Elementary School!

What a crazy three days! It seems like we've been in the schools a lot longer than that! It is exciting and hard work! I work with Mrs. Valine. This is her first year teaching in Utah. She taught in Orange County California for the last five years. I respect her teaching style lots. She is serious about the kids learning content! She differentiates instruction so all her third graders can be successful. I am excited to learn more!

Old Mill Elementary was built in 2006. Thus it was built with technology in mind. They have two computer labs with 30 computers in each lab. Each class gets an hour of computer time each week. Each classroom also has a visualizer. Unfortunately there are not any computers in the classroom, but still the kids have access to the technology. Each teacher has a computer and a projector in the classroom. I know Mrs. Valine sometimes uses powerpoint. She can also show movies on the projector.

I also know that Wasatch school district is in a partnership with 9 other districts called NUES where they share technology with other schools...like digital cameras, video cameras and anything else you want. It just takes an email to reserve them. And luckily NUES is located in Heber so it's pretty convenient. I hope to find out more about it. It sounds like a great resource. Overall, the use of technology seems positive at the school.

I plan to use a powerpoint presentation in my upcoming lesson.

Lewis & Clark!

This week I added 4 placement tacks to the Lewis and Clark Trail kmz file I found last week. Each placement tack has a student activity to deepen their understanding of this topic. This could be used for 5th Graders. Standard 4, objective 1.B.

I'd use this in the classroom to help kids discover the path of Lewis and Clark. I look at it like a treasure map. Each of my four tacks has the child discover one aspect of the trail and then they record what they learn in their journals. Hopefully by the end of the activity they will have a book of facts about Lewis and Clark.

I viewed Ashley, Devin and Michelle's virtual tours. I learned from my peers by looking at their Google Earth virtual tours that you can use Google Earth tours across the curriculum! Everything from science to medieval history. I noticed how nice it is to have the picture immediately pop up in the box instead of having a link.