End of the Module November 14, 2008

So the module is over, and we’re moving on to another one together, but I just wanted to take a minute and say it’s been great getting to know everyone so far. This module really gave us a chance to show who we are and talk about things we’re interested in, and it had been a lot of fun. I read through the class chats, and they were all very interesting (and I still wanna know who was in my group!)

And also, I think I’m even more addicted to my netvibes now. Best procrastination tool ever.

See you all in tweedie’s module!

Children with Cell Phones

Doesn’t it seem like EVERY child has a cell phone these days? Even the first graders in my mom’s elementary school go crazy over their pink razors. It seems as though cell phones, in a way, have become a part of the “school uniform”.

New School Concerns

Going to school, or going back to school, is never just about education anymore. These days, students have much more they have to worry about when going into the classroom.

Kids going back to school November 10, 2008

This cartoon shows how much little kids dread going back to school after breaks which makes it even more important to make school fun for young students. 

Thinking outside the box

I was drawing a mural  the other day, it’s a Dr. Seuss  theme and things are spilling out of the red box from the cat in the hat. This got me thinking about all the different things that little children especially little children in elementary school classrooms can accomplish when they put their minds to it and think “outside of the box”. Most children in elementary school love Dr. Seuss for his great crazy illustrations and funny words. He has had a major impact on my own creativity as I grew up. As future teachers I feel it is extremely important to keep creativity in mind when interacting with young children. Making sure that children use their imaginations and aren’t confined to the conventional rules of thinking is what will help unsure that students will remain creative for the rest of their lives.

School Bus November 9, 2008

Once again I love family circus and this one’s cute.

Teachers using technology November 8, 2008

This video is very cute, it’s made to be like the book “If you give a mouse a cookie” I think I mostly appreciate it because it’s one of my favorite books to read to my younger cousin.

Is Playing Video Games A “Waste of Time”? November 6, 2008

I believe that everyone has their own opinion about this topic and I certainly have my own as well. I am a video game player and have been all my life. I grew up with three older brothers who loved to play games and it was only natural for me to want to play as well. We play all types of games with the most recent being the Wii sports games such as tennis, bowling, golfing, boxing, and baseball. I believe that video games are a form of literacy and do have the ability to teach us information. One of the articles that we had to read for class was called “What video games have to teach us” by J.P. Gee and stated that video games could be considered a form of “active learning” (Gee, 25). I agree with the author and think that video games do get children involved and make them participate and become active in their learnings. Also, the article states that when you actively learn, three things happen: we experience the world in new ways, we form new affiliations, and we gain resources and prepare for future learning and problem solving. I could see why some may say that video games are a waste of time, but if they could picture them in the way that I do, I think they would understand that there is information to be learned when playing video games.

Teacher Poem November 3, 2008

I love finding poems and stories like this, it makes me happy in knowing that I am going into a great field of study by becoming a teacher. So here it is, this is the most recent poem I found and kept on my computer about teachers, it’s a habbit of mine and I hope you enjoy this one. Anyone going to be or already a teacher, I’m sure you can relate.

WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?
Author Unknown

“Whose child is this?” I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
“Mine”, said the parent with a tender smile
“Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should”

“Whose child is this?” I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
“Mine”, said the teacher with the same tender smile
“Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school”

“Whose child is this?” I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
“Ours” said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
“Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever.”

Mathmaticious

A MUST WATCH VIDEO! You will have this song stuck in your head everytime you hear the real song by Fergie called “Fergalicious”. HILARIOUS!! Make sure you watch it!