I have actually gotten quite excited to start my class blog with my students. I have created a blog that will solely be used for my class news created by my students. I have decided that there will be various committees for the blog. I envision there being different sections of the blog similar to a newspaper. I plan on having a book review committee, a class content committee, and a school news committee. I have been exposing my students to some typing experiences and I have discovered that typing the posts will be a time management issue. Therefore, I will have each committee write a draft and set a deadline each week, so I will have enough time to transfer the posts into a class blog. If need be, I may also seek the support of my high school helper and/or parent assistant to assist with the typing.
I know my students are eager to start! Once my blog is created and underway, I plan on showing it to my colleagues. Lately, we have been talking about how to incorporate more enriching writing opportunities with our students. I truly hope this is a successful project, as I would like to use it to carry out the other part of my GAME plan. Additionally, I'm going to link it to my teacher website for classroom families to enjoy. I'm hoping it goes as well as I am envisioning!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Carrying Out My GAME Plan
As I consider how to carry out my plan, I realize I need to explore examples of kid-friendly blogs. I have given some thought regarding the format of the blog and I am deciding to set it up with a small group of students who thrive on enriching opportunities. I would like to find examples of age-appropriate news articles, book reviews, and other similar type literature that may be beneficial to use as a model. I may also need to reach out to colleagues who have experience with using blogs in the classroom to get me started. My vision for the blog is to have it be a source for classroom news from the perspective of students.
As for my other plan related to professional growth and leadership, I will need to refer to my personal resources, which I have accumulated from my graduate classes. I will need to ensure that the materials I am sharing can be used to coincide with the curriculum, so I will need to revisit the standards and objectives we are required to teach. Additionally, I will need to build a presentation using files that can be presented via a SmartBoard.
Currently, I have selected the students whom I feel with be able to carry out the plan. I based my decision on their writing skills, reading levels, and ability to work independently. I feel I will be able to manage this more easily and then build upon as the year continues. Also, I have been noting recommendations from my peers in my graduate classes to bring back to my colleagues at work. With each course I complete, I feel I have gained a new tool to add to my repertoire. Nevertheless, I know my GAME plan is a work in progress and I will strive to do my best to carry it out!
As for my other plan related to professional growth and leadership, I will need to refer to my personal resources, which I have accumulated from my graduate classes. I will need to ensure that the materials I am sharing can be used to coincide with the curriculum, so I will need to revisit the standards and objectives we are required to teach. Additionally, I will need to build a presentation using files that can be presented via a SmartBoard.
Currently, I have selected the students whom I feel with be able to carry out the plan. I based my decision on their writing skills, reading levels, and ability to work independently. I feel I will be able to manage this more easily and then build upon as the year continues. Also, I have been noting recommendations from my peers in my graduate classes to bring back to my colleagues at work. With each course I complete, I feel I have gained a new tool to add to my repertoire. Nevertheless, I know my GAME plan is a work in progress and I will strive to do my best to carry it out!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
GAME PLAN
As I return to a new school year, I am striving to apply more technology driven lessons than the past. I feel I have acquired more skills and have gained a little more confidence with doing so. It also seems I have become one of the “tech” resources in my building, so I feel I need to somewhat live up to that name.
I would like to strengthen in the area of designing and developing digital-age learning experiences and assessments. When considering my GAME plan, I would like to provide my class with opportunities such as using a classroom blog to communicate thoughts and messages about school topics and/or events. My students are quite young, so parent support would be essential. I would like to post a weekly discussion where students can post thoughts with their families. Essentially, it may be a family assignment rather than student assignment. I will need to monitor the progress of the blog by seeing the responses I get and also the feedback I get from the students in class discussions. I will evaluate my plan by monitoring the outcome of the blog. Are families responding? Is it interactive? Do students enjoy it? I will make adjustments as needed to meet the most success with the blog.
Additionally, I would like to improve in the area of engaging in professional growth and leadership. I usually attend technology related classes offered in my district. With each class I complete, I gain additional resources to use. I think it would be appropriate to model or demonstrate some lessons to colleagues using the knowledge I have acquired. In order to do so, I would need to reach out to my building principal to speak at a staff meeting or simply have time during a grade level meeting. At the end of last year, my principal did ask me to consider sharing technology lessons with the staff. Thus, I began this year with this goal in mind. I suppose I would monitor this plan by listening to the staff in regards to what they most need support in and plan accordingly. I would also ask them which areas they are most interested in learning about. I will evaluate my learning by asking others what they gained from my lessons and demonstrations.
I welcome any feedback and/or advice!
I would like to strengthen in the area of designing and developing digital-age learning experiences and assessments. When considering my GAME plan, I would like to provide my class with opportunities such as using a classroom blog to communicate thoughts and messages about school topics and/or events. My students are quite young, so parent support would be essential. I would like to post a weekly discussion where students can post thoughts with their families. Essentially, it may be a family assignment rather than student assignment. I will need to monitor the progress of the blog by seeing the responses I get and also the feedback I get from the students in class discussions. I will evaluate my plan by monitoring the outcome of the blog. Are families responding? Is it interactive? Do students enjoy it? I will make adjustments as needed to meet the most success with the blog.
Additionally, I would like to improve in the area of engaging in professional growth and leadership. I usually attend technology related classes offered in my district. With each class I complete, I gain additional resources to use. I think it would be appropriate to model or demonstrate some lessons to colleagues using the knowledge I have acquired. In order to do so, I would need to reach out to my building principal to speak at a staff meeting or simply have time during a grade level meeting. At the end of last year, my principal did ask me to consider sharing technology lessons with the staff. Thus, I began this year with this goal in mind. I suppose I would monitor this plan by listening to the staff in regards to what they most need support in and plan accordingly. I would also ask them which areas they are most interested in learning about. I will evaluate my learning by asking others what they gained from my lessons and demonstrations.
I welcome any feedback and/or advice!
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