New Perspectives...

Can't believe we are already on week 3 of classes! I've had a lot going on personally this week that's given me some new perspectives and I've also learned a lot in my classes that given me some new perspectives. First off, I'm still amazed I never knew the difference between a topic and concept. I've even found myself struggling to even use them interchangeably in everyday conversation now, haha! This week in class we've taken this even a step further my talking about how to truly utilize a concept to it's fullest potential by using two concepts together to compare/contrast. As a future educator, talking about this was sort of exciting because it opened up new doors for me to introduce information in completely new ways that will require my future students to think critically and intensively. 

In class, we also began, to discuss what is SMART goal? I truly didn't realize how deeply I could analyze a single sentence, but by the end of the process I have a specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound goal. Setting goals for ourselves is a vital process of being life long learners and also connects perfectly with Standard 5 of NCPTS, Teachers reflect on their practice because as part of that standard teachers are expected to link professional growth to their professional goals. 

In my outside research this week I decided to explore the world of makerspaces. Earlier this week, our class visited Washington Elementary. During our tour of the school we were shown the school's makerspace, needless to say I was intrigued because I had never heard of such a thing. I found an awesome article about what a makerspace is and how it can be used. Basically, it is a space planned to foster student creativity and enable growth through hands on activities. Helping students explore their learning by providing them with tools and a blank slate is a wonderful opportunity to develop students into critical thinkers. If you're interested feel free to check out this awesome article: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/fostering-creativity-with-makerspaces-nicholas-provenzano 

This is an awesome tool to help students and I would love to be able to create this (maybe on small scale) in my future classroom to help students learn by creating and exploring.

Hello Week 2...

It's great to be one week into all of my classes and slowly getting back into a schedule! This week in Social Studies Methods we have been discussing the difference between a concept and a topic. Before this week I would have said they were synonymous. Now I understand they relate more like pieces of puzzle compare to the whole puzzle. The concept is the whole puzzle and the topic is the individual pieces of the puzzle. We also learned that concepts should be timeless, abstract, universal, encompass the big picture, and transferable. This idea also relates to Standard 4, Teachers facilitate learning for their students. By teaching through concept based instruction, teachers help their students understand that subjects are not separate but fit together and work together. Integration of all subjects models how students will apply their knowledge in the real world and helps students make connections to remember what they learn.

In my outside research for this week, it focused on how to use social media/technology to facilitate differentiation. This is the topic of the week for our differentiation discussion. There has been several great points about how it can be a beneficial tool in the classroom and some things to remember before incorporating it such as validity or reliability. I also found an excellent article via twitter that discussed how incorporating technology into a 2017 classroom provides the opportunity for mastery to all students. The article also related this to the book "Oh the places you'll go" because of the endless possibilities technology gives us. It definitely inspired me to find ways to incorporate technology into my future classroom, in order to let students take control of their own learning and eventually reach the mastery level.

One Semester Closer...

As I begin this new semester I am quickly realizing the reality of student teaching. Spring of 2018 once seemed so far away but now it is only a year away. Seems like just yesterday I was blogging for my Education 250 course.

Today was our first class of Social Studies Methods, I am nervous but very excited to dive into this course. Social studies was definitely never my favorite because it seemed like something to memorize and forget so I never understood why I needed to learn it. However, even just after today when I read the Powerful and Purposeful Teaching and Learning in Elementary School Social Studies article I am beginning to realize the huge importance of teaching social studies in the classroom. It is a subject that normally gets placed on the back burner in post Elementary schools because it not part of the EOGs. Yet still the need to be a well-rounded student still exists so our students can become well-rounded citizens. As future teachers, standard 6 of NCPTS calls us to contribute to the academic success of our students. This means we should be preparing them all subjects so they can be successful in all areas. Throughout this semester I hope to discover teaching methods and projects to use in my future classroom to get students excited about Social Studies and change its bad reputation among students. Students are quick to realize when the teacher doesn't like or care about a subject and they will quickly adopt the same attitude. Throughout this semester I hope to discover teaching methods and projects to use in my future classroom to get students excited about Social Studies and change its bad reputation among students. I also want these methods and projects to make the learning relevant and important to my students.