Blog Post 15

Project #16 - The Learning Tree

C4KSummary for the month of April

C4KSummary for Amber

I had the opportunity to visit Amber's page on Mrs. Jacobsen's class blog site. I was able to read Amber's story about her first day at camp. Amber had the opportunity to kayak around, and she admits almost falling out when she was in a single sized kayak. Amber felt safer when she was in a double sized kayak with her friend Trinity. Amber also expressed how she missed her teddy bear at the camp and that she was ready to be home with her family. Amber also provided a photo of her kayaking around in the water. In my post to Amber, I let her know how fascinated I was with her blog post and that I had a kayak when I was young. I also informed Amber that I attend the University of South Alabama, which is located in Mobile, Alabama. I let her know Mobile is famous for its seafood and Mardi Gras. I concluded by saying how impressed I was with her blog post and how I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

C4KSummary for Mrs. She's Class 18

I had the opportunity to visit Mrs. She's class blog site. Mrs. She's class sang the months of the year in the Maori language. I informed Mrs. She that I was fascinated by her class's performance. I also informed Mrs. She that I believe it's important as educators to apply fun and engaging assignments to our curriculum. Also, I asked Mrs. She if she knows where Mobile, Alabama is on a map. I informed her that Mobile is famously known for Mardi Gras and seafood. Lastly, I informed her that I am looking forward to observing more of her class's work.

Project #4 - Comments4Teachers

C4T#4, comment 1

I had the opportunity of reading Dianne Krause's blog titled "A Whole New Diannne". The title of her most recent post is named "Daily Digital Discoveries" posted on April 4, 2014. Ms. Krause provides her audience some resources and tools for educators and students to better enhance and enrich their skills and abilities. The first resource she provided is a link to a tutorial on how to properly format an MLA document in Google docs. The second resource she provided is ways to protect individuals when posting on social media. There are a lot of inappropriate sites out there, and it's important to be educated on what you should and should not post. It is key when using social media to apply good grammar and punctuation as well as present substantive information. It's essential not to post spam or pretend you are someone else. The third resource she provided gives insight into what is "gamification" is and how it applies to 21st century learning. Gamification allows for students to express their creativity and innovation in the classroom and the idea focuses on independent learning. This approach also focuses on rewarding students when they achieve goals. We want our students to be motivated and excited about learning I believe this method is productive in doing just that. In my post to Ms. Krause, I let her know that I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I let Ms. Krause know that her blog post intrigued me because it provided me with some resources and tools, which I can utilize in my future classroom. I told her I believe it's necessary for educators to allow students to express their own knowledge, skills, values, and opinions in the classroom. I also informed her that educators should be continuous learners. Exploring and investigating new technological tools and devices is productive, and it's beneficial for educators to implement them into the curriculum.

C4T#4, comment 2

I had the opportunity of reading Dianne Krause's blog titled "A Whole New Diannne". The title of her most recent post is named "Daily Digital Discoveries" posted on April 22, 2014. Ms. Krause provides her audience about information on flipped classroom professional development. A synopsis of a flipped classroom professional development is the idea of creating and enhancing projects in appropriate settings. Communication is important because it allows educators and students to collaborate and share thoughts and ideas. Flipped classroom professional development allows for more creativity and innovation in the learning and planning process. In my post to Ms. Krause, I informed her that I believe it's essential to allow students and educators to share their thoughts and ideas in and outside of the classroom. I also informed Ms. Krause that I believe it's important to incorporate technology into our classrooms and provide our students with all of the necessary tools and resources. I concluded my post by thanking Ms. Krause for providing me with valuable tools and resources that I can implement into my future classroom.

Blog Post 13

The assignment is to watch Michelle Obama's Speech on Fitness Training and Nutrition Tips and to write a quality blog post answering the questions numbered below:

1. Why do you think it's important for individuals to exercise and eat healthy?

2. What can we learn from Michelle Obama's speech?

3. Do you exercise daily?

4. What types of fruits and vegetables do you enjoy?

My passion as an educator is to inspire and motivate my students to eat good nutritious foods and to exercise. As educators, we should promulgate to our students on ways to be healthier and live longer. In today's society, the obesity rates are astronomically high for kids and teens. As educators, our mission should be to discover inventive and creative techniques to assist in bringing those alarming numbers down. We can do this by educating our students on the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Also, to encourage and empower our students to exercise for at least thirty minutes a day.

I learned a lot of valuable information from Michelle Obama's insightful speech about educating students about the benefits of eating healthy and exercising daily. I learned from Mrs. Obama that one and three American kids and teens are either overweight or obese. Medical professionals are seeing more and more kids and teens with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type two diabetes. I learned from Mrs. Obama that the government, along with her support started an initiative called "Let's Move" that encourages kids and teens to be physically active. Also, I learned from Mrs. Obama that we have to change the culture in America by advocating eating fresh fruits and vegetables. We also need to transform the mindset in our kids and teens from video games and television to playing outside. A word I learned from Mrs. Obama is moderation when eating. The over-consumption of food, especially late at night can lead to adding extra weight. Famous athletes and movie stars are promoting the "Let's Move" campaign to encourage students to be active and eat nutritious foods. Lastly, I learned as educators; we must set a good example for our students by eating nutritious foods and participating in physical activities at school, as well.

I have to be honest, my favorite time of the day is when I am exercising. I try to exercise at least six days a week. My exercise regiment includes running two miles, some light weight-training, and playing pickup basketball. I would encourage everyone to run at least a couple of times a week. Running is an activity that allows you to relieve stress in your life as well as connect with nature and the outdoors. If you are someone who cannot afford a gym membership there a number of physical activities you can perform at home to build muscle and burn fat. My passion is basketball so I love going up to the YMCA and playing a game of three-on-three. I encourage everyone to at least take a walk around the neighborhood or go to the park.

I was fortunate to grow up in a family that served fruits and vegetables. So, as a child, I was accustomed to nutritious foods, so I enjoy them even more today. My favorite vegetables are turnip greens, okra, and green peppers just to name a few. My favorite fruits are apples, bananas, and peaches just to name a few. I would encourage everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables because they will help you live a longer, healthier life.

Blog Post 12

As educators, I believe it's important that we provide our students with vital tools and resources for their success. We also need to have the knowledge and understanding that we might have students in our classroom who have disabilities. Having students with disabilities in the classroom can be challenging, but it's our responsibility that we accept and embrace those students and provide them with a premier education. In no way, shape, or form should we alienate students with disabilities in the classroom. I think it's essential to educate all students about disabilities so students without disabilities have the knowledge and understanding to not ask intrusive questions to students with disabilities. I had the opportunity to explore and examine a couple of assistive technologies, which are accessible for educators to employ in their classrooms.

iCommunicator: Assistive Technology for People who are Deaf

I learned a lot of valuable information about the iCommunicator. The iCommunicator is an assistive technology computer software program, which is being utilized by deaf and hearing-impaired students. This program assists students in communication by translating the spoken word to text on a computer screen. It also has the capability of converting the spoken word to sign language. There is an interactive woman who signs to the students on the computer screen. Students also have access to write their thoughts and ideas and the messages transmit aloud. The iCommunicator provides a sense of confidence and independence for deaf and hearing-impaired students as well as it improves their communication skills. This creative and innovative software is a productive tool for deaf and hearing-impaired students in the 21st century.

Kidspiration as Assistive Technology in the K-5 Classroom

I also learned about an assistive technology software program called Kidspiration. Kidspiration is a program that helps students organize their thoughts and ideas. This tool serves students with learning disabilities. It also offers some easy ways to help English-language learners and Kidspiration has the support of the IDEA. Kidspiration is a visual tool that allows students to organize and process new and old information. The software also transmits the information in a fun and interactive way so it is easier for the students to understand. Kidspiration also improves students' reading and writing skills as well as their creative and innovative thinking skills. Organizational skills are important and I believe this software is a useful tool in helping students become more organized. Kidspiration is a tool I consider to be productive and I would use it in my classroom.

Blog Post 11

Group Pine Apple:

William Taylor, Heather Marsh, and Brionna Brown

Brian Crosby - Back to the Future

I learned a lot of valuable information from Brian Crosby's speech about meaningful and effective methods and techniques being utilized in his classroom. Mr. Crosby articulated the importance of allowing his students to be active and engaged in the learning process. Mr. Crosby is an educator who allows his students to express their own knowledge, skills, opinions, and attitudes in the classroom. Mr. Crosby takes a non-traditional approach to teaching. Mr. Crosby allows his students to express their thoughts and ideas through blogs and videos. Mr. Crosby also talked about the value of creating personal learning networks. Personal learning networks are formed through resources and tools such as blogs and Skype. Mr. Crosby encourages his students to blog and share ideas and videos with students all over the world. The idea of collaboration between his students is also important because it allows students to seek out answers to questions and problems in the classroom. I believe this method is the best way for students to learn because it challenges them to work hard and stay motivated. I believe motivation is important because students get tired of paper and pencil in the classroom. Technology allows for students to embrace and share their creativity and express their knowledge, skills, and ideas. Mr. Crosby also harped on the importance of allowing students to express creativity and apply their unique skills to technology.

Mr. Crosby's class is composed of second-language learners, but that does not inhibit the focus of reading and writing in the classroom. As educators, it's important to understand our students come from diverse backgrounds and practice different cultures, beliefs, and traditions. It's key that we accept and embrace those traits and apply them in the curriculum. As educators, it's vital we provide our students with significant resources and tools to enrich and enhance their creative and innovative thinking skills. I also believe it's important to present the curriculum to our students in a way that is comprehensive, interactive, and fun. Mr. Crosby talked about the inventive science lessons and experiments he formulated for his students that allowed them to engage in hands-on experience. I learned from Mr. Crosby the value of not taking the fast-food approach to education. As educators, we need to abandon this idea of linearity and conformity and promote project-based learning and creativity in our classrooms. We need to disenthrall our students and invigorate their passions, skills, and talents.

Sam Pane 4th Grade

There is so much to take away from Mr. Pane’s class in this informative and insightful video. The very first thing that I noticed was that all of the students were excited to be learning. Mr. Pane used a very interesting tool to teach his class about Internet safety. The students created a superhero and then created a story that showed their superhero protect people when came to computer safety. This innovative approach not only taught computer safety, but also taught dialogue and writing skills, as well. His way of teaching should be an example for all teachers. He made the class interesting and fun, but also educational. The students were excited to learn and write. They also had other students read their comic strip, so they were teaching each other. The students wanted to share their work with each other and Mr. Pane. I liked how he had the students talk to each other before they started to get an idea of what computer safety was. Mr. Pane's innovative project also teaches the students about collaboration and communication.

Project Based Learning

In schools today, we are teaching collaboration between students. Not only is this important, but it is also important for teachers to collaborate, as well. What does this mean? In the video, it talked about how three teachers worked together in Canada to combine their classes. They had History and English combined with technology. The idea of collaboration enabled students to spend time creating projects. The teachers worked together to figure out how to combine their classes and create projects that fit the curriculum, and also allow the students to go beyond the required curriculum. We can learn from these teachers that we need to work together more. Two minds are always better than one. Not only do we need to give each other ideas, but also I like how they combined classes. I believe if schools were to implement this idea it would give students the opportunity to use critical thinking.

I think that most people today put a limit on what children can do. When I watched this video I thought, wow these students started young. When you think this way you are taking away from the students. From this video, we can learn that if we let the students do then they will surprise us. They had first grade students doing PBL, and they use collaboration on their projects. The teachers take real world problems and use them in their classroom. Project-based learning allows students to think for themselves. When I was in school, we did not have this, and to be honest, there was not much thinking going on. Project-based learning also will help students down the road when they are on their own.

Roosevelt Elementary PBL Program

The term that keeps popping up is the idea of collaboration between peers in the classroom. Not only collaboration between students, between teachers. As educators, it's important to understand education is evolving, and we have to work together with not only our colleagues but our students, as well. The idea of educators working together is productive and it also allows them to assign collaborative assignments to their students. A good teacher will receive help and ideas from other teachers and give some of their own. I was talking to a friend the other day, and she is currently a second grade teacher. She was telling me that there were a lot of new teachers at her school, and she was one of them. The principal had the older teachers and younger teachers work together, but the problem was that the older teachers did not want to work with the younger teachers. The approach was counterproductive because there was no communication among them. It's difficult for my friend because she does not have anyone to go to for help and guidance. It's necessary for teachers to work together not only for themselves, but for their students, as well.

Blended Learning Cycle

Blended learning is combining online, mobile, and classroom learning into one situation. Technology is a powerful tool that allows to educators to connect and communicate with their students. There are five E’s incorporated into the learning cycle: engage, explore, explain, expand and evaluate. By following the five E’s, it is a great way to present and learn new material. Mr. Anderson created an acronym to develop parts of blended learning-QUIVERS. He has six arrows in his quiver that symbolizes that there are six parts to his blended learning cycle. The first part of his cycle is to have a good question. A good question is the hook that grasps the students' interests in the material being taught. An investigation always begins with a good question. Inquiry learning allows the students to experiment with a question. Another approach to teaching the given material is through videos. Mr. Anderson uses educational videos as a way to differentiate the lecture but still deliver the necessary information. After further information has been given, elaboration is necessary. Mr. Anderson elaborates on essential details before moving on to the next step, which is reviewing. During the review process, Mr. Anderson meets with the students individually or in small groups. Each student is not allowed to move on to the last step until he is confident with his or her responses during the review. The final step is a summary quiz, which tests the students’ knowledge and understanding of the material. By using Mr. Anderson’s approach to blended learning, the students are able to experience a well-rounded style of education.

Making Thinking Visible

Mark Church is an educator who encourages the idea of collaboration in his classroom. Mr. Church assigns his students to work in groups to come up with a headline about the search for human origins. Mr. Church used headlines as a way to force the students to think about the challenge behind the given material. This assignment allows the students to focus on how their thinking was extended and go beyond the obvious answers in the text. After time has passed, Mr. Church will have his students return to the material, creating another headline. The second headline should show growth in the students' thought processes and provide a significant difference in understanding the material.

C4KSummary for the month of March

C4KSummary for Tane

I had the opportunity to visit Tane's page on Mrs. She's class blog site. I was able to view Tane's personal picture. I informed Tane in my post about the importance of allowing students to express their inventive and creative skills in the classroom. I told him he took a very nice picture. I also told him that I attend the University of South Alabama, which is located in Mobile, Alabama. I expressed some of the excellent qualities about Mobile including the delicious Gulf Coast seafood and the exuberance of Mardi Gras. Mrs. I also told Tane about the value of having fun in the classroom. As educators, we want to motivate and inspire our students to have fun when creating projects as well as promoting critical thinking skills in the classroom. I am fascinated by the use of technology from the second graders in Mrs. She's classroom. I only wish I had the tools and resources when I was a student in elementary school. I also informed Tane that I am looking forward to reading some of his work.

C4KSummary for Joseph

I had the opportunity to visit Joseph's page on Mrs. Lagitupu's class blog site. I was able to read Joseph's story about his class trip to Ambury farm. Joseph as his classmates had the opportunity to observe some sheep, chickens, cows and a bull. Joseph informed his audience that one of the individuals in charge of running the farm told Joseph and his classmates the difference between two cows. Joseph also provided his audience with a photo of a cow. He also presented a picture of a cow he drew. I informed Joseph in my post about how I enjoyed reading his post, and I provided him with some brief information about Mobile, Alabama. I told him Mobile is a port city, and it's well known for seafood and Mardi Gras. I also told him that I love animals, and I'm glad his class had the opportunity to observe some farm animals. I also informed Joseph that I am looking forward to viewing more of his posts and illustrations.

C4KSummary for Isara

I had the opportunity to visit Isara's page on Ms. Paget's class blog site. I was able to read Isara's descriptive account of Cyclone Lusi. Isara described the cyclone as being a category one with fifty miles per hour winds. He also described the effect the cyclone is having on the communities in its path. The cyclone is causing heavy rain and high winds and is damaging houses. I informed Isara; I am a student at the University of South Alabama, located in Mobile, Alabama. Also, that Mobile is well known for seafood, Mardi Gras, and, unfortunately, hurricanes. I let him know I have experienced heavy rain and high winds before. I also let Isara know that he did an excellent job of describing the conditions of the cyclone and the hope nobody is hurt and that aid will be provided to those affected. Lastly, I informed Isara that I am looking forward to reading more of his work.

Project #4 - Comments4Teachers

C4T#3, comment 1

I had the opportunity of reading Jennifer Brokofsky's blog post on jenniferbrokofsky.wordpress.com. The title of her most recent post is named "Three Act Math Movies- Candy Colours" posted on June 7, 2013. A synopsis of her post details an informative and insightful math lesson plan for students in grades second, fourth, and fifth. The mission of the activity is for students to connect and collaborate with their peers and understand the value of sharing. Ms. Brokofsky provides an example through a series of videos outlining concepts, including adding, subtracting, and problem-solving. The videos demonstrate these ideas by two students sharing skittles. First, one student counts to see how many skittles are in the bag. Second, the students discuss and arrange their favorite skittles colors. Third, the students demonstrate concepts of adding, subtracting, and problem solving to share the skittles. In conclusion, the students have an equal amount of skittles. I informed Ms. Brokofsky in my post about how I believed this activity to be constructive and beneficial for students. This activity teaches students the value of sharing and important math skills, as well. I articulated to Ms. Brokosfky on why I want to become a teacher. My passion is to inspire and educate students to live active and healthy lives. I also informed her that I believe it's important to emphasize math, science, and technology in our schools. It's key that we equip our students with inventive thinking skills, as well. As educators, we should empower our students to be creative and innovative in the 21st century. I also articulated to her that I believe it's important for students to express their thoughts and ideas in the classroom. Allowing students to communicate their knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes is not only productive, but efficient and effective, as well. I concluded my post by thanking her for the tools and resources she has provided me. Also, the hope that she will visit my blog.

C4T#3, comment 2

I had the opportunity of reading Jennifer Brokofsky's blog post on jenniferbrokofsky.wordpress.com. The title of her most recent post is named "It’s Been Awhile… Lessons Learned as a New Administrator" posted on March 23, 2014. A synopsis of her post details why she has not been blogging lately and the lessons she has learned from her transition as a consultant to a vice principal at an inner city school. The first lesson she has learned from her new position is the idea of understanding and addressing students' individualized learning needs. The second lesson she has learned is acknowledging every student learns differently and it's okay to spend extra time on a lesson. The third lesson she has learned is appreciating her students and understanding each student as their own knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and opinions. The fourth lesson she has learned is realizing that everything cannot be done at once and thoughts and ideas need be explored thoroughly. The fifth lesson she has learned is acknowledging that she does not have all the answers, and it's key, welcoming and embracing students and colleagues views and opinions into the equation. The sixth lesson she has learned is the overwhelming joy she receives from being able to educate and inspire students. I informed Ms. Brokofsky in my post that I am thrilled she has returned to blogging because of the positive impact it has on the learning process. I also informed her that I have learned so much through my personal learning network, which includes blogs, Skype, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. I also informed Ms. Brokofsky about the importance of knowing as educators that we do not have all answers and it's productive if we collaborate and share thoughts and ideas with our colleagues and students. I concluded my post by thanking her for the tools and resources she has provided me. Also, the hope that she will visit my blog.

Project #12 SMARTboard Part B

Project #12 SMARTboard Part A

Project #10 Interview

Blog Post 10

I learned a lot of valuable information from Sir Ken Robinson's speech titled "Bring On the Education Revolution". Mr. Robinson eloquently articulated the idea of a much-needed revolution in our school systems. The model of standardization is not constructive, and the academic communities need to institute creativity and innovation in our schools. I believe wholeheartedly in Mr. Robinson's message and the idea of allowing students to display their knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes in the classroom. I believe Mr. Robinson values the non-traditional style of teaching, as opposed to the traditional style. It's the idea that the teacher is not the sole possessor of knowledge and information in the classroom. Mr. Robinson harped on the idea of allowing students to explore and identify their skills, talents, and abilities. It's key for an educator not to inhibit a child from pursuing their hopes, dreams, or aspirations. Mr. Robinson talked about how education should be an organic process. This fascinated me because I remember as a young student not being able to display my skills and talents. I was conformed to textbooks and worksheets in the classroom, and I had no desire or energy to pursue my passions.

I learned from Mr. Robinson the value of enjoying what you do in life. My passion is to educate and inspire students to live active and healthy lives. I believe I will enjoy educating students about the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables and exercising for at least thirty minutes a day. As educators, I believe it's important to understand that we did not select this profession because of the money. We choose this profession because we want to make a positive difference in students' lives. As a future teacher, I want to create a climate and culture for my students not to be afraid to ask questions. I want to be open and honest with my students and communicate to them that I am not the sole possessor of knowledge and information in the classroom. As educators, it's important to understand our students come from diverse backgrounds and practice different cultures, beliefs, and traditions. It's key that we accept and embrace those traits and apply them in the curriculum.

I learned from Mr. Robinson the understanding of not living in the past. I believe the idea of textbooks and worksheets are becoming a tool of the past and educators are adopting creative and innovative techniques to teach their students. Right now in the Baldwin County school system students are learning and creating valuable information on Mac computers and iPads. This method is fascinating because it allows students to express their artistic skills as well as it allows them to investigate information about interesting topics. At the end of his talk, Mr. Robinson articulated a poem by William Butler Yeats. The message of this poem and Mr. Robinson's talk was about the idea of parents and teachers embracing an individuals hopes and dreams rather than hindering them. We should invigorate students to learn, grow, create and thrive.

Project #15 Lesson Plan

Investigating a Biome - Lesson Plan

In this project-based lesson plan, 4th grade students will obtain and share knowledge and information about a particular and interesting biome in our world. The project is an individual assignment. The objective is for the student to research and explore important information about the biome I assigned them and create a Google Docs presentation. The students will then present their presentations on the assigned day. Students are expected to use appropriate online tools including icuiro and YouTube. The timeline of this project is one week. My driving question is: I want you to imagine you are an adventurer and you're on an expedition to the biome I assigned you, what types of plants and animals would you look for and explore?

Blog Post 9

Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1

I learned a lot of valuable information from Mrs. Cassidy's informative and insightful discussion with Dr. Strange about meaningful, effective, and appropriate ways to apply technology in the classroom. Mrs. Cassidy articulated the importance of understanding that technology is changing how educators instruct, and it's key for educators to adapt and present technology to our students in a way that is fun and productive. I found it fascinating to learn that her first grade students are excited about mastering new skills through technology in the classroom. Mrs. Cassidy is an educator who allows her students to express their knowledge, skills, opinions, and attitudes in the classroom. Mrs. Cassidy takes a non-traditional approach to teaching. Mrs. Cassidy allows her students to express their thoughts and ideas through blogs and videos. Mrs. Cassidy talked about how her students get excited when they read comments posted on their blogs from students and educators. I also learned from Mrs. Cassidy the value of allowing students to communicate and share insightful information with other students and educators through Skype.

Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 2

I found it fascinating to learn about Mrs. Cassidy's instructional methods when it comes to protecting and educating her students about appropriate and safe ways to browse the World Wide Web and post comments. Mrs. Cassidy informs her students not to post negative comments or a picture of themselves on their blogs. I, too, believe it's key for students to stay positive and be kind to their peers when evaluating he or she's performance. Broadly speaking, students already have vast knowledge and experience with technology so it's important for educators to provide them with some basic guidelines on how to use technology appropriately. I believe motivation is important because students get tired of paper and pencil in the classroom. Technology allows for students to embrace and share their creativity and express their knowledge, skills, and ideas. I don't see any of Mrs. Cassidy's techniques as being unproductive, but I could see Twitter as being problematic. However, if educators set guidelines for students when it comes to Twitter and monitor the individuals they follow, I could see it as being constructive.

Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 3

As an educator, I will incorporate some of the ideas and techniques I have learned from Mrs. Cassidy into my classroom. Mrs. Cassidy harped on the importance of collaboration in the classroom. Collaboration allows for students to connect, learn, and share knowledge and information with educators and students. As an educator, I will create a Facebook account for my class. This would allow students and parents to visit the page and see exactly when assignments and projects are due as well as watching videos of the lessons. Technology is becoming a significant part of the curriculum in today's classroom, and I believe this approach will be successful, and students will benefit greatly.

Project #4 - Comments4Teachers

C4T#2, comment 1

I had the opportunity of reading Nathan Horne's blog post on iphys-ed.com. The title of his most recent post is named "Inspire Change - ECIS PE Conference 2014 - Zug & Luzern, Switzerland" posted on January 31, 2014. A synopsis of his post provides specifics about a conference in Switzerland hosted by a fellow physical educator. The topic of discussion is to "Inspire Change" and one of the keynote speakers is Jim Lawless. Mr. Lawless is a well-known writer and educator around the world, and he has a popular book out called "Taming Tigers". Mr. Lawless has had a positive impact on educators, and his message has reached people across the globe. A summary of my post to Mr. Horne consists of me introducing myself and my objectives as well as offering my thoughts on his blog post. I informed him that I was intrigued by the idea of physical education instructors coming from all across the world to be inspired and motivated about instructing physical education. One of the pre-conference workshops, teaches power yoga that I thought was fascinating. I have always wanted to learn how to perform and teach yoga. I believe it's a great way to connect with your body and the world around you. I have always been a big believer in having students connect with nature, as well. I have also heard yoga relieves a lot of stress and frustration is a person's life. I concluded my post to him by saying why I want to become a physical education teacher. My passion is to educate and inspire the youth of today to live active and healthy lives. In today's world, the obesity rates for children are at astonishing levels, and my passion is to bring those numbers down and inform students that exercising is fun. We as educators must empower and encourage our students to stay active and eat healthy, as well. I added Mr. Horne on twitter and told him I will be checking out his blog and sharing my thoughts and ideas, as well.

C4T#2, comment 2

I had the opportunity of reading Nathan Horne's blog post on iphys-ed.com. The title of his most recent post is named "What's in Your #PhysEd Bag, Mel Hamada?" posted on February 18, 2014. A synopsis of his post details a look inside of a fellow physical education instructors gym bag. The educator's name is Mel Hamada, who has a fascinating blog and is well-respected in the academic community. I learned from reading this blog post about some interesting tools and gadgets in Ms. Hamada's gym bag. The Crumpler bag, Ms. Hamada uses, is the same bag she has used for the past 18 years. Ms. Hamada's bag contains a lot of technological devices, including an iPad mini, iPad shuffle, MacBook Pro, and a USB mouse and various chords, as well. I informed Mr. Horne in my post to him about how fascinating it is to learn that a PE instructor carries around just as many technological devices as a computer instructor. I also articulated to him that I am always carrying with me my MacBook Air as well as my iPhone. As a future teacher, I am always exploring and investigating new gadgets to enrich and enhance my technological journey. The intriguing aspect I informed Mr. Horne about is the idea of educators being continuous learners and actively pursuing new methods to educate and inspire our students. Some other interesting items in Ms. Hamada's bag are notebook paper, medical stuff, and chocolate. I informed Mr. Horne in my blog post about how proactive and responsible it is for Ms. Hamada to carry with her medical stuff in case of an accident or injury. It's always smart to take preemptive measures in a gym or classroom. I found it intriguing to learn Ms. Hamada takes notes about what is going on in our classroom setting, so later on in the semester, she can refer to them for information and guidance. I also found it interesting to learn that Ms. Hamada did not carry her phone or clothes which are located in her other bag. I articulated in my post to Mr. Horne on why I want to become a physical education instructor. My passion is to inspire and motivate students to live active and healthy lives. In today's society, the obesity rates are astronomically high for kids and teens. Our mission should be to explore inventive and creative techniques to promote exercise and eating fresh fruits and vegetables. I concluded my post by thanking him for the tools and resources he has provided me and the hope that he will visit my blog.

Project #14 Lesson Plan

Exploring the Planets - Lesson Plan

In this project-based lesson plan, 3rd grade students will obtain and share knowledge and information about a particular and interesting planet in our solar system. The project is an individual assignment. The objectives are for the students to research and explore important information about the planet I assigned them and create a Google Docs presentation. The students will then present their presentations on the assigned day. Students are expected to use appropriate online tools including icuiro and YouTube. The timeline of this project is one week. My driving question is: If you were an astronaut and you had the opportunity to travel to your assigned planet, what are some exciting things you would look for and explore?

Blog Post 8

As educators, it's important to supply our students with productive resources and tools during their learning process. We want our students to be active and engaged in meaningful technology that not only enhance their communication skills, but enrich their critical thinking skills, as well. As educators, it is our duty to make sure our students receive a high quality education. We also want our students to learn how to communicate with their peers and provide meaningful feedback when necessary. I believe collaboration is important because it allows students to interact and create projects with their peers. As educators, we also want our students to be creative as well as innovative when working on their projects. Teaching and learning in the 21st century is the idea of allowing students to express their knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and opinions. After engaging in research, I found some quality communication tools I believe will be beneficial for students and resourceful across the curriculum.

I found Edmodo to be a fascinating tool to utilize inside and outside of the classroom. Edmondo allows for educators to communicate, collaborate, coordinate valuable information with their students. This tool allows for educators to post interesting topics or videos for their students. Edmondo also allows students to upload documents. The most important aspect of Edmodo is the idea of students having fun. As educators, we want to motivate and inspire our students to work hard and have fun. This tool allows for students to be active and engaged in the curriculum. Edmodo also allows educators to recognize deserving students with rewards. Another aspect of Edmodo I found to be intriguing is the idea of connecting and sharing information with parents. I believe parents are the foundation of a child's success. As educators, it's key for the parents to be active and engaged in what their child is learning. I found Edmodo to be an effective tool for educators and students to explore in the 21st century.

SlideShare is another fascinating educational tool for educators and students. SlideShare allows educators and students to discover, learn, share, and upload meaningful videos or topics like technology and education. SlideShare also allows for students to share their work to either Facebook, Twitter, etc. As educators, we want our students to connect and share information with individuals all around the word. Right now, SlideShare has more than 15 million uploads. As educators, we want ourselves to be continuous learners as well as our students. SlideShare allows students to be creative and innovative. I found SlideShare to be an effective tool for educators and students to explore in the 21st century.

While searching the internet I also found an intriguing educational website called Funbrain. Funbrain is designed for students ranging from preschool to eighth grade. It's a fun and interactive site for students to play educational games that improve students' skills in math and reading. Funbrain is also a safe site for students to browse and play educational games. Educators are encouraged to allow their students to use this learning tool during free time. As educators, we want our students to be excited about learning new skills. We want our students to practice and grow their skills, and I believe Funbrain provides them with those opportunities. I found Funbrain to be an effective learning tool for educators and students to explore in the 21st century.

Project #13 Lesson Plan

Befriend a President - Lesson Plan

In this week and a half project-based lesson plan, 5th grade students will obtain and share knowledge and information about a particular and interesting United States president that their group has been assigned. There are five groups consisting of four classmates to a group. The objectives are to research, collaborate, share important information and create Google Docs presentations. The groups will then present their presentations on the assigned day. Students are expected to use appropriate online tools including icuiro and YouTube. Our driving question is: What were some of his most successful accomplishments during his presidency, as well as fun facts about his life?

Project #9 Video Book Conversation

Blog Post 7

This is probably the second or third time I have watched Dr. Randy Pausch's inspirational lecture on achieving your childhood dreams and enabling the childhood dreams of others. Every time I watch this lecture I learn something new about how to inspire and motivate others. Dr. Pausch was a passionate and creative professor who encouraged his students to work hard and dream big. Dr. Pausch believed it was important to be honest and to treat others with respect. I learned from this lecture about the importance of allowing your students to express their creativity, as well as their knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Dr. Pausch harped on understanding your students and their abilities and to value and respect criticism when given. Dr. Pausch also stressed the importance of teamwork and innovation when describing the curriculum of the ETC or (Entertainment Technology Center) program at Carnegie Mellon University. The program reflects the ideas and methods of project-based learning. Project Based Learning allows for students to use their own knowledge, skills, and ideas to create and enhance projects. Dr. Pausch also articulated the importance of revising and reflecting on your craft, as well as the craft of your peers.

I learned from Dr. Pausch the importance of incorporating fun into the curriculum. I think it's key as educators for our students to enjoy learning while having fun in the process. If our students are excited about learning than it makes teaching a lot more enjoyable. He also talked about how the ETC program is all project based without the use of textbooks. I enjoyed the concept of not using a textbook because I don't believe they serve the skills or abilities of students. Dr. Pausch articulated the value of working in a group as well as the evaluation process of the peers in a group. I, too, think it's important for students to evaluate their peers and provide meaningful feedback to them. This allows for students to have a better knowledge and understanding of their strengths and weaknesses as well as the key areas needing improvement.

I learned from Dr. Pausch the importance of respecting authority. I believe it's important because it allows quality and insightful communication between a boss and an employee. I learned from Dr. Pausch about the value of learning from our students. As educators, our students bring into the classroom so much knowledge and information, so it's vital for us to allow them to express and share their thoughts and ideas. Dr. Pausch articulated the importance of helping others. As a future educator, I want to do all I can to help and inspire others. I have volunteered in the past with some charitable organizations, but ultimately I want to encourage, motivate, and help my future students achieve their dreams. Dr. Pausch articulated the analogy of whether you are a "Tigger" or an "Eeyore"? I thought this analogy was so fascinating because it made me think and explore myself, and the teacher I am going to be.

I learned from Dr. Pausch the motto of never giving up. This concept resonated with me because there have been difficult times in my life where I've wanted to quit, but my internal drive, as well as sound advice, told me to keep pressing forward. Randy Pausch also talked about the "brick walls" you will be faced with in life. I have been faced with many challenges and obstacles in my life, but I understand those difficulties were put there for a reason. Dr. Pausch also harped on the idea of being honest with people as well as apologetic when you make a mistake. The life lessons I learned from Dr. Pausch are invaluable. As a future educator, I hope to assimilate those lessons to my students because I believe it applies to not only school but life, as well. In conclusion, Randy Pausch taught me the value of why those "brick walls" are there in our lives and with hard work and determination an individual could overcome them and achieve success. Randy Pausch's lecture combined the humor as well as the inspiration into seventy-six minutes. Dr. Pausch's lecture had a profound impact on my life, and his wisdom and advice will never be forgotten.

C4KSummary for the month of February

C4KSummary for Harley H

I had the opportunity of reading Harley's blog post on Mrs. Geldes site. The title of Harley's blog post is "Super Bowl" posted on January 31, 2014. Harley asks the readers a couple questions: 1. "Have you heard of the Super Bowl?" 2. "Do you know where the Super Bowl is?" 3. "Do you know how much tickets cost to be in the front row behind the field goal?" In my post, I informed Harley that I did know about the Super Bowl and the two teams playing in it. I believe the game was played a few miles from New York City. Also, I didn't know how much tickets cost for the game. I found Harley's post to be very interesting and entertaining. Harley informed the readers about Bruno Mars performing at halftime. I told Harley that Bruno Mars was the best part of the Super Bowl. Also, that Bruno Mars is a very talented musician and entertainer.

C4KSummary for Kyle

I had the opportunity of reading Kyle's blog post on Ms. Scott Lindsay's class blog site. The title of Kyle's blog post is "I wish I was at Carolina" posted on February 8, 2014. Kyle lets the reader know that he is sick with the flu, and he can't come to school. Kyle loves his school, and he's disappointed about not being there. Kyle says he woke up with a headache, but he's feeling better now. Kyle asks the readers a question: "How have you felt when you had the flu and couldn’t go to school?" I told Kyle that I felt horrible, and it was not a pleasant experience. I also told Kyle that the best medicine is to stay home and rest so his classmates won't get sick, as well. I informed Kyle where I was from and what I am studying as well as giving him some history about the city of Mobile. I concluded my post by saying I hope you feel better.

C4KSummary for Elizabeth

I had the opportunity of reading Elizabeth's blog post on Mrs. Miller's site. The title of Elizabeth's blog post is "No Title" posted on February 5, 2014. Elizabeth asks her audience "Can money buy anyone’s happiness?" Elizabeth then informs her audience that money cannot buy happiness and that your true friends are there for you no matter how much money you have. Elizabeth then tells her audience about the time she was betrayed by one of her friends, and that she didn't forgive her when she tried to apologize. Elizabeth also talked about the time she had a crush on a boy who didn't feel the same about her. Elizabeth also talked about how the boy tried to make up with her with money and candy and she refused. In my post to Elizabeth, I informed her that I agreed with her theory that money doesn't buy happiness. I also encouraged her to continue to trust and seek advice and encouragement from your true friends and family. I told her one of the hardest things to do is to forgive somebody, so I completely understand her thoughts and ideas about forgiveness. I concluded by saying I am looking forward to reading her future blog posts and conversing with her about her educational journey.

C4KSummary for Sierra

I had the opportunity of reading Sierra's blog post on Ms. Frahm's site. The title of Sierra's blog post is "Color Poem" posted on February 3, 2014. Sierra's post provides a link to the poem she wrote titled "Easter Basket". "Easter Basket" is a wonderful poem with a lot of imagery and personification. A synopsis of the poem is the idea of a decorative basket in hiding until Easter. I liked how Sierra used illustration and expressive words to describe the thoughts and feelings of the basket when it finally was able to be filled with jelly beans and chocolate bunnies. The end of the poem concludes with the basket, feeling happy that Easter is now over. In my post to Sierra, I informed her that I thought her poem was awesome and well-written. I also told her Easter is one of my favorite holidays because of the quality time you spend with your friends and family. In conclusion, I told her that I am excited about reading more of her poems and blog posts.

Project #8 Book Trailer

Blog Post 6

The substantive information I received from Steven Anderson's interview is the idea of connecting and sharing knowledge and information with educators all around the world. Mr. Anderson articulated the value of collaboration with fellow educators through resources and tools including twitter, Skype, and blogs. Mr. Anderson also articulated that he doesn't know everything, so it's important for him to be an active learner and thinker. A personal learning network takes a non-traditional approach to education because it allows for students to share their thoughts and ideas in the classroom. It's the idea that that the teacher is not the sole possessor of knowledge and information in the classroom. I also was immensely fascinated by the video of a 7th grade student informing the audience about her personal learning environment. I found it intriguing the idea of connecting with a scientist through email or twitter and allowing he or she to peer review the scientific work. I also learned it's key for students to be active and engaged in the learning process. The 7th grader in the video also harped on the importance of having the freedom to explore educational sites and resources for substantive information about interesting topics. I also learned from Mr. Anderson about the importance of asking questions. As educators, we should be continuous learners outside of the classroom and revise and reflect informative and insightful topics with fellow educators around the world.

Personal learning networks are formed through resources and tools such as email, twitter, Skype, and blogs. As an educator, once you connect with a fellow educator, you can express and share thoughts and ideas about interesting subjects, teaching in the 21st century, or even share recipes. I learned a lot of valuable information from Michael Fawcett's video. Mr. Fawcett articulated that he didn't personally know a few of the educators he added on twitter. Mr. Fawcett also talked about investigating, connecting, and sharing important information with fellow educators through twitter, YouTube, and class blogs. I thought it was fascinating to hear Mr. Fawcett talk about the time he sent out a question on twitter and within thirty minutes he got a reply. Mr. Fawcett challenges his audience to seek out and create their own project learning network and start investigating the amount of knowledge and information out there waiting to be shared. I am also intrigued by Symbaloo. This social service will be the Genesis of my own personal learning network. It's an excellent tool for students and teachers to connect, share, and learn about interesting and informative topics.

An area of study that I am interested in is physical education. My passion is to educate and inspire the next generation of students to live active and healthy lives. I have already browsed the World Wide Web for informative and insightful blogs and videos on the topic of physical education. I was amazed by the number of tools and resources available to create and enhance my personal learning network. I have already started to add educators of physical education on twitter. My goal is to connect and collaborate with physical education instructors. I want to hear their thoughts and ideas about proactive approaches to educating and inspiring students. Another interest of mine is coaching basketball one day. So, I have started researching and adding coaches on twitter for their thoughts and advice. Hopefully, I will be able to Skype or iChat a basketball coach in the near future and ask some informative questions. I believe it's important for an educator to build a personal learning network to connect and collaborate with educators and thinkers so an individual can share valuable knowledge and information with their students.

My Sentence Videos

My Sentence Is



My Passion Is

Blog Post 5

Project Based Learning Part 1

The substantive information I received from Anthony Capps is the idea of allowing students to express their own knowledge, skills, and opinions in the classroom. Mr. Capps articulated the importance of having a democratic classroom. Democracy in the classroom allows for students to revise and reflect on their work as well as share their thoughts and ideas to the classroom. I believe Mr. Capps' methods reflect a non-traditional approach to the classroom. It's the idea that the teacher is not the sole possessor of knowledge and information in the classroom. Mr. Capps believes it's essential for his students to be active and engaging in a project that is meaningful in their lives, as well as in the community. Mr. Capps also believes it's important for students to praised when they do solid work. As educators, I believe this is key because our job is not only to educate our students but to inspire them, as well. I have also said before that I believe motivation is another vital element to project based learning. Mr. Capps also harped on the importance of students being excited to learn and explore.

Project Based Learning Part 2

Mr. Capps talked about worksheets and the idea that when his students do them, they know it's beneficial to their success. I have said before in a previous blog post that I hated worksheets when I was in school. So I was fascinated when Mr. Capps talked about conveying to his students the value of worksheets and the benefits of them. Mr. Capps also talked about the importance of having a principal that accepts and appreciates project based learning in the classroom. Mr. Capps talked about having some freedom in the classroom because his boss is so understanding. I believe the central concept to project based learning is for students to be actively engaged in the material and to investigate their own knowledge and information about the topic. I also believe it's key for students to be creative as well as open and honest with their work. Students also should feel free to express their thoughts, ideas, and opinions about the subject matter.

iCurio and Discovery Ed

I was immensely intrigued by Mr. Capps and Dr. Strange's conversation about iCurio and Discovery Ed. Mr. Capps talked about iCurio being a safe internet search engine that allows students to research important topics without the possibility of going to a website that would be deemed inappropriate. I was fascinated about how iCurio allows for students to save and store their work. Mr. Capps also talked about how this resource is useful to all grade levels. iCurio serves students with physical or intellectual disabilities. For someone with an intellectual disability, iCurio will read aloud, relevant information for the student. I believe this online tool is very beneficial for students and is a valuable resource for project based learning. Discovery Ed is a valuable program in the classroom, and it's useful to project based learning. Discovery Ed supplies students with a visual illustration through a video or photo about an interesting topic they are learning about. Discovery Ed provides students the opportunity to research and investigate about an interesting topic and is just another tool to excite students about project based learning.

I learned a lot of valuable information from "The Anthony - Strange Tips for Teachers Part 1" discussion with Mr. Capps and Dr. Strange. I was intrigued by the idea that teachers have to be continuous learners. Mr. Capps articulated that learning doesn't stop when you get outside of the classroom. Learning is constant, and it's important to have educational discussions with your peers. Mr. Capps talked about teaching is hard work and enjoyable, as well. I have always been a creative and active learner, and I have a passion for educating and inspiring students. I also learned it's key to be flexible as an educator. Difficult situations are going to arise that educators have no control over, so it's essential to be flexible and adjust on the fly. Mr. Capps also talked about presenting information that is interesting and fun for students. Learning is supposed to fun, so allow students to branch out and explore and create with their own knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. I also learned from watching this video that it's key to revise and share your work. From my own personal experience, I am hesitant to share my work or have a peer revise my work out of fear of rejection. This video puts a positive spin on sharing and revising your work.

I learned a lot of valuable information from "Use Tech Don't Teach It". The first piece of information I learned from watching this video is that students are fascinated by technology. As educators, we don't have to teach technology to our students, but provide them with some basic guidelines on how to use technology appropriately. Technology is changing the way educators instruct their students. Mr. Capps talked about times when his students are teaching him about new tools or resources relating to technology. I also learned that teachers can learn from their students. This video also teaches the importance of allowing students to express creativity and apply their unique skills to technology. I also learned some valuable information from "An Additional Thought About Lessons". Mr. Capps articulated the importance of incorporating a yearly and unit plan into the curriculum. Mr. Capps also harped the importance to plan ahead and not procrastinate about getting meaningful projects done. Students need to be actively engaged in substantive material that is useful to their success. Also, the curriculum has to connect with the students and provide purpose and meaning in their lives, as well.

Project #3 Presentation

Blog Post 4

The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom

I was immensely fascinated by this article as well as enlightened by the substantive information presented. Principal Johnson's idea that teachers are not the sole possessors of knowledge and information is completely accurate. I think it's important for students to be engaged in classroom discussion without feeling humiliated. I like the idea of a teacher randomly calling on a student and waiting three seconds for an answer. Randomly calling on students is a method I believe to be effective because it encourages and motivates all students to participate in classroom discussion. As educators, we must understand that our students bring their own knowledge, skills, and values into the classroom, and it's pivotal that we embrace those traits and use them in the curriculum. I don't like the look of a student feeling alienated from classroom discussions. So my proposal is to educate my class in a project based method. This allows me to evaluate my students' performance.

Asking Questions to Improve Learning

I learned some valuable information from this article. I like the idea of not asking a student more than one question. From my own personal experience, I prefer brainstorming my answer without the thought of being overwhelmed with another question. I also think it's important for an educator not to wait until the period is almost over to ask his or her class if they have any questions. As an educator, it's vital to plan your lessons accordingly and to be consciously aware of the time. I believe it's important to respond to your students in a way that is beneficial to them. I also like the idea of not interrupting a student before they have thoroughly answered the question. Every student learns differently, and it's key that we allow them enough time to share their thoughts and ideas. I also believe in the concept of having your students elaborate their answers and provide an illustration.

Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom

I was very intrigued by this article and the concept of playing with questions. As an educator, it's important for us to challenge our students to explore their creative thinking. I am fascinated by the idea of presenting a challenging question before the lesson begins. This allows students to ponder the question throughout the lesson, so it allows students ample time to explore ideas and opinions on the topic. From my own personal experience, I didn't like when teachers would just bloviate or pontificate the entire class period without once asking a challenging question. I have already expressed by distaste for worksheets in a previous blog post.

Asking better questions in the classroom

Ms. Joanne did an excellent job of articulating the difference between an open-ended question, as opposed to a closed-ended question. As educators, we should be asking productive types of questions to our students. A closed-ended question does not invite the student to engage in meaningful discussion. The answers given usually are "yes", "no", or "I think so". An open-ended question allows a student to open up their closed minds. This also allows a student to express their thoughts and ideas in a meaningful discussion. It's essential for students to spend some time in thought and reflection. As educators, we want our students to come into the classroom with an observant mindset, as opposed to an obstinate mindset.

Questioning Styles and Strategies

This particular video captivated my attention and provided me with some clear and concise techniques to use inside of the classroom. The instructor talked to the class about the book Bridge to Terabithia. One method in particular I enjoyed was when the instructor randomly called on a student and instructed him to demonstrate the movements of the creature. I believe it's imperative for a teacher to engage their students in discussion. I also enjoyed when the instructor gave meaningful feedback to one of the students. This technique is valuable because it encourages the student as well as makes them feel appreciated. One technique the instructor presented was for the students to draw the city of Terabithia. This method is very productive because it allows students to express their artistic skills. It also gives students the ability to explore their imagination, as well as their creative thinking.