Qualities.

Teaching is so much more than simply preparing a lesson plan and getting summers off. It is imperative that teachers strive to create a learning environment that is comfortable for ALL students and it is important that students understand the importance of what they are learning. It is crucial that teachers remain in the fore-front of learning so that they (and their students) are not left behind!

The results are in!

SUPERMAN wins in a landslide victory! Some of you may be wondering why in the world I would choose "who is your favorite super hero" as my poll question. This class is all about learning to be relevant and teaching students in a way that is interesting to them. Boys (of every age) in general love superheros! There is something about the idea of a man doing good that thrills people, boys especially. Girls love them too! The most interesting thing is the fact that the favorite was the non-human hero... You can never predict what someone is going to like or who will inspire them. Maybe one day there will be a student who really just needs to hear that superman could do it and so can you!

Your turn...

Who is your favorite? Participate in my poll to share!

Replace your audience response systems with Poll Everywhere

What should education look like?

Quote:
"The new classroom should teach the huge array of complex skills that come under the heading of digital literacy. And it should make students accountable on the Web, where they should regularly be aiming, from grade-school on, to contribute to a wide range of wiki projects." (Heffernan, August 7, 2011)

Reaction:
Students are going to use the internet whether we as teachers encourage them or not. Technology is the future and students are going to be using it more and more. In order to create an appreciation for education it is important to make it relevant and important to the students in our classrooms. If we teach students how to be responsible and safe on the internet and how to use it as a tool, there will be more interest and more relevance to the classroom. So what should education look like? It should be full of students using technology and thinking about what is safe and what is appropriate to accomplish and create on the internet.

Reference:

Heffernan, V. (2011, August 7). Education needs a digital upgrade. Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/education-needs-a-digithttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifal-age-upgrade/?hp


Related Source:
It is so important for teachers to remain on the edge of what is happening so that they can best equip their students for life after the classroom



Nwelding, . (Photographer). (2008). Digital world.. teachers today. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=40851&title=Digital_World____Teachers_Today

All about the author and her perspective...

Hey all! Welcome to my blog!

I was born in Norfolk, VA (but we moved to WV when I was 2) so I just say I am a West Virginian born and raised! I love the mountains! I moved to Kentucky for 2 years and attended a university there but I am back again!

My heart is for the younger children. I worked at a daycare in Kentucky and fell in love with my preschool kids and those going into kindergarten. If you capture their attention, it is amazing what they can and want to learn! I also love working with students with disabilities. Especially those who are deaf or HH (hard-of-hearing). I have had 2 years of ASL (American Sign Language) and I am hoping to be able to work with students learn to live fully regardless of how or what they hear.

All children learn differently. It is extremely important for information to be delivered in a variety of ways so that all students have an equal opportunity to understand. Some children learn through hearing, some through seeing, and some through touching. Some children are a combination of both. If teachers are delivering information in different ways, it not only allows the students to understand in a way that helps them remember and understand; but it also gives them skills in learning to understand different learning styles as well (one day their boss may be visual and give all instructions visually but the employee is auditory.)

Teaching students through a variety of methods helps build a respect for each style at a young age.

The most important thing in teaching; however, is ENGAGEMENT! If a child is not engaged and interested, they will learn NOTHING!

There are many different ways to engage students from music, to art, to interactive learning centers... the list goes on.

For example: in a math class you may be teaching about shapes and patterns. There are endless numbers of songs regarding shapes and patterns that you, as a teacher, could pull from and use. Create a dance and include your students who may have disabilities by finding something they can do- whether is be beating on a drum or putting their hands against the speaker so that they can feel the vibrations of the music even if they cannot hear the music.

Engaging a child is not hard, although sometimes it takes a little extra time. BE CREATIVE! As a teacher it is our job to train the leaders of tomorrow. If we aren't doing that, we aren't doing our job.