Educational Websites

The Internet provides an expansive opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to enhance classroom learning. There are hundreds of educational websites designed to aid in learning. Some websites are student-friendly, easy to access, and engage students with arcade-like learning games. Other websites assist teachers with lesson plans and activity ideas. Parents also can access these websites to better understand their child’s homework or to help guide their child to an appropriate at-home website. Please view the following site to view an example of some educational websites for students, teachers and parents:
EducationalWebsites

YouTube Video Playlist

A classroom video playlist is a series of videos connected together to be viewed by students, parents, and/or colleagues. Video playlists can be created as you search and watch new videos. For example, on YouTube, scroll down under the video and you will see an “Add to” link. Click this and it will ask you which playlist to add to. You also can create a new playlist under this option. Once the playlist is created, it can be edited by clicking on the playlist title and then clicking “Edit Playlist.” Here, videos can be put in a certain order and/or removed. You can also edit the title of the playlist and add a description.

I created a video playlist on YouTube titled, “Renewable Energy Sources.” This playlist would be used in a science unit on natural resources. The video could be used as an introduction to renewable energy or can be used as a supplement to the textbook. The first video is my introduction video explaining what the students will view. Here, I also ask them to focus on a few essential questions. The second video is an overview of what a renewable energy source is. Following this video, the playlist contains five other videos highlighting renewable energy sources.

Please view the video playlist below:

Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Assistive technologies are hardware and/or software that help a student overcome some sort of difficulty in the classroom due to a disability or some other limiting factor. Some students require assistive technologies simply to communicate, like a hearing aid. Another example is if a student cannot produce sound, he may use an app on an iPad with a series of pictures to help the other person understand what he needs. Used appropriately by classroom teachers, assistive technologies can help struggling students overcome their challenges.

The adoption and implementation of the Common Core Standards are putting more emphasis on a student’s ability to write. The Common Core tests require students to write for both the English-Language Arts and Math standards. In the coming years, writing will be an integral part of every curriculum. However, many students struggle with writing. Students can often verbalize what they want to say but then cannot put those words into a cohesive paper. This is especially prevalent for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s, and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, who all struggle with organization.

There are many software programs that address a student’s inability to organize thoughts into writing. Kidspiration (grades K-5) and Inspiration (grades 6-adult) are software programs that allow students to transition from the brainstorming process to the writing process. The software includes easy to follow graphic organizers for every content area, note taking templates and strategies, and writing process assistance. The software programs assist students in the writing process by making visual connection with the information in order to help them organize their writing.

Please refer to the following links to find more information on this writing software:
Kidspiration 
http://www.inspiration.com/Kidspiration

Inspiration 
http://www.inspiration.com/Inspiration


Also, these two websites are especially helpful in giving an overview of many different assistive technologies for the classroom:
National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/assistive-technology-education

Great Schools
http://www.greatschools.org/articles/?topics=188&language=EN

Photo Story Video

A photo story video uses photographs sequenced in a certain order to tell a story, engage the learner, introduce a concept, or show learning on the part of the student. Either the teacher or the student can create photo stories. The teacher can use photo stories as an introduction to a lesson or as a different way to excite the students about a certain topic. Students can use photo stories as a different method to show what they have learned. For example, student can recreate key events in a novel and create a photo story to summarize the plot.

 The photo story I created is to be used as an aide in teaching about mathematical arrays. Arrays are a visual model used to solve multiplication problems. If I were to use this photo story in my class, I would use it after introducing the concept of math arrays. This video could be used as an introduction to a culminating project in which students would be assigned to find examples of multiplication arrays in their own homes. Please view the video below:

Technology System Screencast

Screencasts are videos showing what a user is doing on his/her computer. Some of the available resources for creating screencasts are Jing and Screenr. Screencasts can be very helpful in the classroom. If I assign homework that requires accessing an online resource, I can create a screencast to help guide students to the correct page. At the elementary level, I can create a screencast showing parents how to access different online educational tools.

For my screencast, I used Jing. I showed the viewer how to identify certain things on a computer. I use a Mac so this video shows how to do that on a Mac only. It would be different on a PC. I demonstrate how to find the type of operating system, the operating system version, the processor speed of the computer, the amount of Random Access Memory (RAM), the total size of the hard drive, and how much available space remains on the hard drive. Please access the video from the link below. Please see the video below:

About Me

I graduated from Boise State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish. I also received my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, with a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Education, from the University of Idaho in 2012. I am currently working towards earning my teaching credential through Northwest Nazarene University. I previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala where I taught preventative health education and English. Upon my return, I began working as a field instructor at the McCall Outdoor Science School in McCall, ID. I had the opportunity to work on my graduate degree and teach science in Ponderosa state Park! Most recently I served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer as an elementary reading and math tutor. When I am not teaching, I spend my time swimming, skiing, running, hiking, and playing with my dog.

 I became a classroom teacher so that I could positively impact the lives of children. I enjoy spending time with kids and watching them discover and grow. Teaching children is my passion and I love that every class, every year, and every day is different. My goals for the students are to find success academically, socially, and emotionally. My goal for the students, and myself as a teacher, are to grow and learn something new every day. I holy my students and myself to very high behavior and academic expectations.

 My teaching philosophy is shaped by my belief that every, single child is special and possesses unique gifts that they can contribute to our society. It is a teacher’s job to help the child understand their strengths and guide them in the process of becoming a young adult. I also believe in life-long learning and connecting content to children’s lives. For students to see a purpose in education, they must understand the “why” behind each day’s lessons. Finally, I believe that children need to go outside and experience the world in which we live. Children pay better attention and are more engaged when given the opportunity to explore their environment.

I visited Glacier National Park this summer!