Reflection

I feel that my theory of learning has not really changed since the start of this course. Rather, I believe in my theory of teaching more. I am able to see more clearly the reasons and benefits behind the way that I teach.

I have several short term goals for intergrating technology into my classroom. Immedietly, I would like to explore the new SMARTboard software that was pushed through to us this week. There are so many more ways that I can use my board than just reading and calendar. I have slowly started using it for my math lessons and would like to start using it daily to enhance learning. Another strategy that I would like to implemnet would be the online content mapping. My students will be able to use this to think through the information they learned in a topic. Of course we will need to do this whole group, but it will be a way of introducing them to something they will later do on their own.

Long term goals include getting a voice thread account for each of my students. I would love to use this technology as an assessment for a unit. My students are still learning to write, but would have a lot to say. This would let them tell me what they know without writing ability hindering their voice. I would also like to finish completing my class website by adding a page that would be a link to a blog for parents to interact with each other and myself. These two strategies most likely will be worked on during summer break when I have more time to explore and learn.

Talking with other teachers and sharing ideas has empowered me to try new things....even with first graders. I am excited and very ready for summer break so that I can get started.

Voice thread

This is a link to my voice thread. Enjoy!

https://voicethread.com/#u749326.b898077.i4784749

Cooperative or Social Learning

I believe if used correctly, putting learners into cooperative/social groups to work together is a fantastic idea. I have seen the benefits in my own classroom. There is so much bonding taking place and children feel safe with their peers to share their thoughts and ideas.

The biggest concern is whether this is THEE way. There is no real one way. However, I do believe that a teacher willing to give cooperative learning a try will see the benefits out weigh the "benefits" of paper and pencil type activities. For some, school is the one place where their voice can be heard and appreciated. I love that each child has something to offer and at times the unexpected child is the one that wows me when I listen in on conversations as they work together.

They, the students, have unique ways to teach each other. Why not let them work together? This week I introduced a new step in our Writer's Workshop....peer editing. My little first graders were so excited to wear the teacher hat and help their peers. They took their jobs seriously and did a super job.

Maybe those that buck at this type of learning or teaching do so because they do not start off explaining the boundaries and the objectives clearly. As a group, we had a discussion on the purpose for peer editing and how it works if done one way and how it can go wrong very quickly if not done correctly. When they are working in their groups, I am still right there listening in and adding my two cents. I do not sit at my desk and correct papers. I am still facilitating learning.

I strongly believe in cooperative learning!

Constructivist Theory

In our reading this week there was a lot about note taking and cues. As I teach my first graders, we usually start a lesson with an affinity chart. I pass out post it notes and they draw or write something they know about the topic we are about to start. Then they post them on chart paper and as a class we read all responses together. Throughout the week as we learn more about the topic we refer to our chart. We make adjustments to our chart through out the week and add or take away post it notes and learning takes place. The final day of our unit is spent reviewing and talking about all that we had learned. This is our version of note taking and the children seem to like it. "Summarizing and note taking focuses on enhancing students abiltiy to synthesize information and distill it into a concise new form" (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn,& Malenoski, 2007, p. 119).

We also utilize Webs and Venn Diagrams on the SMARTboard where we sort parts of a story, spelling patterns in words, and facts from a unit. Graphic organizers are another fantastic idea for children to cognitively learn. They are able to store away information and remember the unique and engaging ways they were taught. They need to be able to wrap their minds around what is being taught and this reinforces the theory of how the mind/brain thinks and processes (Duffy and McDonald, 2008, p.20).

Cognitive Theory

I believe the brain is capable of taking information and separating everything one is exposed to and compacting learned information into little files. Information that is used regularly is filed near the front of the brain and the information rarely used is sent to the back. If information is never called upon, eventually the brain will decide to throw the file out.

Cues, questions and advance organizers are great ways to start a lesson. I always try to pull prior knowledge when I introduce a new topic or continue on from something the day before. Not only does asking them to remember information keep their file at the front of their brain, it also makes their brain "keep" the file. Pitler, Hubber, Kuhn and Malenoski made the statement that starting a lesson in this fashion allows teachers to "enhance students' abilities to retrieve, use and organize the learned information" during a particular topic or unit (2007, p.73).

Cognitive Theory also bases learning through a deep understanding of information. Summarizing and note taking make this process easier (Pitler, et al. 2007). I teach first graders and I have never asked them to take notes. However I do summarize and review with them. I have found "Cowboys and Chickens" to be a fun way to practice and summarize what we have learned. This activity takes place on my SMART board. I use the shape maker to draw shapes and gather pictures that would trigger thoughts from the topic and hide them behind the shapes. I call student's names to come to the board and they get to choose a shape to move. Once they reveal the picture or word hidden, they tell the class what they know. I always hide at least one picture of a chicken and a cowboy behind a couple of shapes. When a student finds a cowboy they all yell "Yeeee-Haw" and if they find a chicken they all yell "bawk, bawk" and flap their wings. This activity stimulates their brain "files" and helps them to review or summarize their learning. By adding the fun element, everyone stays focused and gets excited to take a turn...just in case thy find the cowboy or chicken.

Utilizing these concepts will encourage a life time of learning and remembering.

Behaviorism Theory

The Behaviorist Theory is based on the ideas that you should reinforce desired behavior and punish undesirable behavior. I believe the strongest link to the behaviorist ideals is to reinforce good behavior. Students with behavior problems (in my experiences) have come from dysfunctional homes and need to hear positive somewhere. Posting class rules that were developed with the class and referring back to them as needed is a good way to reiterate what is expected.

Homework & Practice: another area of Behaviorism is the idea that a lesson can cause a behavior or require a behavior. I believe that homework is a product of this theory. Daily, students learn new things and are asked to build on their learning experiences. By practicing at home, the students are helping to embed these new ideas and theories. This is also another way to add an intervention or remediation to a student's day.

Reinforcing Effort Strategy: Working hard pays off...slacking off does not. This is a hard concept to teach first graders. School is still fun and games to them. Teaching 1st graders can be trying when convincing them to work hard at reading because it is the foundation of all learning. My class works hard because they want to please me or their parents. Getting parents to show up for conferences or answering their phone when their child is sick at school is hard, let alone asking them to help with homework or actually bring their child to school because they (the parents) needed to sleep in. The belief in one's self plays a major role in success and motivation (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn & Malenoski, 2007, p.155). I try to motivate my students by helping them set class goals and individual goals. A celebration at the end of the goal period is a super motivator for 1st graders. In my classroom, I help the class set goals and we pick a reward to celebrate with when we reach our goals; eat with the teacher, crazy hair, pj day, etc. During my student teaching experience, I had a super teacher to learn these skills from. Likewise, my first year, I had a mentor teacher that guided me through my PRAXIS and she did a fantastic job of modeling behavior expectations. According to Dr. Orey, "human behavior is learned" and I had a good learning experience with these two teachers.

Technology is a logical way to support struggling learners. The games or programs can be tailored to fit their specific needs and add another layer to reinforce their learning. Utilizing technology also makes it easier to collect data for IEP or SAM meetings, since the program will collect and graph individual success or struggles.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Reflection

Well, I never would have thought this at the beginning of this course, but I am sad it is over. I have really begun to understand why I should incorporate technology into my classroom. It isn’t to just be entertaining…it is more about teaching in a way that our students have been wired to learn. From early on children are put in front of a TV, they use a VCR or DVD player and they can play games on handhelds or computers. As an educator it is my responsibility to train these children in the ways that my state says I need to in order to prepare them for the future.

 

At times during this class I felt pushed to my limit and out of my comfort zone. I, however, now feel more confident in “trying” new things and incorporating these activities into my classroom…even if I might fail in front of my students. Most likely they will know how to fix my error or learn right along side of me.

 

I always felt that I lead my classroom more like a tour guide. I would give the information and then allow my students to expand on their learning through small group discussions, paired activities or group projects. With this course now at an end, I realize that there is still some letting go I need to do. Although I have a room of 6 year olds, I do believe that they can do more that I am aware of. I am very excited to give it a try and see what happens. I feel that my attitude toward technology is more of a want then a have to mind set. Teachers that are complaining in my building about having to use a SMARTboard that they did not ask for infuriates me! Why wouldn’t you? They make learning so much more productive and engaging. My students, after only 53 days in school, are leaps and bounds above my previous classes, only because I can do more in the same amount of time.

 

I plan to attend the Tech Conference in Columbus, Ohio in January, to continue my learning with technology.  Now that I know what they are talking about (ie. Wikki’s and podcasts) I feel that I will benefit more than I did last year. My two long-term goals for myself are: incorporating a blog into my class website. I would also like to use valuable websites for extending lessons within my classroom. By using websites as tools to teach, I can also include these on my website to allow sick students to still get information or allow children to share what they are learning at school with their parents. Both of these goals will take some convincing with the school system. At this time there are many blocks on websites and blogs are not apart of the school approved website portal. I plan to submit my ideas and request to my building principal and then seeing where she feels I need to go next. Our district prides itself as a leader in providing technology and readying students for the future. With this in mind I am hopeful that I will be able to prove the worth of these learning tools.