Teaching+Artifacts+and+Reflections

Teaching Artifacts and Reflections Lacie Denham

__My Teaching Toolkit__

 I have learned many new things through my experiences as an intern, but the most useful skills I have developed are those that will help me to use technology in the classroom. They are all very helpful //internet-based// tools (meaning they can be accessed anywhere a computer and internet are available and **don't** have to be saved to individual computers) that will assist me while I teach my students how to survive in the real world, even at a young age. Examples of such Web 2.0 tools are:
 * **Prezi**
 * A web-based presentation tool using a map layout and zooming to show contextual relationships which addresses some of the shortcomings of Microsoft PowerPoint.
 * [|Prezi]
 * There's no reason to hassle with embedding YouTube videos anymore, thanks to this wonderful, **new** upgrade from the old PowerPoint presentations that people have been preparing for years. This helps to keep an entire class or small group completely engaged, and it's so easy to use that your students could make one themselves!
 * **Story Jumper**
 * Publish your own children's book online!
 * Free accounts available.
 * [|Story Jumper]
 * I have used Story Jumper in many of my lessons. It is a quick, easy, and efficient way to reach closure over a lesson while using some of the students' own artwork and stories in the process. I used this to make a class story using the students' own sentences as the base of the story, and the pictures they each drew on KidPix as the illustrations. The students love having their work available to show off to their families and friends on the computer at home. All you have to do is make a class account that other students can have access to, or have them make their own individual accounts, and they will be able to show off their work to anyone they please!
 * The lesson I used this in is titled, "Eating The Alphabet" and is listed below.
 * **Glogster**
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">A social network that allows users to create free interactive posters, or glogs. Glogster was founded in 2007. Currently this social network has hundreds of thousands registered users. The majority of the Glogster community is teenagers.
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Free accounts available.
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Glogster]
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Glogster is easy to use for students and teachers in all grade levels!
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">It's a new way to have students make posters for class without having the hassle of an extra trip to the dollar store for a poster and supplies, and you save all the time you previously wasted (at home //and// during class) gathering up supplies and putting them away because you just have to save them to this internet resources' database. It's simple, quick, and each is unique and elaborate!
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Scrapblog**
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Free accounts are available, and you are able to publish and purchase your work online as well. Create custom cards, calendars, photo books, and more in minutes!"
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">[|Scrapblog]
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">Scrapblog is one of the easiest ways to group pictures together in a fun, creative, and easy-to-share way!
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Wikispaces**
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">The current Web 2.0 tool that I am using to show you my portfolio! It is basically a blog, with many extra capabilities.
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">You can make a free account. Paid account options are available.
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">http://www.wikispaces.com/
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Wikispaces has always been very fun and easy to use. It feels like the possibilities are endless.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__My Career Goals__ <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> to earn my Associate's Degree in Primary Education. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> moving to Washington state to find a job teaching younger children. <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> teaching younger children at a high-paying district. I intend to keep my job in the same school district <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> for decades, until I find it necessary to finally retire.
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I plan on attending Monroe Community College, located in Rochester, New York, in the Fall of 2011,
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">In roughly five to ten years, I plan on taking my knowledge from my recently earned degree and
 * <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">After meeting my short term goals, my long term goal is to succeed in finding a stable job

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__My Teaching Philosophy__

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">As do most, my teaching philosophy is constantly changing. I am always learning new things about the life of a teacher, and my views and opinions on how to handle certain situations as a teacher as always evolving. I am proud to say that I have been through a world of experiences with Mrs. Brenda Bates and the students of her class for the last two years. I believe in encouraging group work, while continuing to encourage individual development not only as a student and a learner, but as a successful individual in society.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__My Classroom Rules__


 * 1) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Students come in with a smile on there face and share it with all of their friends!
 * 2) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Everyone uses their own brain to do the best on their work.
 * 3) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">There is no need for anyone to tattle on a friend, unless they are in danger.
 * 4) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Don't expect to be called on if you're yelling at me to call on you.
 * 5) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Keep your conduct the best it can be to make your family proud!

__<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; line-height: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">﻿ __ <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__My Discipline Plan__

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">If the students make the choice to not follow a rule, there will be consequences including the following (labeled as to how many rules are broken, provided their folder starts with a green smile); <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Students who keep up with their work and maintain a high conduct grade will be awarded as necessary!
 * 1) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Verbal Warning
 * 2) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Folder is moved, signed with "Warning," and the student keeps their green smile
 * 3) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Folder is signed, the rule broken is listed, and no green smile is given
 * 4) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Parents receive a note in the students' folder
 * 5) <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Principal is notified if the student continues to break rules

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__Lesson #1__

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This lesson is one that I have seen in many places, but can be easily adapted and added to. I always add new aspects to it, and make sure there are always new projects going on so the students stay engaged. Below are a couple of pictures of the poster board I designed for the students to graph on in order for the entire class to see the graph. It makes it easier to read the data as a class and start group discussions about their observations.



<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This is a sample coloring page that can be <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">used with the Gingerbread Baby lesson! <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Note: any picture can be used, but it is <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">suggested that all details of the "cookie" <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">are present for the student to color in.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__Lesson #2__

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This is a lesson plan I have used and developed both years in my kindergarten class. It has proven to be very effective and engaging while leaving room for improvement and adaptation every year.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__Lesson #3__

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This is a lesson plan that I started using this year. The students learn the names of fruits and vegetables and seem to stay engaged due to the talk of food! It's a wonderful lesson that can be adapted to many different books and subjects. I definitely recommend it. Here is a picture of the cover of the book I read.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">__Field Site Experience__

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Field Site//: Grace E. Hardeman Elementary <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> //Principal//: Mr. Tim Drysdale <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> //Field Site Mentor Teacher//: Mrs. Brenda Bates <span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> //Grade Level//: Kindergarten

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;"> I have been constantly involved in the classroom activities from day one of my internship. I walk in to the room and immediately jump in! No matter if they're taking a test or putting together a puzzle, I am always willing to sit down and help students maximize their learning experience!



<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">I believe that it is imperative that new teachers have on-the-job training and experience before they are given a classroom of their own. It has always shocked me that students enroll in college before they have any type of one-on-one contact with a student. It's a completely new experience and the most //effective// experience when it comes to being prepared for teaching on your own. The feeling completely changes when the teacher steps out of the room for a moment, and that's the time you show your true colors. I am proud to say that I haven't experienced any issues handling students myself, especially since I was trained by the best! I am always willing and able to talk to students in a calm and loving manner while keeping their respect, their laughter, and maintaing a professional demeanor. Interning at Hardeman for two years straight has taught me to develop routines with my classes, schedule events with and around other teachers and their classes, how to deal with stressful situations, communicate with other teachers and employees of the school and district (such as librarians, counselors, principals, and people of a higher standing), and how to get the most out of what I'm doing by taking advantage of all available resources at the school (such as books from the library, supplies owned by other teachers, laminators, printers, scanners, etc).