Georgeann+S.



My name is Georgeann Sherrow and I am 34 years old. I have been married for 9 years to my husband Bobby and we have two beautiful and very energetic children, Robbie who is five and Ryan who is 2. I enjoy shopping, the beach and most importantly spending time with my family. We enjoy spending our summer at our shore house that we share with my parents, two sisters and their families.

I am currently a second grade teacher in the Clifton Public School system. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from New Jersey City University and a Masters in Science and Educational Technology from Ramapo College. After working within the media field, I decided to further my education and enroll in the alternate route program to get my teaching certification. I began teaching as a Basic Skills Instructor for grades K-5. After a year and upon completion of my teacher certification, I became a first grade teacher. After 6 years I approached my school principal and asked if I can move grade levels to an opening in the second grade. I have been teaching second grade for two years. I have a diverse group of 22 students in a regular education classroom.

**__5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Daily Reflection__**
== 5 new technologies to try == 1. Use wiki 2. taxedo 3. wordle 4. Use polleverywhere.com 5. Social Bookkeeping

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4 ideas to share with others (either that you've learned here or you've learned elsewhere) ===== - wordle- good idea for back to school night presentation - taxedo - wiki - google docs

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3 principles of Universal Design for Learning ===== - Representation/action and expression/engaging

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2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age ===== - start using wordle and taxedo -create a wikipage

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1 BIG idea to implement on Monday ===== - create taxedo for a gift

// Reflection #1 // // At the core of UDL is the premise that often the curriculum is disabled (and disabling!). It is not flexible; it often poses barriers, and consequently prevents rather than supports optimal learning experiences. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Why or why not? //

I feel that our curriculum does support an optimal learning experience because in each of the major subject areas, there are instructional tools to benefit all different kinds of learning styles. For example, the students are provided with a book for the visual learners. We have our reading texts that are all available on audio tapes for our auditory learners and there are many interactive sites that utilize the Smartboard and engage the hands on learners. In addition, our Language Arts curriculum levels the students on their reading abilities and groups them by their capabilities being the below, on level or advanced learner.

// Reflection #2 //

// What are the benefits of analyzing the curriculum for strengths and weaknesses rather than focusing on the student’s strengths and weaknesses? What are the challenges of this approach? //

I feel that a challenge towards this approach is that there are different learners and each individual has different strengths and weaknesses. The challenges are that each student learns differently and approaches learning in different styles. It is important for the instructor to also be able to adapt and having prior knowledge of the students is beneficial. Prior to the first day of school, I meet with the previous year teacher to get an understanding of the student. With that, I am able to adapt my curriculum to best suit the student. I will already be aware of the strengths and weaknesses and I wouldn't need to waste time learning in the beginning months of the school year.

// Reflection #3 //

// How can using a variety of materials and methods reach more of the learners within your classroom? What are the benefits of doing so? What are the challenges? //

I feel that using a variety of materials in my classroom will reach more of the learners because I can touch upon different learning styles for my students. I can use a Smartboard, audio tapes, verbal or a hands on approach. The benefits of using the different materials is that it won't matter what kind of learner you are because you are being exposed to different ways. A challenge is the time. You have a window of time to complete a lesson and if you are trying to incorporate different variety of materials, you can run out of time.

// Reflection #4 //

// What barriers are inherent in traditional assessments? What are the challenges in offering varied options for assessment? //

One of the barriers that would be a challenge would be that if the learners are learning in different ways (visual, hands-on, auditory, etc.), then the teacher needs to be able to modify different ways to assess the different learner. This can become a challenge for the teacher because of the amount of time needed to prepare, as well as, to evaluate each individual.

**__5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Daily Reflection__**
== 5 new technologies to try ==

1. Live Binders 2. Wet Paint 3. Edublogs 4. Glogster 5. Selective Attention Test

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4 ideas to share with others (either that you've learned here or you've learned elsewhere) =====

- Selective Attentive Test - Live Binders - Google sites - Voki

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3 principles of Universal Design for Learning =====

- Representation - Expression - Engaging

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2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age =====

- create a edmodo page with my class - create an avatar and use Voki in classroom

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1 BIG idea to implement on Monday =====

- Introduce a lesson using Voki

// Reflection #5 // // Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children’s future, is it really okay to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction? //

I do not feel teachers should be allowed to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction, rather it should be mandatory. In today's society, children have become very knowledgeable and for most, has become a means of life. The use of modern technology goes way beyond the way children can learn. With the use of modern technology, children are being taught in a variety of ways and teachers are able to reach the different learning styles.

__Culminating Activity #3 __ The net genners are the children in today's society that have been born into a technological world. Instead of watching Sesame Street on television, they can watch on an iPad. They can use internet searches to get any research information immediately, rather than going to a library and looking through an encyclopedia.
 * head of the technology department in the district
 * my 11 year old nephew
 * colleagues
 * administrators