I am 5th grade language arts teacher in Old Tappan, New Jersey. This is my 12th year in the district. I started as third grade teacher then moved to 4th. When an opening came up in the middle school for language arts, I leaped at the opportunity. I love reading and writing, and I thought this would be the best fit for me. I've been at the middle school for the last 7 years now. I've taught 5th, 6th, and 7th. Hands down, 5th graders are my favorite. I decided to become a teacher during a trip to Vietnam my junior year in college. Originally, I was on the law track, but the experience in Vietnam was priceless. After I came back to Barnard, I declared education as a minor in addition to my major in English. I then continued my education at Teachers College and got my MA for the Literacy Specialist in the Reading Writing Workshop.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Daily Reflection
5 new technologies to try-
Wordle, Edmodo, Wiki, Tagxedo, Schoology
4 ideas to share with others (either that you've learned here or you've learned elsewhere)
We can organize our teacher parties on wiki...not replying all on email. Google.docs for responses Polling Method via cell phone/web
Schoology as a collaborative website for students
3 principles of Universal Design for Learning
Representation, Action & Expression, and Engagement
2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age
- Use Schoology to create a book club discussion platform
- Introduce students to different apps that allow for them to express themselves in a more creative way- glogster.
1 BIG idea to implement on Monday
I'm going to try using Schoology on one of my language arts sections. Will survey and see how they liked using the social network.
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 don't think it's curriculum that is disabling. It's how the teachers interpret the curriculum and carry out the objectives of the curriculum. There has been a big push for differentiated education, but even that didn't acknowledge technology as its own huge branch of differentiation. UDL seems to be differentiated education through technology. Teachers need to take the time to explore what the world has put out on the internet rather than relying on expensive textbooks.
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?
This will allow the teacher to understand how to meet the students...not getting the student to match to the curriculum.
You then take the weaknesses of the curriculum and figure out how to make it universally accessible.
You will need time to do this.
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? All students learn differently and teachers need to be able to access all of them. Technology offers so much more differentiation and once teachers are open to it and apply it in the classroom students will have so many more avenues for learning. Access to technology is one of the main challenges. Also, time is another. Without the time, teachers will not be able to successfully implement UDL.
Reflection #4
What barriers are inherent in traditional assessments? What are the challenges in offering varied options for assessment? Traditional assessments are for one type of learner. When there's a big movement for differentiated instruction, assessments need to follow. It's the other half of effective teaching. The challenge in having various options, however, is when to draw the line. Will the state agree that someone's expression on a canvas is the equivalent of someone's 10 page thesis paper? Is a paper the equivalent of an SAT verbal/math score? It's taken so long for even SAT to put in the writing portion...will other kinds of assessments follow? Because we now know that multiple choice and lined paper does not meet the different types of learners today.
4 ideas to share with others (either that you've learned here or you've learned elsewhere)
We need to create a learning community that integrates home and work #Google&ZapposWorkLife Jing can be good for tutorials on Schoology
We are teaching to a digital age and we need to become comfortable with that
Glogster can be a great tool for September
3 principles of Universal Design for Learning
Representation, Action & Expression, and Engagement
2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age
- Give them a voice when it comes to them testing out these sites - Have them identify the risks and create the parameters around the use of it
1 BIG idea to implement next year
Get parents understanding this approach for next year
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?
Educators think they have this choice, but it is not a choice. It is a requisite that we follow the speed of today's technology and meet the students to the best of our abilities. And technology makes this possible in ways we cannot imagine. Unfortunately, money, time, and fear of unfamiliarity keeps us from leaping into this mode. We need to figure out how to mitigate these challenges that will allow for us to take advantage of technology. Education cannot be the joke of today's society because teachers refuse/cannot follow the speed of the modern age.
The net genners are OUR students. they are the kids who teach us how to use the smartboard. The ones who bring a wealth of knowledge when given the chance because they've explored other sources outside of the books bought by the school. They are the ones that are teaching their parents how to text, tweet, hashtag, instagram...etc.
Will share this with my principal, grade level team, teacher friends....and my students. It's important they know that I am learning with them.
Reflection #6:
Thoroughly enjoyed this class! It was very applicable. Can't wait to explore all the things we've discovered together and make it work for the kids in September! Yay!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Daily Reflection
5 new technologies to try-
Wordle, Edmodo, Wiki, Tagxedo, Schoology4 ideas to share with others (either that you've learned here or you've learned elsewhere)
We can organize our teacher parties on wiki...not replying all on email.Google.docs for responses
Polling Method via cell phone/web
Schoology as a collaborative website for students
3 principles of Universal Design for Learning
Representation, Action & Expression, and Engagement
2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age
- Use Schoology to create a book club discussion platform- Introduce students to different apps that allow for them to express themselves in a more creative way- glogster.
1 BIG idea to implement on Monday
I'm going to try using Schoology on one of my language arts sections. Will survey and see how they liked using the social network.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 don't think it's curriculum that is disabling. It's how the teachers interpret the curriculum and carry out the objectives of the curriculum. There has been a big push for differentiated education, but even that didn't acknowledge technology as its own huge branch of differentiation. UDL seems to be differentiated education through technology. Teachers need to take the time to explore what the world has put out on the internet rather than relying on expensive textbooks.
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?
This will allow the teacher to understand how to meet the students...not getting the student to match to the curriculum.
You then take the weaknesses of the curriculum and figure out how to make it universally accessible.
You will need time to do this.
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?
All students learn differently and teachers need to be able to access all of them. Technology offers so much more differentiation and once teachers are open to it and apply it in the classroom students will have so many more avenues for learning. Access to technology is one of the main challenges. Also, time is another. Without the time, teachers will not be able to successfully implement UDL.
Reflection #4
What barriers are inherent in traditional assessments? What are the challenges in offering varied options for assessment?
Traditional assessments are for one type of learner. When there's a big movement for differentiated instruction, assessments need to follow. It's the other half of effective teaching. The challenge in having various options, however, is when to draw the line. Will the state agree that someone's expression on a canvas is the equivalent of someone's 10 page thesis paper? Is a paper the equivalent of an SAT verbal/math score? It's taken so long for even SAT to put in the writing portion...will other kinds of assessments follow? Because we now know that multiple choice and lined paper does not meet the different types of learners today.
5 new technologies to try-
Blogger, commonsense.org, livebinder, Jing, Extranormal4 ideas to share with others (either that you've learned here or you've learned elsewhere)
We need to create a learning community that integrates home and work #Google&ZapposWorkLife
Jing can be good for tutorials on Schoology
We are teaching to a digital age and we need to become comfortable with that
Glogster can be a great tool for September
3 principles of Universal Design for Learning
Representation, Action & Expression, and Engagement
2 changes in your teaching to reach all learners in the Digital Age
- Give them a voice when it comes to them testing out these sites
- Have them identify the risks and create the parameters around the use of it
1 BIG idea to implement next year
Get parents understanding this approach for next yearReflection #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?
Educators think they have this choice, but it is not a choice. It is a requisite that we follow the speed of today's technology and meet the students to the best of our abilities. And technology makes this possible in ways we cannot imagine. Unfortunately, money, time, and fear of unfamiliarity keeps us from leaping into this mode. We need to figure out how to mitigate these challenges that will allow for us to take advantage of technology. Education cannot be the joke of today's society because teachers refuse/cannot follow the speed of the modern age.
The net genners are OUR students. they are the kids who teach us how to use the smartboard. The ones who bring a wealth of knowledge when given the chance because they've explored other sources outside of the books bought by the school. They are the ones that are teaching their parents how to text, tweet, hashtag, instagram...etc.
Will share this with my principal, grade level team, teacher friends....and my students. It's important they know that I am learning with them.
Reflection #6:
Thoroughly enjoyed this class! It was very applicable. Can't wait to explore all the things we've discovered together and make it work for the kids in September! Yay!