Hello, All!
For those of you who are just joining in and didn't read my little bio, my dream is to become an English teacher, or a aclaimed writer -- whichever comes first. So for my SEDU 183 class, I had to create a lesson plan for a class I would be teaching. I chose to create an amusing, interactive writing review powerpoint on the topic of aphostrophes, because let's me honest, many people don't know how to use them correctly. So feel free to flip through the powerpoint and see if your knowledge of the aphostrophe is correct!
When first told what the project was about (Create a PowerPoint lesson plan for your students) I thought, "This would be a breeze!" But after Mr. Smith informed us we had to use PennDot to pick the lesson we where to present. I hate PennDot. It made little to no sense, and I felt really restricted even though I already knew what I wanted to teach my peers. So that was not my favorite part, but the rest of the project totally was!! I had fun putting together the varying answers and picking the pictures that correleated with whether the student's chocie was right or wrong. Truely I chose those pictures to amuse myself, I feel like the teacher needs to make the lesson fun for themselves to have a better attitude to teach! I enjoyed the project and just made me even more sure that I want to be a teacher, even though PennDot was a deal breaker, I got over it. I believe my love for writing shows through in the PowerPoint because I added my own fun elements and silly sentences that makes the topic even more fun to learn, and keep those rules in the student's head.
But you know, PowerPoints are very helpful in the classroom! Use mine for example, you can have the students interact with the lesson in order for them to learn more. No one wants to sit in a hard desk and be lectured to in a monotone voice. PowerPoints are a great way to get the class up and talking, and to help them learn more in different ways whether by adding videos, links, pictures, diagrams and much more to the PowerPoint.
So don't think that PowerPoints are no good, and can only be used to lecture! They are fun and interactive, and hey, I add some fun stuff in there to entertain myself as well as the calss! Leave a comment below to let me know what you have to say, and click my sign out to send me an e-mail asking any questions or telling me what you want to hear.
Till next time,
-SAS
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Simon Says . . .
English, American English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Portuguese . . . What’s the big hype over
bilingualism? Some say that it is just
something we must learn; others believe it will foster better cultural unity. But whatever the reason, the main issue is
how it is associated with the education system today. Many people argue that infusing bilingualism
into the education of our children is very beneficial because it will not only
make them more marketable in whichever career he or she pursues, but because it
will make them more culturally diverse.
The other side of this argument believes that either the minority should
learn the majority’s language or that bilingual education is not an important
topic to be teaching.
Which to learn?First, I would like to point out an ironic thing I found
while trying to scrap together sufficient information for this post. As I was streaming through several YouTube
videos, I found that much of the focus was English speakers had to learn other
languages, but as I skimmed through website texts, the arguments were focused
on minority speakers learning English. So
which are we suppose to learn? If one group
believes that bilingualism is a “crucial part of our melting pot country”, then
which language should we adopt to? Some
argue that teaching certain languages and not others will seem like
discrimination. So how are we to chose
which second language would be best to learn, by determining which is being
more widely spoken, or the language that a person picks up on better than
another language?
Where it all began?Low and behold, bilingual education is not something
new! Dr. Picciano states in his video (below)
that during the Colonial Era up until World War I, schools not only taught
English, but whichever secondary language was dominate in the specific
area. Dr. Picciano’s video is very fascinating,
so watch it below!
Which is more important?One issue that is being argued is whether the student’s education
of a second language is more important than the student’s mastery of literacy
in their mother language. I feel that a
student should be mastered in mother language, and when I say “mastered” I
mean: complete and correct literacy and be able to analyze and interrupt the
literature in that language. Evidence shows that a student's reading ability is
what’s really important and those who favor bilingual education offer findings
that literacy transfers through to second languages. However, just because a student reads well in
one language doesn't mean that they'll be able to read well in another language
that they've learned.
Which will give success?Is it true that if a person is bilingual, then they are more
successful? According to Education.com, “Many
people who claim to have success without bilingual education were from
environments where English was dominant and favored by the community.” With the rapid growth of technology, people
are able to use computers and cell phone applications to translate phrases
between different languages. But there
is also value in learning a second language.
A person who is bilingual can easily communicate with another person who
speaks the same language without typing or speaking into the device and waiting
for the results. But in the end, which
route makes a person more successful? No
one truly knows for certain, but both cases show that whichever education one gets,
they do have the potential of success.
For the information that I found, and for more educational hot topics, check out the Education website. And if you wish you narrow your focus onto the issue of bilingual education, check out Sharon Cromwell's journals at Education World. And again, if you wish to check out more of Dr. Picciano's YouTube videos, click on the link to be taken to his YouTube channel.
Comment below to let us know your stance on the issue. Or click my sign our to email me about any questions you may have.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tweet Tweet!
Long time no talk, readers!
During my short time away, I have been reacquainted with the glorious world of Twitter! I made myself an account a while back, but never saw the sense in sticking too it, but I have had a huge reality check.
Twitter is not just for the celebs, fashion designers, and obnoxious wannabees who are telling everyone (or no one) what they are doing with their days, it has some value!! What value you may ask? Well not only is it obvious that it is a great tool of connecting with people all over the world, but you are able to find knowledge users who are sharing knowledge ideas -- in you know where to look. From educators to professional writers to athletic coaches, there are people out there on Twitter that are providing valid information that will help you in your career path, or even your hobbies!
The communication on Twitter is pretty handy, connecting people with common interests all over the world, and having the opportunity to learn different things that interest you. But don't let it stop you there!!
You -- yes, you, my amazing readers -- are able to tweet about whatever you want. And yeah, that could mean about you're every day life, but you can also tweet about the latest theory you learned in class, or the better way to go about a difficult problem, or the soultion to whatever answer. The point of it all is a network connection to keep people informed and keep ideas flowing through different minds so we are not stuck thinking and doing that same old things!
You are following me here (a good choice by the way), but if i may suggest clicking my sign out to follow me on Twitter. It's a handy little too, especially when on the go! Don't be left in the dust, find out what others are thinking and let your voice be heard too!
Till next time, little birdies,
-SAS
During my short time away, I have been reacquainted with the glorious world of Twitter! I made myself an account a while back, but never saw the sense in sticking too it, but I have had a huge reality check.
Twitter is not just for the celebs, fashion designers, and obnoxious wannabees who are telling everyone (or no one) what they are doing with their days, it has some value!! What value you may ask? Well not only is it obvious that it is a great tool of connecting with people all over the world, but you are able to find knowledge users who are sharing knowledge ideas -- in you know where to look. From educators to professional writers to athletic coaches, there are people out there on Twitter that are providing valid information that will help you in your career path, or even your hobbies!
The communication on Twitter is pretty handy, connecting people with common interests all over the world, and having the opportunity to learn different things that interest you. But don't let it stop you there!!
You -- yes, you, my amazing readers -- are able to tweet about whatever you want. And yeah, that could mean about you're every day life, but you can also tweet about the latest theory you learned in class, or the better way to go about a difficult problem, or the soultion to whatever answer. The point of it all is a network connection to keep people informed and keep ideas flowing through different minds so we are not stuck thinking and doing that same old things!
You are following me here (a good choice by the way), but if i may suggest clicking my sign out to follow me on Twitter. It's a handy little too, especially when on the go! Don't be left in the dust, find out what others are thinking and let your voice be heard too!
Till next time, little birdies,
-SAS
Sunday, February 5, 2012
New Era of Old School
Personal Learning Networks by Will
Richardson and Rob Mancabelli is the text that was assigned for one of my
courses this semester – SEDU 183 taught by Mr. Marc “Balddaddieteach” Smith, to
be exact. Just after reading the first
chapter, however, I put down the book and had a mixed reaction, let me tell you
why. The first chapter, titled Understanding the Power of PLNs, dealt
with the issue of why schools today have to become more technologically advanced. It was argued that by becoming more tech-savvy
will enhance the student’s education because they would be able to “self-direct
our[ the students] learning(p.22)” in ways the interested them, also, it would
allow the student to further broaden their educational horizons by having
access to unlimited educational resources around the world, whether that be a
student in Hong Kong or a teacher in Bangkok. The authors further explained themselves, by
reassuring that the students would be taught the safe, correct way to wander
around the internet, and that schools only use the blocking of Facebook and
MySpace (which is no longer a worry cause, serious, who uses MySpace anymore?)
as an excuse to keep the children “safe”.
Ok, and
these are the points where I get my mixed reaction! I put the book down and thought, “ . . .
Well, I see two problems with this.” The
first problem being that students will learn more using technology by being
able to access more information about what they are interested it! The writers
clam that we are shifting from a “generic to personal (p. 17)” learning system
where we “pursue our interests and passions (p.17)” If I had it my way, back when I started school, I would not have
touched a math book or learned a single mathematical equation! I would have spent all my time researching
historical England and reading whatever literature I could get my hands on. Students need to learn all the different
subjects in order to be the ideal Renaissance man – or woman. It is better to be well rounded, even if you
have your weak points, at least you would have some knowledge of what the
subject entails.
This
issue then led into the next comment made in the chapter. The writers stated that schools are only
blocking networks such as Facebook (MySpace, who?) and Wikipedia because it is
keeping children “safe”. They stated that, “we suspect that it has much to do
with being an easy way not to have to deal with the real world realities that
the web brings” (p 36). Firstly Wikipedia is a sorry excuse of an “informational”
let alone “educational” site. Anyone can
go on there and say that Uranus used to be called a planet, but has now shrunk
and has teleported to be a blemish on someone’s behind! Wikipedia, not creditable and useless, next –
Facebook.
Most drama starts on Facebook, and
cyber bullying is a rapid growing issue because people do not have the courage
to say anything to someone’s face nowadays.
Let Facebook be on the student’s own personal time, not during
school. My high school had sites like
that blocked until the end of the school day, so if there where students still
waiting in the building for a ride or sports practice, they would let the rest
of the world know too.
The point I am getting at is that,
yes, schools do need to become more tech-savvy in order to teach the students
and teachers more, but also make the teacher’s job a little easier; but they
also need to realize that some of the “old” school ways are beneficial and
should not be totally thrown out like your grandmothers moth eaten pajamas! I had a Math course where we had to do much
of the work online . . . and I HATED IT!!
I couldn’t understand it by myself, let alone have the text on the
computer screen tell me how to do it.
And yes, this is an instance where I could have found some miraculous
Math Heaven site and have the answer told or attempted to be taught to be, but
all students learn in different ways. We
still need that teacher in the class room to sit us down with a pencil and
paper and help us work it out and explain it to us in numerous ways if we don’t
get it the first fifteen times.
Then there is also the issue of communication. Sure, a student can talk to the teacher in
Bangkok about Lewis Carroll and his nonsense Wonderland world, or have the
student in Hong Kong do his parent’s tax returns, but could that student be
able to turn to his peer next to him and have an intelligent conversation
without any stutters, “like’s”, awkward pauses, or anything else that is
classified as poor communication skills?
Having all this technology at the students (and teachers) fingertips is
great! But are we losing the humanity,
or I should rather say human communication, that has been taught all these
years?
The authors have presented a good
argument, and to some extend I do agree, but you also have to worry about what
is going to be lost with the addition of all this new technology in the
schools. I do encourage students and
people of all ages to go out and educated themselves, but it is not going to be
spoon fed to you. Schools should be
teaching their students how to maneuver through the internet safely, and go out
and find the information they need and want to learn! The internet, when used properly is a great
source to learn new things, but I believe that there are still some aspects of
the old school way of learning that are still valuable to learn.
Well, I know many of my followers
had to read what I did, so if any of you have your comments, remarks, criticism,
or right out bashing of what I had to say about it, leave a comment below.
Till next time.
-SAS
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