Comminication

Communication

There are too many times that students misinterpret what the teachers are asking of the student.  Even as adults we take directions and completely do the opposite just like in the game we played in class.  Not only did the professor say it over what she expect their are many students who just did not get the idea of a word from your first day of school.  Teachers can present the directions clear as day but if the class still doesn’t grasp what is being asked the teacher still needs to find a way to another way to explain what he/she is asking.

When teachers are giving directions, teachers can model what they are wanting from the students, as well going on the student’s prior knowledge.  One thing we could have done was ask questions about what happen the first day of school to freshen up student’s memory and get their minds moving for what was expected of them.  Maybe this would of help the students to have a better understanding.  In some many cases there is miscommunication between people the only thing we can do is hope that we can redirect and try to make sure our students understand and if not help them the best we can.    

class reflection

Today’s class was quite interesting.  I don’t think I have laughed that hard in a classroom before.  It’s nice to have fun in your classroom while still showing a concept of trying to say one word that relates to first day of teaching.  This could be done in any given subject you could have the students in a science class say a sentence round with words that relate to the safety guidelines in science and so on.  The other thing we did in class was on the index card where we wrote one sentence and everyone added sentences until we came to the conclusion.  I think that students would really enjoy this as well as learn many concepts that needed to be reviewed or taught.  It allows the students to use their creativity to add a crazy sentence but you can also look at their sentences structure and see if they can add a sentence to the one before and make sense of it. 

I would use both of these in my future classrooms.  I really want to allow the students to use their creativity and have fun in the classroom.   I believe if the teacher keeps the classroom active and interesting that the students will want to further their knowledge. 

Cross curriculum project

Well, haven't really started on it yet.  I have only picked the different content areas that I want to work with in the project.  The four content areas are Engligh Language, Music, Art and maybe Science or Thearte.  I am still deciding on grade level and TEKS for the project.  I want to find something that will be fun for the students to do and something that I find interesting as well.  Hopefully, in the next week or so I will narrow it down to a specific topic and TEK.

Week 7 What is assessment and what are examples of authentic assessments

When a student hear the word assessment "test", some students start to freak out.  I know for myself when I hear assessments I tend to get a little stressed.  An assessment can be done formally or informally in the classroom and teachers can make it simple or very complex.  Assessment is to see where your students are at in the content that you are going over in class and if you need to revisit some part of your content. 

Say one of your lessons is on measurements for cooking and you bring in cups, teaspoons, and etc.  You could have the students make a cake and assess if they followed the measurements and if the cake rosed or not and how it taste.  Another assessment could be a journal for the students to write what they got out of the lesson that was represented to them in class for that day.  Assessments can be just as easy as walking around the room to see if the students are understanding what is going on.  Play games with the students and assess that way.

Week 6 Informative and Persuasive Writing

An informative writing piece is designed to convey facts and data. Informative texts are created to teach people who would like to gain more knowledge/experience in a particular area. They give us details about aspects of life in order for us to go about our existence with as much knowledge as possible.

You can tell when a text is informative as it:  has one subject, uses a specific type of language, contains new information, uses facts and data and has taught you something by the end of it.

An example of informative writing and how you can use it in a lesson is have the students make a list, chart or diagram on the favorite meal and bring it to the class.  Their paper will consist of a step by step process that allows you to know what to do if you were making this dish by yourself.

Persuasive writing is a type of writing where your main goal is to persuade or convince someone to do something that you want them to do. In persuasive writing, a writer takes a position FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to convince the reader to believe or do something. Persuasive writing is often used in advertisements to get the reader to buy a product. It is also used in essays and other types of writing to get the reader to accept a point of view. In order to convince the reader you need more than opinion; you need facts or examples to back your opinion.

An example of persuasive writing you can do with you students is having them write a letter of why the students should or should not have homework over the weekend. Have the students tell the teacher their opinion and persuade the teacher either way.

Week 5 Writing is a Process

What is writing?

From having Dr. Harris in a previous class I remember that "Writing is a Process".  The writing process has five different stages. 
1. Pre-writing is brainstorming and coming up with ideas and put them down on paper.  Some examples of pre-writing could be in a form of a list, web, outline, research or conversation.
2.  Drafting is your first draft written down of your ideas.  Drafting can be done on paper or computer.
3.  Revising is changing your ideas, adding or deleting information and elaborating on what you have already come up with.  This part can be done in a different color so that you can see the chages that you made to your paper.  It also includes transition words and questions.
4.  Editing is conventions of your paper.  It includes punctution and grammar.  You could also use a different color pen to show your changes.
5.  Publish this is where you do something with the students paper.  Don't just leave it in your drawer put up to show the students that you care about their work.

Today in class, Dr Harris used the hamburger to show that the top of the bun was the topic and the hook of the story and the details represented all the condiments and the bottom of the bun was the conclusion.  This is a great visual to show your students to help them understand and relate it to something that they know.

Week 4 What makes a good reader?

 
What makes a good reader/writer?
This is the famous question everyone asks.  I don't necessary believe it is limit to a certain standard definition.  A good reader can consist of many characteristics.  Some of rereading the material if they don't understand it the first time, looking up words if they don't know what they mean, comprehension of what they read, and if they are engage in the reading. If the student enjoys reading or not helps as well to if they are a good reader. 

I don't think I am a good reader for one reason.  Yes, I do all the things listed above if I don't understand it I will reread or look up words.  I just don't enjoy reading at all.  I had a teacher who was just out right mean and when I was younger I had a hard time reading out loud and she took the fun out of it for me.  Until this day really don't care to read unless I have too.  Some has change a little bit and I mean a little I will read some if I really want to.  I do want to make reading enjoyable for my students in the future and in hopes I will not do what my past teacher has done to me. 

You can teach your students to become effective readers and writers by giving them the tools needed to know how to comprehend what is read and teaching them that "writing is a process" and it takes time and once it is done the finished product is something that they came up with.  Makes reading fun and get the students engaged in what they are reading.  Find books that they want to read and find interesting to them.