New Way to Introduce China

I created an introduction to my lesson plan on China using Iphoto. The short video shows the basic information that a second grader should already have before a lesson. However, I know that this is not the case with all children and a subtle reminder for all students is always beneficial. I would show the video as an introduction to both the lesson and to the Unit on China. The video shows the students a world map, the country's flag and other interesting facts about the country.

The lesson plan is much more extensive but instead of asking students if they know this information, I simply show them the video and I am positive that they now have some background on China.

I will make another for Egypt because that too is an SOL for second graders. I am glad I made this video because I was able to learn how easy it is make and now I can say I make Iphoto videos on my resume. Although, that is not the main reason I made the video it is simply a perk. I hope you find the video as helpful as I found it.

Collaborating with the Entire Grade Level

In my practicum I am able to learn more about how to prepare myself for when I become a teacher. I have learned many tricks of the trade but one that I will never forget is to have grade level meeting and actually collaborate with the teachers. The teacher that I help during my practicum is the head second grade teacher and he has taught me to always have a good relationship with you grade level teachers. Although of course I would want to have a good relationship with teachers in my grade level he says that this is usually not the case.

When teacher collaborate, they sit together and plan out an entire week. This means that they decide what worksheet to use for classwork, homework, and assessments. Not only does this take off a lot of pressure it is also beneficial to the students, because all the teacher discuss what works and what does not creating a better more improved lesson for all the students.

When teacher cannot collaborate, it is harder for the teacher and give the students only one type of teaching style. I will definitely try to collaborate other teacher because this is how great lessons are made. I hope this gives you some insight on teacher to teacher relationships. Good luck!

Communicating with your Resource Teachers

As I go to my practicum I am able to learn more about the classroom and how a teacher works with his/her students. I will be discussing more about this second grade class in future blogs but for today I want to discuss that interconnectedness of elementary education. I come to the class when the students are going to art. The is a great opportunity for me to actually see what the students are doing in their resource class.

In art the students continue to learn about classroom topics. For example, the students were learning about china and the china new year in February so the teacher had them make china dolls. That was not the best part of all, before she had them create the doll she gave a mini lesson of about china's culture and how the dolls are an important part of their lives. I felt that this reiterates the lesson that the classroom teacher is teaching while giving them different ways to learn the subject.

When I become a teacher I will definitely communicate with the resource teachers in my school and have them reinforce classroom topics. By showing the students that they can learn about a topic in different ways they are able to make a deeper connection. A teacher should not think that the students are out of their hand for those forty minutes with the resource teacher. Instead the teacher should help students further understand a topic in a different method like in art, music, p.e., library, or technology. If teachers are not doing, they should start, in my opinion!

Podcast

I have already created a PowerPoint, and a newsletter that I know I will use when I begin teaching. Most recently I created a podcast that I will definitely be using with my future students! "Why am I so excited over this podcast," you ask. Well technology is in our lives to make lessons run smoother and more efficiently and this podcast will do just that. I understand that a teacher can teach his or her students about money and how it looks, however, if a student is able to download it onto his or her Ipod they are able to take the lesson anywhere they want and review at any time they please.

A podcast enables students to take their education outside of the classroom allowing them to have more review time and to internalize the information being taught. Many students become bored and sterile to the traditional lesson plan so by simply incorporating a podcast the students become in gauged with intrigue.

Although, it is impossible to create a podcast to accompany a lesson, teachers can always search for educational videos online. I understand that it is not the same but it definitely does the work for the students.

I highly recommend that other student teachers create at least one podcast if not to for their future classrooms but to simply learn how they work. Get your hands dirty and create one to introduce yourself to your student the first day of class that would be a great hit both for the students and parents.

Good Luck!

Creating This Blog

I am very excited to have this blog! Now I will have a journal to write everything that is going as I become a teacher.

It was not as challenging as I thought is would be to create a blog and although this is my first blog I feel like it will not be my last. I am noticing a different culture in the blogger world that seems very inviting. I cannot wait to begin writing more about what I am learning as I become a teacher.