That's All, Folks! Pt. 1

Hello, Everyone!

I am so excited and sad, at the same time, to be typing this post!


               This will be one of two final posts for this   year! :(

I want to thank EVERYONE who has taken the time to read this blog!  I am SO GLAD to be able to share this journey with you!!

I am also excited to be able to share a new video with you!

This video is about my philosophy of technology in education.

RIGHT HERE



MAKING THIS VIDEO was a very tedious process, but it was worth it!  It is so satisfying to know that I can actually make a video on MY OWN!!!


It is also important to me, because it shares my view of technology in the classroom - it shows a little of what I have learned from my class, as well as my heart for education!

Thus, if you are reading this, and you are a well-seasoned teacher, or someone wanting to be a teacher, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT!!!

Teachers shape the lives of the future generations; this can change the world completely!  So, if you want to see some of the reasons that I believe tech is important in our classrooms, I encourage you to watch my video and enjoy! 

                                                - Sincerely, Joy ;)

That's All Folks! pt. 2

This is going to be my last post for the year…

I cannot believe that the time has gone by so quickly, but it has, and I am a semester wiser, now!  The greatest lessons that I have been able to take away from this class – technology in education – are these:

·        There is a place for technology in education! (That much is very clear!)

·        It is necessary to adapt one’s teaching method with the times.

·        It is also necessary to challenge one’s students.

·        And it is good to ask for help and collaborate with other teachers!  The more the merrier!

·        I have learned how to work with different technology, and how they can enrich the students’ learning experience.

I have had the privilege of being able to learn from a lady who knows her stuff!  She is an excellent teacher, and I am proud to be her student. ;)

I have also had the privilege of learning with some excellent friends who have made this class….very interesting…and, of course, fun.

 

I anticipate being able to put what I have been taught into practice someday; whether it is for a class, or something else.  I also cannot wait to see what technology is and will be available – not just to make things easier, but to open new opportunities and new capacities to teach to learn.

 

If you are a seasoned teacher, or you are a student who is learning to become a teacher, always remember…YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT!!  You have and will affect future generations – how you do it is your choice!  So please, choose wisely how you will teach.  I want to encourage you to do your best, and if you need something to refresh your teaching method and help bring out the best in your students, please consider using technology as a tool – not as a fix-all.

 

                                                            YOU CAN DO THIS!

 

Blessings,  Joy

 

Together

Education is very close to my heart.
                                               "...stepping out..."

The students need their teachers to be willing to do whatever they have to do to help their students learn, and that it is the students' responsibility to do WHATEVER they need to do to accomplish excellence in their academics, and in their own lives.

I believe that this includes stepping out and using teaching methods unfamiliar to the teacher, even if it is out of their comfort zone.


                    AND THIS IS WHERE I AM...

I honestly do not feel comfortable with technology, because I am pretty comfortable with paper and pencil...and occasionally a pen...but this is new territory.  However, as a teacher, this will not stop me from helping my students learn and excel!  In my classroom, if it is possible (financially, etc.), my students will be able to reap the benefit of what technology brings.

We will learn together.  With God, we will succeed.


Yet, I do not believe that technology should be the only factor in a child's education.  Lecturing and tests and assessments, etc., are all very beneficial in the right hands.  That is why I am being trained - not to be perfect, but to be able to use wisdom that God has given me through the training I have received and apply it to distinguish between what is beneficial to my students and what is not.

This is my philosophy of education. 


                                  Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Hmm...Let Me See...

We had an assignment a short while ago to critique an article for or against technology in the classroom.

I found one from http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/06/04/6-technology-challenges-facing-education.aspx

I really appreciate that this article seems to be neutral when concerning technology in education. I certainly believe that it has a place in education, but it gives both pros and cons.

For the sake of the time, I will simply summarize a few of the main points:  (This is purely my interpretation of what the author is saying.  If there is misinterpretation, I apologize; it is not intentional.)

- It appears that the author believes that teachers who are given certain technology to use in their classroom (perhaps that they have never used before) are left in a lurch, because they have no understanding of the technology, yet they are expected to use it ASAP.  This may present some hesitancy to use the tech in general.

- A benefit to what the author calls "flipped classrooms" [which is a combination of tech and regular teaching methods] is that it presents more of a challenge to students who have always been taught the lecture method of teaching. 

- It might be easier to measure student responses with different tech that is becoming more popular, like webcams - one of the tools mentioned in the article.

These ideas are just a few that make up the world of education technology. 


                         I CHALLENGE YOU!!!

If you do not know how you feel about education in technology yet, and you know a teacher or two, see what they think!  PLEASE check it out for yourself!  It is only a word search away!

Parent-teacher Contact Log

JUST FOR THE RECORD:
NONE of the problems that ARE being used in this mock-parent-teacher contact log are TRUE.
I was simply giving an example of what a parent-teacher contact log could look like.  The rest is just silliness! 


                                                                    Imagine that!!

Okay - so here we go!
Parent Teacher Log


If you understood what I put, I think that these are incredibly valuable to increase communication between parents and teachers - for the benefit of these parties and for the benefit of the students.  Teachers need the support of their parents, and parents need to know that they and their students will be supported by their teachers.  This is one of the best ways to do it in my opinion. 
SO...if you are one of these parties and haven't considered this method of communication, then please use this method, in addition to others that you can find.  You might just find out that it helps a lot!


Enjoy! =)

Where It's At

For an assignment....


I found some INCREDIBLE Android-compatible, kid-friendly APPS 
that I am REEEEALLY EXCITED ABOUT!!!


                                         Can't you tell??

This first is particularly my absolute favorite  one that I have found thus far.  The inspiration for me using it for this assignment is found from an encounter I had with family - which is always inspiring to me.

- APP #1:  MINDSNACKS (Italian)
                 * This app makes learning Italian, among other languages and even work on your SAT's, (seem) fun and easy.  It gives you plenty of practice and incentive to do your best!  It also works with your skill level; so even if you are a five year old who knows absolutely NOTHING of the Italian language, you can play this and in fifteen minutes know as much as your twenty-something cousin who has been playing the app for two days already....  (embarrassed smiley face - my family experience - but I'm very proud of that little girl! =)   )  Appropriate for ages: 5+

- APP #2: Kids Math Lite
                * I liked this app for its ease, and it is wonderful for younger children just starting out in math.  It is not too complicated and has great graphics.  It helps younger children learning to count, add, subtract, and distinguish between higher and lower numbers.  Appropriate for ages: 3-5.

- APP #3: Lite Version Stack the States
          * If you are looking for an aid to elementary geography, this is YOUR APP!!  Players answer questions about certain states, and each question that is answered correctly is dragged to the bottom of the screen onto a podium.  This seems fairly easy, but the players are stacking the states on top of each other.  But here's a WARNING, if you don't stack them well, some of them fall off.  This takes more time to build up; the states have to go high enough to reach past a finish line and win states to fill an empty map of the United States.  Appropriate for ages: 8-11

- APP #4: SkyView
              * Anyone who has ever looked into the sky with amazement will love this app.  It simply shows you the names, distance in light years from the earth, space station locations, and much more!
Appropriate for ages: 3 and up!

- APP #5: Airport Mania: First Flight XP
             * This app is incredible and helps build a good memory.  It also teaches good sequencing and order.  Basically, the player runs his own airport.  The app slowly guides him to run multiple planes and maintain their proper function, in order to keep the "customers" happy and coming back.
Appropriate for ages: 7+ ?
                                        
                                                                   SO PAALEEEZ

  Try these out and have fun with them!!  You might be surprised with how easy these subjects will come to you or your kids.

Blessings!
                                                                                  

Well, I finally did it!

I finally joined a teacher's association!

The link is  www.southernearlychildhood.org


(Short and sweet!) =)

No School Like the Old School

I am Very Much an "old school" kind of girl!  

                  (You know what "They" say, "There's no school like the 'Old School'.")

BUT!!! Sometimes things do have to change with the times.  (That's why I created this blog!)


However, ONE THING will NEVER EVER change: the LOVE of my

                                                HEAVENLY FATHER

His Love never fails!!                                                   "...I always like to
                                                                                               have some place to which
                                                         I come home."
                                                                                    
                                        

                                              He has not only kept me going    
                     throughout my life, but He is my Source of
                                                 Life!

                                                                     John 14:6, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..."

I am also a Dedicated Traveler!!!
                               
                            Being a college student provides many opportunities for me to see the world.
                      I am currently working to obtain a Bachelor in Education and a Bachelor in Ministry.
                      While I don't like to be cooped-up in the same place for long, I always like to
                       have some place to which I come home. =)


I also have the privilege of traveling with my Friends and Family, too!  So wherever I go,
I have God's Presence and my family and friends - I am always at home.