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Another week, another post!

I am catching on to a key principle about teaching that is a little bit horrifying - we are hoarders! Teachers everywhere scour the internet, book stores, craft fairs, dollar stores, just about anywhere to find resources that they may be able to use some day, no matter what the grade or subject matter. Having spoken to a few concurrent education students, they have four years of practicum experience under their belts building their "tool kits", as they call them, with worksheets, materials, resources, videos, etc. Occasional teachers have it made; they get to teach and interact with different classes everyday, while being immersed in a new teaching philosophy to make copies and take notes on strategies and resources to build to their portfolio.

I need to admit that I am a rabidly well organized person; everything has it's place - if it doesn't have a place, then I don't keep it. I took comfort in this logic, until I started teaching! Now, I am constantly printing, filing, bookmarking, labelling and photocopying anything I can get my hands on to build my own toolkit!

There are three resources that I fell for instantly, all from sometimes tough to teach subject areas.

1. Who knew math could be fun!? I definitely did not, I assumed that I was forced into panicked confusion simply because it was required. I can almost guarantee a lot of students feel the way I do, and I am determined to break the cycle! Take your students to Manga High, an interactive math program that encourages friendly competition between your students, and students across the globe! Created in the UK, Manga High is "irresistible" to teachers for the following reasons:

- it is a comprehensive and powerful test preparation math teaching resource
- it is easy to use!
- IT IS FREE!
- it relies on teacher direction, and is designed for use in a classroom setting (not your regular video game)
- all the of the games involve different strands of math problem solving
- it is social; students compete with each other in a friendly manner, and interact with schools all over the world
- as a teacher, Manga High offers formative assessment opportunities, allowing educators to analyze student performance
- it is motivational!

2. I grew up watching Bill Nye the Science guy, but there's a new scientist on the block. Science Bob is a GREAT resource for motivational demonstrations, experiments, cool facts, and science fair ideas. He drives around in his big blue science ambulance and conducts experiments with students, teachers, even celebrities(!) and makes science fun, the way it was meant to be. Check out Hilary Duff experimenting with sugars and starches below!

3. It doesn't matter how old you are, or even if you can read, everyone loves getting mail. Especially your students! Introducing Flat Stanley, the two-dimensional paper man that has the education world buzzing. He may be small, but Flat Stanley carries a lot of firepower in both the language arts and geography classroom. The idea behind the project, launched in 1994 (in Ontario!), is to connect students with other children in classrooms all over the world by sending flat "visitors" through the mail. Students then track and write about their flat friend's adventures. Similar to a pen pal activity, but more enriching, the Flat Stanley Project helps students who simply don't know what to write about. The sender and recipient have a mutual friend, Stanley, and writing over time becomes more natural, something that teacher's have deemed an "authentic" literacy project.

There are loads of other great resources out there, and remember, sharing is caring.

Happy digging!


A

Hilary Duff Image. (2012). [Online Image]. Retrieved from:
http://www.sciencebob.com/about.php

EDMODO - the safe and school-friendly Facebook!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I am very fortunate to be surrounded by successful teacher mentors within my close friend base, family and extended family. They are the ones that I desperately seek help from the night before I am delivering a lesson plan and cannot find a hands on activity, or the ones that tell me "it's all going to be ok" in the end. 

The moment I was informed that my next block had me teaching a grade 4/5 split, immediately I thought of an extended family friend, who has been teaching in the junior/intermediate stream for close to twenty years to this day. She not only reassured me that split classes are nothing to be afraid of, but gave me some really excellent resources, one of which really stayed with me, that I'd like to share with YOU.

Welcome to edmodo! Take a look at the site, and see what your first impressions are, because I had one very initial thought.

http://www.edmodo.com/

The very first words that came out of my mouth were "WOW! It looks just like Facebook!" And, in reality, it does. The profiles, the news feeds and the homepage are completely identical. However, unlike Facebook, edmodo caters solely to students and teachers (even parents!), enhancing and promoting their learning needs. Edmodo prides itself in being a safe and easy way for your class to connect and collaborate, share content and access assignments and homework, their grades, even school notices (upcoming bake sale, dance tickets on sale tomorrow, etc). Edmodo's goal: "to help educators harness the power of social media to customize the classroom for each and every learner". 

What I love about edmodo, is that I can embrace, not turn my head away, from the fact that likely all of my grade 4/5s will already have active Facebook accounts. They are online sharing their thoughts, personal information, likes and dislikes, and connecting in a way that works for them. Edmodo allows me as a teacher to take this love for personal profile sharing, and incorporate educational learning strategies and networking opportunities that are very much a part of these students' futures. The site allows teachers to post messages, discuss classroom topics, manage calendars, assign and grade classwork, share content and materials, and exchange ideas with peers. Teacher's can create their own profile, which allows them to access and monitor all activity in their "classroom", and it allows students to create their own profiles as well. Most importantly, edmodo is a private, closed community and ultimately all activities are monitored at all times. Some features, for example, are removed from edmodo that you would find on a Facebook profile, to avoid obvious problems. The largest example of this is the "Facebook wall". There is no wall on edmodo, removing the temptation for students to interact inappropriately with one another. They can communicate with their teachers, their "subjects" (ask a question to "language arts") and on pages such as "homework help" and "assignment questions". Peer to peer activity is limited and closed.

There are also awards to be earned on edmodo, created by the teacher and given to students. This is where you can recognize students for their achievements in the classroom (Student of the Week, or Measurement Superstar perhaps), and a place where students can display all they have accomplished on their profiles. 

Go online! Look around, browse, check out some webinars, and read some testimonials. The site comes highly recommended and personally, I cannot wait to see how my students react!

Until next time ...

A

edmodo Image. (2012). [Online Image]. Retrieved from:
http://www.edmodo.com/

Little fish in a BIG new pond

To whoever is out there, hello!

When I started my teacher education this past September, I did not grasp how big of a world I was emerging myself into. As a fresh graduate proudly clutching my Bachelor of Arts, I was under the impression that I was here to learn, how to teach. However, now my fifth month deep into this program, I've realized I am still a student, and I am here to learn.

Things I have learned so far:

- There are a LOT of acronyms in this business (OCT, OSR, IEP, IPRC, QECO, OECTA) and they all mean VERY different things
- Lesson plans are an excellent way to map out my teaching, but as much as I enjoy how organized they make my practice, and I am happy that they are temporary
- The world, thankfully (and finally) is becoming an increasingly inclusive place, and it starts in our schools! There is a place for EVERYONE, and I am excited to prove that to all the students that I cross paths with
- When it comes to time management, it's a sink or swim concept! Grab some water wings and do your best to stay afloat!
- As much as I learn at Brock everyday, I have accepted that I will never learn it all, as learning to teach is on going

Lastly, though the schools days are long, I can say with confidence that everyday, I become more and more confident that one day I am going to be an effective, compassionate, "in-it-for-the-long-haul" teacher.

Wish me luck!

A