Update on my GAME plan:
In evaluating my GAME plan over these past few weeks, I have seen that I have accomplished a lot of what I wanted to accomplish. A few things I cannot accomplish until the school year begins. My actions were very effective in meeting my goals, because rather than just saying what my goals were, I actually had to dig to figure out how to meet a goal I set. I have learned a great deal about how to set goals and monitor progress towards meeting a goal. I now know how I can apply this strategy for my students to use as well. I can use this for my instructional practice and my students can use this for their learning. I still have a few things I need to learn. I still want to know whether or not I will get an interactive whiteboard. With this tool I will be able to do a lot of new activities and students will enjoy it as well. My principal will let me know at the beginning of the school year about this. If I am granted this, many new doors will open for me! In order to continue incorporating technology into my lesson plans to support learning, I need to adjust my plans to not include interactive whiteboards at this time, and just plan as if I will not have one. Then, if I do get one, I will modify as needed.
How is everyone else doing in meeting their goals?
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Marie,
ReplyDeleteJust let me say if you get a interactive whiteboard, you will love it and so will your students! I got one last year and it is awesome. It took a little while to get used to, but then comes pretty easy now. I was like you not knowing if I would get one either until near the beginning of the year.
I still feel you will have lots of great opportunities, especially what we have picked up from this class already. By incorporating things like blogs, discussion boards, and internet based research and projects, students will continue to grow. More and more people are getting internet access at home or know someone that does have it, so if lab time is cramped/shortened there are ways to still use technology. (I know I have this problem a lot) I do not let them use the excuse about not having internet, especially when they have had lab time. I encourage them to go to a friend's house, stay after school if you school has open lab day after school(which i have been pushing in my building), and finally the good old public library usually has free access. If you do a blog or question/response type project, make sure to give them a few days to a week to respond because of access time. You will find most if not all will find ways to get it done. Good luck and hope you get your board!
I use a blog with my reading groups. I call it my on-line book club. The kids love it. We will read a book or chapter during our guided reading time and then I will post a question or thought on the blog. I give them three days to respond to what I posted. Then they have three more days to respond to two friends. It is kind of like us and these classes. They really love it. It allows them to be casual and really voice their thoughts. I do not allow them to use the excuse of no interenet at home either. I tell them they can use the classroom computers, the computer lab class time or recess time to do their post. I use a rubric to score them every so often. I have found this to be a great tool and the students really get talking about the book.
ReplyDeleteLaura
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI really like that blogging idea. I can see how this could motivate the students to discuss the book. What grade do you teach again? Do your students fuss about having to work during recess? Not only do I think that they would decline to complete their work during recess, but it is county policy that we have to give all students their guaranteed 15 minutes of recess. Therefore, that would not be an option for me. I suppose if I were to begin this activity, I could have my students complete their posts during morning work or perhaps in the afternoon during SSR. Another difficulty that might arise is that all the 4th grade teachers switch students for reading. So it might be difficult to allow my reading students to do their postings at different times of the day other than reading. It would conflict with the other teachers' schedules, not to mention be more work for them to keep track of. I would definitely have to think this through in order to make it work. However, I love the idea. It is great documentation for participation and understanding of the selection. Would you mind sharing your rubric too?
Meghan
Marie,
ReplyDeleteI just found out that I will be getting a whiteboard in the near future. I hope you are just as lucky. I have heard many good things about them. If you visit my blog or even my bookmarking page, I have been gathering websites that involve information and lessons using the whiteboard. This might be helpful when you eventually get one. I will say that when 2 of my colleagues got them last year, they said that it took them hours to create 1 lesson using the whiteboard. I am sure that once you get used to it, it will get easier. With that being said, see if you can begin developing a Personal Learning Network in regards to whiteboard lessons. Then you won't have to reinvent the wheel. Good luck and I hope you receive one soon:)
Meghan
Mike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post!! I really hope I get the interactive whiteboard too! Thanks for the advice on make sure I give students about a week for at home internet assignments to make sure they have access time. I will keep that in mind!
Laura,
What blogging program do you use?? I am interested in seeing what you use so that I can perhaps start my own class blog for books we read in Spanish.
Meghan,
Thanks for the comment! It is good to know that by getting an interactive whiteboard, I will need to remember I will need to invest a lot of time in creating new lessons!!
Marie