Reflection #6 update
For our arts integration, we taught the students Christmas songs from different countries and had the students act out pages in a book that I read (The Flag We Love). The students loved the songs and the drama, and I think that it will be something that they remember for a very long time! As a matter of fact, most of my students wrote that those things were the things that they liked best about me in the book that they wrote for me. :) Pretty cool, huh! Anyway, if you need more of an elaboration, just let me know!

Reflection #6
My field experience? I LOVED IT! It was absolutely wonderful! I don't know anything else I can say to make my point clear. Today was my last day at my school and, I have to say, I got pretty choked up. Mrs. Ware, our cooperating teacher, and our kids made Kayla and me each a special book called, "What I like Most About Mrs. Bird" and "What I Like Most About Miss Christensen" and they drew us pictures and wrote a sentence or two about what they liked most about us - I LOVED MINE! It was SO cute! :) Mrs. Ware also bought each of us a plate and cup for Santa's cookies and milk. :) I was just so sad I had to leave them! :( I don't know what else you wanted us to write about, but I do love those kids, it's amazing how attached you can get to someone else's child so quickly! I honestly love those children almost as much as I do my own children! I truly am going to miss those kids! Oh, btw- I enjoyed the teaching, too! Some of my kids even told me that I made learning fun and easy for them- SCORE! That was my goal and why I want to be a teacher so bad, I guess I have what it takes to make a difference! :) What was the most surprising thing is that most of the students who said I made learning fun and easy, were my "trouble makers".   :)   I'm glad that I made at least a little bit of a difference. :)  [LOVED THEM!!!  :)   ]

Reflection #5
LOVED the presentations today! I think it would be interesting to do something like this in class, except the teacher come up with all of the different artists and let each child test each one out! I also loved the Ladder for Booker T. Washington painting. I actually even looked for a print to buy online, but it can only be bought in museums and that site you were telling us about. dang it! oh, well! I will just have to wait until I'm a teacher to get one!

Reflection #4
I really enjoyed the music presentations, because it helped me learn easier. I think it would also help my students to come up with, or for me to come up with, a song to a well-known rhythm/tune because when you can sing a song about what you are supposed to know, it helps you recall easier. I will definitely use this in my classroom!

Reflection #3
I don't remember dancing in elementary school, but I think that it would be helpful to dance in class to help the students understand more about subjects because they'll be doing it physically while learning about it verbally and in written form. I would use this to help students learn about history or different cultures.

Drama Reflection

My perspective on using drama in the classroom changed dramatically. I didn't think that it could be such a great tool to show how much kids actually understand the subject they are learning. I think this could be used in almost every subject you teach, I would just modify it a little bit. For instance, I had the idea of acting out different elements and what they do, or what they are in charge of. You could also have kids act out the different math symbols, numbers, equations, or even the multiplication tables. I'm sure I will use drama in the classroom, now that the idea has been introduced to me, although I'm not so sure I would have used it if I wouldn't have taken this class first.

Reflection #1
So far, in this class, I think I have learned that using the arts in teaching other subjects is more than just letting kids draw, paint, or color-- it's about keeping the kids engaged and helping them understand better through teaching others and expressing themselves.
A little background: I have 7 sisters and 1 brother and all of my siblings (with the exception of 1 sister) have cerebral palsy, to every extremity. My brother, in particular, has a very bad case of CP, as well as epilepsy, a clawed right hand, and frequent strokes. Needless to say, he had a very difficult time in school growing up. Now, I don't remember a ton from my childhood, due to my own life complications, but I do remember my brother being in high school and having such a hard time coping with going to school. The one event that sticks out in my brain the most is the look on his face when he was accepted into the high school band, although he wasn't very good at playing any instruments. The blotchy memories that I have, and the very much appreciated input from my mother, allowed me to remember this event. I remember wondering why in the world the high school allowed him to be "included" in their band when he couldn't play an instrument. But then I remember this wonderful teacher and his passion for wind instruments and my brother. This teacher would show up at my house sometimes just to come help my brother learn how to play the french horn (an instrument, I might remind you, that require the usage of the right hand to play the notes). The looks on their faces are images that I think will never be scraped from my mind. You could just see how passionate the teacher was about helping him and how grateful and loved my brother felt. This is why I want to be a teacher--so that I might experience this same passion, acceptance, and understanding that this student and teacher felt together. This, just this, is my passion.
Please remember that this story has taken some time to finally piece together between my mother and I, but the first piece of the puzzle was their faces and how I had to know what that situation was. My mother, thankfully, is a very understanding teacher herself, and, in change, has become a very wonderful and understanding scrapbook of my brain, but it is just that--a scrapbook. Her memories are just pieces that I have to piece together to remember on my own.

So, here is the new updated version of my old blog... To all of my followers out there- just so you know, I am only using this for my Creative Arts class. So, if you were hoping to hear all of my random "blonde" moments (thanks, Dustin!) Please refer to my other blog: phillipandcandice.blogspot.com. Have a good night!

So I loved the power point book! I loved it so much I gave it to mu sister who homeschools to use. She liked it so much that she wants to buy her own! That is just a brief rundown of my loving of the powerpoint book! Talk to you soon!

I was just thinking about this class, and how much I've learned this semester and, to be honest, I think that this class has kind of humbled me. Before I started this semester, I was under my own impression that I was pretty tech savy and that if, and only if, I learned anything new this semester, it wouldn't be a very intricate thing. Well, I was definately wrong! The UEN page really got to me, not because it was hard, but it was a lot of work and I always thought that building a webpage (I've built many before this class) was simple, but the things that we had to do and put into our webpage was very difficult for me because it took me so long! Anyway, thanks for humbling me! See you in class on Tuesday!

I just watched the video "Do You Believe In Me?" and I have to tell you, that is one inspirational little boy! I'm sure we will be seeing him in the near future as a motivational speaker or an avangalist. :) I didn't catch his name, but I would like to know it so I can recognize him again when we see him once more. Not only is he a great speaker, but he definately has a point about the whole teacher/student relationship and how much of a role it plays in our society today. I do believe in him and in every student that I will teach- we, as teachers, do need to believe in our students and in their abilities and, not only try, but do help them achieve their highest abilities and then keep aspiring higher and higher. This is the only way that we will be able to have a world at peace, and be able to live together without prejudice, withour division, and without famon. These things I do strongly believe in and I hope that all of my other fellow teachers do.

So, I'm trying to do my math homework, exceptional students homework, and my children's literature homework, and I just can't help but think- Why can't they be as easy as this class?! I don't know what else to say, except I probably just need to stop thinking about the kidspiration program and just do it. Anyway, i had better try to start doing the homework instead of procrastinating!

You wanna know what's sad? I'll tell you what's sad- IT'S FREAKIN' 11:30 AT NIGHT AND ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS THAT COMPUTER PROGRAM KIDSPIRATION! I have a math test in the morning and all I can think about is a stupid computer program!!! I just keep thinking, "I wonder what else you can do on there..." Dumb, I know. But it's all your fault, DOC Waters! Why do you have to teach us such freakin' useful stuff! Dang it! I'm going to TRY to go to bed, now. *even though I know I won't be able to sleep* Thanks a lot doc! :)

I know I probably shouldn't be admitting this, but I'm sitting in one of my other classes, actually kind of bored with the discussion, so I thought I'd write my blog entry. I'm hoping that I am doing the right week (week 12, right?). Anyway, the video was...let's just say interesting. I didn't really like the music, for one (it was kinda psycho technoish), and the way the creator distributed her information was kind of...well...boring. I also thought that she could have used more entertaining or more technologically advanced ways of showing her information. Even some actual resouces would have been nice. I don't know, maybe I'm being just a little too harsh, but in all honesty, I was watching the time and couldn't wait for it to be over! I think, as teachers of the 21st century, we should use the most up to date technology to convey our lessons to our students. Afterall, if we're bored by a video like that, our students will be twice as bored (at the least!). On to a better subject, I LOVED THE DIGITAL CAMERA LESSON! I actually own my own photography business and it was kind of an easy, yet fun, lesson for me because it allowed me to play along in my own element. :) Keep up the good work, doc! I'll see you in class on Tuesday. :)

Funny video

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Okay, so I am WAY confused as to why we are working on week 10, even though we are in week 8 (week 9 tomorrow). I checked the announcements and there isn't anything about working on week 10 in there, although there is something in week 8's page that says we're supposed to be working in our pods, which I tried doing. On week 10's page it says 'Spring Break'. So, what the heck! I'm confused, but I guess I'll find out why tomorrow. Which brings me back to this- this blog is late because I was confused as to what I was supposed to be doing, so I just did week 8's blog yesterday. So, about the video: I liked 3.0 A LOT better than 1.0 and 2.0 because it had a lot more graphics and was more visually appealing to me. It also seemed like it had more information in it than the other 2. Just reiterating what I said about the other videos in my past blogs- I really think that this information is useful and will help me be able to really think about why I'm teaching- I want to make a difference!

Okay, so this time the video was kinda funny, but it didn't really do anything for me. Maybe I'm just not in the funny mood today. I've driven 12 hours straight today (up to Boise, ID and back, all in one trip!) and I just don't really feel like writing on my blog, but here I am... writing to do homework that I just don't really want to do. Anyway, as far as this week's lesson went- Internet Safety, I really enjoyed it because I feel like it is a really major issue in teaching. Mostly because there are tons of parents (my sister, for one) who refuses (or refused, but now allows, as in my sister's case) to allow their children to even venture near the computer for fear that they will bring up a porn site on accident or even just a plain website that might have vulgur language in it. I honestly think that we, as teachers, should educate parents on how wonderful the web COULD be, as long as they are responsible parents and caretakers and simply keep a close eye of their children and teach them why they should be careful. That's pretty much all I could muster up today, although, I could talk your ear off and ramble on about my own troubles to make this longer if you wanted me to (though I really wouldn't because that wouldn't be school-related). :)

Update to last reflection: I have since gotten my validation email and finished my pioneer scavenger hunt. I actually think that I've benefited just from doing the hunt because it has forced (for lack of a better word) me into actually reading and learning about the core curriculum and lesson plans for my future students. I LOVED the cool interactive global thing, I think it was called the culture grams. This interactive link will be very helpful to my future students so they can learn about their world and the different cultures. I also think the pioneer website will be extremely helpful to my students when they are trying to do their homework, or maybe even just browse for fun! Another cool thing that I loved about the UEN website is the lesson plan builder (this will be extremely helpful when I am having writer's block on what to write) and the nifty outline of Utah's core curriculum, all on the same page! Just a little note: I have spent the last 2 hours looking for some sort of virtual tour on the UEN webpage and I could not, for the life of me, find any sort of virtual tour, only videos. So, I apoligize for not completely completing my assignment, although I gave it my all.

Okay, so Doc Waters said I should basically type whatever I'm thinking, so I don't seem so shallow in my blogs. So here goes nothing... I actually really loved the video! I've even recommended it to my molly mormon sister who homeschools all 5 of her children (crazy, I know! :) - the homeschooling part, not me recommending it part) and she loved it, too! Ever since I showed her how to use the internet and how to look up things on teacher tube and you tube, she's addicted! :) By the way- all of these things I've only taught her how to do, has only been since I've been in this class! She didn't know anything about any type of computers at all- especially not the internet. Actually, she was afraid of the internet, and now she loves it! She says it's an "awkwardly amazing information source". *She was an english major at UVU when it was still a tech school* So, I loved the video. It's actually even inspired me to start my own educational video library on my computer. I just google the educational videos and then google the lyrics to them, so far I've been successful *knock on wood* to finding the lyrics to the songs I like. I do think that the videos on the internet are pretty cool, and I will definately use them in my classes when I teach. I honestly think that if I wanted to stop looking up the educational videos, I couldn't because my sister would make me find her more and I would get straight back into wanting to look for more- BOY the internet is ADDICTING!!! :) I have to admit, though, I do LOVE IT! :) as far as the UEN assignment is going- I HATE IT! It doesn't matter how many times I try to resend the validation email (I changed my email on file so I could have complete access to the tools on UEN.org) I STILL DON'T RECEIVE THE EMAIL! I'm so frustrated! I'm hoping I can get one of my classmates to logon for me tomorrow so I can get this assignment finished on time. So, I hope this blog was just what you were looking for, Doc Waters. If not, i guess I could babble on some more next week. :) HAVE A HAPPY DAY! :)

To be honest, I really didn't find the video that intriguing- the video we watched a few weeks ago "Did You Know?" got the point accross in a more entertaining and informational way. I've started making up my UEN website and I, personally, think this webpage will be a better way for me to keep in touch with my students' parents and keep them up to date a lot easier. Don't get me wrong- i think google is a wonderful resource, but UEN just makes it a little bit easier to get access to different resources and information. But you never know- I might just change my mind again once I learn more about Google and its' resources.

The purpose of this Technology Article is to teach my students all about environmental conservation. Resources: Paper University http://www.tappi.org/paperu/all_about_paper/earth_answers/earthAnswers.htm - topic articles http://www.tappi.org/paperu/art_class/makingPaper.htm - arts and crafts http://www.tappi.org/paperu/links_resources/links.htm - links and resources http://www.tappi.org/paperu/fun_games/hiddenPics_classroom.htm - fun and games http://www.tappi.org/paperu/fun_science/testStrength.htm - ‘fun with science’ science projects This website is especially resourceful for learning about the conservation of trees and how to conserve them by making your own paper. The main reason I love this resource so much is because it allows children to go in to this webpage and read about something that we will learn about in class (trees and environmental conservation). The most outstanding piece of information that I learned from this website was that the first paper was made over 2,000 years ago by a Chinese man, named Ts’ai Lun, by grinding up mulberry bark, linen, and help and spreading it out on coarse cloth and letting it dry. The children can also learn how: to do different crafts, paper is made, trees are harvested for paper making, and many other topics that have to do with paper and how it’s made. The pros to this website are the many different resources and links there are to the world of paper. The cons are that the website pretty much stops at paper and trees, but I’m sure there are many other websites out there specifically about other environmental issues, we just have to find them! This website would definitely affect my curriculum by allowing me to teach the students hands on (which I love).

For this technology article, I decided to use two different pieces of technology together. Spot The Block! Yo! www.spottheblock.com I love this tool because it makes nutrition fun by turning nutrition awareness into a fun-loving cartoon and allows us to teach our students and children how to get healthy and stay that way by simply watching what we eat. This website has many activities on it that will allow children to become more comfortable with watching their caloric intake, nutrients, and their serving sizes. It also has videos, downloads (wallpapers), and cool music (for the children’s enjoyment). The pros of this website are the many things children can use to become familiar with healthy nutrition. I also like the style that Cartoon Network uses to reach the children. What are the cons? I do not think there truly are any cons to learning. Personally, I think this website is the best thing since sliced bread (not literally). My Pyramid- For Kids! http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html This tool is completely AWESOME because it allows kids to make up their own sample meal plan, using a game, so they can see kind of what their day is supposed to look like. The pro to this tool is the amazing insight it gives to children while they are having fun! The con is definitely that they will be on this website playing games instead of doing their homework. ( I don’t know if you can actually call this a con, but it is the only thing I can see wrong with this website.) The way these two websites will impact my curriculum by allowing me to easily, and in a fun way, incorporate healthy living into my classroom.

video reflection Every time I tried to watch the assigned video, I just kept getting the quicktime logo with a question mark over it. So, I tried upgrading my version of quicktime, and I still keep getting the same picture.

Wow! What do you say to something like that?! The videos, I mean. I'm just dumbfounded by all the information that was presented in the videos. The most surprising thing was in the first video (Did you know?)- I could not believe that India and China have more college graduates than the U.S.! Holy Cow! I guess we, as Americans, live in a sheltered world where we believe we are the most sophisticated. As far as the second video went, I do believe those statistics, since I'm guilty of a lot of those accusations myself. It is, however, hard to hear put into words. I don't know what to say, other than we, meaning us Americans and teachers, need to open up our minds and try to make the most influence in our and our students' lives in any way possible. Obviously, the most effective way to do this would be to incorporate technology into the classroom, since that's what our students already are listening to. Again, WOW! Those videos will certainly be stuck in my mind for ages.

I really enjoyed the video "pay attention". I will definately use all of those things mentioned in order to reach my students. I honestly had never thought of allowing my students to use their personal technologies in order to teach them. The principal of Provo High School- AWESOME! I am so happy to hear that we have administrators willing to do anything to communicate with our students in any way possible- even through texting! Again, AWESOME! I will definately incorporate anything I can into my classroom in order to help my students have FUN learning!

During this semester, I hope to be able to use these different tools to help me communicate with my collegues and my students' caretakers. I also hope to be able to incorporate these tools into my lesson plans by either posting them on my webpage using Google Docs or using it in the classroom (if I teach older grades). If I post it on a webpage, I would make it available for my students' parents to be able to access if their student is absent. There are many ways that I can incorporate these different tools in my classroom, and I will.

My ideal classroom. In my ideal classroom, I am teaching first graders. In one corner, there is 'the reading corner' where my students can pick any book they want and read it by themselves, or we can read it as a class. In the next corner (clockwise), there is 'the math corner' where my students can use different objects to help them do math (ie. cubes, shapes, straws, beads, flash cards. etc.). In the third corner, there is 'the science corner' where we, as a class, can each participate in scientific projects (like growing plants or watching a class pet grow up), learn about different things in our world, and my students can 'check up on' our continuing projects. In the last corner, there is 'the world corner' where my students can learn about different parts of our world, their cultures, and different places that hold historical value. In the middle of the classroom, all of my students' desks are arranged in a circle, so that every student feels included in everything we do. My desk is just outside of the circle, facing my students. On the wall right next to the door, there are cubby holes for their assignments (turning in and going out). Right next to the cubby holes, there are hooks for their coats and backpacks. On the wall, just above the hooks and cubby holes, there are pictures of each and every child with their name card next to their picture. All along the top of the classroom walls, there is one shape for every day that we've been in school. On the wall above the reading corner, there is the 'class rules'. On the walls of 'the world corner' there are pictures of different monuments and countries around the world. At the top of the wall in this corner, our country's flag will be posted. In the same corner, on the walls and on the floor, there are maps that my students can touch and draw on (with something erasable, like wax pencils, or dry erase markers). On the walls of the science corner, there are pictures of different skeletons and the growing process of different species. On the floor of 'the science corner' there is a plastic replica of a human skeleton for my students to be able to touch and learn with. In the math corner, on the walls, there are times tables posted; and on the floor, there are cubby holes that are labeled for each math aid there is. And last, but definately not the least, there is 'our daily spot' (in the middle of the circle), where we will say the pledge of allegence, point out what day of the week it is, the current date, the season, and the weather outside. This is also where we will conduct our weekly show and tell and our birthday songs.