Week Four EDOL533

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/spelling/lista13.pdf (I am not yet teaching so this is where I found a first grade spelling list)
***I have emailed my power point to the class***
Amanda Bryant
Week 4 Blog
January 31, 2011
***I am not yet teaching so I created a hypothetical presentation***
1. What was the presentation about and to whom did you present it?
The presentation I created was for a first grade classroom. I created a power point presentation for a week spelling list. The spelling list theme is colors and the list consists of eight words. The words are red, green, blue, pink, purple, black, yellow, and brown. I found this list of words on the above website and they appeared to be appropriate for first grade and are similar to an actual spelling list that was given in a first grade class that I observed recently.
2. Of which item in your presentation are you the most proud?
I really like the power point presentation that I made. I feel like it is simple enough for a first grade class while still being creative enough to keep their interest and attention. From what I have observed, spelling tests are now given via worksheets that have sentences with misspelled words (the spelling list words) and the job of the student is to correct the misspelled words and rewrite the sentence using correct sentence formation, punctuation, and grammar along with correcting the misspelled word. The presentation I made has each word on a separate slide. Each slide has the word in its color (for example the word “pink” is in pink lettering) as the title of the slide, then the word is used in a sentence where the list word is in all capitals as well as in its correct color. The bottom of each slide has a picture of something that is the color of the word (for example a red stop sign). The sentence example also correlates with the picture.

3. What might you do differently if you could create the presentation again?
If I were to do this presentation again, I would like to find out how to add video and sound to the presentation. I think it would be very helpful if the students could hear and see the words being said out loud, spelled out loud, and somehow being used in a visual manner.

4. How did your students respond to the presentation?
I was not able to show my presentation to any children, however I was able to observe a first grade classroom going over their spelling words and they were very engaged in the lesson. The lesson did not include a power point but the smart board was used to show worksheets that helped students review the words before their spelling test.

Week Three EDOL533

WEEK 3


I chose to use the Microsoft word desktop publishing software to create a weekly student award flyer for spelling. As a teacher I would have weekly awards to give out for high achievement on things such as spelling tests, behavior, attendance, math, or other academic awards. These awards can be customized for each student and type of award from a basic format found on desktop publishing software, in this case, Microsoft word. Microsoft word has many different templates for desktop publishing that can be used in a classroom. Some examples include awards, flyers, agendas, posters, announcements, letters, and charts. As a teacher I plan to use desktop publishing software for many purposes. I think many of the desktop publishing uses would be helpful in my classroom, and as handouts for students to take home for their parents. As for the classroom, I would use the desktop publishing software to make posters of what we were working on, lists of classroom rules, subject matter posters / flyers, spelling lists, word banks, and other meaningful classroom decoration. For the students I would make weekly newsletters that would be sent home explaining the upcoming week’s assignments and announcements. The newsletters would also include the previous week’s awards and other news. I would also like to maintain a classroom website with information similar to that of the newsletter but also including pictures of what is happening in class.

I chose this award format because I plan to be an elementary school teacher and this award is simple enough for a younger student to understand, yet it is also customizable so that I could decorate it to fit its particular use. Many desktop publishing software templates can be distracting because they may be too wordy or have too many graphics to the point where the message the teacher is trying to convey gets masked by the imagery and decoration. I feel the most appealing types of desktop publishing materials / handouts are the ones that convey a clear message, with minimal yet meaningful decoration. I like this particular award template because it is simple and friendly for both students and parents. I added the student’s name, the date, the award subject, date, and signature. Originally, the template had only minimal decoration so I added the stars to give it a little more appeal. The additional information that you can add to any desktop publishing template is truly unlimited.

Week Two EDOL533

Provide a URL of one Web site that discusses spreadsheet and/or database use in the classroom.
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2582.html
Describe something you found that surprised you about how databases or spreadsheets can be utilized in the classroom.
The most obvious ways to use databases and spreadsheets in the classroom are for scientific experiments or skill sets, and mathematics. It is probably also common to use spreadsheets for assignments and grading. What was surprising to me was the idea of using spreadsheets in conjunction with a geography or social studies lesson. This website provides a lesson plan for studying Africa. The students present information they learned about (population, economy, resources, geology, and points of interest). Many elementary school students do a social studies report on a country of their choice and using a spreadsheet or data base for this assignment is a surprising, creative, and technologically strong way to present this project. The students work and subsequent spreadsheet / data base can also be presented via a power point presentation or even on a more traditional board with print outs to share with the class.
I also found it surprising that spreadsheets can be used for the student’s calendars and grade tracking. I think if the student’s keep their own grades and calendars they will be more responsible and accountable for their work. I want students to feel good about the work they’re doing, and to try their best. If they know how they are doing they will take more pride in the good job they did. Using databases and calendars helps a lot with student organization!
Discuss how you have used spreadsheets and databases in the past. Include ways you have used them with your students or ways you have used them as an educator.
I am not yet a teacher but after this week I am confident that I will implement the technology of databases and spreadsheets into my classroom. I see now that almost any subject area as well as class schedules, student agendas, grade tracking, and parent communication can be completed in this technological medium. I will also use spreadsheets to track student grades for my own records. I would really like to post these data tables online so that parents can follow the student’s progress and see any feedback that I gave.

Week One EDOL533

• What did you learn this week that you will use immediately in your classroom?

This first week in class I learned the importance of using all types of technology in the classroom.  From email, to blogs, to digital assignments all form of technology are important to having technology literate students.  It is also very important that I as the teacher am technology literate.  I will immediately start exploring new technologies in order to become more literate and more of an authority on educational technology.  As of now I am a substitute teacher and I have found that many classrooms I teach in have computer stations and sometimes smart boards.  I will start using the smart boards when available to teach the lessons the teachers left for me, or to create a lesson when one is not available.  I will use the computers in the classroom regularly while subbing so that the students will be able to do work on the internet, check blogs, work on assignments online, and do research.

• What steps will you take to implement this in your classroom?

The steps that I will take in order to implement these technologies into my classroom are to become more familiar with the smart board system.  As I have just started substitute teaching and when I was in school smart boards were not in use I really have no clue how to use them.  I will learn how to use the smart board by finding an online tutorial or asking for a in class tutorial from one of the teachers I know.  As for use of computers while subbing I will be sure to know what the students have been previously learning in class and give them online assignments to research current topics, or work with already installed educational software.

• What challenge(s) will you face when using this in your classroom?

Some challenges I will face include, not being very familiar with all classroom technologies because I am new to teaching and new to the modern classroom environment.  It will also be challenging to work with students and have them use technology in the classroom if I am not supplied with lesson plans for the day.

• What will you do to overcome the challenge(s)?

In order to overcome these challenges I will start immediately to become familiar with educational technology such as smart boards, classroom blogs, educational software, and school websites.  I will start working on emergency lesson plans that incorporate technology so that if I am not left with plans for the day I will be prepared and have a technology friendly assignment ready.