Putting the "Awe" Back in "Awesome" for Students

Like most teachers I know, I decided to go into this profession in order to "make a difference" in this sometimes too fast pace world we live in.  So often on the news we see some of the horrific things people do to each other and the planet.  Many times I wonder "What went so wrong in this person's life that they would do such things?", and I also wonder if they lacked something in their childhoods that let them know that they mattered. 

I know that when I was young, a teacher's encouragement, advice and praise sometimes carried more weight than that of my parents (parents were SUPPOSED to think all your art pictures and science projects were great, right?).  As I got older, I decided that I wanted to be able to do that for children at a young age (before they decided to cut up folks and store them in a freezer), and make sure they knew that they mattered.  So, when I came across this article on Edutopia.com by Vicki Zakrzewski entitled "Put the 'Awe' Back in 'Awesome'", I really was reminded of why I got into teaching in the first place.  In the article, Ms. Zakrzewski discusses how teachers can and should incorporate the issues that are important to students into their learning experiences in order to foster a sense of purpose in students.  An example that is given in the article describes a first grade student moved to start a non-profit foundation that produces clean water for over 789,000 people- all based on a discussion with his teacher about people in Africa not having clean water to drink. (Pretty impressive, huh?)  The article goes on to give suggestions about how teachers can go about providing these sorts of experiences for their students.  Let me know what you think!!

Top 8 Plagiarism Detector Tools for Teachers

As an elementary school teacher that works with younger elementary students, I don't really have a lot of use for these tools as of yet, but I thought I'd share this article for two reasons.  The first reason is that I remember that there are a lot of middle-high school teachers in my courses and this could be a great resource for them.  Secondly, I didn't know there were SO MANY different software tools that focused on plagiarism.  The article, "Top 8 Plagiarism Detector Tools for Teachers" on Educatorstechnology.com gives links to and information on several web tools that can help teachers detect plagiarism in student work (and maybe could be used by students to make sure they haven't plagiarized).  One of the tools, Turnitin.com, was familiar to me as I've used it several times to turn in papers as an undergrad.  The others, such as Plagium, Dupli Checker, iThenticate and others detailed in the article boast simple ways to check portions or all of a student's text to check for plagiarism. I hope some of you find this article to be helpful...

Great Organizational Tools for Teachers

If you're anything like me, nothing gets done unless it's written on a list somewhere.  Most people, especially teachers, require the use of some sort of planner to organize all the "to-do's" of our everyday lives.  I came across and article on Educatorstechnology.com entitled "3 Good Calendar Tools for Teachers" and I HAD to check it out.  The article gives some insight and provides links to three really great calendar tools:  Assign a Day, Google Calendar, and Short Calendar.

The Assign a Day Calendar seems to be the one that's most geared toward and designed for teachers.  Teachers can even post student assignments to the calendar so students can view them (to eliminate the "I didn't know it was due today" defense).

Google Calendar is really easy to use, compatible to synch with other Google applications, and is ideal for office or personal use.

The Short Calendar is deemed in the article as the simplest one of these tools to use (plus you can share your tasks in email form with others).

As a super busy wife, mom, teacher and mentor, it's really important to my productivity (not to mention my sanity) that I have tools at my disposal which will help keep me on task.  I will definitely be utilizing one, if not all, of these tools at some point.  If you have experience with these tools, let me know which one works the best for you and why...  Thanks!!

Yeah, Vegas!! "Getting Parents Fired Up for Education"

I'm always excited and happy to read articles like the one I found on Ed.gov.  The article "Las Vegas Parents Get Fired Up for Education" shares a great example of what can happen when schools, parents and students come together to "foster home-to-school relationships".  The article talks about how the Clark County School District has several partnerships in place that helped to make its "Family Enrichment Day" a successful event.  Over 400 parents showed up to the event, in which they were exposed to various enrichment activities, speakers, and programs aimed at improving the success of students.  The continuous theme of the event was that parents are critical in the success of their children, both socially and academically.  As a teacher, this point has always been a cornerstone of my teaching philosophy, and I work very hard to let the parents of my students know that I am always available to communicate and work with them.  I would love to see more districts implementing a "Family Enrichment Day" instead of only bringing parents in when there's a parent teacher conference or a disciplinary problem with a student.  The "Family Enrichment Day" provides a relaxing atmosphere where parents, teachers, and students can air their concerns, learn how to move forward successfully, and have fun with learning at the same time.

"What Does School Reform Look Like?"- Good Question!!

As an educator and parent of public school students, I definitely see the need for school reform on many (scratch that, EVERY) level.  I understand that change is not easy (or necessarily cheap), but we owe our students more.  As someone who grew up in a time when writing your times tables ten times each was the way to memorize them and getting to clean the chalkboard after class was a special treat, I found it a little challenging to learn how to teach this 21st Century generation of children.  I basically had to relearn all the content areas in a new way, when I didn't really see anything wrong with the old way.  I realize now that the students I'm teaching are growing up in a world where knowing the bare minimum isn't enough.  Those factory jobs that just required that you have a high school diploma and be 18 that were so plentiful when I was growing up are basically no more.  Students have to really have a deep understanding of the world they are living in and the tools that are used in it in order to be a successful, productive citizen. 

My little diatribe has come about as a result of an article I was reading on PBSteachers.org entitled "What Does School Reform Look Like?" by Andy Carvin.  Mr. Carvin was preparing to attend an EuCon conference in which this very question would be discussed.  Mr. Carvin's opinion seems to be that instruction should be "inquiry driven and focused on creating 21st century citizens" and I agree whole-heartedly.  It's a really interesting article which touches on everyone, especially those in the educational field.  I hope you read it and ponder the question for yourself...  Let me know what your answer would be...

Ughh!! Do I Have to Be Productive Over the Summer??

Happy End of the School Year, fellow teachers!!  As another school year comes to a close, it's time for us educators to reflect on all the things that went right, could've used improvement, and needs a whole overhaul in our classrooms.  While my students are on vacation at the beach and playing with friends, I will most likely spend the summer studying up on new tools, resources and technologies to improve student learning next year in between beach outings. 

I don't know about everyone else, but I have a difficult time turning off my "teacher switch" even when I'm home (much to the dismay of my now young-adult children).  I'm constantly on the lookout for "teachable moments" and fun new resources and tools.  I recently came across an interesting article "7 Ways to Become a Better Teacher this Summer" by Corey Murray on Edtechmagazine.com and I wanted to share it with you all.  In the article, Mr. Murray lists various professional development resources that us teachers can explore over the summer that will help us brush up on our teaching skills.  Included are various education websites, information on ASCD conferences and workshops, and even professional development resources offered by the Peace Corps.  I will definitely be exploring a few of the options covered in the article, and hope that some of you will find this article to be beneficial over the summer. 

For the next few days (or weeks), however, I'm going to try very hard NOT to be productive and enjoy sleeping in!!    (^_^)

Another Great Resource to Use in the Classroom!! NBC Learn

Hi all!!  As we come to the close of another (hopefully great) school year, I'm sure the last thing a lot of us want to be thinking about is what we want to do differently in our classrooms next fall.  But, as teachers know, it's almost impossible to turn of that "teacher mode" switch, and we are constantly on the lookout for new tools to benefit our students.  I came across a really cool article on iLearnTechnology.com regarding a really great resource that's available for teachers and students to use for free.  NBC Learn has tons of great resources on a variety of topics such as Science, Writing and History.  The article "NBC Learn: Science Behind the News" focuses on a section of NBC Learn that "explores the science, technology, and engineering found in current events".  There are tons of videos on the site that use current events to explain science concepts and vice versa.  We all know that giving students information in an authentic, real-life context helps students understand how what they're learning relates to real life.  This in turn deepens their levels of understanding and learning.  The article also provides some of the numerous ways this resource can be integrated into the classroom effectively.  I will definitely be exploring this further to see how it can benefit students for the upcoming school year.  I hope you all find it interesting and that you have a great summer!!  If anyone has used this resource in their classrooms already, please let me know what you think of it.

Thanks~~

Infographics: Another Way to Use Technology to Enhance Learning

In pursuing my M.A. in Educational Technology, I've had the privilege of being exposed to some really great technology tools and uses for them in the classroom.  Each course I've taken has left me in awe at some new software or program that I become really excited about (chalk it up to my being a technology novice when I started this program).  So when I came across the article "Beyond the Book:  Infographics of Students' Reading History" by Sara Mulhern Gross on Edutopia.org (one of my favorite sites), I had to share it.  I've never in life heard of an infographic, much less how to use one in such an engaging way in the classroom.  In an effort to encourage students to not only read more, but to enjoy reading, Ms. Mulhern Gross developed a lesson in which students would create infographics.  The infographics they created were to be based upon their reading histories, and be compared and discussed among their peers.  The resulting increase in reading interest described by  Ms. Mulhern Gross in the article was enough to make me want to implement this lesson in my classroom.  I hope you all find the article inspiring and helpful as well!!

Preventing Summer Learning Loss...

It's that time of year again!!  The end of another school year, the excitement of summer and, most importantly to students- FREEDOM!!  Of course, as educators and parents, we want our children to experience all the fun that summer brings, but it's also important that we continue to expose them to educational experiences in order to prevent summer learning loss.  Studies show that students can lose two to three months of learning if they aren't exposed to any academic activities during summer vacation.   I came across a really interesting article on Edutopia.org entitled "Seven Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss" by Barbara Dianis.  In the article, Ms. Dianis offers seven really great ideas for incorporating quick academic review activities into our children's summer days.  These ideas include setting aside 15-30 minutes dedicated to reading, completing two or three math problems a day, or encouraging children to develop and write short stories throughout the summer.  These are great strategies to use with either young children or teens.  I plan on implementing a few with my youngest son, who will be a high school senior next fall and hates to read anything that isn't video game related, lol.  I hope you all will check out the article and find it as helpful as I have!!

"Big Brother" E-books- Friend or Foe

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend!!  I just came across an article on Edtechmagazine.com that caught my eye.  It seems that e-book provider CourseSmart has developed a new technology aimed at monitoring student reading of textbooks.  According to the article "Technology Tells Teachers If Students Do the Reading- or Not" by Corey Murray, teachers utilizing this technology will be able to receive generated individual student reports that supposedly show if students have completed assigned readings, any underlined or highlighted passages they may have made, and how many times students referred back to the text before an exam.  The article showcases both the benefits and criticisms of this technology.

I'm all for incorporating technology into the classroom if it makes learning more effective, but this "Big Brother"ly approach just rubs me the wrong way.  Besides informing schools of students' study habits, what real value is there in employing this technology.  And who's to say that any information gathered from this "super e-book" will be accurate and reliable anyway?  All educators know that students can be very crafty when they need to be.  I'm sure every teacher has a student or two (or five) who would open up the e-book mark it up and leave it on just to make it look like they've been reading for two hours.  Also, as the article points out, not every student would be highlighting and underlining notes in an e-book.  Some might just work better with the old-fashioned pencil and pen method (I know I do!)  Seems like this is just another gadget for a big company to make more money on, not something that's going to make any real contribution to student learning, in my opinion.

Voucher System... More Harmful than Helpful??

I was reading an interesting article on the implementation of voucher systems in Louisiana called "Louisiana's Voucher System Grows"  this morning, and I must say that I'm rather torn in my opinion of this strategy. As a parent of three myself, I know the concern of parents wanting the best opportunities for their children.  Voucher systems allow students from poorly performing schools to attend high performing private schools that they would normally not have access to.  What parent wouldn't take advantage of such a great opportunity for their children if given the chance??  I absolutely get that.

As a teacher, though, my concern is for those students who are left behind at those low-performing schools.  Instead of utilizing funds to send SOME students to private schools, why not use those same funds to improve the neighborhood public schools, so that ALL students can benefit.  Why not observe the teaching strategies and tools used in those private, high performing schools and implement them in public neighborhood schools.  I understand that it would be expensive to provide all neighborhood schools with all the bells and whistles that the private schools have, but I don't think that the whole of academic achievement depends on what kind of gadgets a school has.  Parents, teachers, and communities make all the difference in how much a student achieves.  I mean, people DID learn and become innovators and inventors without smartboards and ipads in the past, for goodness sakes. 

Legislators and educators seem to be focusing on the wrong issue, in my opinion.  The focus should be on developing a relevant curriculum, getting and keeping  qualified and caring teachers in the classroom, and getting the parents and community more involved.  When students are encouraged and expected to achieve, they will- especially if that motivation and expectation is consistent from a young age.  Just my humble opinion, though...

Strategies for Using Technology to Teach Social Studies...

As a history buff (and former Social Studies major), I can spend all day gawking at artifacts in a museum, watching the History Channel, or reading biographies about who my children less-than-affectionately refer to as "those old, dead people" and think it's absolutely fascinating.  Unfortunately, I've found that my children and most of my students (in fact, most people in general) do not share my adoration of people and events of the past.

As a teacher, though, it is my duty to convey the events and stories of the past to our students in a way that engages, informs and encourages them to think critically about our society and themselves.  Luckily for me, I am a teacher in the 21st century and no longer have to rely solely on textbooks and drawn out lectures.  The tools of technology give us fresh, interesting and even fun ways of exploring the past and linking it to our present and future.

I came across an interesting article on education.com called "Top Ten Strategies for Technology in Social Studies Instruction" by  M.D. Roblyer and A. H. Doering.  The article lists various intriguing ways to utilize technology to enhance social studies lessons.  Some of these strategies include: adventure learning, virtual field trips, webquests, treasure hunts using GPS devices and many more.  

I thought this would be an interesting article to share with other teachers who get the blank stare like this: ( 0_0 )    whenever a historical event is even hinted at.  (We all get that at one time or another...)

If you have any more sites or suggestions for strategies using technology in teaching, please feel free to leave a comment below!! 

Teaching a Live Online Class...

Given the topic of this week's class wiki discussion- online courses- I thought it more than appropriate to share a blog from WizIQ.com, which is a site that provides software and other tools for those educating online.  The blog is titled "Teaching a Live Online Class" and talks about the tools and strategies necessary for teaching an effective online course.  Of course, it endorses the use of WizIQ products, but it also encourages the use of other technologies such as Google Drive (which I've never heard of before, by the way).  The blog also talks about the importance of having teacher/student connectivity even though you're working online. 

Nothing too too exciting or controversial this blog.  I just thought that for all of us still learning how to integrate all this wonderful (and sometimes overwhelming) technology into our teaching, this would be a great resource.

As always, let me know what you think!!

Texting Paid Off!! Maybe??

Today, I read an interesting article on Edsome.com (that's Educational Social Media, for those not familiar with it).  The article was titled "Texting Paid Off!!!" by Karl Meindhardt.  The article is about the implementation of a "social networking/social media strategy" at a Portland, Oregon middle school.  Basically, the focus of this particular strategy was to improve daily student attendance at the school.

The school decided to form a "texting team" and recruit the most chronic attendance offenders to take part in the trial.  Students' cell phone numbers are collected and a number of mass text messages are sent out to the group throughout the day to keep them on task, I suppose.  "Time to wake up!!" texts every morning would not motivate me at all, though.  The school developed a texting schedule which would get students up in the morning, move them forward to school in a timely manner, and get them to an attendance check-in station inside the school" on time.

I was more than a little leery about this strategy as I read the article.  If student's aren't motivated to come to school (hence the high number of absentees), how in the world would you get them to give over their cell phone numbers so they can get text reminders a gazillion times a day?  How does this help to re-engage students in the learning process? (Which is probably the main reason they don't come to school in the first place).  I guess we have to start somewhere, though. Meindhardt did go on to say later on in the article that since the program was implemented in February 2010, the days of school per week missed by these "chronic attendance offenders" decreased by 35%.  Maybe there's more to it than I'm seeing.  Although this is a good strategy as far as making students accountable for their attendance in school, I just don't see it as a real learning motivator- which should be the ultimate goal.  It does show, however, that technology can be used for so much more than we think sometimes, and is an invaluable asset in an educational setting.

Let me know what you think!!

What Makes You Beautiful...

As a teacher- and even more than that- as an adult truly concerned about the state of our young people, I tend to be concerned about the entire well-being of a child.  I have an especially deep concern for young girls who suffer from self-esteem issues- having been one of those myself once.  In today's society, so much emphasis is placed on superficial things- having the latest gadgets, or clothes.  This is especially true for young girls.  Body image, hair types, being liked by peers- all these things weigh heavy on mostly every young girl's mind at one time or another.  And as most girls can attest, we are our own worst critic most of the time. 

So when I came across the article "What Makes You Beautiful" by Elizabeth Winchester, it was like a breath of fresh air.  The article speaks about a program called "Beautiful Me"  , which was created by the Hance Family Foundation with the goal of helping young girls improve their own self esteem as well as helping to improve that of other girls.  The girls that participate are encouraged to begin to see those things that make them different from everyone else as an asset that makes them unique, not as a hindrance.  

The organizers of the program go around to different schools and community groups and instruct teachers and small groups how to present the program to small groups of girls.  The programs provides hands-on activities and in-depth discussions regarding problem solving, building friendships, and understanding their own feelings. 

I really hope to get the opportunity to implement this program at any school I'm working at (as I'm not in a classroom currently).  If anyone has experiences with this program or any like it, I'd love to hear about it!! 

 Hello , all!!  My name is Nicole Copeland and I'm truly excited to be taking this course with you all.  This program is helping me learn about not only a lot of new technical tools that can be used in education, but how to use them effectively. I look forward to gaining even more insight about that during this course.  A little about me, then:  I am a mother of three -two sons (21 and 17) and a daughter (19).  I have been married to my wonderful husband David for almost five years.  I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, majoring in Social Studies, minoring in Integrated Science and earning my elementary teaching certificate in 2010.  I enjoy substitute teaching and tutoring whenever I can.  I enrolled in this particular Graduate program because I see that schools are utilizing technology more and more as teaching tools, and I want to be the most effective teacher I can be.  And, as I've said, I am looking forward to learning a lot more about how to most effectively use all this magnificent, ever-evolving technology for the benefit of my students in this course.