After reading chapter one from New Literacies for New Times, I was able to access a variety of resources that could help me out in my every day teaching career. I was able to spend a lot of time exploring the different links and checking out the various sources that were available to me. It is amazing that there are just so many different resources throughout the internet. The resources that were most helpful to me were the Math Forum and the Math Resources by Subject. These resources offered me a list of different professional development opportunities for mathematics concepts, as well as different resources that I could use in the classroom. I loved how the math resources hyperlinked webpage was organized. I was able to click on a specific category and then be directed to a bunch of different activities having to do with that topic. I explored different ways for teaching just discrete mathematics: I was able to gather different games and activities that I could implement into my classroom math instruction. This is great for me, because I have a class that learns so much better through hands on activities. I am constantly looking for new and different ways to approach the teaching of different mathematical concepts, since our math program is so confusing. Everyday Mathematics, the program we use in our school district is a spiraling program, where it hits on a topic and then comes back to it weeks later. This type of program works for some students, but for students that need repeated practice, this program doesn’t do justice.
Another resource, which was very beneficial to me, which I have had previous experience with using was Starfall. I have used Starfall a lot, in all of the different districts I have worked in. It is a great literacy resource for students of all ages. This resource provides students with interactive reading opportunities and allows students to explore literacy concepts in various ways.
The last resource that I really enjoyed exploring was the National Geographic for Kids. I did not even know that there was a way for students to access National Geographic online. I think that if I could spend even more time getting used to the webpage then, I could start implementing the website into my classroom and allowing my students to learn and explore the site as well.
Overall, after reading this part, I learned that there are so many different resources out there, to help us in our teaching and therefore in our students’ learning. I also learned that it is so important to allow students opportunities to explore using the internet, obviously in a safe and comfortable way. I would love to incorporate some of these resources into my school webpage, so that my students can begin exploring and learning how much information is out there.
As far as questions go, my concern about learning about all of these valuable resources, is time for implementing and sharing and showing these to the students. Another concern I have is how do you get your students more involved in wanting to explore the internet and what it has to offer? I have students who are just not motivated to even try anything new or different.
I found a good URL for you to re-teach Reflexive pronouns...try it:)
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Finding fun competitive games sometimes works.
Krysta I enjoyed reading your thoughts on this. I agree that it does take time to explain the resources avaiable but I found not as much time as you think. Most kids these days are digital natives so they end up teaching you more. My 4 year old teaches me how to use my phone, scary I know. As for your low motivated students, I was surprised how well my students responded to the idea of using technology. I had one student that his best work was whenever we used technology, all other assignments he basically did not complete. I would battle with him to keep his head up during class, but when we worked with the computers, he was a different kids. I always say try and see how it benefits your students. We all know that not ever thing we do engages all students, technology is another way to continue to reach some of them, if not all. Good luck and thanks for sharing.
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