Reflection

First I must say that I enjoyed this class. Being given the opportunity to actually put some of what we learn into practice was much more helpful than just learning and forgetting it. Although planning for DI and UDL does take some time I have seen in the recent weeks that it is very helpful for the students. I have recently began to use Compass Odyssey. It is an online program that the school has for students. It is a great way to differentiate. It has lessons ranging from all grade levels that the students can do. I can go in and assign students different activities based on their ability and have them complete interactive excercises and online quizzes. Then we come back together as a class and discuss what we have learned. In a few weeks I am going to be trying a different type of lesson with my social studies students. Each of the students are going to research Civil War battles that took place in South Carolina and then they are going to complete a different online activity. Some will be doing an onlin book while others are going to be doing a voice thread or concept map. I am looking forward to seeing what the students produce for this.

Reflection

I can't believe this course is already over. I learned quite a few things from this course. I did not get to execute all of my GAME plan as of yet but hope as the school year continues I can begin to work on it more. I really enjoyed working on the PBL. It gave me the opportunity to really think about how to motivate my students. I am working on getting epals set up for each of my students. What I did discover throughout this course is many of my students have never left our area and have no idea what is out there. So the epals account would give them the opportunity to meet other students. The wikis and blogs are hopefully going to be approved soon. I would love to be able to have the students be able to blog each week, the only problem I foresee is the lack of computers available. I am still working out that detail. I can't wait to put some of what I have learned into play in my classroom.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

More on the GAME plan

Although I still haven't made that much progress on my GAME plan I have began to make preparations for when we go back. I am planning on setting up blogs for my students and we are going to use them for communication. Each week the students will be required to respond to my blog and at least two others. I am also really interested in the digital storytelling. I am investigating ways that I can incorporate that technology in my classes. I have began discussing these types of technology with my students. I am trying to find out what types of skills they already have and what I will need to teach them. I am also working on getting computer access weekly for my students. This has been my biggest problem all along. We only have a few computer labs and they are always booked. I am also worried about the time that it will take to teach the students this technology. Our state like most rely heavily on the standards and being a special education teacher I already have to go slowly, I am worried that I will not have time to do this and get to all of the standards. I am holding out hope and will continue to try.

GAME Plan

This week I haven't really made much progress on my game plan. We are in the middle of MAPs testing which are computer based tests. The entire school takes these tests and it takes at least three weeks to complete with everyone. My students take the test in my room so this ties up both computers and doesn't allow me time to actually teach; we have to be quiet while others are testing. I am still working on improving the motivation of my students. The earthquake project was a hit but when it comes to regular school work it seems to be like pulling teeth. I am also aware of the fact that the holidays are on us and this seriously effects my students. Many of students have separation anxiety and they do not like their routine interrupted so being out of school throws them for a loop. In order to get them motivated we are reading "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. We are doing small activities with each stave and next week we are going on a field trip to see the movie. The idea of going on the field trip has somewhat motivated them to do the work for the book. They were told that they had to complete the book and all the activities in order to be able to go. So far that's working. Until next time....

Monitoring the GAME PLAN

As I continue to work on my GAME plan I have found that it is getting easier. I am currently working on the earthqauke section of science. The students have done some research pertaining to earthquakes and put together a small project about how and why earthquakes occur. In order to get them motivated do to the research I allowed them to use the internet and focus on several sites like one that researchers have put together about the San Andreas Fault. Now that the students have completed that project we have spent this week building structures that might withstand an earthquake. The students were given a budget and had to complete a blueprint of a building they believed would withstand an earthquake. Then they used marshmallows and spaghetti to build their building. Tomorrow we are putting them structures to the test using an earthquake generator we have. What I have really seen at work here is the students motivation to get to the final project of building the structure. I told the students ahead of time what the unit was going to consist of and in order to get to the final building assignment we had to do all the other first which meant researching and really learning about earthquakes. After this unit I can't wait for the unit on volcanoes.

Monitoring my GAME plan

As I am putting in place the goals that I have selected to work on I am finding that I am doing well. I have been able to change things up so that I can get the students interested in learning. For example, today I had the students complete an online scavenger hunt about Thanksgiving. We first discussed their beliefs and what they had been taught in the past about the holiday and then I put them in groups and set them on their way. I walked around and monitored their progress and they seemed to be having a good time. Once they were finished we came back together as a class and discussed what they had learned. They were all able to tell me something new they learned about Thanksgiving. I am also finding that I could really use more computers in the classroom. We are about to start MAPs testing again which will tie up the computer labs for three weeks so that I will not be able to do much with computers seeing as I only have two in my room. My other goal is also coming along. I have been working on setting up blogs for each of my students to use for certain activities once we return from the holidays. I am also attending a technology session on streamlining so that I can begin to include that in my class activities as well.

GAME Plan

The first goal that I would like to work on is inspiring students to learn. I know that many times they feel that the information is boring and they do not want to learn it. I have tried to present the information in different formats and yet the students still complain. Recently I have had a Promethean Board installed in my classroom. This has made using technology easier. The board is made to be interactive and with it being at the front of the room I am able to use it like a white board. I have developed lessons using the Promethean Board for subjects such as math that are interactive and have the students up moving around to use it. For social studies we have used it to take virtual field trips and in the future for science I would like to use it to do dissections and other labs. Along with the Promethean Board is the other goal I would like to work on. I would like to design more activities that use different forms of technology. In order to do that I need the opportunity to take classes to learn these things. One way that I have tried to improve is by attending lessons that are given at our school each Monday on different technologies. Each week there is a different topic for teachers to choose from such as streamlining and blogging. I am also working on a project that I want to start after the Christmas break that will allow me to set up blogs for my students to complete each week as well as other projects that will allow them to use technology instead of the same old writing report and creating a poster.