End of the Year Video

My Animoto

The Smartest Kids in the World Book Review- Final Exam

The Smartest Kids in the World

By: Amanda Ripley

This book is a great example of the education systems around the world. It demonstrates how a different infrastructure can exemplify a different outcome whether positively or negatively. I relate to the girl from South Korea, because she is the only one in her family to be lucky enough to go to school. My mom, dad, and brother did not go to college, so I am getting the chance to further my education on a higher level. Since my family hasn't gotten the luxury I am getting I am more grateful. Finland would be a good fit in America since they have the best statistics.     

These are the technology tools my class has introduced into our classroom. Click here to view. Enjoy!

                              Class Dojo

                                                               Class Dojo Website
                                                                  Class Dojo App

How to set up an account:

When setting up a Class Dojo account there is a website and an APP. Both are free. There are no restrictions when signing up as a teacher. I have not come upon any age restrictions either. 

1.) Go to https://www.classdojo.com/

2.) Click sign up button

3.) Select between Teacher,  Student, Parent, or School Leader

4.) Choose Teacher

5.) Type in your information

6.) Click sign up

7.) Pick a school to set up your classroom

8.) Type in your students names

My Classsroom

My students

Here is my classroom demo:

Click Here

Feel free to explore and experiment with my classroom. You can add or subtract points based on the students behavior. You can add pictures and sentences about your class's day. You can send notes to parents about activities, behaviors, and things to come. You are also able to do attendance each day marking late, absent, or present. My favorite part of this tool is that you can see students behaviors on a graph with a record of each point added or subtracted.

How would I use this in my classroom:

This is an outstanding tool to be used in a classroom! It keeps tracks of many things that are important and hard to do during the day. Class Dojo is simple and quick to use. It is full of color and excites the kids to behave so that they have a good standing on the website. Simply add points for good behavior or subtract for distractions, post pictures of the awesome day you and your students are having, or contact parents to tell them about upcoming events.  

My first post!

Send notes to parents

Click here to see the assignment which this is based off.

Perot Museum!

                           Creativity Counts

What is Creativity?


Creativity is an unpredictable, variety of extraordinary ideas 

that come out of each individuals brain independently and is

different from anyone else through a diverse view of the 

world.   




Why does Creativity matter in Education?


Creativity matters in Education because at such a young and 

 undeveloped age children are full of it. Kids are not afraid  of 

being wrong or being judged when they mess up they just 

simply be themselves all the time, which provides for 

originality and uniqueness through every child. We as an 

education system usually try to make the students fit into a 

small box, when in all reality each kid needs their own box to 

move around in and learn to thrive independently and to 

know that it's ok to be different (that it's even awesome!).




Have you ever been in a situation where you 

felt as if a

teacher didn't let you be creative? If   
             
so, explain.


Yes, In my sixth grade Social Studies class we were doing an 

activity that had a possibility of many possible answers 

depending on your own belief.  When I raised my hand to say 

what I thought the teacher quickly shut me down and told 

me  to think realistically as if there was no possible chance 

that my answer could be chosen. I rose my hand again after 

pondering what she had said to me to  asking why my answer 

wouldn't work and she simply said "quit goofing around" like 

I was playing dumb. She made my thoughts seem 

unimportant and wrong because she wouldn't except the way 

I was thinking outside of the box.


Have you ever had a teacher that let you be as 

creative 

as possible? If so, explain. 

Yes, In seventh grade Reading my teacher always gave us 

projects but only had a few regulations. She said that we 

could do whatever we wanted as long as we touched a few 

topics thoroughly in our project. My group decided that we 

were going to do a video over shark attacks and we 

attempted to reenact Jaws (as a parody). 



How do we fix the problem(s) described by 

Sir Ken Robinson?


We should recognize the uniqueness in every child and treat 

them as they are instead of trying to pretend that each child 

is the same. We should encourage students to pursue their 

hopes and dreams. We should create a wide open 

interpretation of events and ideas and welcome the 

originality of what each child thinks.

Sir Ken Robinson 

Click here to view Sir Ken Robinson's Website

Click here to view Sir Ken Robinson's TED 

talks

Click here to view the blog in which this post 

is a reference to 

           My State Teach Tomorrow Summit

I went to to Houston for a state conference for future teachers. I competed with Allison, Emily, and Lindsey on the ethical dilemma team where we presented our solution to a group of judges at the University of Houston. My favorite part of the trip though was the camaraderie that build up through endless time spent laughing the hotel rooms and the seven person cuddle time. I loved joining together with new found friends and friends that I grew closer with. 

Click here to view the Teach Tomorrow Summit Website

Click here to view the blog in which this is a reference to 

                                  Fold It!

                                        The name of my activity is The ABC Book....

                              

                               To make this book I needed-

• colored printer paper: green, yellow, orange, blue, red, and pink in different variations with a total of 27 papers (one for each letter and one for the cover page)
• images off of google to print on the pages 
• Microsoft word to transfer pictures and add the letters to be printed on the printer paper
• a laminator to make the book last longer and be able to use as a "white board"
• a dry erase marker for the kids to use to draw on

                                How to create this activity-

• first I picked out the color pages that I wanted to use
• next I googled images that start with the letter that I needed and picked the one that was best applicable for kindergarteners
• then I went to Microsoft word to type what I want to put on the final copy (ex: Aa A is for apple. [insert picture])
• after I printed out the final copy of each letter in groups of 6 to insure that nothing malfunctioned lastly I laminated the final copy to be able to draw and erase expo marker

                           How the students will use this-
I will give this to Mrs. Clifford for her to decide when a student is struggling to achieve their ABC's. I will provide a expo marker for the use of it on the final copy. The students will practice their letters (upper and lower) in the blank space while they relate the pictures and the sentence to the each letter. Using the expo marker they will draw and erase their alphabet until they feel adequate.




                                                       

                                                                                   

Click here to see Mrs. Kallas's Blog in which this post is referenced.

TEKS: (1) Reading/Beginning Reading Skills/Print Awareness. Students understand how English is written and printed. Students are expected to: (B) identify upper- and lower-case letters