Multiple Inteligences Important to Understand When Teaching

After talking about Multiple Intelligences in one of my classes I took a test to see where my strengths in learning lie. I was not surprised by the results. My downfalls however made me think about how I taught and if I used those intelligences while teaching. It forced me to look at my weaknesses as a teacher, so I would be conscious to teach not just to my strengths but also to my weaknesses. This way all the children in my classroom no mater what their strengths are will be able to learn. I think it is important to use as many intelligences in each activity as possible. I found that there were some things lacking but I had naturally made up for others. Learn more about the intelligences here.

Confucianism- Turning Chaos into Order

This blog was started to be a an education based blog but I figure since I learned about Confucianism in an Asian History class I have to share it. I read about Confucianism and wished that some of those beliefs were integrated into our society We are so obsessed about what is best for us that we don't stop and think often enough to think about what happens to others in the long run. We don't have a common goal to work towards. In someways I think it would be difficult to live in all Confucianism way, but I would like to be in tune with some of its thoughts. One is that education is important and everyone should be educated. Another is respect for others and treating them like you would like to be treated. Showing people how to be by leading in the right way works more often then just telling. I think these can all be entwined into education! Not necessarily as Confucianism but more as a basic way of living and using social skills. Something is working well in China who has more college graduates than the US. Click here to learn more about Confucianism.

Teaching Math a New Way- Good or Bad?

I am all for doing what it takes to make learning easier! Teaching in multiple ways is important also! However, I am having a hard time with some of the ways they are teaching math. I am taking A Problem Solving Approach to Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers. On a 6th grade math book page, they have multiplying by decimals in a crazy square shape diagram with marks going one way in one color and the other way in another color. I understand that it is visual, which may be the draw to it, but I think it makes it more difficult. Maybe it is just because I didn't learn it that way. I decided to ask some children in 6th grade and their parents how they were doing. Parents were in consensus that it was hard for them to help with math homework now because it was not the way they did it when they were in school. 3/4th of the children were struggling with this new math also. I definitely need to do some more research on this. I wonder what the reasoning behind changing how you multiply decimals came about? So I thought a video would show you better what I mean.

Autistic Web Browser- Great for all children?

Zac Browser, with its' peaceful aquarium backdrop, is a wonderful addition to the world wide web for young children! It was made for autistic children so that it would be less distracting and have limits on choices. It also blocks out most adult sites and leaves free public sites for children to explore. In an age where browsing the Internet is important, and yet children could be exposed to things they should not see, this is a great tool. It's use in the classroom is limitless! I found it to have many great sites for children's interactions and explorations and it was easy to use! It has videos, stories, games for learning and much more. It seems to be geared for PreK through, best guess, 3rd grade! Best thing about it.... it's free to use! To learn more about this excellent browser watch the video, or go straight to Zac Browser.

Image from: (c) 2003-2009 www.clipart.com

Why Search for a Video When You Can Make Your Own?

After searching on the world wide web for hours, for the exact video that would compliment our classroom experiences, I finally decided to make my own. Did you know that pretty much every computer has a movie maker program? It's very easy to use and although it does take some time to make a video, it is something you can use over and over again. Also, if you save your raw project, you can tweak it every year to keep it relevant to your students.

In this interactive video a puppet shows the children how to make a pattern and asks them to help her finish it. She also encourages the children to make their own after the video is done, which then fosters their active inquiry. This video supported my objective, given 4 choices of objects ( C), Kindergarten children (A) will be able to position them into a pattern (B) with 85% accuracy (D). "Des Moines Elementary Math, Grade Kindergarten", for my spring thematic unit.

Another way to use video making, which I am excited to try, is to use footage of your own children in the classroom. Use it as a recap, to extend learning, or let them come up with something they want to explore. Students in 3rd to 5th grade made short movies about why they should be able to use technology in the classroom. Letting them create something really shows the diversity in their thoughts and learning styles. Not every student learns in the same way! Plus what a perfect way to share what is happening in you r classroom!

Image from: (C) 2003-2009 http://www.clipart.com/

U Touch in the classroom - More than just a Smart Board!

As I was looking for information on Smart Boards in the classroom, I stumbled across U Touch! What a great learning tool! Smart Boards are great for upper level classrooms but these U Touch screens are perfect for lower elementary. Teaching becomes very interactive as you can see! The feature I found most helpful is that I could have one student do something on one page and another could do something else on a completely separate page. Children seem to like their own spaces and tend to write big so to have a blank space for them is wonderful! And yet, I don't have to erase the child's work before them. In fact, you can still reference back to it with a click of a button! It is more than just a smart board, it is smart teaching!

Another option I found was a Smart Table. This one seems to be more child initiated. It has many learning opportunities as well! Technology is the future. It is wonderful that they are making it easier and more inviting for children at younger ages!

Image from: (C) 2003-2009 www.clipart.com

Is there a place for handheld computers in the classroom?

The story about Taylor's day in Mr Vincents's classroom using handheld computers is very thought provoking! It was amazing how many programs the children had access to, that were benefiting their learning. Their classroom seems to be very collaborative and self motivated. Some of the activities are made up by the children, like their spellit, and some by Mr. Vincent, like quiz questions he sends them in tic tac toe form. Either way they are definitely engaged in learning in this classroom. I did like that he said they still use a lot of paper and pencil for activities! The handheld seems to be more of an extension of teaching and learning. The project of the reporter for "The Daily Planet" was a great way to build a community within their classroom. They are responsible for the "news" within their classroom and I think that is so much more meaningful! Check out Taylor's Day!

Who would have thought to use Spreadsheet as a tool for children?

A spreadsheet is an easy way to prepare an activity for children. In this activity the children are to predict what weather they think they will see most in the spring and compare it to what the weather actually was for two weeks. It supports my objective, given pictures of changes in spring(C), Kindergarten children (A) will be able to explain what change is happening (B) with 85% accuracy (D). "Des Moines Elementary Science, Grade Kindergarten" This teaching tool is rather easy to make and does not require a lot of time in preparation. This activity will also encourage students development of critical thinking since they have to compare the two graphs!

Look at this spreadsheet that has been turned into a crossword puzzle about Nursery Rhymes. It is a great example of how children can use spreadsheet without even knowing it. It even has a built in self correcting aspect so the children know right away if they put the correct word in. Click here to visit more spreadsheets. You will want to scroll down until you see sample workbooks to download. Take advantage of a tool that most computers have, experiment with spreadsheet!

What's a WebQuest???

What's A WebQuest? Good question! I didn't know what one was until taking a class for college this semester where I had to create one. A WebQuest is a collaborative active inquiry into a subject online. My WebQuest was created to help Kindergarten children learn about changes in the spring. The end task was to have the children create a mural with the changes they had found in their "research". It satisfied the objective, given pictures of changes in the spring (C), Kindergarten children (A) will be able to explain what change is happening (B) with 85% accuracy (D). " Des Moines Elementary Science, Grade Kindergarten.", in my unit on spring. A teacher creates links, uses gadgets, which can be videos, and non computer resources for children to explore. This interactive type of learning helps fosters active inquiry and collaboration. Children get to be their own teachers after you set this up for them.

Its very easy to get started with a Webquest! First you must set up a google site. From there it's easy! Look at these other WebQuests for more ideas. I found Cathy Nolan's "Art Exhibit" WebQuest to be simple to use and very informative for students. She used the same basic set up as mine even though it was designed for 6-9 grade art students. She even encourages her students to explore more on the topic outside of the WebQuest. Click here if you want to see my Webquest for Kindergarten children.

Kidspiration - Tool to Teach?

This kidspiration was created to help kindergarten students arrange pictures of a growing flower in order. It helps my objective, given four pictures of different stages of flower growth (C), Kindergarten children (A) will be able to arrange them in order (B) with 85% accuracy (D). “ Des Moines Elementary Math , Grade Kindergarten”, for my thematic unit, spring. It labels what happens in each stage of growth. The childrens job is to move the pictures to have the words reflect the picture. It is a very simple interactive tool to use to support interaction in the classroom and also a great way for children to seek out information and learn stages of a flower. This is a great teaching tool but it does require a lot of teacher prep. In the end, the children love to manipulate the pictures so it was worth all the work put into it.

There are some kidspiration projects already done for you to use, which will help with teachers time restraints. One I found easy to use for children was Seasons: Winter and Spring. It is an activity where children can work together to sort pictures of the spring and winter. You will have to have Kidspiration software on your computer to download and use them. There is a 30 day trial period for Kidspiration if you want to try it out. It is a program for children K-5th Grade. Kidspiration is also a program that children can work with to create a project. It has many helpful tools for children such as, a dictionary, and lots of picture. The program was also designed to read the toolbars for the students who can not read yet.