Growth Chart

My Growth Chart will always be growing, but here is what it looks like now. : )

Click to see my Growth Chart

How I really wanted to present. : )

Okay friends!  As my classmates know I like to make rhymes.  It helps me learn and its catchy!  I was originally going to do my final presentation with a poem, but I couldn't get it to sound exactly how I wanted it.  I tried to use the instrumental part of " The Fresh Prince of Bel- Air" theme song, but my beats were off and I couldn't talk fast enough.  But here is what I put together for your enjoyment anyways!

I am still adding verses as I go, but thats the beauty of a poem.

Read to the beat of the theme song "The Fresh Prince of Bel- Air."

Now this is a story all about how 

my tech savvy brain got turned upside down

I would like to take a minute just sit right there.

I’ll tell you how I became the tech savvy teacher of the year.

In my classroom the kids were bored and un-amazed

Without technology is how they spent most of their days.

Listening to my voice I realized that wasn’t cool

So I opened up YouTube right at our school.

On came ABC Kickbox by Dr. Jean

Oh you should have seen the excitement that they got from that screen.

The kids were up following directions and saying letter sounds

Learning new skills by leaps and by bounds 

And I opened my eyes, I was onto something good

I starting making changes in my neighborhood.

The students and I, we knew that we were not scared

Because where moving on with times and we are well prepared.

I begged and I pleaded for chrome books day after day

My boss said maybe and then sent me on my way.

But then she called me back in and then gave me a ticket 

So I bought my own device and said I might as well kick it.

The kids are learning, sure this isn’t bad

Seeing success through devices such as an ipad.

Is this what a tech savvy classroom is like?

Hmm this might be alright.

Now communication with parents was something I did

But more similar to how it was done when I was a kid. 

Through one to one conversation or notices on paper.

Now we have apps that make things that much more easier.

Such as classroom dojo and classroom remind, two apps I now use

Parents are alerted, informed, and up to date on our news.

Anything you want to tell parents you can do it all there

Oh come on now friends lets go, the change is here.

I was on a search for an app that would not make me late

I was introduced to google calendar I think it was my fate

Let me tell you one thing, this app changed my whole life

It made me a better mom, teacher, business owner and wife.

I looked to the future

I was finally there

Technology in my class

I am no longer in fear.

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology/ Boardmaker

Let's start here : Take a moment to put yourself in the seat of a child with a learning or thinking difference.  Please visit understood.org and take part in the activities under Through Your Child's Eyes.  This website gives you tasks to complete, but you are completing them through a child's eyes who have these differences.

These tasks were frustrating for me and it made me realize just how frustrating it may be for the children we work with that are experiencing these differences.  This is why it is important for us as educators to help these students stay on track so they are not left behind.

This website is a great tool for parents to become informed, ask for help, and join a community of others that may be going through the same struggles.

Some differences children may have are:
 - dyslexia
 - ADHD (me!)
 - dyscalculia
 - autism

What is Assistive Technology?
Assistive technology is any item, piece of equipment, software program or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.

Here are some examples of assistive technology:
Mobile aids: wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches and prosthetic devices.
Hearing aids: to help people hear or hear more clearly
Computer software or hardware: screen enlargement applications, screen readers, voice recognition programs.
Physical modifications built into the environment: ramps,  grab bars, wider doorways, handicap buttons to open doors.

_____________________________________________________________________________

An assistive technology that I find to be extremely beneficial is boardmaker.

Boardmaker is a collection of standardized picture symbols used for communication with students who are strong visual learners.  When students have communication deficits, the day can be really frustrating.  Using an assistive technology like boardmaker, communication can is made easier.  This teaching technique has been a huge help with the English Language Learners in my classroom.

Ever since I began using picture cards like the ones shown above, communication with my English Language Learners has been so much better.  

If you want access to over 40,000 symbols you can click the link here:  Board Maker Symbols.  Unfortunately these are not free, but there is a solution to that! Create your own!  WIth google images or even your own camera, you can create picture symbols that the students can relate to.  I actually took pictures of my students acting out different emotions (happy, sad, surprised) and used those as the picture symbols.  The children loved it!

Classroom Management

Classroom Management

We all know that there is so much that goes into classroom management, but for this blog, I am going to focus on Virtual Timers.

Time seems to be one of the hardest concept my preschoolers have to face.  Let's be honest.  How many times a day do they come up to us asking when snack is over, or when are we going to lunch, or when is it recess, or how much longer do they have for free play?  A virtual timer can help set a tone of accountability in the classroom and help students self regulate the completion of their work. Here is an example of a simple virtual timer  . .

Time Timer

From a teacher's perspective using any timer with the children is simple.  It is not over stimulating and it is easy for the 4-5 year olds understand.  This app is also free.  It is a nice visual that will inform the students when time is up and when we need to move on to the next activity.

From a student's perspective- 

Some children do well under pressure, but some do not.   Will this app cause children to become anxious in fear that they will not finish on the task they are trying to complete before the time is up?  Will it cause them to rush through their work because once that timer is up they can not work on it again?  Timers could very well lead to students not performing to the best of their ability and ultimately lead to extreme frustration or even anger.  I know this because this type of child is my own.

Welcome to my life of being a mom.

Here is my personal take on timers (used at home or for academic use).  Let me start out by saying that being timed as a kid was something that motivated me.  I loved it.  I could not wait for the minute math tests (or whatever they were called).  It was a game for me because I was competitive.  I wanted to make sure I finished before the time ran out and I wanted to get the best score out of everyone in my class.  Didn't everyone feel that way?   I guess not...

Fast forward to having children of my own, which I can now see the frustration it may cause in certain kids like my son.  My oldest is like me.  He wants to be timed on everything.  He uses it as motivation to work harder and learn more.  Now my middle son Jake, he is interesting.  A personality that would blow your mind, but when he sees a timer like the one above he gets nervous.  He tends to focus on how much longer he has left rather than completing the task he has in front of him.  He will tell me, before even knowing really how long it will take for him to complete a task, that "it's moving too fast" and he "want's one that goes slower."  And this upsets me. It upsets me because I am the complete opposite and I never really took the time to look at the other side of it.  I just couldn't understand why he would get so fixated on the time when it should be a motivator or reminder for him complete a task before the time is up.  I guess that is exactly what these blogs are made for.  Reflection.  We need to look at all angles of the teaching techniques.  Just because something works for one child doesn't always mean it will work for another.  

Final Presentation

https://voicethread.com/share/13392640/

Hope you enjoy my final presentation.  I had a whole rap I was going to do, but I could not get myself to record it.  I will attach it within the next wee here for your own enjoyment so you can rap it yourself. lol