Thursday, November 11, 2010
Technology in the Classroom!
Technology is changing all the time! As a student who is learning to be a teacher, I have to keep up with new technology. One of my favorite new technologies is the SMARTboard. In one of the classrooms I have been observing in, the teacher uses the SMARTboard in a fun and interesting way. In the mornings, she writes a "morning message" on Microsoft Note to her students. As the children learn new parts of speech and reading, she selects various students to go up to the SMARTboard and circle the parts of speech or punctuation. There are so many fun things to do with all of the new technolgies available, and I cannot wait to begin teaching in a technology-rich classroom!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
So I suppose I should introduce myself:)
I realize that I have been writing on here and not yet introduced myself! So, here it is!
My name is Alyssa, I am almost 17, I am a senior at a Catholic high school! I am taking PSEOP(college while in high school) classes. I created this blog as an assignment for my Educational Technology class, and will be using it to chronicle my experiences for my Intro to Education observations, on my decision process in choosing the school to pursue my degree at, and basically all aspects of my life related to me becoming a teacher! I am in the band at my school, marching band finished up last week (which was sad), we have now started Concert band(Christmas music!!!), and pep band will start up soon for basketball! I play the flute for all of the bands, and I also know how to play the bells! I love band, alot:):):) I am on the school Mock Trial team for the 2010-2011 competition year as a defense attorney. I am also on the school dance team! I am a model for an organization called Pure Fashion through my church and school. I am on the Diocesan Youth Council for my Catholic Diocese. I am very involved in my youth group, Lifeteen. I am in 4-H. I am VERY involved in Theatre! I currently have a lead in the Christmas play at the community Theatre! I am majoring in Early Childhood Education and specializing in special ed. My minor will be in Musical Theatre! I will, after graduating, pursue a Masters in Intervention Specialist! Still unsure on a college to attend, I have applied to 4 and been accepted to 3 so far (the other school does not send out letters until January!) I am looking forward to my future:) And that's about all!
My name is Alyssa, I am almost 17, I am a senior at a Catholic high school! I am taking PSEOP(college while in high school) classes. I created this blog as an assignment for my Educational Technology class, and will be using it to chronicle my experiences for my Intro to Education observations, on my decision process in choosing the school to pursue my degree at, and basically all aspects of my life related to me becoming a teacher! I am in the band at my school, marching band finished up last week (which was sad), we have now started Concert band(Christmas music!!!), and pep band will start up soon for basketball! I play the flute for all of the bands, and I also know how to play the bells! I love band, alot:):):) I am on the school Mock Trial team for the 2010-2011 competition year as a defense attorney. I am also on the school dance team! I am a model for an organization called Pure Fashion through my church and school. I am on the Diocesan Youth Council for my Catholic Diocese. I am very involved in my youth group, Lifeteen. I am in 4-H. I am VERY involved in Theatre! I currently have a lead in the Christmas play at the community Theatre! I am majoring in Early Childhood Education and specializing in special ed. My minor will be in Musical Theatre! I will, after graduating, pursue a Masters in Intervention Specialist! Still unsure on a college to attend, I have applied to 4 and been accepted to 3 so far (the other school does not send out letters until January!) I am looking forward to my future:) And that's about all!
Some other thoughts on my Special Ed. Observation!
Some other random observations in the classroom!
Lunchtime and Recess
Lunch is eaten in the classroom with the teacher. After lunch, there is recess outside. This time is used for singing and fun activities. The teachers teach the younger children how to swing. The students love thie rrecess time, and even the high schoolers get time to be outside!
Teaching
During my second time observing, I helped teach! It was very fun. For Math, I set in a row three different double digit numbers. The student had to identify the number I asked him to. For writing, the students were shown how to trace their names. In Reading, we did an activity similar to the Math activity, except with letters!
Overall, I had a wonderful time observing at the autism school, and I believe that it is a great decision for me to specialize in special education with my Early Childhood Education degree, and to also get my Masters in Intervention upon graduationg from college!
Lunchtime and Recess
Lunch is eaten in the classroom with the teacher. After lunch, there is recess outside. This time is used for singing and fun activities. The teachers teach the younger children how to swing. The students love thie rrecess time, and even the high schoolers get time to be outside!
Teaching
During my second time observing, I helped teach! It was very fun. For Math, I set in a row three different double digit numbers. The student had to identify the number I asked him to. For writing, the students were shown how to trace their names. In Reading, we did an activity similar to the Math activity, except with letters!
Overall, I had a wonderful time observing at the autism school, and I believe that it is a great decision for me to specialize in special education with my Early Childhood Education degree, and to also get my Masters in Intervention upon graduationg from college!
Monday, November 1, 2010
More Learning from some very special children
More on Behavior
Since it is an autism school, behavior is recorded. Recording is done for major/minor aggression (which is violence towards others, minor is injury to anything but the head, major is injury to the head) as well as minor/major SIB (self-injurous behavior.) Another tactis in this class is that the teacher does not acknowledge bad behavior (i.e.-NO!) Rather, she says "that is not a good choice, ____ would be a good choice.
The Concept of the Touch Subject
The teacher has a set of cards with different pictures to represent each subject. When one of the boys is straying away from their work, she says "Touch reading/writing/math/etc" to show them to stay on task. This visual aid concept really works for the boys!
Well, I'm still at school and am now off to Band:) We start Concert Band today, yay! Be back soon:)
Love, Alyssa
Since it is an autism school, behavior is recorded. Recording is done for major/minor aggression (which is violence towards others, minor is injury to anything but the head, major is injury to the head) as well as minor/major SIB (self-injurous behavior.) Another tactis in this class is that the teacher does not acknowledge bad behavior (i.e.-NO!) Rather, she says "that is not a good choice, ____ would be a good choice.
The Concept of the Touch Subject
The teacher has a set of cards with different pictures to represent each subject. When one of the boys is straying away from their work, she says "Touch reading/writing/math/etc" to show them to stay on task. This visual aid concept really works for the boys!
Well, I'm still at school and am now off to Band:) We start Concert Band today, yay! Be back soon:)
Love, Alyssa
Learning from some very special children
In late September and early October, I did two days of observation at a special autism school. This is a school especially for children with autism and autism spectrum disorders. The school is divided into three "grades," Early Plan, Middle Plan, and High School Plan. The children choose the order of their schedule each day.
Compliance Method
One of the ideas the teacher used that worked very well was called a compliance method. A compliance method is something that the child enjoys, she it calms him/her down. It is also something that the teacher wants the student to learn, such as colors! One of the students in her Early Plan class (she has two boys in her class) often will become upset with his schoolwork. The compliance method she uses is a game where he takes pieces of colored paper and matches them to the same color on the velcro board.
Behavior
Learning how to behave in school can be tough sometimes! At this school, the Early Plan class has a behavior chart. Each child chooses a prize at the beggining of the day, and places a "token" representing the prize they are working for on their behavior chart. Every two minutes they do their work very well, they get a velcroed piece of paper to attach to their behavior chart. When the chart is full, they get the prize they have been working for and get to play with it before going back to their schoolwork.
Thats all on my experiences for now, fellow learners! I have much more to say about my experiences at the autism school, but now it is time for me to be off to my Mock Trial class!
Love, Alyssa:)
Compliance Method
One of the ideas the teacher used that worked very well was called a compliance method. A compliance method is something that the child enjoys, she it calms him/her down. It is also something that the teacher wants the student to learn, such as colors! One of the students in her Early Plan class (she has two boys in her class) often will become upset with his schoolwork. The compliance method she uses is a game where he takes pieces of colored paper and matches them to the same color on the velcro board.
Behavior
Learning how to behave in school can be tough sometimes! At this school, the Early Plan class has a behavior chart. Each child chooses a prize at the beggining of the day, and places a "token" representing the prize they are working for on their behavior chart. Every two minutes they do their work very well, they get a velcroed piece of paper to attach to their behavior chart. When the chart is full, they get the prize they have been working for and get to play with it before going back to their schoolwork.
Thats all on my experiences for now, fellow learners! I have much more to say about my experiences at the autism school, but now it is time for me to be off to my Mock Trial class!
Love, Alyssa:)
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