Mixed emotions

Today is November 17th, 2016 and I realized this afternoon that I only have one more class with my students in practicum once we return from Thanksgiving break. This was a bittersweet realization for me. I have come to love the first grade students that I have learned with and taught this semester in my practicum. I will definitely miss them when my time with them is up. However, I also know that I will encounter many more classes in my journey to becoming a certified teacher that I will become attached to as well. These students will always hold a special spot in my heart as they were the first class I have been immersed in while on my journey to becoming a certified teacher and they have taught me many things in the short amount of time we have worked together.

I have mixed emotions about moving on in two weeks. I am happy that I will get to work with a new cooperating teacher and class beginning in January. However, I am sad that my time with these special first graders is ending when I feel like we were just reaching a place in our relationship where we are comfortable and attached to each other. My students are all sad that I will not be returning after the one class when we return from Thanksgiving break. There are a few students in this class that I had hoped to reach on some level because I feel that they need additional support- some emotional and some academically- but have not been able to successfully reach them like I wanted to. Thank you to my current cooperating teacher and her students for everything they have taught me!

Guest Speakers

In one of my classes on Friday, November 11th, 2016 we had two amazing guest speakers! I do mean absolutely AMAZING! Now to be honest, any time I have been to a conference or a presentation with guest speakers, I expect to be bored at least part of the time. However, these two guest speakers captured and held my attention the entire time they talked!

The first speaker we had was Amber McCormick, @EdTechAmber, who is currently an elementary teacher. She spoke about Sketchnotes. I have heard of Sketchnotes before but I have never used them for many reasons but the main one being because I cannot draw AT ALL. However, after Amber's presentation I was excited about trying Sketchnotes and I am trying to figure out how to use this tool in the classroom.

For those that do not know what Sketchnotes are they are a way of taking notes using pictures, text, different types of writing, and colors. Sketchnotes are a great tool to use to help students visualize and remember information efficiently. Please check out this video we watched during Amber's presentation that explains Sketchnotes effectively: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY9KdRfNN9w. Amber walked us through how to create our very first sketchnote as she explained why they are effective in the classroom and how they work. See my first attempt- please disregard my lack of drawing talent- below.

After learning about the valuable tool of sketchnoting, I realized that as educators we need to actually teach our students how to effectively take notes in class as it is a very needed and useful tool throughout life. Sketchnoting allows all types of learners to be able to take notes effectively and create ones that will actually help them learn information easier. I know if I had been taught how to take notes likes these then I would e more able to take more efficient notes in classes without having to write everything out long hand.  One last thing that Amber introduced us to was an item called the Rocketbook Wave Smart notebook. The Rocketbook Wave notebook is an interactive notebook that allows you to draw or write in it using Pilot Fixion pens and then send your drawings and other writings to your computer or tablet, from the notebook!  The most amazing part of this notebook is that once you fill all the pages you can put the notebook in the microwave with a small bowl of water to erase everything- up to five times! You can find this product on Amazon. Thank you Amber for the wonderful and useful information you provided on Friday!

The second guest speaker we had was Bryan Miller, @Edtechnerd, who presented on coding, robotics, and the importance of play in the classroom. One amazing part of Bryan's presentation was Dash and Dot. Dash and Dot are two different interactive robots that can teach students how to code using tablets and/or computers. Both Dash and Dot can be used to play games as well. For instance, as a class Bryan programmed Dot with different responses similar to ones you would find on a magic eight ball and then we asked Dot various questions, shook Dot, and got a random answer. Bryan pointed out that the times we live in and how technology keeps progressing we need to teach more students how to use computers effectively, how to code, how to use and interact with robotics, and how to play. Play in the classroom, and life in general, is important because it opens up our students creativity which can lead them to create new amazing things like Dash and Dot. Check out my sketchnote on Bryan's presentation below. Also, check out this website for more information on Dash and Dot: https://www.makewonder.com/.

I want to thank both Bryan and Amber for coming out and teaching us about such amazing things and for being amazing at presenting! Also, a huge thank you to Dr. Jennifer Williams for making it all possible!

Learning Space Design

As part of one of my midterm exams, I had to write an essay on how I would set up my dream classrooms, with an unlimited budget. This paper had to be based on my own thoughts and wants along with research. I was stressed out and worried about performing well throughout the writing process for the entire essay. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I received an excellent grade. Please take the time to review my writing and leave any feedback.

One Word Essay

Superwoman

            We all have goals that we set for ourselves, either knowingly or unknowingly. After examining what my goals are for the upcoming calendar year, I noticed a trend and discovered that there is one word that would encompass them all well. I chose the word superwoman to describe my goals because many of my goals have to do with expecting a lot from myself or with letting myself off the hook for not doing everything all the time.

            My goals that have to do with my education consist of passing all of my classes with good grades, keeping my GPA up, taking and passing the Professional Ed exam, and stop waiting until the last minute to complete assignments. First, I should state that good grades for me are A’s and B’s; Cs are not acceptable to me personally and I do not like when my daughter brings home Cs so I cannot allow myself to bring them home if she can’t either. Maintaining my GPA ties into my grades as well because currently my GPA is a 3.5 and if I do not earn A’s and B’s then that GPA will drop down. I would like to stop waiting until last minute to complete assignments because I feel that it would eliminate some stress from my life. However, I find that I excel when i wait until the last minute to complete papers and major assignments so I am not sure if I want to change a process that has been proven to work for me. I want to take and pass the professional education exam by summer 2017 and I feel that this may add more stress because I need to study a lot of information to pass it.

            On a personal level my goals include being a wonderful mother and wife, give birth to a healthy baby, find time to spend with my family, lose weight, eat healthier, relax, to learn how to let go of stress, and to stop taking on too much responsibility. I have a habit on trying to take on too much stuff and I need to learn how to let go of it. For example, this year I am in school full-time, pregnant, a mom, a wife, going to practicum, and the PTA president at my daughter’s school. Well, as time has passed this semester, I have realized that all of these things combined have made me become very stressed and that I need to give something up for my own personal health and sanity.

            Superwoman describes my goals because I need to constantly remind myself that I am not superwoman and I cannot do everything by myself all of the time. I also need to remind myself that it is okay to let some things go and it is okay to say no. Superwoman may have been a superhero but she was not perfect so I shouldn’t expect myself to be either.