As I read the content for the week and I thought long and hard about my journey towards becoming a 21st Century Teacher, I realize that I have a long, long way to go! In the position of Intervention Teacher, that I currently hold, I am given the curriculum that I must use to provide reading intervention to the students in my groups. I do not have the ability to incorporate the 4C's, T-PACK, nor make the learning more problem- based/ project-based. The curriculum I must use does not have a strong technology link. We will we starting to use some technology the following trimester, with our Kindergartners and possibly the First Graders, but it is definitely "technocentric". I can however incorporate strategies that can make the curriculum more accessible for all the students that I service in small groups. As I sit here and think of my current practice, I see that I can also Include the 4 C's, but not to the extent and depth that I would like, because of my restrictions.
If I think back five years, when I was teaching in a regular classroom; I was also far from being a 21st Century Teacher. My school did not have a computer lab and I had only two desktop computers for students and myself to use. (They worked only sometimes.) I was incorporating some of the 4 C's and at best, I was on Stage 2: Adoption, as mentioned in, The Evolution of Thought and Practice. On a positive note, I am learning so much about 21st Century Learning and Teaching that I feel like I would have a strong start if I ever decide to go back to a regular classroom position. I know there is so much that I would change in my lesson planning an delivery in order to better prepare students with 21st Century skills. I am also hopeful that our Intervention Model will shift to be more conducive toward 21st Century learning and teaching.
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Examples of 21st Century Learning:
youtube.com/watch?v=P5yi8R519e4 This was a video that focused on Digital Storytelling and I enjoyed watching it. It was not necessarily a lesson being delivered, instead it was a teacher guiding you through what the lesson was and the different components of the lesson that her students were given. Students had to write out, on paper, a story they wanted to share with others, then proceed to typing their stories on a computer. After this part was completed, students had the opportunity to record their own voices as they read their writing. Students were asked to read slowly and with expression which was one of the instructional goals. They created storyboards and then used Kid Pics to recreate them digitally. The teacher also used technology; she created a file for each student with all of their pictures and audio. Students used i-movie to create their Digital Storytelling Project, as the teacher instructed them on how to use the new technology. This lesson was extended learning, considering students had written stories before, but now they were adding the digital piece. Students were fully engaged in their projects and you know they were learning because they were able to assist each other when their were questions or a peer needed help. The teacher was providing direct, explicit instruction, step by step, but students were able to take the reins and it because students centered. They began helping peers and working towards producing their own work. Students were proud of their results and eager to share their work. This is a lesson that I would be able to use in my classroom. I only get 30-45 minutes of intervention time with each group, therefore, completing this lesson would more than likely take a longer time span. teachertube.com/video/sight-word-station-see-440105 In this video Ms. Ellis is demonstrating what a lesson on the ipad or the computer would look like for her students. The students are following the lesson independently on the device. She mentions it is something they have been told they would be working on. Yet, she is delivering new material in the lesson because they are working with the new sight word, see. I now the students are learning because they are engaged/focused on using technology, and the lesson is structured with and I-do, you-do model.I was able to observe that the teacher was modeling each step at a time, then asking students to try the same things she was doing. She would demonstrate then question and she was providing an environment that was both positive and safe for students to try the different parks of the lesson. She used words such as, "I know you can do this. Great. Good job. You're awesome. You are going to be such great reader. I am proud of you." I could definitely use this lesson in my own classroom, and I think other colleagues could make good use of it as well, during our Universal access time as a May-do assignment. www.pbs.org/video/school-sleuth-case-wired-classroom-skype-classroom/ As I reflect on this week's content, I can't help but think of the video link: Dalton Sherman asks, "Do you believe?". I can see the little faces of all of my past and current students asking the same question. I truly feel that it is of utmost importance that all teachers believe in their students.
In my classroom, I am the person who my students look to for support when they are looking, not only for answers, but also emotional support. For some of them, we as teachers, are the only constant adult in their lives. They look to us for approval and acceptance; Dalton also eludes to this fact. If they can truly sense that we believe in them, they will begin to believe in themselves. They are capable of so much more than they can imagine and it is up to us to open their eyes to the endless possibilities and opportunities that await them. As we all know teachers play a significant role in the lives of students, not only with regards to academics, but also in their personal day to day experiences. I think, one of the key elements that is need in our classrooms is a strong connection with our students. If you get to know them and they get to know you, they will sense that you truly believe in them. Equally important, is to have a student-centered classroom, in which students feel that they are trusted to explore new things and feel safe when they are not successful at something because they can always try again. If they feel like we as teachers believe that they have much to teach us just as we teach them, it will empower them to continue the student- centered learning cycle. |
Teresa BarronI love teaching because it makes me a life long learner. Archives
November 2017
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