WiggleWorks

After reviewing the cast.org website, I identified several software programs that would help my students work toward their IEP goals. I am interning in a middle school FALS program. Seven out of eight of my students can read with some independence at  variety of levels. I have one student who is still working on identifying letters and the sound that each letter makes. I thikn that encorporating WiggleWorks software into her daily activities would drastically increase her literacy and independence during reading activities.  WiggleWorks is a series of interactive books that provide a blend of technology, literature, and teacher support to help children become successful readers and writers. I reviewed the software further and saw that students can practice phonics skills and reading for grades K-8. I think that based on the leveled progression of these book, my student would benefit from staring at the beginning of the program and gradually increasing.

Interview Question

How do plan on incorporating technology into your future classroom?

I think that there are many opportunities to utilize available technology in my classroom. I think that a great way to introduce students to a new unit is to use a safari montage video or a site such as brainpopjr.com. I am fortunate to have a promethean board and an elmo in my current placement. I use the promethean board to make lessons more interactive and memorable to students. For example, when I was teaching a lesson on the food groups, I used a promethean board activity that had students drag different types of food into their appropriate place  in the food pyramid. I use the elmo a lot when I am teaching math. When I am demonstrating how to use a manipulative, I want all of my students to be able to see so that they will be able to work more independently. I also use the software program Boardmaker frequently in my classroom. I make the monthly calendar and worksheets for my non-readers to use to help increase their comprehension and independence. I understand that technology can also be low-tech. For example, one of my students uses pencil grips to help her hold her pencil. Another one of my students uses a slant board to hold up his work when he is reading. Overall, I think that technology can be used in many ways in the classroom to help differentiate and accommodate for my diverse group of learners.

Multiculturalism in the Classroom

How will the influences of your culture impact your decisions/practices as a classroom teacher?

It’s crazy to think about how MY culture will impact my classroom decisions and practices. Before seminar last week, I had never even considered my own culture. However, now as I begin to look at my decisions and actions in my internship, i do see the effects of my culture and beliefs. For example, my class went on a trip to the American Visionary Art Museum. Throughout the museum, I remember feeling uncomfortable with my kids seeing the half dressed or naked sculptures, the pictures of women birthing, and and the language proudly displayed on the wall. I didnt relate that to my culture but in reality it is. I was brought up in a rather strict household where I thought that it was not acceptable for any of those type of things to be on display ;especially for kids.

I also grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood under the assumtion that all black students were poor and uneducated. As I grew up, I realized that this in not accurate, but I wonder if I will make  assumtions when I have a black student in my class.

Most of this probably doesn’t even make sense. I have no idea how i will handle many situations. Will i pick books that are relevant for families who have 2 moms? Will I discipline students who use words that i think are not appropriate in my classroom although that may be what they hear at home? Will I go on field trips to places that me and some parents may find inappropriate although are great learning experiences? At this point, I don’t know.

Hello world!

This is going to take quite a bit of figuring out! Yikes!