Video Review:
I remember all the talk about this speech by President Obama, everyone was so nervous about what he was going to say. I have heard most of it before and appreciated it then but as I listen to it now as an applicant for the education major it means more. Both Obama and the boy who spoke before him talked of the importance of the students taking ownership of their own learning. I know that as a teacher I can be completely prepared for the day, with the goal to improve the students lives, but unless I inspire them to come prepared to learn nothing can happen. I think one way to help them grasp this concept is to do what Obama said and realize that each student has individual talents. Some of these students don't see these talents and unless I can watch and help them see it they may never be able to build on those talents. I also liked that he encouraged them to enjoy school but to also break out of that shell and volunteer in the community and be in clubs and groups around them.

What?
We were working with UEN this week and learning more of the tools that are online for teachers especially here in Utah. We learned the importance of the core curriculum and other tools on there.

So What?
All of the things that we are learning each week are helping me to be more creative in and school and my life right now. I work at a school doing Drama for their after school program. I love that UEN comes with resources, such as lesson plans, that are tried and tested so that I can use them now. Just searching through the website gives me all sorts of ideas for creative lesson plans to do with them but also new ideas for how to be creative in my assignments. This allows me to branch out and try things that I normally wouldn't have.
Along with how helpful it is and will be I am also more and more impressed the way that technology is helping us today. I had no idea what a resource the internet and these websites are. I am delighted that people have cared about their jobs enough and have the desire for others to use their information and become better themselves. At times if seems that we live in a selfish world where everyone is out to be better then the next but these websites give opportunity for everyone to succeed and accomplish the same goals.

Now What?
I love the idea of the online courses and opportunities they off in order to better qualify teachers. It is also not very often that you get the opportunity to better your skills for free and in turn get a raise for it. I think we would all agree that first of all teachers can always use new training and new ideas and also we can always use a nice raise.
Having plenty of resources both in UEN and with google is wonderful. Like we discussed in class, the use of Blogs is a good idea to get information and updates out to parents and students but if the school computer system blocks one kind of blog we can always look to another option. It is also convenient with both Google and UEN to go to one site and be able to navigate all over the internet to other helpful sources. This decreases dramatically the amount of time a teacher needs to spend searching the internet for just what she is looking for. I know that as a future teacher I will be using UEN almost daily to make sure I am keeping up with the core curriculum.

Spreadsheets, Forms and Presentations

What?
This week we learned about Google spreadsheets, forms and presentations. We made a form as an example of something we can give to parents to collect data. We started work on our presentation of classroom goals.

So What?
Learning these things now has helped me a lot. As a matter of fact the same day we learned of all these resources I needed to start working on a presentation for another class. I was able to add pictures and graphs and all sort of information easily. The nice thing was knowing that even though I was traveling home for the weekend I knew I could access it and get it done there as well.

These options, forms presentations and spreadsheets, have helped me to be more creative in my classes and work now. It also brings peace of mind knowing I can have others review and work together conveniently on a project. I'll be honest at first I didn't think I would like it or get the hang of it. I like to stick with the known and the traditional, I didn't want to be going back and forth from Google and word but as I keep trying new things I come to like it more and more and see the convenience of it.

Now What?
I realized how great this knowledge will be when I am a teacher in the future. I thought of all the different states and cities that I could be working in and realized that this will allow my creative mother and friends to still give input and be apart of the process of teaching, no matter where they are living. I can collaborate with my colleagues but just as well with the people that I have grown up with and learned to respect and trust.

I know the forms will be a quick and easy way to collect the information that I need. This is a fast paced world and not a lot of people have time to sit down and meet face to face. Knowing people can easily find access to computers in today's world and can quickly and easily complete a form, will help me as a teacher to collect information fast and focus on the more important aspects of teaching.

Video:
I liked the video again this week. I am impressed with the abilities that even young children and youth have today to create wonderful things. I thought that this boys confidence could come across as cocky but I enjoyed it and found inspiration from his words.
I agree with his idea that education is fulling. Children will feel the benefits of hard work. Everyone feels better when they can look back and see that they have accomplished something. A new goal I have is to make sure that each of my students can actually look back and see accomplishment whether great or small. Then, just as important as them seeing that accomplishment, is encouraging and feeling noticed in their accomplishments. I want them to know that what they achieve in my class is important to me.

Week Two!

What?
I learned a lot this week about the importance of organizing and prioritizing my life. We worked with Google calender and documents to find quick ways of accessing information.

So What?
I have helped out in and observed so many classrooms that are behind schedule, half because they forget to look at the clock and other times because they have to spend so long trying to find the link to the wonderful activity they came across the night before. With the documents and calender I have found solutions to both of these problems. The calender will keep me stay on schedule and allow me, at a glance, to see plans and, not only that, it will send me reminders. Google Docs will help me to sort my links, presentations, activities all in one area. I can also no longer use the excuse that I didn't have access to it at home, google is everywhere! Even today these tools will help me to stay on top of my school work. I feel that in life there are so many pockets of time wasted because we have not planned ahead. The calender will help me to get more done in the time allotted.

What Now?
The goals for me will to be to keep up with updating the calender and more importantly will be looking at it often. It will be a waste of time to plan everything out and then never glance at it. Ever since I started working with kids I knew that organization would be key for any success, which makes it fitting that we would start out the semester learning about tools that will in fact keep us organized. It will help me stay organized with my cohort and in my classroom. Not only that, when I am organized I will have a more positive attitude with everyone around me especially my grade level who I will work with each day. I will have quick information that I can pass to them at anytime and share with them so conveniently with google.

Video:
The line that stuck out to me most in this video was, "but you can't let issues hold you back". How often do people use "issues" as a crutch that limits their ability to reach their potential. Many times all we have to do is exert a little extra energy and we can come up with the same results. We can choose to take action and work, or allow others action to work on us. I am excited to wear myself out as a teacher. I am excited to analyze those students that are struggling and decide what extra effort I can exert to help them achieve. I hope that I can inspire the students to understand that no matter how prepared I am, if they don't come prepared and willing to learn then they wont. Hopefully my classroom can be a place where we all feel comfortable leaving our "issues" at the door and together rejoicing in the opportunity to learn.

My Ideal Classroom

Classroom:

My ideal classroom will have a fun and inviting atmosphere where students will feel free to explore their talents and abilities. The walls will be colorful but not distracting. The seating arrangement will change often to increase collaboration. My room will be very organized and broken up into sections that will help to increase learning. I want a reading section that is comfy and calm, an experimenting area where creativity can flow and mistakes can be made and corrected, a math section where charts and supplies will help them to find solutions. Even more important than these sections of the room will be the space provided so that the students can post up their achievements. I want parents involved in the classroom in order to be a support to their progress.

Supplies and Technology:

As much as I would love to help the less fortunate, my ideal classroom will have the supplies and technology needed for maximum growth. I want to work in an area where children are provided with the necessities to be able to explore. I would love up to date computers in my classroom along with an interactive smart board for fun group learning. I want my students to be able to have a vast choice in books to read and enjoy. I want to work along side a faculty and staff that value keeping things in top shape. Classrooms, Halls, lunchroom and even the lost and found should send a message to the students of cleanliness and care.

Goals/Management:

Management is key to a successful classroom. A teacher can be creative, a classroom can be exciting but without control students will not succeed. I will do my best to implement democratic principles in my instruction and classroom management. Through this we will be able to create collaboration between students. I want each student to understand that their opinions matter. They will have joint opportunity to create rules as well as consequences to their actions. The procedures in and outside of the classroom will be understood step by step. Transitioning will be done smoothly, whether going the library, lining up, moving to and from centers, they will understand what they are to be doing.

Video:

The enthusiasm of this young boy was inspiring! I loved to see that not only has he practiced the words to say but he believes and cherishes each one of them. We can never give up on any student, they all can achieve great things. The part I enjoyed the most was when he asked if we believe in our colleagues. Each teacher can bring something new and different to the table. When there is collaboration among teachers in a school together they will achieve more. This young man understood this and encouraged them. Teaching today requires that we work together to help all students reach their potential.