This week in Social Studies Methods we are learning about writing our learning plans. This was originally called a lesson plan, but we are going to start calling them learning plans, because it is about the students learning, and not centered wholly around the teacher. The learning plan has some of the same aspects as a six point lesson plan does, except it is a little more detailed and you have to mention the level of DOK you are using. You also have to list your generalizations, factual content and skills. This learning plan template looks like a lot of work, but I know it will end up being super helpful for when I actually present my lesson. At the end of the template, it is asking you for steps on how you plan on transitioning and class room management skills you intend on using. This will help you to already have an idea of how you will run the lesson when you get there.
Since Social Studies Methods is a big user of technology, I found a wonderful article on neaToday titled, "Using Technology to Lift Up Students' Voices Online". In this article the teacher, Sharon Davidson, mentions many great websites that she uses in her classroom such as Doodle Buddy on their iPads to create their own avatars, Kidblogs and Twitter. The teacher in the article stresses how important it is for the students to be taught to be safe and cautious when they are working with stuff on the internet. Sharon says that twitter is a wonderful way for her kindergarteners to get their voices out in the world. How crazy is it to think that we have kindergarteners on Twitter, and they know how to use it?! Sharon also mentioned the Kidblogs, and how wonderful that was for her students to write about what they think on subjects and then to explore what other people have blogged about in kid friendly manners. Sharon loves that her students have such great ideas all the time, and that they can share these wonderful ideas with the whole world at the click of a button. Before this article, I would have never thought of using Twitter with a class of kindergartners, but this teacher seems to believe that it really helps, so maybe I will try it in the future.
I can tie this article into the North Carolina Teaching Standard number 4, because the teacher is facilitating learning to her students in different ways that can make them better problem-solvers and thinkers. Also, integrating technology is a big part of this teaching standard.
http://neatoday.org/2016/01/05/34067/
Amber,
ReplyDeleteWow! Who would have thought Kindergarteners would have been on Twitter (That is kind of scary!)? However, this article that you found, just goes to show you that technology is just this generation's way of life and as future educators, we are responsible for keeping up with our students. It is crazy to think that kids probably know how to work technology better than I do! I think the Kidblogs are such a good idea, but I want to know how they blog on a Kindergarten reading and writing level haha. I would love to observe a class that used technology like this and to see the little kids work all of this technology!!
One of our previous student teachers implementing Kidblogs during student teaching - it was great. Plus - this teacher only had ONE classroom computer. The odds were really stacked against this student teacher...but...she persevered and used Kidblogs more than we ever thought she could. It can be done!
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