For my Literacies in Today’s World class, we chose a topic for our mid term project in which we presented a 10 min. presentation on the literacy of a certain subject/area. After researching potential topics, I came across a site that introduced me to Wilson Langauge Training and the concept of the Wilson Reading System. This system helps children and adults who suffer from a reading/language disability, as well as benefits those who do not. The Wilson Reading System teaches students how to better comprehend the English Language by introducing concepts gradually/one at a time. The student is first introduced to sounds and syllables where they use sound cards and “finger tapping” to help them better grasp the concept and they gradually work their way up through a 12 step method where they can ultimately read non controlled texts and stories. I feel that it is a great system and could not only help those who are indeed inflicted with a reading disorder, but also benefit students by helping them put a concept behind a picture, word, and sound. To view this site click here.
November 5, 2008
Video games: Friend or Foe
After reading, Semiotic domains: Is playing video games a “waste of time”? One passage really stuck with me. Gee says, “The player must understand and produce situated meanings in the semiotic domain that this, game and games like it constitutes. Learners must learn to situate different meanings for such elements within different specific situations within the domain.” I think this goes back to video games producing active learners.
You don’t normally associate learning with video games, I know I didn’t. I thought of video games as another mind numbing activity to pass the time. They are fun and take you away from reality. One of those unconscious and mechanical things that you start at 3:00 and when you finish you wonder “is it really 6:00 already?” But after reading this article I am compelled to think if there is more to it. It makes sense for video games to promote active learning; I mean every game is so detailed, each with its own jargon, levels, characters and goals, and when people play those games, that information get stored in their head. Granted, knowing how to defeat bowser to free the princess from the castle may not be vital or important information in everyday life, however video games still stimulate the brain by forcing it to remember intricate details for a myriad of different video games.
High Schools Add Electives to Cultivate Interests
i read an article about schools recently adding new electives to their curriculum, and i just thought it was so great and positive. I really think it’s a shame when students are learning solely what they are told they should know rather then learning what they are interested in. Obviously, schools need to stick to some sort of curriculum, teaching those core subjects that are necessary, like Math and English but i think it is so progressive and important to go beyond the walls of No Child Left Behind and let students explore what they are interested in and what they actually want to learn.
Click to read the rest of the article detailing those schools choosing to adapt new electives like the history of rock and roll!
November 4, 2008
The Paper Clip Project
In my Literacies In Today’s World class we watched the actual film on the Paper Clip Project. It talks about the project that a group of kids from Tennessee organized when studying the Holocaust. The video below is only a slight representation about the whole film, but gives a basic idea of the whole thing. I suggest anyone watch the film because it is inspiring and can show any teacher what a slight push for students can become such a huge learning activity.
Lesson Plan
For my Curriculum and Assessment class I was asked to create a lesson and teach it to the class that I observe every Thursday morning. I worked on this lesson with a partner, and we will teach it together on Thursday, November 13th. Since we are both Elementary Education/ Writing Arts majors, we decided to teach a lesson in that area. Our lesson is based on homonyms. Homonyms are two words that are pronounced and spelled the same, but they mean different things. Our goal is to familiarize the students with a few different homonyms so they can correctly use them in the right context.
We will begin our lesson by reading a short book on homonyms entitled How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear? by Brian Cleary. This book focuses on a few homonyms and explains them in their different contexts. It is funny and easy to understand. Once we have read the book, my partner and I will lead a brief, ten minute discussion about homonyms. This particular class has already had some background on it, so it will be more like a review. After the discussion we will explain the activity.
Each child will receive four paper ice cream cones. The cones will come complete with two scoops each, one cream and one pink. The pink and cream scoops will each have a different definition on them, but they will both match to one word. For example: Pink scoop: Water crashing on the beach. Cream scoop: A hand gesture that means hello. The student must match these two definitions to the word “wave.” Once they have done that, they will layer the scoops, glue them to the cone, and write the homonym on the cone. Each child will have four cones to complete.
We have decided to differentiate this lesson because of the wide range of student ability in the classroom. The highest group will receive only definitions on their cones. The middle group will get a picture to accompany one of the definitions. The lowest group will get a picture to accompany both definitions.
We put a lot of time and effort into this lesson so hopefully it goes well!
November 3, 2008
Great Sites For Teachers
i found this website with tons of great resources for teachers, it has 26 pages filled with education websites.
TeacherTube
Check out TeacherTube ,a great resource for teachers and educational videos
