Ch. 7
Note Taking and Note Making
Before reading this chapter, I never knew there was a differience between note taking and note making. Note taking is defined as the students' written notes from a lecture/class discusstion. Note making is record notes from printed materials(pg 123-124). I like the idea from the chapter about how it said teacher should look at students notes from time to time. I wish that growing up, I had learned a more organized way to take notes. When I was in elementary school, I just wrote down exactly what the teacher had written on the board or the overhead. It something was unclear and there was a random thought I just wrote it down too. I would later look at my notes and have no recollection of anything I wrote down and what these random words were written across my paper. I wish I had known a more organized way of taking notes. As I got older, I leaned though trial and error how to create more orgaized, easier to understand notes. Now I know that having subnotes or color coding notes can be very helpful. If a teacher says something important, underline it or circle it. Write more than just random words, write down whole conversations. I have also found that writing notes in my own words can be very helpful. I wish growing up a teacher had given my tips or ways to take notes successfully. I also think it's very importanat to allow your students enough time to properly takes notes. I know that sometimes I am rushing to write things down before the teachers moves on and I miss half of the information that is said. If we are going to check our students' notes, then we should allow students to have enough time to properly take them. I also know this will allow students' handwriting to be neater instead of a sloppy mess with random thoughts written all across their paper. I am very glad I read this chapter, because I had no idea there was a difference betwen the two. I think its a great idea to teach students how to properly take notes, instead of having the students use trial and error with messy notes. If we are going to check notes, how often should we check them? Check for completion, or should we check for accuracy?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Ch. 3 Vocabulary
After reading this chapter, it was more of a review than learning something for the first time. I really enjoyed reading it though because it gave me some new ideas that I know i can incorporate in your classroom. I really agreed with many of the things it had to say throughout the chapter. Vocabulary is such a vital part of any students young life. I think many people forget about this and there children lack the vocabulary that is needed to be successful in writing and speaking. My mother was an english teacher, so she always talked to us using rich vocabulary or as I have heard it called before, using "juicy words." I am very thankful that she did this because growing up I realized that I had a very large rich vocabulary that came very natural to me. I really liked the part in the book that talked about how many teachers do not give their students material that is on their reading level. If they are in fourth grade and read at a sixth grade level, then the work they are receving is not challenging. The opposite case is true as well because if a student is reading below grade level then their work is too challenging for them cause the student to become frustrated. I think this is a very common theme in many classrooms today causing a lot of stress for teachers.
I really liked how the book talked about word walls and relating vocabulary to what sudents already know. I think its a great idea for teachers to have a word wall of all the words they have learned throughout the year. In my fourth grade classroom we had to use one of our newly learned words in a sentence, and that was our ticket out the door. I think this is a great way for students to incorporate their new vocabulary into things they already know. I like how it said to use context clues to help discover the meaning of new words. This is very crucial to learning a new word, this would be a great way to help students learn new words. I know some students learn new vocabulary in a very poor manner. Some teachers just assign students vocabulary words to look up, and then tell them thye will have a test on Friday. This only allows students to learn vocabulary for a very short time and not really learn these new words. I like how the book gave great examples for teachers to help students learn new words.
I think this chapter has been very helpful and informative, I know these word walls and context clues will not work for every student. I would be curious to find out what other strategies have been successful inside classrooms. I think the brainpop we did the other day in class would be a great way to help students learn new vocabulary. I would love to explore the website more and see what all the webiste provides to help students learn new words. I can't wait to use this website in my classroom!!
After reading this chapter, it was more of a review than learning something for the first time. I really enjoyed reading it though because it gave me some new ideas that I know i can incorporate in your classroom. I really agreed with many of the things it had to say throughout the chapter. Vocabulary is such a vital part of any students young life. I think many people forget about this and there children lack the vocabulary that is needed to be successful in writing and speaking. My mother was an english teacher, so she always talked to us using rich vocabulary or as I have heard it called before, using "juicy words." I am very thankful that she did this because growing up I realized that I had a very large rich vocabulary that came very natural to me. I really liked the part in the book that talked about how many teachers do not give their students material that is on their reading level. If they are in fourth grade and read at a sixth grade level, then the work they are receving is not challenging. The opposite case is true as well because if a student is reading below grade level then their work is too challenging for them cause the student to become frustrated. I think this is a very common theme in many classrooms today causing a lot of stress for teachers.
I really liked how the book talked about word walls and relating vocabulary to what sudents already know. I think its a great idea for teachers to have a word wall of all the words they have learned throughout the year. In my fourth grade classroom we had to use one of our newly learned words in a sentence, and that was our ticket out the door. I think this is a great way for students to incorporate their new vocabulary into things they already know. I like how it said to use context clues to help discover the meaning of new words. This is very crucial to learning a new word, this would be a great way to help students learn new words. I know some students learn new vocabulary in a very poor manner. Some teachers just assign students vocabulary words to look up, and then tell them thye will have a test on Friday. This only allows students to learn vocabulary for a very short time and not really learn these new words. I like how the book gave great examples for teachers to help students learn new words.
I think this chapter has been very helpful and informative, I know these word walls and context clues will not work for every student. I would be curious to find out what other strategies have been successful inside classrooms. I think the brainpop we did the other day in class would be a great way to help students learn new vocabulary. I would love to explore the website more and see what all the webiste provides to help students learn new words. I can't wait to use this website in my classroom!!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Blog #4 Ch. 1&8
As I was reading through these chapters, many of the things that I was reading sounded very familar to me. All the strategies and building metacognition were things that I have done and read about multiple times. It's very reassuring to know that things were are learning in class are things used more than just at the moment in time. Although, there were many things that were familar that wre also a lot of things that I knew nothing about. It's very exciting to know that just when I thought I had learned everything I needed to know I see something new that I would have never known. There were multiple things in this chapter that stuck out to me and I would love to explore more and learn as much as possbile.
In Chapter 1, it talks about shifting responsbility from the teacher to the student. This is a topic that I feel I know a lot about. Many things that were outlined in this sections were things that we went over last semster. One way that we learned about shifting responsbility was building on students metacognition. Helping your students know themselves as a thinker and learner, and what works best for them in the learning process. As it was described it the chapter students need to focus on what they are about to read and their purpose for reading in the first place. During reading, if they have accomplished all their goals and if they are retaining the information they are reading. Lastly, after reading if they retained the informaiton and did I understand the information. Many of these things I knew before reading this chapter but it also gave different situations and strategies to use. I really liked how this chapter talked about how making learning more hands on and helping students discover. I think this is a great move to make in the education world, in my opinion hands on learning is the best type of learning there is. If students know what type of learner they are and have a hands on experiencethen they have the best of both worlds. I really enjoyed all that this chapter had to say!
Ch. 8
In chapter 8, it discussed writing to learn with adolescents. In my opinion, students need to write as much as possbile. Writing is such a wonderful gift for students to experience and they should do it as often as possbile. In the beginning of the chapter it talks about the writing process in general. It goes the throughout the entire writing process as general. Although we think we know everything there is about the writing and drafting process there is always more we can learn. In this chapter it discusses adolescent literature-powerful pins. First it discusses writing to set a purpose for what they are learning. It makes the students draw on prior knowledge and a great way of reviewing what they have just read. This is a great way because it allows students to draw on prior knowledge and expand on what they have just gone over in class. As I was reading this article, I couldn't help but think back during Junior High and High School and thinking of how boring it was that our teacher make us write all the time. I know now that it was very helpful because it has made me the writer I am today. I wonder if students today are still going through this writing process? I know this seems like a dying process but really its the best way to learn! With technology increasing more and more everyday, I wonder how I can use this process in my classroom?
I really enjoyed going to the think center the other day. That place was wonderful and something I think everyone should experience. Dr. Price gave a wonderful presentation and I really enjoyed it, it was very relatable. Her powerpoint was excellent, I wish I knew how to do that. I am very glad we went there, I would love to go back again!
In Chapter 1, it talks about shifting responsbility from the teacher to the student. This is a topic that I feel I know a lot about. Many things that were outlined in this sections were things that we went over last semster. One way that we learned about shifting responsbility was building on students metacognition. Helping your students know themselves as a thinker and learner, and what works best for them in the learning process. As it was described it the chapter students need to focus on what they are about to read and their purpose for reading in the first place. During reading, if they have accomplished all their goals and if they are retaining the information they are reading. Lastly, after reading if they retained the informaiton and did I understand the information. Many of these things I knew before reading this chapter but it also gave different situations and strategies to use. I really liked how this chapter talked about how making learning more hands on and helping students discover. I think this is a great move to make in the education world, in my opinion hands on learning is the best type of learning there is. If students know what type of learner they are and have a hands on experiencethen they have the best of both worlds. I really enjoyed all that this chapter had to say!
Ch. 8
In chapter 8, it discussed writing to learn with adolescents. In my opinion, students need to write as much as possbile. Writing is such a wonderful gift for students to experience and they should do it as often as possbile. In the beginning of the chapter it talks about the writing process in general. It goes the throughout the entire writing process as general. Although we think we know everything there is about the writing and drafting process there is always more we can learn. In this chapter it discusses adolescent literature-powerful pins. First it discusses writing to set a purpose for what they are learning. It makes the students draw on prior knowledge and a great way of reviewing what they have just read. This is a great way because it allows students to draw on prior knowledge and expand on what they have just gone over in class. As I was reading this article, I couldn't help but think back during Junior High and High School and thinking of how boring it was that our teacher make us write all the time. I know now that it was very helpful because it has made me the writer I am today. I wonder if students today are still going through this writing process? I know this seems like a dying process but really its the best way to learn! With technology increasing more and more everyday, I wonder how I can use this process in my classroom?
I really enjoyed going to the think center the other day. That place was wonderful and something I think everyone should experience. Dr. Price gave a wonderful presentation and I really enjoyed it, it was very relatable. Her powerpoint was excellent, I wish I knew how to do that. I am very glad we went there, I would love to go back again!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Content Area Literacy in Elementary Classrooms
I really enjoyed reading this article, like the last one we read it was very informative and interesting. As I was reading this article, I couldn't help thinking back to my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Simms. I knew Mrs. Simms was very smart, but it's like she could see the future. She was very artsy and painted her classrooms many different colors, but on her back wall she painted it to look like the beach. We had to go to the "beach" once a day to pick an informational book that we would enjoy reading. She knew that we may not always like reading these books like we once did when we were little but if we could go to our "happy place" at the beach then we would enjoy it more. Thinking back on all of this I k now that Mrs. Simms was exactly right. When your younger it is so important to become exposed to rich text that enhance your information about the world around you. But, when you get older some students lose their interest in things they once loved when they were younger. Reading about lions and witches is so much more fun that reading about the life cycle of a frog. Throughout the text, it stressed how students are exposed to texts at an early age(k-3), but these texts need to increase as the students get older. One problem that may seem challenging for both students and teachers is to teach their students how to digest the information and retain what they have just read. I know it is also hard for parents to try and interst their children in something they might actually want to read.
I know that from taking Dr. Boyce's class last semester that incorporating informational texts into your lesson is vital. We learned many strategies on ways we can incorporate these texts into ways that the students may find more interesting. I know that much emphasis has been placed on standardized tests and scores and improving childrens interests and comprehension on informational text would be key to helping improve these scores. Exposing children to informational text is not only vital but a way of the future. This is where standardized tests are going as well as properly preparing children for the adult world. As technology and students are becoming more complex we owe it to our students to give them very oppurtunity to succeed in the future and exposing them to expository text is a GREAT way to do it!
I know that from taking Dr. Boyce's class last semester that incorporating informational texts into your lesson is vital. We learned many strategies on ways we can incorporate these texts into ways that the students may find more interesting. I know that much emphasis has been placed on standardized tests and scores and improving childrens interests and comprehension on informational text would be key to helping improve these scores. Exposing children to informational text is not only vital but a way of the future. This is where standardized tests are going as well as properly preparing children for the adult world. As technology and students are becoming more complex we owe it to our students to give them very oppurtunity to succeed in the future and exposing them to expository text is a GREAT way to do it!
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| Henry and Kamery. Two Pre-k students at Sacred Heart school, where I work! |
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| Students at the school! I love them! |
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Blog #2
I really enjoyed reading through my classmates blogs, I know everyone in class but reading their blogs gives me a much more personal sense of who everyone is. The first person I chose to write about what Blair. I have loved having class with her, she is such a wonderful person both inside and out and I hope to get the chance to get to know her more. I loved that she talked about her cat Prissy, although I am not a big animal person, my mother has a cat named Prissy and this reminded me of her. I too want to have a family one day and I know that by being a teacher I will get the best of both worlds! Just by reading her blog, I can tell we have a lot of things in common, I look forward to getting to know Blair much more! The second person I wrote about was Logan. I have had several classes with Logan but I haven't really gotten the oppurtunity to get to know her. I knew that she was from Alabama but that was really all I knew. It seems that everyone I want to learn more about has a cat! I like Logan have an english endorsement and would feel most comfortable teaching that subject. Although, I never coached a swim team, I have been around children my whole life and this is when I knew I wanted to be a teacher. She helped her students win the races and I have helped children in dance and gymnastics. Helping students accomplish a goal is a very rewarding experience and I knew this was when I wanted to become a teacher.
I found the article"Writing to learn across the curriculum: Tools for comprehension in content area classes" to be very helpful and interesting. I think this articule is something all future teachers should read! One thing that I found interesting was how this article discussed the issue of writing to learn. Witing to learn gives the students an opportunity to recollect, clarify, and question what the already know and what they would like to know about a subject. I couldn't agree more about what this article says about writing to learn! Throughout the articule it gives different strageties on how students can actively write to learn in their classroom. When students are writing to learn, they are discovering for themselves what they have been learning about. All teachers should strive towards this type of learning because it enhances the students higher order thinking skills. I think it is very important for teachers to prepare their students everyday for the learning that is going to occur. One strategy that the used in the article that I thought was great was the think-stop-and write strategy. This allows the students time in between what the teacher is saying to gather their thoughts and write what they have just learned. This would have been very beneficial to me as a student if I could have used it. Doing any of these strategies would be a great way to get your students involved in what you are doing each day. Opening up your class with a quick write was something my teachers did in Elementary School. I think this is great because its allows the students to get their minds ready for what they are about to read. I loved the bio-poem activity that we did the other day in class. I think that is a great way for students to actively listen while the teacher is reading or pay close attention to whatevery book they are reading. Reading about this in the article was very helpful as well, it gave me much more insight to what we did in class the other day. This article was very helpful and useful! I would love to read future articles if they are anything like this. I will definitely try and implement many of these strategies and ideas that were discussed in this article.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Introduction
My name is Olivia Chisolm. I am currently a Senior at Southern Miss. I'm from Meridian Ms, and am the oldest of three girls. I have wanted to be a teacher for a long time, I come from a family of teachers so this job has always been something that interests me. My ideal grade would be 2nd grade to teach. I think this would be the perfect age because they are still young and excited about school but they are old enough to follow instructions. I feel very comfortable teaching most any subject except math. Math has always been a week spot for me and I would be nervous if I had to teach this subject. Recently, I have started working out and taking zumba classes. I like to stay busy and this is a great way to not only do that but stay in shape. Over the break I also read a lot. I love my kindle, and anything I can download on it I will. I love traveling and have gone several places over the past couple of years. At the end of this semester I will be going to Disney World which I am very excited about. I have a younger sister Alexa who is a freshman at Mississippi State , and AshleyRoss who is a Junior in high school. Our family has a cat and a dog but I would not call myself a animal lover.
something that stood out was how much we will be writting on our blog. I used a blgo for anothing class and I really enjoyed it so I am looking forward to it! From what I have gathered this course will be a literature writting intensive class. This is my strongest suit, so I am looking forward to it! I am currently looking forward to everything that I have seen. As of right now nothing looks to daunting or something that I can't manage. So far I have no concerns, class today was very interesting and fun so it definitely gave me a positive outlook on the situation. I look forward to learning more throughout the class and expanding on what I already know.
something that stood out was how much we will be writting on our blog. I used a blgo for anothing class and I really enjoyed it so I am looking forward to it! From what I have gathered this course will be a literature writting intensive class. This is my strongest suit, so I am looking forward to it! I am currently looking forward to everything that I have seen. As of right now nothing looks to daunting or something that I can't manage. So far I have no concerns, class today was very interesting and fun so it definitely gave me a positive outlook on the situation. I look forward to learning more throughout the class and expanding on what I already know.
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