21 Century Skills

This might sound cliche, but the most important skill I think students should have with technology is actually being able to use it to answer their questions.  This generation is so used to just be handed an answer (mainly because of the great tool of Google), but this seems to have made students even more lazy than ever.  If they can just ask for an answer, they would rather do that than even pick up their device and look it up!  As a math teacher when I ask them to show their work, they think the world has ended.  Many times answers are posted around the room or I let students use a device on a quiz and they still want to ask me basic questions instead of just taking the time to find the answer themselves.

There are so many amazing things that people can use technology for.  But the most basic thing is one of the most powerful things it provides...answers!!!

Since more and more schools have technology or even 1:1, hopefully the standardized testing goes along with that.  Adding ISTEP to a computer does not seem to even touch the tip of what we could be testing kids now that technology is so prevalent.  I would like to be able to assess students on their ability to move past the basics of mathematical foundations at an Algebra level and allow technology to help them in any way they can come up with to be able to reach an answer.  That is what they would be able to do outside the walls of the school, so why not inside.
Assessing this could be done in many ways.  How student work collaboratively, being able to reach an answer, explaining how the technology guided them to a solution, etc... are all ways that I could assess that students are utilizing technology to its fullest potential.

I could go on forever about this topic, but that seems to sum it up!

Philosophy of Education

Through song, the philosophy I follow speaks “I believe that children are our future.  Teach them well and let them lead the way.  Show them all the beauty they possess inside.  Give them a sense of pride to make it easier.  Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be…”

I truly believe that each child I teach can bring a unique quality not just into the classroom, but in life.  The future police officers, lawyers, teachers, etc… are the children we are teaching today.  Students need to be enabled to learn both through guidance and independence.  My philosophy is to assist and not direct students through their educational experience.  Ideas are not concrete until their minds allow them to be and my goal is to support them to a real world application in any standard I teach. 

Believing in students is the number one philosophy I have in developing a successful student.  Not just teachers, but individual students need to embrace their differences and accept and respect others’ as well.  I provide a caring and safe environment for my students to express their differences.  To be successful in life, students must believe in themselves and love themselves for who they are.

Education is continually changing.  I know I have to adapt to these changes as they come.  Remembering the past, as a student, and learning more for the future, I am constantly trying to better myself as a teacher.  Students teach me new ideas each and every day. Connecting with children is a concept that cannot be learned.  It must be embedded in our desire to teach the youth of tomorrow. 

Technology is just one way that teachers have to adjust to new ideas in the world.  Simple things such as memorizing a spelling word, knowing a definition, etc... are almost going out the window.  Being able to look up simple concepts and apply that to more problem solving ideas through exploration in the classroom is the student centered model I want to follow for my classroom. 

Reflection #1

I am very excited to learn about more ways to implement technology into my classroom. 
I already use several forms of technology in different ways, but I want it to be more student-centered.  I don't think I'm ready to move completely to a flipped classroom, but I like several ideas from it.

I can lead in how to use iPads in the classroom in ways that are not just educational games. I can also help in brainstorming best practices for schools who allow students to bring their own technology.  Our school is a B.Y.O.T school, which has given me personal experience on what can work and what cannot work.

I would like more time in exploring, as a math teacher, how to become almost always having a student-centered classroom.  In my mind, it just seems so difficult to completely become student-centered classroom in math.  To completely give up giving direct instruction to students who are 12-14 years old seems extremely difficult.

I am also always up for hearing new apps that work for student engagement, classroom tools, and ones that enhance mathematical skills based on 8th grade standards. I am an App Master in the school and am 1 of 6 teachers who are required to maintain an iPad cart, keep them up to date with current apps, and help other teachers incorporate the technology into their classrooms.