When I was first introduced to this project at the beginning of this semester, I have to admit I was very overwhelmed. I thought this project was going to be very time confusing and I was unsure how to approach it. I'd never used a lot of the technology that was listed to complete this project. When we were going over the different ways to use technology for this project, I had no idea where to begin. I also didn't realize how many different types of literacy there was. This project definitely opened my eyes to the different types of literacy and learning methods.
However, as I focused on one type of literacy and then picked the most interesting technology on the list, things began to get easier. I chose emotional literacy because that was the topic that I was interested in the most and I wanted to see how it impacted learning. I chose the scrapblog because it reminded me of a hobby I love to do...scrapbooking! When I made my username and password, I started playing around with the scrapblog and found it difficult to stop! I was having so much fun figuring out creative ways to decorate my scrapblog and catch the viewer's attention. It was just like scrapbooking except if you made errors it was easier to fix and a scrapblog is way less expensive! How cool.
Because this scrapblog is so easily accessible for children and super easy to use, I figured it was a great form of technology for children. I can definitely see children using this in the classroom for a research project or any kind of project for that matter. A scrapblog is great for students to display something they've learned in an appealing way.
As I began putting my pages together, I really had to research the definition of emotional literacy and the variety of ways to illustrate emotional literacy. I never realized just how important emotional literacy is in the classroom and life in general! Emotions influence our thoughts and actions and affect our bodies and impact our relationships. Because emotions have everything to do with how we process information, we as future teachers need to be well aware of the importance of emotional literacy. Humans are social beings and need to feel comfortable in their surroundings. Emotional literacy plays an important role on all individuals. It is important to understand just how important this is as teachers and be able to implement it in our future classroom.
I feel that scrapblogs and other forms of technology this project had to offer should be used in classrooms. I can see many ways that children can benefit from them and ways that teachers can really engage their students. With how technology is growing more and more everyday, it's important for us as teachers to be aware of this growth and use it in our classrooms to keep students informed and interested. Every individual would benefit from using these different technologies.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
New Literacy Reflection-Emotional Literacy
Now that I have completed my new literacy project and have reviewed a classmate's, I can honestly say that when I started this class I did not realize all the different types of literacy there are. I just assumed there was one literacy-writing. From working on this project though, I have come to realize there are many other ways to be literate such as culturally, technologically, emotionally, visually, and environmentally. These are all important aspects of the world, but I had never considered them to be literacy learning methods.
When it came to actually starting my new literacy project, I was completely overwhelmed because I am the type of person who avoids technology like the plague. So when it came to this project where we had to use a technology to teach it to others, I was worried. To make matters worse, when we were exploring topics in class I had no idea where to even begin. I kept flip-flopping between visual and emotional literacy because I figured those would be the two areas I would be able to do a project passionately about. As the deadline came closer to turn in a project plan, I decided to do emotional literacy because I was interested to see how it impacted learning. Now the only thing I had to do was decide on a technology, so I started looking at projects from students last year. Then AHA! I found a technology that I actually thought was cool and not very frustrating to use...a scrap blog! It was exactly like making a scrapbook, but only online! I love anything crafty, so this seemed to be the perfect thing for me to do!
Finally, I was able to start on my project! As I tinkered around with the scrap blog technology, I have to admit I was a bit frustrated at first, but as I started to familiarize myself with the technology and how it worked, it was a piece of cake. I found out this was a technology I feel young students would be able to use successfully because it is accessible and easy to use once you get over the initial start. As I started to design my page layouts I did research on emotional literacy and for the first time realized how important feelings and emotions are when it come to literacy. People experience feelings and emotions everyday, it is a part of who we are and a result of what we experience. But to imagine not being able to express feelings, would be terrible. This is were emotional literacy comes into play. This literacy deals with people, their emotions, and how they relate to themselves, others, literature, and the world around them. Being able to express feelings is an essential and healthy way for us to express ourselves and if we do not develop these skills, it could hinder us from being able to tell others how we feel as well as understand how others feel.
Emotional literacy does play an important role for all individuals whether they realize it or not. When it comes to incorporating this into a classroom, I feel it is necessary. Even though it is not directly expressed in the GLCEs to express one's feelings, the expectations they set when it comes to comprehension, demands them. In order to comprehend and apply what students are reading, they have to have the knowledge and/or experiences in order to connect to the text. This is where emotions can be found. When students can bring their own experiences into what they are learning and reading, it not only helps them understand what is going on, but they also are bringing significant meaning to what they are learning. If scrap blogs and other similar technologies will help students develop these skills in a way that is important to them, then I feel these technologies should be made available to students. Regardless of the new literacy, I feel every individual would benefit from being exposed to new technologies as well as new literacy's.
When it came to actually starting my new literacy project, I was completely overwhelmed because I am the type of person who avoids technology like the plague. So when it came to this project where we had to use a technology to teach it to others, I was worried. To make matters worse, when we were exploring topics in class I had no idea where to even begin. I kept flip-flopping between visual and emotional literacy because I figured those would be the two areas I would be able to do a project passionately about. As the deadline came closer to turn in a project plan, I decided to do emotional literacy because I was interested to see how it impacted learning. Now the only thing I had to do was decide on a technology, so I started looking at projects from students last year. Then AHA! I found a technology that I actually thought was cool and not very frustrating to use...a scrap blog! It was exactly like making a scrapbook, but only online! I love anything crafty, so this seemed to be the perfect thing for me to do!
Finally, I was able to start on my project! As I tinkered around with the scrap blog technology, I have to admit I was a bit frustrated at first, but as I started to familiarize myself with the technology and how it worked, it was a piece of cake. I found out this was a technology I feel young students would be able to use successfully because it is accessible and easy to use once you get over the initial start. As I started to design my page layouts I did research on emotional literacy and for the first time realized how important feelings and emotions are when it come to literacy. People experience feelings and emotions everyday, it is a part of who we are and a result of what we experience. But to imagine not being able to express feelings, would be terrible. This is were emotional literacy comes into play. This literacy deals with people, their emotions, and how they relate to themselves, others, literature, and the world around them. Being able to express feelings is an essential and healthy way for us to express ourselves and if we do not develop these skills, it could hinder us from being able to tell others how we feel as well as understand how others feel.
Emotional literacy does play an important role for all individuals whether they realize it or not. When it comes to incorporating this into a classroom, I feel it is necessary. Even though it is not directly expressed in the GLCEs to express one's feelings, the expectations they set when it comes to comprehension, demands them. In order to comprehend and apply what students are reading, they have to have the knowledge and/or experiences in order to connect to the text. This is where emotions can be found. When students can bring their own experiences into what they are learning and reading, it not only helps them understand what is going on, but they also are bringing significant meaning to what they are learning. If scrap blogs and other similar technologies will help students develop these skills in a way that is important to them, then I feel these technologies should be made available to students. Regardless of the new literacy, I feel every individual would benefit from being exposed to new technologies as well as new literacy's.
New Literacies Reflection
When this assignment was first given I was not sure what direction to go in. I knew that I wanted to do something with cultural literacy, because I enjoy learning about other cultures and I feel it is an important component to incorporate in the classroom. Then, I began to play around with Scrapblog. I had a lot of fun and even made up a Scrapblog of my own. Then it dawned on me that I could incorporate one of the most culturally significant experiences of my college career into this project. So, I decided to use the New Literacies Project to explore my study abroad experiences in Ireland through the lens of cultural literacy.
From there I brainstormed what I thought were the most salient aspects of Irish culture that I learned about and that would be most useful to students learning about Irish culture. I obviously could not incorporate all the aspects of Irish culture into one Scrapblog, but I tried to choose a mix of semi-familiar references to unknown and interesting facts.
The creative process took a long time for me to complete. I wanted to use as many pictures from my own Irish travels as possible. I also wanted to make the pages interesting and engaging for people to look at. I think that my personal connection to the topic encouraged me to spend extra time putting the Scrapblog together--and I enjoyed doing it! I kept thinking of all the ways that I could have students use this in the classroom. For example, they could create a classroom magazine, a illustrated book, or a reflection from a field trip.
Also, the more that I relived my Irish experiences and researched the Irish culture, I realized that it is extremely important that people recognize these themes. Many people only think of Ireland on March 17th, but it is a large part of our own culture. Ireland is not just leprechauns and pots of gold, it is a nation that embodies a fierce, determined spirit amidst persecution and turmoil. If a student were reading a book by an Irish author, or heard an Irish reference, how would they understand its true meaning without a solid cultural awareness and understanding?
Overall, I have taken many things away from this project. I think that I will be eager to use Scrapblog in my classroom and I will be even more interested in building cultural literacy in my classroom.
From there I brainstormed what I thought were the most salient aspects of Irish culture that I learned about and that would be most useful to students learning about Irish culture. I obviously could not incorporate all the aspects of Irish culture into one Scrapblog, but I tried to choose a mix of semi-familiar references to unknown and interesting facts.
The creative process took a long time for me to complete. I wanted to use as many pictures from my own Irish travels as possible. I also wanted to make the pages interesting and engaging for people to look at. I think that my personal connection to the topic encouraged me to spend extra time putting the Scrapblog together--and I enjoyed doing it! I kept thinking of all the ways that I could have students use this in the classroom. For example, they could create a classroom magazine, a illustrated book, or a reflection from a field trip.
Also, the more that I relived my Irish experiences and researched the Irish culture, I realized that it is extremely important that people recognize these themes. Many people only think of Ireland on March 17th, but it is a large part of our own culture. Ireland is not just leprechauns and pots of gold, it is a nation that embodies a fierce, determined spirit amidst persecution and turmoil. If a student were reading a book by an Irish author, or heard an Irish reference, how would they understand its true meaning without a solid cultural awareness and understanding?
Overall, I have taken many things away from this project. I think that I will be eager to use Scrapblog in my classroom and I will be even more interested in building cultural literacy in my classroom.
New Literacies Project Reflection
When we first got the New Literacy’s project, I was very overwhelmed. Though as I worked on it I realized that it wasn’t so bad and was actually really fun to find information and put to work the ideas and concepts I have learned through my Environmental Science classes. I chose to use scrapblog as my technology because I love to scrapbook and I wanted to figure out a new way I can use scrapbooking, such as online. I chose Environmental Literacy as my focus, because Environmental Science is one of my minors and I thought it would be neat to use some of my information from classes and see how it relates to Environmental Literacy.
There were so many different ways I could go with Environmental Literacy because there are many different areas of Environmental Science. So, I chose to focus on Environmental Stewardship and what it takes to become a good steward. I felt like this is an area that often gets overlooked because parents, teachers and adults tell children they should recycle, turn oft water when brushing teeth, but they never say why, they never really “teach” them. Stewardship does just that, it informs people about their environment and their effects on the land and then gets them involved in the process. Therefore, I focused my project to help inform teachers, parents, and adults to realize that they need to explain and inform their students about the word and get them involved.
One of my classes last semester focused on Environmental Education and Stewardship, though it is built into many of my classes, so I was able to pull information from my classes. I was also able to pull ideas from where I work: Fenner Nature Center, and on campus with my professor in the Community Agriculture Recreation and Resource Services Department (CARRS). At the Nature Center all of our programs include stewardship ideas and ways to treat the nature respectfully, and my work in the CARRS department is on a few projects involving stewardship: Project FISH put on my MSU Extension and Michigan Conservation Stewards Program put on by MDNR and MSU Extension. This was a major starting point for me in my project.
I had many difficulties with the technology part of this project. Some of the problems included, the link button, the timer (how much time was spent on each slide), uploading pictures, and changing the font color. I could not get the “link” button to work so I could make it easily accessible for people to take my quiz or look at my resources. Also, the timer was too fast on the scrapblog, even when slowed down to the tortoise, which made it hard to read each slide in the amount of time given. I had a really tough time uploading pictures into the project, even though they try to make it easy, I would download pictures online and add them to my photos and the photos would not show up when I tried to pull them in using the site. I almost turned in my project without outside photos, until a friend told me that photobucket was really easy. So I set up an account and away I went. I also tried many times to change the color of my font from black and was unsuccessful. Some of these glitches I came across were really frustrating and made me want to stop the project all together, but I got over it.
Even though I have had many experiences with Environmental Stewardship, doing this project helped me reflect on myself as an environmental steward and see ways I could use this in my future classroom. I can see the scrapblog as a new way to use technology in the classroom. I would most likely use this as an end of the year assignment, by working the students towards this project. I would do this by having them write short informative essays first, then have them make their own books on various topics, followed by doing a PowerPoint and a PhotoStory getting them used to technology. Then, finally graduate them to scrapblog since it is more detailed and involved.
There were so many different ways I could go with Environmental Literacy because there are many different areas of Environmental Science. So, I chose to focus on Environmental Stewardship and what it takes to become a good steward. I felt like this is an area that often gets overlooked because parents, teachers and adults tell children they should recycle, turn oft water when brushing teeth, but they never say why, they never really “teach” them. Stewardship does just that, it informs people about their environment and their effects on the land and then gets them involved in the process. Therefore, I focused my project to help inform teachers, parents, and adults to realize that they need to explain and inform their students about the word and get them involved.
One of my classes last semester focused on Environmental Education and Stewardship, though it is built into many of my classes, so I was able to pull information from my classes. I was also able to pull ideas from where I work: Fenner Nature Center, and on campus with my professor in the Community Agriculture Recreation and Resource Services Department (CARRS). At the Nature Center all of our programs include stewardship ideas and ways to treat the nature respectfully, and my work in the CARRS department is on a few projects involving stewardship: Project FISH put on my MSU Extension and Michigan Conservation Stewards Program put on by MDNR and MSU Extension. This was a major starting point for me in my project.
I had many difficulties with the technology part of this project. Some of the problems included, the link button, the timer (how much time was spent on each slide), uploading pictures, and changing the font color. I could not get the “link” button to work so I could make it easily accessible for people to take my quiz or look at my resources. Also, the timer was too fast on the scrapblog, even when slowed down to the tortoise, which made it hard to read each slide in the amount of time given. I had a really tough time uploading pictures into the project, even though they try to make it easy, I would download pictures online and add them to my photos and the photos would not show up when I tried to pull them in using the site. I almost turned in my project without outside photos, until a friend told me that photobucket was really easy. So I set up an account and away I went. I also tried many times to change the color of my font from black and was unsuccessful. Some of these glitches I came across were really frustrating and made me want to stop the project all together, but I got over it.
Even though I have had many experiences with Environmental Stewardship, doing this project helped me reflect on myself as an environmental steward and see ways I could use this in my future classroom. I can see the scrapblog as a new way to use technology in the classroom. I would most likely use this as an end of the year assignment, by working the students towards this project. I would do this by having them write short informative essays first, then have them make their own books on various topics, followed by doing a PowerPoint and a PhotoStory getting them used to technology. Then, finally graduate them to scrapblog since it is more detailed and involved.
Basal Programs and Vocabulary
What are Basal Reading Programs? Until class, I had no idea what these programs were or what their purpose was. However, after reading the articles and having the opportunity to manipulate Basal Reading material, I now have a better understanding of what it is. Basal Reading programs are basically text books published with stories, activities and guided instruction tips for teachers to use and implement in their classrooms. As learned in class, these books basically take care of any reading lesson planning because most Basal programs use the GLCEs. Although these programs are beneficial to teachers time wise, they also have a few negative qualities. One issue is particuluar deals with the amount of information they expect a teacher to cram into a week's worth of time. When looking through the Basal reader, my group and I thought it would be extremely unrealistic to complete everything as outlined by this program. Another minor set back would be that the content maynot contain interesting stories to the students who have to read it or the teachers who have teach it. Since literacy is the most important subject for students to master, it is important that they feel engaged. Overall the Basal system has some great qualities and a few things it could use some improvement on. For me personally, I would use a Basal program, but to my discretion I would probably pick and choose what I teach my students from it, making sure to stick to the GLCEs.
With regard to vocabulary, I used to think this involved just the word and what it means in relation to the context it is in. However, now I realize vocabulary is more than knowing what a word means, it also involves being able to identify it within text automatically. When students are able to identify words automically it become a sight word, meaning they can read it automatically and comprehend what it means. Sight words are extremely important to reading because as literacy learners develop their reading skills, when they read, they do not actually read an entire word. Instead, their eyes and brain have become familiar with what certain words look like in order for them to gain comprehension. The goal for teachers then, should be to implement a wide range of vocabulary instruction, not only to expose students to a wide range of words, but also to help students develop sight words automatically, which will in the long run make them better readers as they practice seeing and interacting with words.
With regard to vocabulary, I used to think this involved just the word and what it means in relation to the context it is in. However, now I realize vocabulary is more than knowing what a word means, it also involves being able to identify it within text automatically. When students are able to identify words automically it become a sight word, meaning they can read it automatically and comprehend what it means. Sight words are extremely important to reading because as literacy learners develop their reading skills, when they read, they do not actually read an entire word. Instead, their eyes and brain have become familiar with what certain words look like in order for them to gain comprehension. The goal for teachers then, should be to implement a wide range of vocabulary instruction, not only to expose students to a wide range of words, but also to help students develop sight words automatically, which will in the long run make them better readers as they practice seeing and interacting with words.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Balanced Literacy and The Basal Reading Program
I believe that in order to have a balanced literacy program, you need to include the basal reading program. Though, I do not believe that it is useful to make your entire literacy program based on basal reading. As a teacher, you need to tailor your instruction to your students’ needs and the basal reading program mainly only focusing on one type of student learner at a specific level. I believe that the basal reading programs are good to an extent in that they have lesson plans already made that you can easily incorporate into your everyday instruction. Though, I think I would select different parts of the lessons and add/tailor them to fit in my instruction and the individual needs of my students. There are many good lessons in the books, such as comprehension, phonemic, writing, and many uses for students to build upon their skills which are great to have for balanced literacy instruction.
I have not seen a basal reading book in my classroom this year. They do have a spelling test book that the CT uses every week, but I do not believe that this is apart of the basal reading program. Despite the fact that I have not seen a basal program taking place in the classroom, my CT does use guided reading almost everyday with the students. She has about 5-6 groups of 3-5 students who are at the same level. These students are working on the same 4 books for about a week or two and they the different steps to guided reading: pre-reading, reading, responding, exploring, and applying.
I have not seen a basal reading book in my classroom this year. They do have a spelling test book that the CT uses every week, but I do not believe that this is apart of the basal reading program. Despite the fact that I have not seen a basal program taking place in the classroom, my CT does use guided reading almost everyday with the students. She has about 5-6 groups of 3-5 students who are at the same level. These students are working on the same 4 books for about a week or two and they the different steps to guided reading: pre-reading, reading, responding, exploring, and applying.
Guided Reading and Basals
Balanced literacy is a useful tool to guide literacy instruction in the classroom. Its components and stages encourage students to develop literacy skills in a variety of ways. Basal reading programs can be coupled with a balanced literacy approach in the classroom. I agree with Avalos et al's discussion of how grade level texts can incorporate a vast quantity of material and resources to help teachers use guided reading instruction. These texts benefit all students because they can be individualized with structured lesson formats and built-in assessments. Although there are many benefits to using basals in the classroom, I have noticed that their effectiveness depends on how and when the teacher chooses to incorporate them.
I have noticed that it's much easier to introduce key concepts like vocabulary or phonemic awareness skills since there is a built-in repetition to the lesson plans. However, simply relying on basals for whole class instruction does not meet the individual needs of students. I prefer the use of basals in the classroom when it is coupled with a more individualized, small group guided reading instruction. This way the structured, useful components of basals can be built upon during smaller group time, like in literacy centers.
I have noticed that it's much easier to introduce key concepts like vocabulary or phonemic awareness skills since there is a built-in repetition to the lesson plans. However, simply relying on basals for whole class instruction does not meet the individual needs of students. I prefer the use of basals in the classroom when it is coupled with a more individualized, small group guided reading instruction. This way the structured, useful components of basals can be built upon during smaller group time, like in literacy centers.
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