Love them More

On the last day before thanksgiving break the 4th grade team decided to do a craft rotation for a "FUN" day. Let me tell you it was anything but fun. I decided to make this turkey incorporating multiplication facts. I called it a Murkey thinking this was very clever, well the 10yr olds thought otherwise.... SHOCKING.....I taught them how to make a Murkey for 5 strait hours! Ahhh. It was a good break from testing and content I do admit but I would have much rather kept my kids the whole day. I felt like a parent, has much fun as other kids can be you always love yours WAY more. The Murkies turned out great in my class, not that I'm bragging that i have the best 4th graders in the world, and not so great in the other classes.  Who know maybe they could tell I didn't like them as much. Ha I hope not. At the end of the day my students we so happy with their Murkies and said that it was their favorite craft all day(second to the beaded necklaces, but how could i compete with that)!
I will miss you most awesome 4th grade class.

K-town bound

I just found out that i will be doing SIT in a K class next semester. I always said that I wasn't sure if I would like Kindergarten, but i find myself getting more and more excited about getting to meet the little germ balls :-)  It is strange to think that these kids will be half the age of my 4th graders I am with now. Going from boyfriends drama to wet pants will be a huge difference. I say bring on the wet pants. I CANT WAIT FOR KINDERGARTEN!

Wiki Wiki

This is a video I found of an english teacher that uses a wiki for one of her classes. It shows how the student feel about using the wiki and why it was affective for this class.

Blogging in the Classroom

After reading the second chapter in  Using Blogs to Enhance Literacy by Diane Penrod I became more open to the idea of students using a blog as an educational tool.  I think that at first I was skeptical of the idea because of the "open" use for blogs. The article led me to believe that blog can be used positively to foster literacy in students. The one aspect of using blogging in an educational setting that I find to be valuable is that it can be used as a cross-content tool. Now, especially in the time of SOLs, I see and have experienced the need to be always using cross content opportunities. "Because the blog is personalized learning environment in a real setting, it simulates a genuine writing activity." This allows for a great amount of authentic learning. It is essential for teachers and facilitators to generate as much authentic learning as possible in the educational setting. This will keep students engaged and give them many connections to the content at hand. Blogging is a great way for students to use their critical thinkings skills to produce independent student learning and support intrinsic motivation. Blogging can be used as a positive literacy tool with all elementary grade groups if they are used for appropriate educational content and examined closely and used properly.

Blogging in the classroom..... I say its a GO!

from little kids to big

I am quickly learning all the rolls teachers are required to take on. Because I am in an inclusion class modeling is a big part of my instruction in the classroom. I am facilitating their learning and also their social skills and management skills they will need to become accustom to for the upper grades. I have found that a lot of fourth grade is learning to transition. They are asked to take more responsibility for themselves and their learning.
you'll get the hang of it soon fourth grade :-)

Do I have to Ask?

Today a few peers and i were discussing the frustrations with the children. Not out school children, the men in our lives. A common question is why we have to ask for it to be done and why can't they just do it. As interns "we are getting used to the idea of directing people all day" says Kelsey. Why would we want to come home and continue directing "adult" to do what they need to do? I’m sure this comes from a place of love mixed with exhaustion, being overworked and just pure frustration! At this point we are hitting a point of a being worn out, but we are insured there will be a “pick me up soon”….. Well were waiting. Bring on the pick me-ups!!!

Hang in there interns