Smart Board in the Music Classroom

This was a very interesting article and I especially enjoyed the idea of including the smart board in the music classroom. I think that normally I focus more on the smart board as an asset for teaching science, or reading or math. It is interesting to include music in the mix. I was particularly intrigued by the different software programs designed for music such as Smart Music and Finale. I also liked the idea of setting up a rhythm lesson on the smart board for students to follow.

The teacher that wrote this article was very enthusiastic about what he was doing and it made me, as a reader excited about his discoveries and experiments as well. He also mentioned the idea that his use of technology allowed students that were not usually interested in music, to engage more. His actions also pleased the administration as well.

Comments on other blogs

Comments of Other Blogs:

Lauryn Duffy's Blog:

Shayna Prause's Blog:

Ashley Peavey's Blog:

Sarah Womack's Blog

Melissa Newhouse's Blog

"Turning on the Lights" Reflection ( required)

I really enjoyed this article. It is sad to see that students are bored in class and that they feel like what they are learning is irrelevant to what they want to do in the future.

I think that educators today are faced with many new challenges that are not easy to tackle. There are a lot of new methods of teaching that need to be tried and also new ideas that need to be looked into. Do I think this will be easy? NO. Am I completely comfortable with changing everything I have come to think about education? NO. But, do I think that it is important? YES.

There were a few thinks that the author mentioned that I was not a huge fan of such as DDR in P.E. and cell phones in class. But then again, I am not sure it this is true because it is so different from what school looked like when I was growing up or if it is true concern.

However, one idea that I 100% support is the idea of meeting individually with students to hear what it is that they want to learn and where they want to be in the future. I think that it is important to be able to personalized education more and to assist students in their dreams. I also think that having individualized projects is also a good idea.

I think that it is important to combine the old with the new. I think that there is still value in books, and history and tests and math, however, I also think that these can be combined with technology.

Overall, I liked this article and, as a future teacher, I really want to continue to think through what role technology is going to have in my classroom.

Turning on the Lights Article

The Beginning of the Semester: A Reflection (required)

Well, technology is vitally important in society today. Though I tend to be old-school in almost everything in life from dating to movies, I do have to acknowledge that, well, technology is the future.

As a teacher I realize that I will need to learn quite a bit about everything from smart boards, to websites, iphones to laptops.

I hesitate, but I am willing.

One thing in particular that really fascinates me is the fluency with which kids today speak of technology. It seems that even in my first grade class at church the girls are up on the latest new toy or movie or song. I need to make sure that I am on top of these things too if I am to successfully reach my audience of students in this day and age.

I also know that technology can be used for good and bad. Cell phones are convenient distractions and tools such as the internet can cause just as much harm as good. However, I believe that if, as a teacher, I teach my students to use these tools positively, then maybe in the future they will continue to make wise choices. It is true that we can communicate globally in an instant, so world issues can be seen and experienced. We can also learn in a moment, so research is less of a hassle and more of an adventure. Overall, I think that technology in the classroom can do a whole lot of good, and I am excited to become more prepared in this area.

Teaching: a Reason and a Memory (required)- week #1

Teachers are inspiring, everybody knows that. Teaching carries with it great dignity, the dignity that comes with the action of bettering society without the glamour of monetary reward.

I really do think, that when teachers begin teaching they are idealists. I also believe that idealists with nothing more than ideals to hold onto become bitter and burnt out.

I do not know if I have what it takes to be inspiring. I also do not know if I really have the dignity and honor that it takes to give of ones self everyday from 6 to 5 without the promise of tangible reward. However, I do know that I am much more than an idealist, I am a believer. I do have a rock that can and will always carry me through. This "unseen support" is my inspiration, my dignity and my honor. In the great I AM I can persevere in the calling that I have received, I can indeed teach.

I want to teach because I want to pass on this inspiration to students.

I want to teach because education is a gateway out of poverty.

I want to teach because I know that it is something I love.

I want to teach so that I can see the look of understanding in the eyes of my students after working hard.

I want to teach because it is my calling.

It is only with God's grace that these things will be accomplished.

I believe the moment I decided to teach was the moment that my 4th grade teacher really believed in me. She encouraged me to write, actually. She saw potential in a very shy 4th grader and I will be forever grateful for that. I also am very interested in missions work with children and, after much experience on the mission field I have come to decide that education is vitally important in missions today. I am so excited to see how all of these interests combine.

The facts:

I am not very picky about what grade I want to teach. I usually answer with either 2nd or 3rd grade. I would not be surprised if I ended up in a one-room school house in a hut somewhere, no joke.

This semester I hope to learn a lot, because I have come to realize that there is a lot that I need to learn. Technology test to make me a bit "weak in the knees" so I both excited and apprehensive to be taking this class. I hope to gain confidence this semester and to develop skills that will help me in the future.