Blog 9 article

Researcher links kids' computer use with test scores, behavior 

A researcher from the University of Maryland tells parents, who worry about their children who spend too much time on computers, to worry not. A study was released saying that linked hours at the computer with achievement test scores and behavior and found little sign of harm for children ages six to twelve as they increased their screen time over a six-year period. There was adolescent achievement shown from the use of computers, and it doesn't have to be studying, it could be playing games. Computer use, overall for child, involves problem-solving, reading, and communicating, and these are skills that help children. 

Entry 5

Don't forget to bring in your signed field trip forms this Friday! Only students with signed field trip forms will be able to get on the bus, and we so not want any students to miss out on this great opportunity to take a private tour of the zoo.
Parents, please make sure your child is wearing cool, comfortable, and appropriate clothing. Summer weather is here!

Entry 4

1st GRADE DRAMA SHOW INVITATION

 Miss. Amanda’s class cordially invites you to attend your student’s 1st Grade Drama Show, "America"!

 The Show will take place at 8:30pm on Thursday, April 3rd, 2014. 

Information on Costumes:

 Please have your student wear bluejeans (with no rips, holes, or tears) & a red, white, or blue shirt of any kind (with no writing on it). Thank you!

Special Request:

 Please work with your student in these remaining days with their preparation for their show. Please help them memorize their lines/blocking by testing them often, it will help them a lot! 

Thank You! 

Entry 3

Progress Reports 

*Progress Reports were sent home in Monday's take home folder. Please sign the top sheet at the bottom verifying that you have viewed your students' grades. Feel free to contact me, Miss. Amanda, with any questions you may have. These grades represent where your student is at the halfway point of the first marking period.

Reflection 8

The article that I have read recently about kindles in the classroom was a great article. It gave many reasons to have a kindle in your classroom, and some reasons maybe to have have a kindle in your classroom. One great reason to have a kindle in your classroom is because they promote readin fluency. The kindle's text-to-speech audio function can help address the challenges of students with vision problems, language Barriers, and lack of reading fluency. Some of the hurdles you might face are if the kindle is durable enough in the student's hands or in their backpacks and there is no output jack to connect to an overhead projector The cost is the major hurdle for having a kindle in a classroom. Most teachers can not afford to buy a kindle.

Blog article 8

Will the Kindle Change Education? 

Amazon's e-book reader is a device more commonly spotted in airport lounges or on commuter trains than in high school classrooms. Chris Edwards, a social studies teacher, says, "I see it as an update, not simply of the book, but of the library." Kindles that are used in the classroom that are stocked with well-chosen e-books would allow the teachers to flex new teaching strategies. The Kindle device also has a text-to-speech audio function that can help address the challenges of students with vision problems, language barriers, and lack of reading fluency. 

But, using kindles, there will be classrooms hurdles. 

1. How durable are the plastic tablets in a student's hands and backpacks?

2. There is no output jack to connect to an overhead projector. 

3. The ability to transfer content from one user to another. 

4. Do not offer enough personalization of learning and differentiated instruction. 

5. Lack video and interactivity 

6. The cost. 

Reflection7

The article that I have read about Differentiated Instruction really gave some great ideas on how to apply technology in your classroom. Students can read books, practice math skills, create videos with a flip cam, contribute to the classroom blog, produce PowerPoints, and review tons of material using an interactive whiteboard. Students that may not like to do the traditional project of writing a computing can use a comic life software to write an exciting comic strip. Also using certain softwares, teachers are able to customize lessons for students. In a math class, one student can be working on basic multiplication tables while another tries three-digit multiplication and another tackles complex word problems.