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Teaching Observations :)

My teacher has time "wasted" mostly during transitions. I say "wasted" loosely because the students are still learning academics, just in a distracting manner. The way the schedule is set-up, half way through each hour, some students come into the classroom and other students leave. When asking my teacher what things take more time than she liked?, she stated, "Transitions seem to take the longest, and checking their grades". My teacher is also a teacher consultant, so she has to work with students on their grades and see how they are doing in each class. Because students she has cannot come into her classroom until a time she is teaching other students, she has to check their grades in the middle of another classes lesson time. Her students have a routine of knowing that when they come to check their grades they are supposed to be working on homework, but that does not always happen. She stated that she wishes the students who she has teacher consulting, could come into her classroom at a time that is not in the middle of her helping her students who are scheduled to be in her classroom at that time.
When I asked my teacher about the building level operations, she did not state anything that was taking their time unnecessarily, she simply stated that there are meetings every Wednesday after school. I have attended those meetings each week, and they are informative. We have had professional developments, and other topics about students success and behavior plans. We also meet with the general education teachers to talk about some students that may need to observed or monitored for academics or behavior. Those meetings have been helpful. My teacher did state that she has to come earlier in the summer, before it is mandatory for teachers to be there, so she can get the students who have individual education plans, the proper documentation for the general education teachers.
Every teacher has things they would like to improve on. Every teacher finds time in their day they would rather be doing something else, but at the end of the day, the teacher is doing their best to educate their children and I think that is exactly what my teacher is accomplishing. That is what being a teacher is all about.

Why are Blogs Useful?

Blogs are useful in that teachers can use them in many different ways. Rather than a simple Google document or Word document, the students information can be accessed publicly, so the information they present in their blogs must be critically edited before it is published. There are more steps for the student to self-edit and create the best possible blog post they can make.  Blogs give students and other professionals the chance to respond to what has been written. Giving students an assignment from a blog, they are easily able to connect with you and receive a response more rapidly than waiting for the next day at school. Other students can see what has been posted and that makes the communication much stronger in the classroom. Another way blogs are so useful is they open up pathways of creativity. Students feel "in charge" of their creativeness and their responses. Blogs open up more communication than could ever be possible with a simple Word or Google Document!

Teacher Blogs

Ms. Cassidy’s Classroom Blog: She posts about her classroom in an interactive way with the internet. The country is able to see what her classroom is doing and they can reply to her blog to give words of encouragement to her students!

ScienceFix: A blog for teachers wanting fun and engaging science experiments. 

A Year of Reading: This is blog created for teachers that reviews new children's books. They talk about how it could be used in the classroom and what grade level it would be appropriate for. 

Techno Tuesday: Is a blog for incorporating technology into the library and the classroom lesson plans. 

Learning Is Messy: Comes from a teacher who uses technology in his classroom. He has used Skype to give his lessons to his students, and has called professionals via Skype to talk to students. He has also used Skype to call a student who is given in home instruction due to leukemia.

Hooda Math Blog: Hooda math posts game and activities using his blog. He gives free print outs and downloads that go along with his blog posts and he even creates math games using flash player, such as Pac-man. 

Angela Maiers: A top advice educator who has written books. You can use her information in your classroom the very next day. 

dy/dan: Posts blogs about different Sudoku puzzles and brain teasers.  Students can use these when they finish their other work, or just want something fun to do!

dynamitelessonplan: Gives teachers resources on different debatable topics in education. He also posts different lesson plans that teachers can use in their classroom. 

Infinite Teaching Machine: Gives teachers resources for using technology in the practical world. Tips and ideas to help students thrive in the 21st century. Also on his blog are different podcasts to help students with different topics such as writer's block. 

People to Follow

The Pinspired Teacher: Instagram: Uses Pinterest and shares her ideas through Instagram. She posts ideas for lesson and inspiration ideas to keep teachers motivated. 

ApplesandABCS: Michelle Griffo is a kindergarten teacher who loves to share lesson plan ideas with other teachers. 

Pinterest: Suzy Brooks: Created over 50 Pinterest boards for education teachers. 

Pinterest: Brittany Washburn: An first grade teacher who uses technology to incorporate into her lesson plans. 

@mrsebiology : Terie Engelbrecht is a director of education in Illinois. She frequently posts quotes, books, and links that are important to education. 

@Lynch39083: Matthew Lynch is a professor and blogger for the Huffington Post. He posts educational articles on different topics in education. 

@watnunu: Sandra Chow is a certified Google innovator. She posts about education and technology. 

@MrMatthewRay is a teacher for elementary special education. He posts articles and ideas about special education.

@Kristy_Vincent: She is a technology integration specialist in the field of general education. She works one on one with teachers in collaboration on how to successfully integrate technology into the classroom. 

@arneduncan: He is the United States Secretary of Education. He posts about educational articles and governmental happenings in education. 

@rgriffithjr: He is a social studies teacher that uses technology and social media. He frequently posts teaching ideas to students for social studies lesson plans. 

@tomwhitby: He is the founder of the popular EDchat in schools. He posts about different ways to use EDchat in the classroom. 

@21stprincipal: He is a principal that has his school incorporating technology into most aspects of their day.

@kevin_corbett: An educator who is pushing the issue of using technology effectively in the classroom. 

Youtube: HipHughesHistory: A former U.S History and AP government teacher who makes fun and engaging videos about numerous topics in history and government. 

Youtube: Mr. Lee Science Rap makes videos using science education. He uses popular songs to help students learn important topics in science.

Youtube: BeatMasterMatt: Creates videos about history topics using music. He has made videos about every single president. 

Youtube: AmorSciendi: A teacher who creates educational videos, on various topics, using pieces of artwork. 

Youtube: TomforAmerica: An AP US history teacher and AP European hsitory teacher, who uses videos to help students who need tutoring in those topics. 

Youtube: Bozemanbiology: Teaches lecture videos on Biology. He was named the 2011 Montana teacher of the year. 

Educational Organizations

Here are some state level and national level organizations for information on education:

Michigan Alliance for Families: information, education, and support 

http://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/education/eligibility-categories/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganAllianceForFamilies/?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiAlliance

-There is no cost for membership

-The website offers On Demand webinars for information regarding IEPs (in different languages), commonly asked questions, etc.

-Conferences and informational meetings are held throughout the year, in different parts of Michigan. Here is a list of the upcoming events, some that cost money and some that do not.

http://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/


National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAEYC

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NAEYC/

Membership: http://www.naeyc.org/membership
  - There are different prices and options according to the type of membership you want, and if you are a college student or not. The renewal is annual. Depending on the membership you choose, there are six publishing that come with the membership.

Conferences: NAEYC Annual Conference and Expo is held in multiple cities around the US. Here are a list of dates and locations:
http://www.naeyc.org/events

-The cost of the conference ranges anywhere from $180-400 depending on how many days you would like to attend. Additional workshops also cost extra.
https://www.naeyc.org/conference/registration

About Me!

My name is Kailee Schafer and I am seeking my degree in Special Education with endorsements in Cognitive and Emotional Impairments.  When not at school or at work, I enjoy spending time with my family (including my pets), volunteering, going to the movies, exercising, and searching through the wonderful world of Pinterest. 

I have enjoyed using technology in the classrooms that I have worked in previously. I used PBS learning media with my students and had them do a couple of assignments online using the website.  My students also used quizzing websites by going on their phones to answer the questions.  Another way I have used technology is by giving the students the necessary information through articles and videos that I shared with the students using the smart board.  The students were engaged when I would share a video with them and they would have to answer questions according to the videos! 

Here is a picture of my family at the end of a hike we did on our trip out west the summer of 2014:

Here is a link to Lowell community schools, the last place I previously taught:

http://www.lowellschools.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectionid=1