Kidspiration

Kidspiration is a tool for teachers to use in the classroom. It is a computer program that helps develop strong thinking skills, strengthen reading and writing skills, and build conceptual understanding in math. Using auditory, visual, and hands on activities helping all types of learners. The program is for students in grades k-5The below clip is a tutorial of the program (it is a little long).



The second video shows a teacher using the tool in her class during a lesson on sorting objects.



This program also has a download version you can use, I also learned that this program has tools for special needs children.

twin talk

The following video was shown to me in one of my special education classes. I thought it was adorable, but it also made me think. Isn't so interesting how we develop langue? This is the first stage of speech; our gibberish baby talk develops into what we now use to communicate and read. This video also made me wonder why we never kept our baby langue. Watching these two we can see they understand each other. Do all babies have a secret talk that adults don't know about? What are they saying behind our backs? Maybe this gibberish is more effective for everyone to understand. It is said that different langue’s were created because of the tower of babble. If you don’t know the story here is the basic story line; at one time in history everyone spoke the same langue but humans got to cocky and tired to build a tower to the heavens, god was upset by this so god made everyone speak different langues so the tower could not be finished. What if that original langue was baby babble?

Don't be a Charlie Brown teacher

The video clip your about to view is a combination of clips from Charlie Brown episodes. In the clip Linus tries to explain to Lucy that their teacher favors him. As the video continues you can hear the other students translate what the teacher is saying and until the very last part of the video all the comments and requests are positive. The very last part of the video shows a girl student asking Linus to feel her forehead because she doesn’t feel well. The next thing you hear is the teacher asking Linus if he is a doctor.



Instead of making Linus feel bad about telling the other student to go home and see the nurse, She could have corrected Linus by saying thank you for trying to help but next time you should tell me if another student isn't feeling well.

No Teacher or Child Left Standing

I have never been a test taker; part of that reason had to do with learning disabilities.  All through school I maintained an average grade level.  But when it came time for standardized testing things were different.  I did fine with my reading and writing, scoring average once again but when it came to math I scored below average almost every time.  My family knew that I had issues with this particular subject and they got me all the help they could.  I was placed in the special needs rooms for math all through Elementary School and for two years in Middle School.  My 10th grade year I was able to move out of the "special" math class and into the lower math.  I stayed in this level through the rest of my education. 

In High School I was given my IEP (Individual Education Program).  This allowed me the extra support I need to overcome obstacles in school, something similar was given to me for college after extensive testing was done by a certified psychologist to make sure I was getting everything I needed.  Only once did I ever fear that because of my disability would prevent me from furthering my education.  It was my senior year of High School when we had to take PSSA’s one last time.  My school had told me that everyone had to receive a score of proficient in order to graduate, if we didn’t we had to take a remediation course instead of an elective and then take the test again.  Of course I went into panic mode, I knew there was no way I was going to get the grade I needed.  Well I graduated with my class, only because I past the remediation course and received the same below basic score the first time I took the test.  

     This brings me to my topic, the No Child Left behind Act. It was because of this act that I almost did not graduate on time, it’s because of this act that many of my classmates did not graduate or had to take a remediation course like me.  As I stated in my who I am post I am currently a college student at Edinboro University studying to become an elementary special education teacher.  I have learned many things from my education classes, the one topic that we always discuss it testing.  In order to become a teacher in Pennsylvania you have to take certain courses and pass two praxis tests.  I have only taken one of the praxis tests so far and have yet to pass it. The next time I take the test will be in Januaray and it will be the fourth time taking it.  All these requirements fall under the No Child Left Behind Act and being highly quailified teachers. 


     As if we weren't making it hard enough for teachers, students are feeling the pressure as well.  Stadards for students maybe raising also by the year 2014 the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) is suppose to increase.  All students must score 100% on math, reading, writting.  All sub groups must pass, funding maybe cut from schools if AYP is not meet and state can take school.  It is jaw dropping to me that they expect all students to do this.  Is anyone thinking about those special needs stundents or what about those students in low income schools.  Today in my early childhood class we read an example from a PSSA reading sample.  We were told to go through and highlight any words or concepts that might be diffcult for urbain students to understand. As a class we found twenty possible problems and there could have been more.   


    I am more then a test and so are all those children like me. I feel I have so much to offer and that I would make a great teacher.  I just need to be given the chance, but changing the education world every year dose not make it easy for anyone.   When President Bush passed his No Child Left behind Act he in a way made it next to impossible for me and children like me to succeed in education.    

Technology in the classroom

         In my SEDU183 class this year we have been learning to work with different forms of technology.   Tools like Microsoft PowerPoint, twitter, GMail, blogging, and google docs.  While all this training can be useful I found that trying to learn how to use it very frustrating.  But if learned well I could see using some of these tools in a classroom for older students.  Creating an interactive PowerPoint would work well for students in grades two-five and even older students, however I can not see ways to use blogging and google docs in a elementary special needs classroom.  
   I did find that using google docs did have it's good and bad points.  I would only use this tool in a middle school or high school classroom.  I liked the fact that m group did not have to be in the same room to work on our paper.  It was useful to be able to work at your own pace and talk to everyone when you wanted.  Bad points were that the when I was writing the screen would freeze up and when I typed it would skip letters causing many misspellings.
   My favorite project we have done thus far wold be the interactive power point.  This project was something I could really use in my classroom.  I love to be creative things so this allowed me to do just that.  This project also showed me some new ways to use PowerPoint, like hyperlinks and embedding videos.