Teacher Development

Assignment Title:  Week 6 Blog 1

Still Can’t Remember All Their Names?

Heather Wolpert-Gawron – November 24, 2014

This article caught my attention because every twenty days I have a new developmental math class with fifteen to twenty new students and new names.  Seemingly, the author and I share something in common when it comes down to remembering names.  Yes, I can remember the faces and special things about some of the students.  Sometimes there are two students in class with the same first name.  Calling attendance is the worst problem when the spelling of the name is pronounced totally opposite from the English and pronunciation that I learned.

According to the author, there are some skills that I can use to help with remembering the names for my new classes.  Learning names and common core connections are her secrets.  She states that “These strategies can also become activities that the students do in class as a means for them to also learn content.” The strategies that were suggested are:

1.     Name cards with visuals or symbols could be done at the beginning of the year.  Assigning activities such as speaking before the class to help a guest speaker or a substitute teacher. The author adds this Common Core Connection to assignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.4.

2.     Allow students to speak and give presentations throughout year. “It’s as much up to the teacher to bring out a student as it is for a student to do their best for the teacher to see them for who they are,” according to Wolpert-Gawron.  The author writes that having students speak in front of you allows you to hear their voice and make connections with their face.  The Common Core Connection:  CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.8.4 and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST. 8.6.

3.     Keep faces associated with names and assignments.  According to author, “... I have students develop their digital portfolios, I always have them put a picture of themselves on their home pages.”  This strategy allows instructor to look at portfolio to see whose paper is being graded and it saves time.  Common Core Connection:  CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST. 8.5.

Multi-Modalities learning is another strategy that’s used by the author and it helps students embed information more efficiently.  However, the author suggests instructors consider the following:

1.     Have students create a glossary of academic vocabulary for any subject.

2.     Give students points for participation or speaking in class.

3.     Play music in background that is appropriate for the experiment that is being presented.

4.     Visual note taking using pictures to illustrate facts about a historic event.

5.     Pair text with facial expressions or use sound effects to embed rhythm.

These strategies may work better for K-12 classes because the instructor would have more time to plan for assignments as suggested by Wolpert-Gawron.

http://www.edutopia.org//blog/still-cant-remember-all-their-names-heather-wolpert

Cultivating Practical Optimism

Assignment Title:  Week 6 Blog 2

Cultivating Practical Optimism:  A Key to Getting the Best from Your Brain

Donna Wilson, PhD – November 25, 2014

This article illustrates how a student can get more from his brains by becoming more optimistic about life.  According to the author, “Neuroscientist recently discovered that optimism is associated with brain pathways connecting the left prefrontal region to the amygdala.” The author further states how optimism is considered to be an unchangeable trait and that it is mainly a way of thinking that can be learned as well as enhanced.  It is found that positive attitudes or viewpoints have less stress.

According to Wilson, “…as students become more optimistic, they are motivated to progress through learning difficulties and to attain higher levels of achievement.” Also, the more optimistic students are greater is their resistance to depression and negative effects of stress, according to Wilson.  As cited by Wilson, “The mantra “I think I can! I think I can!” from an all-time favorite story, The Little Engine That Could, illustrates practical optimistic thinking.”

Wilson and Conyers offer the following steps that can be used to aid in developing a positive classroom:

1.     Ask student if they are willing to learn to be more optimistic.

2.     Have students read aloud the story Treasure Hunters and Trash Collectors.

3.     Have students think of five things they actually like or feel good about.

4.     Have students create a concept map about these 5 things.

5.     Have student share these five things with five other people.

6.     Keep repeating this process and keep adding to their list.

According to Wilson, “Once learners understand that they have the capacity to increase their levels of practical optimism by the choices they make, many are highly motivated to do so.”

http://www.edutopia.org//blog/cultivating-practical-optimism-donna-wilson

Basket Weaving 101

Assignment Title: Week 6 Blog 3


Basket Weaving 101: How to Weave A Basket with Honeysuckle 
Cabe Atwell posted November 14, 2014

I enjoy using scraps of cloth for quilting or buying materials for a special quilt pattern.  I have even made Christmas wreaths out of grape vines. But, I never thought of making a basket out of Honeysuckle Vines.  Honeysuckles are the most beautiful plants I have ever seen with those beautiful golden yellow or red flowers.  My Mom used to cut a handful from the ditch bank and put them in a vase of water so that the fragrance could fill the room on a spring day.

Using Honeysuckle vines to weave a basket sounds simple to me right now.  According to Atwell, I will collect the vines in the fall or winter to save all the mess on the carpet. Then, I will boil the vines so that I can kill all bugs that may be in the bark. Also, boiling the vines loosens up the bark so that I can weave a smooth basket.

Now here comes the fun part.  Use the under-over weave method to weave your basket.  Keep weaving until you have a nice sized basket.  Now, if you’re really interested in learning to weave a basket visit Basket Weaving Fun.

http://makezine.com/2014/11/14/basket-weaving-101-how-to-weave-a-basket-with-honey