Multimedia Projects

  I enjoyed reading and listening to all the projects.  April's Storybird multimedia project was fascinating.  I like the illustrations and the text was great.  The pictures and text fit together well.  Storybird is what I would like to try with my students in creating their own stories or sequencing events.  The project was scary at first, but once I got involved in the task; I began to enjoy it.  I got the hang of voicethread.  Now I would like to attempt to use other multimedia tools.  I did try voicethread with my students.  They were very eager to learn how and to manipulate the tool.  Tonia's Little Bird Tale on ipad2 was exciting to listen to as well.  I can relate to this one, because my niece uses an ipad all the time to color, count, read, etc.  It is so amazing what children can do at younger ages.
   

Oct. 27. Multimedia Project and Resources/Webinars

     I have began to experiment with the different multimedia sites that Dr. Long shared with us.  They have been very interesting and fascinating.  I have already register on Storybird and Little Bird Tales.  All are very eye catching.  Animoto and Voice Thread were neat to critique as well.  I have decided on a topic.  I would like to express the importance of Reading and Writing.  Reading and Writing help to enhance comprehension.  I am excited to be able use pictures, music, and voice.  I will try my best to make it has creative, informative, persuasive as possible. 
     The  Simple K12 Webinars are all very informative.  I have signed up for one on Digital Storytelling and Virtual Field Trips.
    

Oct. 13, 2011 Class Session/Blogging

     I wanted to take time to reflect on last weeks class session in the computer lab.  It was interesting to search for multimedia topics.  To be honest I am like the children, with technology I need to apply the skills and practice before actually presenting and creating technology pieces.  I am looking forward to manipulating the apps on the ipads.  All the different apps and websites to visit make teaching, learning, and reflecting exciting.
     Actually blogging about different topics throughout the semester has helped me to reflect in graduate school classes and also reflect on my teaching.  I will admit, when we first started blogging I was not sure of myself.  It definately helps me to read other blogs and relate to them.  The encouragement through blogging has helped me to become more self-confident.  I have learned the importance of reflection.  I feel that it has helped me with my procedures and expectations in my second grade classroom.  I am trying my best to apply what I am learning in graduate school to become a better leader in the classroom and educator.

Toward a Theory of New Literacies Emerging From the Internet and Other Information and Communication Technologies

     The article was very true in saying that literacy is full of change.  Literacy is on a roller coaster ride with the development and change of technology.  Children in this day and time absolutely are learning in different ways and require technology base instruction and assessment.  Technology is what children are growing up with in the home.  To teach literacy effectively, new technologies need to be explored.  Technology is a great influence professionally and personally.  It effects daily lives.  Literacy is instructed through the social networking of technology.  Literacy is emerging due to the technology digital networking.  Technology also gives educators and children assess to different types of literature.  In order to gain high performance you have to be willing to change and move in a fast pace in using the technology skills.  Technology needs to be presented appropriately.  The Internet is rapidly changing.  Technology absolutely is here to stay.  Everyone needs to hop on the ride and manipulate the technology effectively professionally and personally.

Chapter 2 Exposing What Is True (Warlick)

     The truth is that the world is changing at a fast pace.  Our children's learning styles are technology equipped.  Educators are definitely going to have to keep up with the latest trends of technology.  Educators and students are life long learners.  Educators need to be willing to think outside of the box.    We have access to the world and we can learn from people in different parts of the world.  We need to take access to the digital realm and empower it effectively involving children and adults.  Educators should use the resources at hand and learn from them.  It is obvious that technology is always changing and everyone needs to keep up in order to function.

Chapter 1 A Day in the Life of School 2.0-2015 (Warlick)

     This chapter was interesting.  As I read, I reflected on how much and how I use technology everyday.  I need to present technology in different ways.  We as educators need to integrate 21st century skills and work styles into our teaching.  Children have different learning styles during this day and time.  Warlick wrote that for the first time in history, our job, as educators, is to prepare our students for a future that we cannot clearly describe.  This statement is absolutely true and scary at the same time.  Educators have to be willing to learn of new tools to teach with.  The 21st century tools are more effective for our students.  Students use these tools everyday.  Technology needs to be delivered effectively in order for the students to understand and manipulate the technology tools appropriately.  Twitter, facebook, blogs, wikis, and skype are just a few forms of technology communication.  Technology has a broad span of forms and uses.  Educators need to be willing to incorporate the technology in the classroom and at home to become effective users.  Students and teachers can customize their own technology.  Students are more willing to manipulate skills when they can show ownership to them.

Chapter 3 Conferring Through Blogs, Wikis, and Collaborative Word Processors (Hicks)

     I enjoyed reading chapter 3.  You definitely compose more concrete texts, both individually and collaboratively through blogs, wikis, and collaborative word processors.  The writings can be developed through blogs, wikis, and collaborative word processing tools.  Relationships are built through digital writing connections.  Individuals tend to communicate better and effectively through the digital connections.  I feel this is due to distance and comfort.  This allows individuals to freely comment on writings.  I also agree when the author says that digital writing tools enhance the writer's workshop conversation, and allows the writer to do most of the talking and guidance is given through careful questioning and feedback.  Students are eager to use blogs and wikis rather than pencil and paper. 
     Students absolutely need peer collaboration and teacher response.  This builds classroom community.  Children need confidence, learn new strategies, and conversation.  They can build all three of those with digital writing.  The classroom community needs to linger on beyond the school day.  Conversation is an important factor of writing.  The more students collaborate with each other the better their fluency and writing potential will become. 
     Students create needs and artifacts through digital workshop.  It also allows teachers and peers to give constructive feedback.  It is great that all resources are at hand with digital documents.  Editing and revising are more effective when using digital documents.  Most individuals are on the computer everyday anyway.  This form of technology also allows students to generate ideas from peers and teachers.
     Storing all writings in one location is great.  New and old documents can be kept to reflect back on.  The blog sites are also created by multiple bloggers and this enhances ideas, conversation, writing, reading, reflection, and feedback.  Children get to connect with multiple writers and learn of new ideas and techniques. Children are more willing to participate and attempt tasks through online communication.  Children are also exposed to different styles, genres, and forms of writing.
     The wikis invite students and parents to collaborate.  The wikis are a great form of communication with parents and students.  Wikis help students to grow as writers.  Students will become better writers by developing wikis.  Wikis definitely open up discussions and allow editing and collaboration between students, peers, parents, and teachers. The can also generate discussion about specific writing topics. Tracking the writings are a lot quicker with digital documents.

Art

I enjoyed observing the beautiful art.  There were many different styles of art.  Some art was bright other art was not so bright.  As I looked around at the different pieces, they showed and expressed different meanings.  There was one particular piece that caught my attention.  The piece was of a man looking up.  To me the man was praying; maybe asking for help or praise.  He could have been reflecting on his day.  Like I said earlier, art has many different meanings.  What is fun about it is everybody is right in their own interpretation.  Art is feelings and expressions.

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

  Educators do need to keep up to date and trained in using technology.  Technology is like clothing and slang, it changes frequently.  Children in the 21st century do have a different way of learning and we have to accommodate those learning styles.  My students love when I use technology to teach.  They also enjoy using the technology themselves.  Technology is what they are use to .  As in the article "Just Do It", educators need to get use to using technology and also absolutely needs support from parents and the administrators. 

Preparing Tomorrow's English Language Arts Teachers Today: Principles and Practices for Infusing Technology

     Technology is definitely an important part of classroom instruction.  It was interesting to read how students communicate with students in other parts of the world.  Technology serves as a corresponding network for education.  Students can benefit from using technology as a tool in the classroom.  Technology is important in teaching literacy and also provides a wide range of opportunities for the children.  Equity and diversity can be emphasized while using technology.  If teachers would use technology in teaching writing, students could peer edit writings.  Technology can also be used when developing a writing assignment.  Technology does engage students in the learning process.  Students do need to be educated on new technology terms to be successful in the 21st century.  Students also discover and use email, twitter, facebook, etc. daily.  These are forms of communication in the 21st century.  Technology needs to be used to help relate and teach students to help them to develop different skills.  Educators do come together to correlate technology into the content being taught.

Semiotic representations: Building complex literacy practices through the arts

     Using visual arts allows students to enhance their literacy.  Children express themselves in different ways, therefore their learning style is different.  The semiotic representations allows the students to use inquiry based learning to try to understand meanings and dig deeper into a text to express what it means.  I do agree that art is definitely a system of communication.  All the interaction makes students want to learn and get involved in their own learning.  I am eager to listen to Dr. Long define and explain the semiotic representations to see if I understood the article.

The Arts, New Literacies, and Multimodality

     I enjoyed reading this article.  I found it interesting the way literacy was redefined.  Educators should be prepared to teach students how to view and use multimedia texts in the world.  Students do learn more about literacy outside of school.  They learn from their surroundings.  The arts allows students to express themselves in different ways.  Social literacy is very important in a child's literacy development.  Students need to collaborate with one another.  This builds literacy and social skills.  The arts also engages the students into learning.  They feel a part of the arts and makes it about themselves.
     Reading about aesthetics education was interesting.  Aesthetics education allows students to be their own person and feel confident.  Aesthetics education also gives students the tools to recognize, notice, reflect, and appreciate education and their surroundings.  Reflecting is very important for students and educators.  I agree that students need to find a significance of education to appreciate it.  Children need to be allowed to be creative and have their own style.  Art is interesting because it does not have a single definition.  It can be interpreted in different ways.  Art is excellent for all types of learners.
     New literacy studies allow students to use different styles of technology.  This is very important since it is the 21st century.  Multimedia allows a wide range of communication throughout the world.  All is at our finger tips.

Infographics

     I really enjoyed watching the video A Picture Is Worth 1000 Words.  A picture is definitely worth 1000 words.  Children learn by seeing things visually.  The colors in the infographics would really catch a students attention.  Most teachers use thinking maps and graphs to teach skills.  So teaching with infographics would be a lot of fun.  Teachers would just be accommodating 21st Century learning by manipulating the thinking maps and graphs into infographics.  We has teachers have to learn the new technology to teach today's students.  I have a lot to learn myself. 
     After observing the Links to Resources, I found some of the links to be something I could use in my classroom.  The They Draw and Cook link could be used in my second grade class when teaching sequencing, following steps, and following procedures.   Flags By Colors could also be used when teaching about the American flag and when teaching about pie charts.  The students could create their on infograph after making the flag.  The flag would then be manipulated in two different ways. 

September 11, 2001

The resources on 9/11 were great to read about.  I am excited to have this information to use in my classroom.  While reading about the different links in classroom resources, I found several that I could use.  A Nation of Many Cultures could be used to teach my second graders about family, heritage, and people's interests.  The World of Peace would also be interesting to incorporate in my classroom.  All children could learn the importance of getting along and its benefits.  The American Flag link is something I will use to teach the symbolism, history, and the proper way to display the flag.  The Nick News video was exciting to discover.  My second graders would most likely understand the significance of 9/11 with the interviews of children and them asking questions. The video also shows illustrations of New York City on the day of 9/11 and the actions and disruptions of what happened.  It also shows the importance of remembering the ones we lost and learning about what now is history.  Children need to learn the importance of their American history and how it relates to today.  Children could also learn about the different service workers (policemen, firemen, and rescue workers) that helped in 9/11. 

Hurricanes

I enjoyed the sites on Hurricanes.  This week I have been reading books about weather to my students.  We have related the books to the recent hurricane and their experiences.  The Hurricane 1 website that focuses on Extreme Weather on Earth was interesting and The Science of Hurricanes.  With my second graders I could focus on force and motion.  We could discuss each slowing down, speeding up, and changing direction.  In second grade we could also teach about the causes of air pressure, water, and wind.  My children seem to be eager to learn more about what weather they have experienced.  The Hurricane 2 website was also interesting to read about.  The students could learn how technology and science are used to track hurricanes.  Students would love to learn how to identify, measure, and track powerful storms.  Children get into all the action involved in teaching about different types of weather.  Since the hurricane experience public awareness is another informative topic that I found from the different websites.  The awareness of what is going on with the storm, school closings, local shelters, and local feeding locations were very important for the students themselves.   Second graders can also benefit from learning and having actually experienced what occurs before and after a hurricane.  The link to the: hurricane center, hurricane tool kit, quick tips, and activity survival kit is wonderful to have acess to. 

Riddle

  Chapter one was very interesting to read.  At the beginning of the chapter Riddle caught my attention when he said that "children's ability to make meaning from text deepens and grows as they make connections between reading and writing."  We as teachers need to learn to manipulate and teach how to interprete and communicate the meaning of images to develop a vision.  As teachers read students are constantly asking to see the pictures.  They are trying to make a visual connection with the text.  Venn diagrams and KWL charts are consistently used to help students visually see what the text means.  The "Now Show Me" strategy helps students to connect images to the symbolism in the text.  Students are connecting their drawing to the meanings.  I enjoy allowing my students to illustrate text.  Illustrating and then writing the text helps students to generate an analysis of the visual information.  The slide shows and collages were also very interesting to read about.  These are strategies that I am eager to try in my classroom.

Harste

     After reading the article,  I feel that this is a very unique way to teach literacy.  Harste is correct when saying that you have to find what the students interests are in order to find topics that will generate conversation.  This year we are encouraged to teach with alot of discussion among the students.  When reading the article, this is what I thought about.  I feel that the students will learn better when engaged in a particular discussion to learn.  In our classrooms, there are so many ethnicity groups and backgrounds that are challenging.  Teachers need to become aware of the race and cultural groups to integrate different topics in teaching for all children to beable to discuss and feel comfortable sharing.  Ones culture is who they are.  When students become detectives, is when they learn the most.

Goals

There are three main goals I have set to accomplish.  One goal is to use more higher order thinking skills when teaching literacy throughout all subject areas.  The second goal is to apply more research knowledge to teaching in my classroom.  I want to take back the strategies that I learn to help engage my students in the 21st century ways of  learning.  Another goal would be for me to become more confident in conducting conversation in front of my peers.  I feel that I have gotten better in my ability and confidence in making observations during staf meetings.  I would like to become a better leader. 

"What I Have Learned"

     First of all, I really enjoyed the last night of class.  The units  were very time consuming and interesting.  I enjoyed exploring historic Murfreesboro.  Thanks so much for all in unit websites and resources that were given for us to use and manipulate.  All the units can be used in some way.  I found it fun to create a unit that we can actually use and it is fun.  I acquired a lot of good ideas I want to take back to my classroom.  All the reflecting has helped me to become better.  Reflections are so important.  Everyone should reflect everyday.  Why continue a strategy or technique that is not working for you or your students. 
     I enjoyed reading about and researching literature circles.  I found them very intriguing to read about; and they can be integrated using most subject areas.  Reading about classroom workshop was interesting as well.  Classroom workshops take a lot of practice, structure in the classroom, and procedures should be followed at all times for them to be successful.  The reflective assessment chapter was also very informative.  I have used most of the assessments that I read about.  I need to do a better job of taking anecdotal records.  Conferences should be held daily with students for them to stay motivated and eager to learn. 
     Teaching The Best Practice Way was an interesting read; a lot of the techniques I had heard about.  There were techniques that I could relate to.  Some of the methods were shown in a different format.  I found this very interesting.  I love to learn of new ways and ideas of doing things.  Teachers learn from each other and share ideas. 

Chapter 7 Reflective Assessment

  There are many forms of assessment.  Students should be assessed in different ways because all children learn differently.  Personally I think test (paper and pencil) are not the best forms of assessment.  When teaching writing:  I enjoy having students make portfolios to keep their writings in.  After my students put their thoughts on paper I also enjoy conferencing with them.  I enjoy talking with my students and having them explain their thoughts and encourage them to write with details.  The portfolios also show the progress of the students and also allows students to go back and edit and read their work.  The anecdotal record keeping is what I need to do more of.  Anecdotal recording keeping is a must to make sure that everyday runs smoothly and progress and behavior are monitored.  Using this type of record keeping allows the teacher to make sure she/he has what they need for conferencing and documentation. 
     The Red Capes have a discussion of different forms of assessment.  One is an observational assessment and monitoring students' progress and steps of research.  Our students will be role playing and completing research on the John Wheeler House.  The students will be required to complete research and be able to portray someone from that time period. 

Chapter 6 Authentic Experiences

     Authentic experiences within the classroom are very important to have students engage in to learn.  Children need real life experience to relate to when exploring goals and objectives.  Teachers need to use more exploring, observing techniques, and strategies in the classroom in order for students to be able to learn how to solve problems.  Children need to be able to know and understand how to solve problems on their own rather then depending on the teacher for the answer(s).  Inquiry questions are generated from student experiences.  Inquiry should be used in all subjects.  Inquiry becomes more possible with a classroom community, responsibility, expression, technology, and diversity already in place.  Children need to be enlightened about their surroundings and be able to investigate to find the solutions.

Task 3

     This lesson of the unit will be directed toward second graders.  My lesson will consist of comparing and contrasting the physical appearance of one of the historical homes in Murfreesboro today and the house the way it looked back in the day.  I would also like to focus on the layout of the inside and outside of the house.  I would like for my students to compare and contrast the way people dressed back then to the way we dress today and the lifestyles.
     Language arts will be integrated within the lesson by reading different books on homes and lifestyles and using literature circles to discuss the similarities and the differences.  The arts will be integrated, students will look at different pictures of homes and different pictures of the way people dress.  The students will also create clothing of their own that look like the culture of the past and present.  Social Studies will be integrated by students making a timeline of the changes of culture and when the different styles of landscape, architecture, and clothing style changed.  Math will be integrated using the addition and subtraction skills to see how long the change took.   The students will use the computer to research the different historical homes and owners and of the different art work.  They will also research the culture of the past.   Science will be integrated when the students map out the needs and wants of the different cultures.  The students will realize that the needs and wants are very different today.
     I will use different graphic organizers to prepare and teach the lesson.  At the end of the lesson the students will write in a journal and share what they learned. 
     I would use this link to show students two pictures: one of the portrait of a boy, after 1810 by Jacob Marling; and another picture of Mrs. James Russell, about 1770 by John Singleton Copley. (looking at the clothing and style)

http://ncmoa.org/artnc/worksofart.php?artist=null&medium=null&region=30&startPost=10

I will also continue to search for different styles of homes and the appearance of the slaves.

Task 2

     I would love to use in my classroom and in my unit the Exploring Community History activity.  After all that is what we are doing within our unit and integrating other resources and subjects.  My students would make observations of pictures on the internet, in books, and some that they could bring in from home.  This way they can make a connection.  The students will analyze the pictures and compare and contrast the pictures.  This way they are using visual images and they are hypothesizing what year and type of culture is within the picture.
     In our unit we could have students look at different pictures of older homes and their landscape.  Students can also look at the different clothing styles.  Students could compare and contrast to see the differences and similarities. 
     Students for sure can use literature circles to discuss their findings with questions given to each group.  The students can compare and contrast the new and the old pictures.  The students can look at the home the way it originally was back in the day and look at the way the same site looks today.  They can discuss the similarities and the differences.
     The map skill activity was interesting as well.  The students can look at the way homes are layed out today and compare and contrast the older homes.  Students can focus on where the kitchens are and if there was a washer and dryer.  They can create a map of the home and yard.  Students may notice that there were separate headquarters for the slaves.  Students will learn of the culture change.
     Students can also write about what they learned and what they still wonder about.  What they still wonder about, they could do more research on and share later.

Task 1

     As I read chapter4, I found some very interesting strategies to use in our unit.  As discussed in the chapter the topics, themes, concepts, and big ideas are very important when teaching units.  Teachers have to prepare their students to learn the standards. 
     Our focus is going to be on one of the historical homes in Murfreesboro.  So the topic will be looking at the landscaping and built of the house along with the culture that lies within the house.  The students will be comparing and contrasting the past and present by using a timeline to focus on slavery and the style of the home.  Our topic will focus on the people of that time along with what the places and surroundings looked like, and what type of lifestyle was being lived. 
     Our theme will focus of course on the past and comparing and contrasting the past and present.  Culture will be researched with technology.  Students will learn of the different cultures who lived in the home and why the home was set up the way it was.  Students can compare and contrast this historical home and the way homes look today and why.  Another theme to be addressed would be the time, continuity, and change.  Students will definately be able to see the time period the home was lived in and built and how styles and cultures have changed.  A key concept is culture in this unit, and focusing on past and present with lifestyle and the way people dressed.  The big idea is for students to see the differences of the past and present and to use a timeline to see when and how things changed. 
     I will use several graphic organizeres to compare and constrast the past and the present themes:  clothing, style of home, landscape of home, and lifestyle.  It is important to help children make connections by reading them books and asking them questions about the historical site. 
     I will use the think pair share activity with my students.  The students will read books about different lifestyles and cultures of the past.  Students will share with other students on the book they have read.  This could also work with literature circles.   

Professional Articles Experience

     Hello everyone!  I wanted to discuss my experience with my professional articles.  The topic I chose was literature circles.  One of my articles discussed using literature circles in social studies.  The article defined literature circles as a small, student-led discussion group; which members are discussing the related texts.  Each student was involved in the discussion and was made to participate.  The students wanted to participate in the discussion of  Christopher Columbus' texts.  There was a lot of discussion going on.  The students learned from each other.  They also used higher order thinking skills.
     My second article discussed the importance of using engagement strategies and literature circles in reading fairy tales.  Each small group was made up of 4-6 students.  Each had a job in the group.  The students worked together to understand and comprehend the text.  They worked effectively together.
     After reading both articles, I can see using literature circles and integrating subjects like literature and social studies.  It was very interesting to see how much the students learned and were involved.  It is important that the students can relate to and use what they are discussing and/or learning.  It becomes more meaningful to them, and they are more willing to participate and do their best. 
    
 

Chapter 3 Representing To Learn

Chapter 3 was very interesting to read.  The journaling I found very interesting and will try soon.  I enjoyed reading about the start up activity.  This could be an activity to see what prior knowledge the students have about a certain topic.  It was interesting to read about clustering which can help students to map and remember key concepts. My students will love mindmapping because they love to draw.  I feel that most teachers use the thinking maps, but it is always nice to learn of different strategies and activities to use.  Students become motivated with new strategies and ideas.

Marianna Cotten EDUC 520 Teaching The Best Practice Way Chap. 1/Chap. 2

  I found reading Chapter 1 very interesting.  It is very true that personality, background, tastes, attitudes, experiences, and what we learn as a student of teaching are factors that determine how we go about teaching.  The key structures of teaching:  reading-as-thinking, representing-to-learn, small group activities, classroom workshop, authentic experiences, reflective assessment, and interactive units are strategies that teachers use everyday and play a key role in being an effective teacher.  There is a lot of diversity in the classroom and many different learning styles that need to be addressed and acknowledged.  Technology is an important asset in the classroom.  Students learn by using and/or applying technology; this is very true.  Teachers need to want to learn up to date technology so we want lose the students.
     I found it very interesting reading about the different strategies of teaching reading.  I agree that you have to capture a child's interest of reading through their interests and helping them to make connections.  As a teacher, I enjoy using the senses to help students to comprehend what they are reading.  The KWL charts, bubble maps, and the Venn Diagram are thinking maps that I used effectively in the classroom.  I enjoyed reading about the strategies in Chapters 1 and 2.  Some I have used and others I will certainly try. 
    

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Marianna Cotten.  I graduated from East Carolina University. Now I am attending Chowan University to complete the Education Graduate Program. I work as a second grade teacher at Willis Hare Elementary School in Northampton County.