EUD 6714-Reflection Week 8

Throughout this course I have learned about many valuable resources for differentiating instruction and implementing technology. I have been working through this course as well as another, EDU 6713, with both courses in session simultaneously I have been able to receive fabulous feedback from peers about ideas for implementing lessons in the classroom.

The differentiation station assignment using the NING was awesome. As mentioned before I was participating in this class and another which used a wiki to communicate with group members. I found the NING to be easier to access, communicate with peers, and post ideas. I really enjoyed the feature of adding blog posts and being able to have “chats” with classmates during a live session. This would be ideal for implementing my blog assignments in my classroom. I plan to change my blog through Google reader to a NING for my classroom. This may be a challenge since they are no long free to teachers but I hope to have my school pick up the cost if possible. I will start this at the beginning of the school year so my students have time to become accumulated with using the NING to communicate their ideas. I will also have students post different projects they complete to the site so their classmates can view their work.

The ideas of Universal Design for Learning will also be implemented in my classroom next year. Using the NING I will be able to have students work on problem based learning projects while implementing the three principles of UDL. I will work toward learning more about my students’ interests and learning styles so I can use these topics in my discussions and readings. Researching my students’ interests and taking the time to get to know them will also allow me to differentiate instruction for my students. Dr. Tomlinson suggests layering curriculum or assignments for students and I have taken the steps to do this for my first unit of the school year. These steps toward changing my instruction will take time but I plan to follow Tomlinson’s recommendation to take it one step at a time.

6713-Week 8 Refelction

Throughout this course I have learned many valuable teaching strategies, ideas for lessons, and how to make time for accomplishing educational goals. The GAME plan has taught me to take one step at a time and I will be able to improve my lessons and educational experience for my students.

I have also become more open to discussing these ideas with my colleagues and listening to their experiences with using different technologies in the classroom. I have been able to work closely with my counterpart on the other seventh grade team to develop lessons using different technologies. We have been able to share ideas for differentiating and cross teaming with each other to teach different elements of our curriculum. One of my GAME plan goals was to use and implement new technologies and this planning puts me one step closer to completing this goal.

I have also found many resources for helping my students set goals in my classroom. We will begin working on goal setting at the beginning of the school year and continue throughout so students can see the progress they make throughout the course of the year. These small steps that will be implemented at the start of the school year will allow me to meet my GAME plan goals and allow me to assist my students in creating their own GAME plans. I will have the students not only work on content goals but I will also have them work on technology goals. I will show them the NETS goals for students so they are able to see where students their age are supposed to be will the knowledge and usage of technology. I am so excited for next school year to be start! It will definitely be a year where my students and I are working on tackling our goals together.

Using the GAME Plan with Students-week7

The GAME plan process would be an excellent way to teach my students how to set goals that are attainable and work to achieve them. I have been highly motivated with my GAME plan and can not wait until next school year to implement some of the new tools I have found. In language arts I will be using a new program called Read 180 and all students will know their reading levels at the beginning of the year by a lexile score. I would love to have them use the GAME plan format to develop a plan for improving their reading level. I would also like for them to utilize the programs resources which are all technology based in order to help implement the plan they develop. I think this will be a great way for me to pass on the ideas of the GAME plan to my students at the beginning of next school year. This past year I was able to have students make goals about their work completion and grades. I feel this will be an easier way to chart, using Microsoft Excel, their progress and drive students to improve their reading skills.

Revising my GAME PLAN

Now that the school year has come to an end I feel like I have more time to research new technologies available for use in my classroom. I do not see making any changes to my current goals on my GAME plan but I definitely foresee adding goals! I did bring home my unit binders to work on implementation of technology and citing the sources I use to demonstrate ethical use to my students. I not only want to revisit and revamp each unit I teach during the year but I also want to plan an interdisciplinary unit with my math teacher. In this unit we would like the students to market a product and produce a budget for marketing. We have planned several meetings where we can begin planning this unit and figure out how to incorporate the science and social studies teachers as well.

At this point in the course I feel I have learned more about the NETS standards and although I feel my students are behind that I can help guide them to proficiency. Summer definitely has ignited a new spark and more time to work on my GAME Plan, even though I won't be able to implement this work until the fall.