#1 National Archives
I reviewed the "Charters of Freedom A New World is at Hand" Exhibit. The exhibit presents subheadings of "Making of the Charters", "The Declaration", "The Constitution", "The Bill of Rights", and "The Impact of the Charters". It is very comprehensive in its content. The history of the formation of the United States of America is summarized on each page along with images of original documents. It offers downloadable high resolution images of the founding documents.
I read about the Virginia Declaration of Rights written by George Mason which served as the basis for the first part of the federal Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. In addition, I learned that George Mason was a vocal opponent of the originally draft of the U.S. Constitution, because, as he said, "it has no declaration of rights." So, James Madison relied on Mason's document when he wrote the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Using primary sources in a classroom gives credibility and lays a foundation for understanding history based on fact and not opinion. In presenting the primary sources to students, a teacher brings to life conceptual ideas. In reviewing the founding documents of our country, students can gain an unbiased and accurate account of history.
#2 National Education Association
Achievement Gaps: Becoming a Culturally Competent Educator
Some students groups that experience achievement gaps are students who are disabled, English language learners, low-income, and minorities.
Areas which fit my teaching style:
1. "Determine the diverse groups served by your school. Consider cultural, linguistic, racial, and ethnic diversity. Find out the degree to which families and students in these groups are accessing available school services." I believe this is the place to start on the road to being a culturally competent school. First assessing the involvement of families and students from the above diverse groups will give an indication where the efforts of outreach should be targeted. I could, like others, make the mistake of assumptions of certain groups, but a thorough study of the access and interaction that these groups make to the school is imperative. One of my strengths is community outreach, so I feel this action would fit well with my style. All must feel welcome and I would get out the message that available services are for all groups.
2. "Network with other schools that are developing and implementing culturally competent systems. Adapt the processes and information that are consistent with your school's needs and interests." I believe in not reinventing the wheel when it's already working. I have followed in the footsteps of masters at different levels of my education and employment, and I believe it would be most effective and efficient to network with other schools. This action matches my teaching style, because creating equity in a culturally diverse classroom and school is very important. I want to share what is working at our school and use what is working at other schools. Every school has different needs and interests and I would work diligently to customize the processes and information to implement a culturally competent system at my school.
3. "Gather and organize resource materials related to culturally diverse groups for use by school staff." This area matches my teaching style well because I believe knowledge is power and that other staff would benefit from resource materials that I will gather. My MacBrook Pro software comes with an organizer that is like a virtual library. I can scan the barcode of a book and develop a list of resources that can is organized. Then I can track the book when someone checks it out. I have an extensive personal library, and I would enjoy gathering and organizing resource materials that others can utilize. The goal is to expand the knowledge of school staff to improve the understanding and ultimately the achievement of diverse groups.
#3 Stop Cyber Bullying
My score on the quiz is 0 – 5 Points: Cyber Saint Your online behavior is exemplary! Keep up the good work! I have not engaged in any of the activities described in the quiz. I always treat people online or when texting like I would in person, with the utmost courtesy and respect for their privacy and feelings. Internet and phone communication can be anonymous, but I don't see the payoff in what is described in the quiz. I use the Golden Rule in life, and that is why I am not a cyberbully.
I reviewed the Instant Messaging 101 article. I didn't know much about IM, but now I understand it is what kids do online more than anything else. The most popular technology is AOL's AIM, and other free applications from Yahoo and MSN. SPAM that shows up in instant messaging is called SPIM. Students have used IM to cheat while in school. Children and parents must be aware of online predators trying to make IM connections. I also reviewed Parry Aftab's guide for schools on cyberbullying. I learned that cyberstalking or harrassment (when an adult is on one side of the other) is considered a crime in 46 states. There have been legal cases when a teacher or school sues after a student makes a defamatory insult online. Unfortunately, the ACLU has sued on behalf of the student with the defense the insult occurred off premises. The ACLU has won in most cases, costly the school over $50,000 in legal fees. However, recently courts are starting to rule more in favor of schools.
In my classroom, I will be more aware of the prevalence of devices that students may use to cheat by using IM. I will prohibit all devices. And I will feel confident that if a student should cyber bully or harrass me, another student or teacher, that there will be a case that will stand up in court.
#4 Kathy Schrock's Guide to Educators
This is a great resource. We have used the free clip art gallery, and I plan use this site for ideas frequently - to get and to give ideas that are working in the classroom. I read about first day, start of school ice breakers. An approach that was mentioned was asking students their expectations of the teacher and asking them how they learn best. Another idea was to ask students their favorite song, TV show, and movie and then pull them out at the end of the school year. Then I read a piece about gadgets in the classroom. Podcasts, digital cameras and camcorders, gps system, interactive whiteboards, and videoconferencing are some of the gadgets I see myself using with my students to enhance their education.
#5 Multiple Intelligences
Gardner's 8 separate human capacities: musical, verbal-linguistic, bodily-Kinesthic, interpersonal, visual-spatial, logical-mathematical, and intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
The results of the quiz:
1. 88% Logical-mathematical
2. 88% Intrapersonal
3. 88% Interpersonal
My top 3 scores were coincidentally equal, with Verbal-linguistic close behind at 83%. I took the quiz (although I remember it being longer) about two months ago and verbal-linguistic was the 2nd highest.
I watched the MI: Leave No Child Behind. The school that the video was about values all of the learning capacities equally. The school assesses each student and helps the student to identify his or her strengths. This helps the student focus on the choice of a career path. One teacher from the video lamented the interference of the No Child Left Behind Act. She said that its focus on testing gets in the way of MI- based teaching and reduces the creativity and originality. She also stated that we need to teach more processes of how to learn and not more information.
#6 Teaching Tolerance Lesson Idea
"Student Service Reflection: A Different Kind of Vacation
Grade: 6-8 Subject: Social Studies Topic: U.S. History
This article is written by a high school senior who heard the call to volunteer. He traveled with 40 other students and 2 teachers. It was not a school sanctioned trip, so the teachers were called leaders. They gave the students articles to reflect on and discuss on their 20 hour trip to New Orleans. The topic of the articles were global warming, racism, and poverty. The organization he was a part of was Common Ground Collective. Its core slogan is solidarity, not charity. In the Ninth Ward, he and the others help gut mold-infested houses to save the frames for the owners who claimed the houses. Otherwise, the houses that were flooded were to be bulldozed.
The teachers provided the group with the above topics of discussion which significantly added to the experience of the students. I was drawn to this article, because I too traveled on my spring break vacation in my senior year of college to a disaster area. I gutted houses with Habitat for Humanity in Charleston, S.C., which had been previously decimated by Hurricane Hugo. I was also lucky to help build a new house for a family who I met. I will never forget the smiles on the faces of the children. One of my favorite pictures is of me giving one of the girls, who was about 6, a piggyback ride. It was a memorable experience that I hope to share with students someday and show them that there is more to a vacation than getting a tan. You can make a difference in the lives of others who need a hand. One of the best ways of helping is getting your hands dirty in the process.
#7 EdChange Multicultural Awareness Quiz
I scored 10 correct / 5 incorrect
2 Questions from the Equity and Diversity Quiz I found most interesting:
Question
| Based on a 2007 report from the Economic Policy Institute, the annual earnings of the average full-time U.S. worker is roughly equal to: the hourly earnings of the average CEO in the U.S. the daily earnings of the average CEO in the U.S. the weekly earnings of the average CEO in the U.S. the monthly earnings of the average CEO in the U.S. | |
| |
Compared with their U.S.-born peers, how likely are immigrant men in the U.S., ages 18-39, to be in jail or prison, according to a 2008 report from the Immigration Policy Center?
15 times more likely
5 times more likely
equally likely
5 times less likely
The quiz stated the answer "5 times less likely" as the correct answer. This does not seem to me to be correct. I chose "5 times more likely", which would follow the logic of the other questions and answers.
#8 Netiquette
My Netiquette Quiz Score: 100%
Why I should teach students about Netiquette:
Netiquette stands for network etiquette or the etiquette of cyberspace. It is a set of rules for behaving properly online. The website presents excerpts from the book Netiquette by Virginia Shea. Shea's "Core Rules"are the classic introduction to the subject and are widely cited in cyberspace. They are guidelines for proper online behavior.
It is important to teach students about netiquette for several reasons. In the cyberspace culture there are social norms and core rules that students should follow. Students who are educated about these norms and rules are less likely to offend others and less likely to be offended. Mistakes can be avoided if you know the "core rules". Being sensitive to others' emotions is very important. Using emoticons, or textual expressions representing a writer's mood or facial expression, can help others understand your sentiment and meaning. :-> is an example and means both a smile of happiness or sarcasm. This dual meaning may actually lead to confusion, so I would not recommend it. Using an emoticon should clarify the tenor or sentiment of a statement. Teaching students about the benefits of netiquette and emoticons will allow them to have a better online experience.
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