Diigo List

I have created a diigo list called "Family Communication." Several resources are bookmarked which include handouts I have already sent/given to parents this year regarding reading and/or other learning at home. I also discovered these great reading newsletters which explain to parents the different comprehension strategies we are working on and how they can support their child by practicing and discussing with them. I have linked this diigo list to my school wires website as a sort of archive for parents to access these handouts that they may have tossed out or can no longer find in my first email attachment. The handouts can be accessed anytime, and as we move to new skills, old ones can be referenced and continued.

Why Kids Need Schools to Change

This article was indeed thought provoking. At times I even found myself laughing or thinking "yeah right!" For example:
"In an ideal world, the school day would reflect kids’ changing needs and rhythms. There would be time for free play; school would start later to allow time for students’ much-needed rest; the transition time between classes would be longer, allowing time for kids to walk down the hall and say hi to their friends and plan their next moves; kids would have the opportunity to step away from school “work” in order to regroup and process what they’ve absorbed. “The actual encoding of information doesn’t take place when you’re hunched over a desk,” she said."

I guess that's why the article states, "But until the directive comes from those in power — national and state policymakers, superintendents, principals..." There's nothing I can do as a teacher about making those changes. I have to think about WHAT I CAN DO. I can try and incorporate the latest technology and make learning engaging and rewarding. I can explore the suggested "Five Criteria that Challenge Success."

1. Project-Based Learning
My education program at Mizzou was this and I loved it! I understand because I'm not the best test taker myself. I was able to perform and showcase my knowledge. I was extremely successful.

2. Alternative Assessment
My daily frustration!!! I have a couple students who tank my eValuate average every month! No, they are not performing at a third grade level, but they are learning and progressing.

3. Scheduling
A high-school memory of frustration...tests all on one day!

4. Climate of Care
Something I think we do well. :-)

5. Parent Education
Many parents do not VALUE their child's education and it shows! There is way too much screen time! A balance of play, exercise, and schoolwork is needed. At 24 I feel I'd be a more competent parent than so many who are. Parent education is important!

That's my soap box on needed school change.

Using Facebook in the Classroom

After reading the blog post "8 Real Ways Facebook Enriched Ms. Schoening's First Grade Class" I thought about the ideas suggested that I am already using with my classroom Facebook page as well as new ideas I might try. For example, as the teacher, I am the only one that currently posts on our page on behalf of our class. I never thought about letting my students post to the page, showing it to them, and making them more a part of it...our class page instead of my class page. I have some questions though that were not clear in reading the post. Do the students post via her log in (i.e. "Miss Chapman's Class"), or do they have a seperate log in like "student" or do they each have their own log in to post on the class page? How does that work as they cannot have Facebook being under 13. I'd like to know more about the methods used for having students contribute and post to the page.

I have been using the photo albums to post pictures of students working and learning as well as student work. However, I need to begin to do it more frequently now that we have iPads. I think utilizing the "notes" section for students to publish a piece of writing is an interesting idea for sharing and something I may think about in the future.