21st Century Skills

Your reaction to the Web site:
After viewing the website, The Partnership for 21st Century Skills I was very impressed and surprised with it. I knew changes were happening in the education and work environment but I didn't know something like The Partnership for 21st Century Skills was already established. I think it is great to have a national organization trying to change the education system.

What information on the site surprised you?
Honestly, somethings that surprised me were some of the new standards. They didn't seem so new to me. Having students be creative in class or collaborate and problem solve have been going on in classrooms for years....or at least I thought so. I guess the only difference now is that teachers will be held accountable? Which I think it a good thing.

Did you disagree with anything on the site? Explain.
I did not disagree with anything on the site. I think it is a positive effort to get all states on the right track by preparing students for the 21st century.

What are the implications for your students, and for you as a contemporary educator?
The implications for my students and myself are being held accountable for the new standards without the appropriate materials. For example, right now it is very difficult for me to incorporate technology because of lack of resources. So the Information, Media and Technology standard would be difficult for me.

I tried...

Last week I tried to introduce blogs to my class. When I mentioned blogs a few faces lit up. I asked those students what they thought they were. Of course, they start talking about Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. It scares me to think that my sixth graders are so aware and avid users of these social networking sites. I fear they do not completely understand the harm the sites can cause. I decide to talk about that a bit with them.

First I described the difference between social networking sites and blogs. I made it quite clear that we would not be using Facebook in school. Okay- I'm thinking that didn't go so bad. Tomorrow I will get into more detail. I knew I had to explain more what a blog was but I wasn't sure how to do it considering I don't have a projector or SmartBoard..or even a computer lab. So I decided to show a video that I watched for college on blogs. Well, these children hungry for tech in the classroom jumped out of their seats when they saw me wheel in a TV.

For the first time in awhile, I am getting excited from their excitement. I turn the TV on and put the DVD in....nothing. I tried to change the channel, the input, everything, nothing is working. Well, there goes that idea. Then a very smart boy says we can borrow the TV from down the hall. Okay this might work after all. I turn the TV on, put the DVD in and SUCCESS...the DVD menu appears on the screen. Using the remote, I press the down button to get to the third part....nothing happens. Trying to stay calm (I'm really about to throw the TV out the window) I switch the batteries with the TV remote and FINALLY...IT WORKS!

Blogging in Sixith Grade

Is anyone else beginning to notice the end of the year craziness in your students? As the weather continues to get warmer their behavior seems to get worse. Since we finished state testing last week, every time I give an instruction I hear moans and groans. Sometimes even yelling, "why do we have to still write? The NJASK is OVER!!" As I try to stay calm and explain that is not the only reason we are in school - I can't help but wonder how many students are actually listening to my thought provoking explanation of the importance of school.

I think now would be a great time to introduce the word BLOG to my students and I hope I can evoke a positive reaction from them. Since this is the first time I am talking about weblogs with my students, I will create a rubric similar to the rubric discussed in the DVD for this week, Spotlight on Education:Blogging. I thought it was a great way to lay out the rules for blogs as well as a starting point to explaining their purpose.

I have to admit, I am a bit apprehensive about beginning to blog with my class. It will be a challenge, but one I am willing to take. Since we don't have access to computers in the school, they will have to be done at home, which in some cases prevents me from making this assignment mandatory.

The first blogging assignment will be in response to Writing. Starting next week(tomorrow is our field trip and Friday is testing) I will have a Writer's Box. In the box will be various writing prompts to do done during writing workshop. The prompts vary in length and topic. On certain days we do not get to writing during school and those will be the days I would like students to utilize the class blog. A student will pick a prompt and the class will write it down for homework. At home they will respond to the prompt. I am hoping they will put more effort into the work, considering it will be on display. To follow up students will be required to respond to two of their classmate's posts.

This blog will help students with their writing skills because it requires them to think before they write. Student's proofreading skills will also be strengthened while they are reading their classmate's work. By responding to others, they are working on their communication skills.

I teach Language Arts and Social Studies to two sixth grade classes. My concerns are if I should use the blog with both classes, or just start with my homeroom and see how it goes before introducing it to my afternoon class. However, by introducing it two both classes, it could increase the conversation between the two. My other concern is the students not taking the blog seriously and using it more of a social networking took like Facebook. How can I make the distinction so they know this is more serious?

How can I teach without technology?!

I have recently found myself in an interesting predicament - I am stuck in a classroom and school with NO technology. You may find this hard to believe, but I assure you I am not lying. Well, maybe a little. We do have about 20 computers in the library, but can't access them with a class because that's where library is! Also, each teacher has one computer in the classroom, which isn't all it's cracked up to be...I'm not sure it even has a CD-ROM. It may seem odd to you that I am pursuing my Master's degree in Integrating Technology when I can't do much integrating. But it wasn't always this way...

Last year I was placed in a great school to complete my student teaching practicum. A few months into the year, the class received a SMART Board and document camera in addition to the four MAC computers we already had. We were one of two classrooms to have these high tech devices. I quickly embraced the SMART Board and document camera for everything. Walk into my room at anytime of the day and you would either see my students gathered around it or it displaying something for the students to work on at their desks. The resources were abundant and I found myself coming home searching for new lessons and activities - - the extra time was well worth it, given the cheers I would receive from the students when I turned the SMART Board on. This however, was all in the past....

A year later I embark upon a school stuck in the 1990's. Everything is old and outdated. It has been extremely difficult for me to have fallen back in time. At the same time it is invigorating to know how much I have to offer to this school. Without technology I find creating original lessons more tedious and difficult. I often come up with great ideas only to remember I don't have the resources to achieve what I want to. I am often frustrated with my school and myself because I feel completely lost in the classroom without technology.

I would like to create this blog as a starting point for people who may be in a similar situation as me, lack of technology with the overwhelming desire for it. I will be posting ways I have compensated and ways to incorporate technology with limited resources. This may also interest those who are ambivalent to change their old ways and embrace the wonderful world of technology and all it has to offer for our students. Please feel free to post any comments or suggestions.