Week 4

After looking through websites that we learned about in this unit I struggled to use photofunia. Having said that I think that it could be a fun opener in class. I could create an interesting picture with my face or likeness in it. Then I could ask the students to write a story explaining the picture (the length based on their level and grade). Perhaps as a bonus or homework the students could make their own picture (as a extra credit maybe their friends could write a story about another friends picture.  Additionally, I learned a lot about MS Paint. There were a lot of things that I didn't know were possible for example adding a grid to the picture or to paint with my picture. In conclusion I learned a lot about a few ways to manipulate pictures. I am not entirely sure how to use these in class, but I think that these websites can definitely come in handy.

The Voice

I was recently asked what was the most important lesson that I learned from my host teacher, I answered as follows:
"The most important lesson that I have learned from my host teacher is that the teacher has a voice. I learned this on the very first day of my fieldwork. As I was waiting the start of my class my host teacher had a disagreement with on of the heads of the staff. And she was not afraid to speak her mind she said what she felt in a respectful way and stood her ground. Until then I kinda had the image that teachers were alone and had no say and had to trudge on dispite misbehaving students and overnosey parents. But in that moment I realized that teachers have a voice the have rights and they should and need to stand behind those rights. When a student is misbehaving don't be afraid to elevate your tone or reprimand him/her. Your voice is another one of the many tools that we have at our disposal in and out of the classroom so it is important to utilize it at every opportunity. So I would have to say that  the most important lesson that I learned from my host teacher is to use your voice whether it is a misbehaving student, a less than respectful parent, or even an administrator who is unfair with your workload use you voice appropriately and responsibly and you may reap the rewards."

Obviously this answer was typed in response to a question asked in school. However I honestly believe what I typed. And I believe that teachers have a voice that isn't always heard. I would like to be a teacher who can have a positive impact on either education in general or at least my class.

Week 3

I have learned many new websites that I can use in the classroom as a future teacher. So many cool thing I don't know where to start. Ok first I'll start with the king website, Symbaloo. A site that boasts that you will make it your homepage has some big shoes to fill (mine until now was google like everybody else on earth). Anyway symbaloo sweeps right on in with easy acess, convenient set-up and elegant design. It is a great way to organize the plethora of websites you know and love. As I learn of new websites to use in the classroom i add the to my tab most ingeniously titled"School Stuff". No doubt a fundamental tool to any web savvy teacher. From there I continue to several sites that can be used to create online crossword puzzles. These can definetly be a fun way to shake things up in the classroom (without giving up on educational content ;). Then I learnt about a few sites that can summarize a text some can even count the frequency of certain words. The applications of these sites are not lost on me.... I have already summarized a few lengthy academic papers (In order to get a general idea of course and not for accuracy). Then one of the sites that I enjoyed the most was quizlett. Here is a website where a teacher can create a set of terms (with their definitions) and there are a few varied ways to study the cards whether its old school flash cards or tests, the studying is clean and intuitive. Quizlett also offers a few modes to play with the terms through games where points are given for the correct answer or definition to the terms.
So all-in-all I have learned alot about educational websites and expect to learn more