Student Data

While I can see the advantage of using excel spreadsheets to keep track of data, adding it all at once somewhat defeats the purpose. It is a slow, tedious task.
If done over time, such as throughout a grading period, it would be a much more useful tool. Teachers can more easily see the class average and studnet growth.

For this class, students who were below the class average improved greatly from test #6 to test#10. So while they remain below the average, they are continuing to imporve and show growth.

Lesson Plan

Here is a link to my online salmon lesson plan on the salmon body parts!

Salmon Lesson

OTEN Video

New Technology Standards

When looking at the technology standards, what struck me the most was who they could be applied to all levels and all contents areas. Technology is a part of our everday lives, and we need tp prepare students to be as succesful as possible in a world filled with ever changing technology.
I was very pleased to read standard #4, "creative thinking, problem solving and descision making." One of the most usefull skills we can teach our students is how to think and solve problems. It is also important that studnets are able to use technology to solve problems.
I read somewhere (I know, very bad not citing my sources) about how technology was actually harming the development of young people. Middle school students, and high schoolers (and lets be realistc, EVERYONE) do not alwyas think about the consequances of their actions on line. Online, unlike off line, is permenant. Nothing ever really goes away. Cyber bullying, innappropriete pictures, predators, sexting, etc. are all challenges studnets may face online. Students need to be taught how to use technology in an appropriete way and safe way. Actions they take now, can and will impact them in the future. And as technology becomes more prevelant, small mistakes amde in adolscents could end up haunting someone for life. I feel of all the standards, this might be the most important one.

ODE and me Part 2- state standards

How will this resource help me identify state standards I must address?
Well, this may seem rather obvious, but if I am not familiar with the standards then I can not be sure I am teaching my students what they should know (or at least what the state thinks they should know). The website will allow me to find what benchmarks and areas I should focus on (lets face it, there are a ton in math, I will need to focus on the main concepts) and ajust my curriculum accordingly.

ODE and Me part one

How can I make use of graphic organizers to illustrate concepts I’ll be teaching?
I love grpahic organizers. Really, words alone can not express my feelings for graphic organizers. AS a student, when given graphic organizers, I think I did better. I still need them. In a math class graphic organizers can be used for terms and vocabulary, creating word webs conecting terms and helping studnets understand concepts. in fact (being the nerd I am, which I have embraced)I did a google search on math graphic organizers and found a bunch that I hope to use. I even found some that will be applicable for my lesson plan assignment for math methods. The volume one is pretty cool.
http://www.sw-georgia.resa.k12.ga.us/GO%204-8/4-8%20GO.htm
I also found a flow chart that explains what grpahic organizer is best for certain topics.

Web 2.0 in the classroom

A great web 2.0 tool for the classroom is google docs. In fact, google has an entire blog dedicated to using google docs in the classroom. Teahcers can have students work collobartivly on a class document or project, can produce tests or surveys using form, or use any of the hundreds of templates created by teachers and google for the classroom.
A second web 2.0 tool that can effectily be used in the classroom are class wikis. Wikis allow for multiple users to edit and add information. Classes could create wikis similiar to wikipedia, which is a public encyclopedia edited by the public. Classes could also create wikis to keep track of classroom house keeping, such as topics being covered, schedules, etc.