Blog Post #15

After going back and reading my first blog post, I kind of feel like I was on the right track in the beginning, but I am closer to my destination now. I still want to teach first through third grade and I am still a huge fan of books and students reading. But, I am now aware of interactive ways for the students to read their book. SMART boards have the technology that allows you to read interactive books. Students can get quizzed throughout the book and help with reading comprehension. I love how students can play with books and see vivid details of what they’re reading and even brainstorm their own depictions of the story.
Critical thinking is still at the top of my list. After successfully completing EDM 310 I am a huge advocate for group work and critical thinking. Starting this out at a young age can help students in the long run. Many jobs involve collective involvement among coworkers. I believe that teachers of each grade level should collaborate together to effectively teach each student the same valuable lesson. This allows the great teachers to share their thoughts and ideas while the less creative or inexperienced teachers can get help gathering some ideas as well. This would help to find a happy medium with teaching.
When I wrote my first blog post, I had no idea how to work a SMARTboard. Thankfully, we played with them during the semester and I now know how to work one as well as do activities and a whole lesson plan on a SMARTboard. The most important thing I am taking from EDM310 is blogging and how important it is. I feel like blogging is a gateway technology. (: Once you start blogging, you open your mind to so much more! I love blogging. I have found so many useful tools for organizing, gathering information, and networking simply by blogging and exploring a little bit. I now know that the possibilities are ENDLESS!
Thank you Dr. Strange as well as all of your lab assistants. You have all made this class much more bearable than it is made out to be. There may be a lot of work involved, but I honestly feel like it has prepared me, or at least given me an idea, for how much work will be required when I actually become a teacher.