Blogs in the Classrooms

I strongly feel that the use of Blogs can be done effectively within the classroom environment.  This would allow the students to comment one different issues which we are discussing in class.  Also it would allow for the chance that someone outside the school might comment on their thoughts so it would give them an broad perspective.  If blogs are going to be used it has to be closely monitored so that it doesn’t get out of hand.  I personally could see keeping a class blog where I can give assignments over the internet this would make the class more interactive than it currently could be.

CNN Ticker

As a teacher who will be dealing with current event constantly in the classroom the CNN ticker is an excellent way for individuals to keep informed on the issues at any given moment.  Looking at the ticker today there are articles about restricting when Viagra ads can be shown on television, updates on the Supreme Court vetting process, and many more hot issues.

Teaching Geography Today

In reading an article on the Teaching Today website which can be found in my blog roll there was an article on teach Geography.  As a future social studies teacher I think one of the biggest challenges will be to include all the different strands of social studies into one class.  This article talks about how Geography is an interdisciplinary subject.  It talking about the other stands of social studies like history or government you can include component of Geography.  It is going to be important to be able to interweave different aspects of Geography into the curriculum so the students will not get bored with the material.

http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/building-geography-competency-with-classroom-communities

US Citizenship Test

I was looking at different site for one of my other class and I ran across this on the History Channel.  This interactive website lets you take a citizenship test where the questions come from the Federal Test.  At the end you are able to print off a certificate to show you have complete the test.  I just found it very interesting how many people could not answer some of these questions.

http://www.history.com/minisites/citizen_quiz

Moodle

I came across this freeware that you can make a website to help enhance the technology used in your classroom.  This program in my opinion for people who don’t have experience with web development can make an effective place to put assignments, have an online grade book and have online discussions.  This is a course management system which basically allows for you to manage the entire course.

Response to post about “Lincoln on Leadership – Part 4 – Communication”

Daniel,

Thanks for commenting on my blog.  I’ve actually moved my blog from edublogs to http://www.mrbassonline.com.  I think you’re right, finding a mentor is a huge thing for new teachers.  One thing that I think is important is to find a mentor of your choosing.  When you move into a district, you’ll probably be given a mentor teacher to help you in your first year.  Finding a mentor to go beyond that school and look at your practice will be important as you evolve in your career.

 

Good luck in your career,

–
Bill Bass
http://www.mrbassonline.com

Music in the Classroom

I just attended a presentation by Ron Clark.  He truly inspired me to become a great teacher once I finish with my education.  One of the things I found extremely interesting was his use of music in his lessons.  He has songs for the presidents, bones, solar system, geography and many more.  His kids have latched onto this idea  and took it upon themselves to write a video on the elections about the different issues.

Then after the election these kids decided to write a song for the new president.  This song was so widely received they were asked to go to Washington DC for perform it for the Inauguration.

Seabiscuit

It is important in teaching to use a wide variety of technologies to help enhance your lessons. In my classrooms I plan to use videos to help in what I am teaching.  This video show what it is like in the Great Depression. Seabiscuit was the motivator for a country going through some extreme hard times. This is truly amazing and very inspirational.

What would you do?

I got this email the other day and I thought I would share it from everyone.  This story has been passed around the internet so you may have seen.  But my question for you is how would you react in this situation.

Two Choices

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning  disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: ‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.  He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?’

The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued…  I believe that when a child like Shay,who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
playing baseball. Shay asked,’Do you think they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’

Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?  Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.  Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.  However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that  the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.  The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first! Run to first!’ Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’ Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far o ver the third-baseman’s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay’
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third! Shay, run to third!’ As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators,
were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’ Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team. ‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

Shay didn’t make it to another summer.  He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

The Fears of Facebook, MySpace, and other Social Networking Sites

I was just reading an article in the NEA Today magazine online about the social networking sites in use today.  I have discussions about using Facebook or MySpace and whether they are good or bad things.  I currently have a Facebook page that I use constantly.  For me it is a way to stay connected with friends from camp where I work at during the summer or friends I have lost contact with.  One the things I know about these different social networking sites is that anyone can access them.  These sites have securities built into them most people just don’t know how to use them.  I have added kids to my Facebook page but I have blocked things I don’t want everyone to see.  I don’t use my Facebook to do any bad mouthing or to really complain about my life because I don’t want everyone to see that.  I do like how the article said that you should not be afraid of these sites but rather embrace them.  I didn’t realize the number of sites for educators.  Places where you can collaborate on lesson plans, different ideas, and a place to get to know other teachers in your discipline.  We as educators have to know what technologies our students are using so we can use that to educate them.  This world of education is ever changing and if we don’t stay informed we will be those teachers that everyone hates.  I for sure don’t want to be the teacher that is hater by his students because he hasn’t stay current on how the students are learning.  We should be trying to use every technology out there is possible in order to reach our students.  If you join these sites is it up to you whether or not you add your students but as with everything else just be cautious.  Also being a future educator, know that your future employers will look to see if you are on these sites and how you represent yourself.  I felt more encourage about having a Facebook page after reading this article but also encourage knowing there are other sites for just educators.