2013 reflection

This year was a decent year. I started working as a teacher, which has been an amazing and rewarding career. In 2014, I will continue to nanny for my two families I have been with for a long time during summer and breaks. I started grad school this year, I will get my K-8 reading endorsement this summer 2014,then will have a masters in reading hopefully by this time next year. I will also continue working as an accountant for our small family business. I plan to teach extended school year again this summer.

I am looking forward to summer 2014, and planning another vacation. In 2013, I traveled with my two best friends since 6th grade, to Atlantic City, New Jersey! It was much different than always going south to the beach. The beach is still nice in New Jersey but no palm trees. I enjoy seeing and traveling to different places. No destination chosen for 2014, just yet. I'm thinking Tennessee, the resort there is beautiful! 

I have so many projects I would like to do around my house, there just isn't enough time. In the summer I spend too much time outside doing yard work. This past summer in 2013, I trimmed every tree in the yard and painted a room inside that needed it! After all the scrapes from trimming, I wonder why I do so much myself. Haha! In my living room I got a new rug, couch and coffee table. I've made some purchases I haven't made since college. In 2014, I plan to do some more painting because in 2013, I finally got a kubota zero turn, I can cut the grass much faster now! 

Instead of having a New Years resolution, I prefer to have plans and goals. I can accomplish more than one thing in a whole year. What are your plans and/or goals for 2014?

Happy New Year! 🎉🎊🎈

Social Bookmarking

http://readwrite.com/2006/08/08/e-learning_20

E-learning: How Web Technologies Are Shaping Education

http://www.google.com/edu/teachers/

Google in Education

http://www.brainpop.com/about/mobile/

Brain Pop Mobile

Social bookmarking is a great tool for teachers and students. It is possible to have online resources and tools at your fingertips, in an organized fashion. I have found multiple articles and websites available for parents, teachers and students. They can be used in or out of the classroom. It is also a great way to collaborate with other educators, parents and students. There is an option to join groups with other people with similar interests. Diigo is the social bookmarking app that I have been using on my i pad. I haven't figured out how to highlight bookmarks yet, if any of you readers have the answer for me please comment on my blog post. 

Twitter in the classroom

http://www.edudemic.com/a-useful-social-media-cheat-sheet/

A Useful Social Media Cheat Sheet

http://www.edudemic.com/hashtags-lists-getting-pln/

How To Get more Out Of Your PLN Using Twitter

http://www.edudemic.com/twitter-teams-in-school/

How and Why To Try Twitter Teams In School

Here are links to my 3 resources that I happened to find from another great teacher I have the pleasure of working with who also uses twitter in her fifth grade class.

By the beginning of reading Pleased to Tweet You I got the feeling the students really enjoyed using twitter and they were excited engaging in learning. You can use a chat to enhance your classroom for a quick English activity. You can search for a book your class is reading to connect with other classrooms in other communities reading the same book. Technology grows and so can you as a teacher while benefiting your students from meaningful learning. A good teacher will look for new ways to teach their students, technology is now a common core standard. In class we learned you can take polls using twitter, while it graphs the information and separates male/female votes. Twitter also invites parents to see what is going on inside your classroom and school district. You can have a collaborative project updates for the students and parents to check in on. Twitter also helps the teacher stay connected with the parents and students in their community. 

Here is a list of the 2012 A-Z list of educational twitter hashtags!

http://www.edudemic.com/2012-twitter-hashtags/

Geo learning

1. Geo-Learning-Geography and Education (video and information)

http://geoeducation.org/capabilities/online-data-collection-and-management-system

2. Geo-geothermal education office (activities, handouts, presentations for teachers to download free or buy)

http://geothermal.marin.org/edmatl.html

3. National Geographic- Geo Literacy (excellent video and understanding)

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/media/what-is-geo-literacy/?ar_a=1

The world around us is changing and we need our students to see things the way they really are. How decisions people make can affect many others. Students can better understand how they can make a difference and that their decisions are important in life. Interactions with people and the environment is something that should be seen. How do we get from one place to the other? How do we transport goods from a specific location to another location? With technology this is now possible to show students how the train takes the tracks or how the truck follows the freeway and what do the cities look like that they are going to. Showing the students streets, cities, indoor and outdoor buildings’ creates learning. Geo learning information can be uploaded by any person. It creates more of a “being there” feeling for the students.

All about me

During college as an undergrad I worked full time as a nanny. I always loved my job working, caring for children. When I received my BA in 2012 I became a substitute teacher while looking for a full time position. So I am still here in 2013 in the same position. Now with the reading guarantee I needed a reading endorsement, so I began classes last semester. Substitute teaching is great and I really enjoy it while in grad school.

I enjoy living in Ohio, I love the four seasons. I think it is amazing to have such variety. I like doing things different ways and trying new things, which my students usually love as well. My favorite vacation is anywhere with an oceanfront view and some pools. Swimming is a must for me in the hot summer sun, although this summer we didn't get very lucky with hot weather in this suburb of Cleveland.

As a teacher I believe technology and classroom management are necessities to each and every classroom, without these two things the students are not capable of reaching their full potential. I believe in making learning fun by using hands on activities. I like my young students to have a small break during instruction involving some type of physical activity, to get their wiggles out.