Eating Healthy

This week, we have been learning about healthy eating. It is so important that students learn at an early age just how important it is to ate the right foods, with the right nutrients in them. We have began building a food pyramid for everyone in the class to look at. In this pyramid, each student has a star with their name on it. The students have placed their star in their favorite category of foods. For example, little Amber Johnson placed her star in the fruits category because she loves grapes and apples. By opening their eyes to all different sorts of foods, they are becoming so much more aware of what they are putting into their bodies!

Fun Projects!

I have learned, and am still learning, that as a teacher, I have the door to so many possibilities. By using fun and crafty projects to interact with my students, I am also teaching them that learning can be as fun as they want it to! Learning in and of itself must be taught. By using fun and exciting projects and games, the students are really starting to enter through that doorway of the realization that learning CAN be fun!

Eating Healthy

Hey! My name is Sally Mae from Miss Hacker's 2nd grade class! We have been learning about how to eat healthy, It has really been fun because we are learning how to make our very own food pyramid. You can access mypyramid.gov and it designs your very own eating plan. I really have enjoyed learning about food and how to make good choices.

"Smart Boards"-Blog #3

While enduring a long drive back home from the beach this past Thursday, I got into an interesting conversation with the driver (my friend Leighann, who happens to be an elementary teacher!). She began explaining to me about this awesome, new technology that she has in her class now,called a "Smart Board" or in other terms, a Promethian White Board. She elaborates the specific details about this board, saying that it allows so much more interaction between her and the students. On this whiteboard, Leighann can upload activities from her computer to project onto the board, and each student is given a "clicker". With the clicker, the student can answer questions to a test simply by pressing a,b,c, or d. They can also use the clicker as a pointer, and if the teacher calls on them, they get to point to the answer they think is correct. I had no idea about this new technology, and found it absolutely fascinating! I think it is great how this technology is allowing students and teachers to connect more on a technological level. Because of technology moving and advancing so quickly every year, I can imagine it is hard for teachers to stay on top of their game as they embrace new technologically advanced students. The board has several different effects, and fun details such as learning games, etc. I hope and pray that I will be as fortunate as Leighann to have a "Smart" Board in my classroom one day! Why not try new things?

...As Dr. Suess once said,

"If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good!"

"Leave it to Facebook"

Remember the "good ole days", when students and teachers had such great relationships? The students knew that when their teacher walked in the classroom, she or he meant business. All of a sudden, every single studentwould jump in their seats and sits up straight, with their hands folded on top of their desk. What has changed so drastically since then? Why, technology of course! The huge hit wesite entitled Facebook is taking our century by force.

With almost every human being now having connections to Facebook, the lines to communication and "sight seeing" (pictures and albums) have become as simple as cake! As I go deeper into my Education Major, I see a huge need in controlling what I put on my Facebook. Would I want my students seeing my personal conversations with my own friends, or pictures of my latest beach trip? So many younger students now have connections also to Facebook, and I am realizing already the importance of protecting my personal life. The worst thing, I believe, that a teacher could do with their students, is allow them to become personally involved with their private life. When I do become a teacher, I will want respect from my students. However, if I do not keep my personal life my own business, I am afraid their will not be much respect. Students ( We were all one of them so we all know) tend to become very nosy!

Teaching and Technology-Blog #1

This is my first blog for this class, and I really feel as though I should elaborate a little on how technology is so much more advanced now days for the classroom. It is amazing to me how far technology has come. When I think about elementary school, and having to write my first short term paper, I can remember going to the library almost every day for a month. Now, I am on my computer , and in about an hour, I can find just as much interesting resources, as I did in that whole month of going to the library. When I become a teacher, I am going to incorporate technology in my classroom as much as possible. I love using illustrations from movies, or fun, kid-friendly computer games to help children grasp on to the fundamental values of school subjects.

Ashleigh