Video link one of my favorite videos on TeacherTube

Here is a link to a video on TeacherTube that I hope you like as much as I did.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=3452&title=3_Steps&ref=Devoogd

This video is about how to create a classroom suitable to prepare our students for the 21st century. The idea is to create an environment where students are active participants in the learning process and not just passive listeners expected to spew back information presented during lectures. Brain research has shown us that children remember more when they are the ones asking the questions, and creating a classroom that facilitates this type of learning can be done by following the authors 3 basic steps. I have a variety of learners that enter my room for learners with special needs, and it is not uncommon to have 3 different sessions active at the same time; therefore, it is important that I have a room where students can feel comfortable and connected so they can develop into lifelong learners.

2-Minute Movie

This is a very small selection of the things that make our old farmhouse home. Preserving the land, even if it is only a small part, is something that has always been very important to my family. It all began when a young man only 17 at the time, left his home and settled in Nebraska.

Media Literacy

Many students say they are "tech savvy"; however, having access to and the ability to use multi media devices does not guarantee that students are fully aware of all the responsibilities that go along with that. Many are only participating in surface exposure. It is our job as parents and educators to teach the students how to analyze the messages they receive from the media every day.

Podcast-Project Think

I subscribed to a podcast on itunes called Project Think. It is presented by students as a summer enrichment project. Each student researched a country or region and then reported on their area. I liked the format of the project which begins with a photo of the student, followed by photos of their region. The photos were very clear, sharp, and vibrant. They seemed to capture the essence of the area. If I had to select something I did not like in the podcast, it would be the length. Although very well done, they were too short. Just as I was wanting to see more, it was over. The curriculum implications of this type of project are numerous. It is cross-curricular-involving global studies, English, and speech. It is also a way for students to share their education with distant family members. Rather than telling them about a poster they made for a class assignment, and the speech they gave; they can simply direct them to the podcast. An area of improvement would have to be the background noise from the other students.