Week 8 Reflection

Universal Design for Learning and Differentiated Instruction are very important pieces in a classroom. I have found that many tools and resources I already in my classroom while others are not. There are so many wikis, blogs, and websites that my group has shared in the social network that I am excited to use. I will use these resources when I am planning a unit or lesson. I will think about the students needs in my class and what the students need. If there is a student that struggles getting thoughts on to paper, I could use www.wordle.com. The students can create a word cloud using the words that help describe what they need. If a student needs extra practice with math skills, they can go to www.mathplayground.com to find many reinforcement skills. In the beginning of my lesson, I will want to use visuals and concept maps. This will help the students build background on the lesson and make learning more universal.
With the school year at a close, I am excited to have time to plan the best ways to make my classroom more universal and differentiated. I will be moving to a new grade so I can not say exactly how it will look and what resources I will use. I will definitely want to see if there would be a way to have some computers set in my room. I also want to put together some folders organizing different sites that have been very meaningful to me that I will be able to find quickly when a student needs it. I also love the surveys the students can fill out to help me learn their interests, learning profile, and multiple intelligences. Those will be great to use in the beginning of the year!

Week 7 Reflection

Using a social network is a great and easy way to share ideas. I have been able to learn about so many different tools from others this way. This tool would work well when students are working on group projects. We could also use it as a way to help students become responsible for sharing work the parents would like to see. A group member shared this website, http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/Choice+Boards. This wiki has so many neat templates and strategies to use with students. Having concrete tools at my fingertips is what works best with me. I will also be thinking about the technology I can bring into the classroom. I have learned about the great websites that I will keep on my desktop. When I need something, I will look there first. I also know all the technology tools I have available to me at school. I use the SMART board everyday. I also will make sure to have the laptop carts available. This website, http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/MathSquareForm.asp, also has a great way to make math facts fun. Some students need to be side tracked with “fun” in order to learn. When teachers are competing against video games, we need to get creative.