Class

I really enjoyed taking this class! I really learned a lot about technology and bringing it into my classroom! My favorite part of the class was playing the fun games. I really feel like i can adapt them to almost any lesson plan. thery were so much fun, and really got the class moving around!
The most recent one we did wa readers theatre. It was so much fun reading them outlous in class. I want to involve readers theatre a lot in my classroom. Even if the student does not like to act or be in front of the class, there are other jobs that they can have!

I think it is important to bring different medias into the classroom. I think it is important to keep a classroom fresh and interesting. I want to keep my students attention and make sure they are not bored in my class.

I also really enjoyed making and keeping up with this blog. I know that a lot of schools systems block these blog sites, but i am going to do everything in my power to get them up and running in the school system I am going to teach in. I think they are a great way for students to express themselves, express what they have been learning, and a great way to communicate with one another. I just loved making this blog, and hope to make more in the future!

I really feel like this has been my best semester yet at Kent State University. I have learned so much in Dr. Kist's class, as well as in Mr. Noden's class. I really feel prepared to go out into the teaching world!

WOW

All I have to say is... WOW.

This is my favorite song. I love how Michael Buble does it the best, but Adam did AWESOME! It was so fresh!

WOW

Technology in Rural Schools

I was reading Dr. Kist's book, and the chapter about rural schools really popped out at me. I grew up in a rural community, and there was very little technology available. There were a few computers in the school, but not much else. My senior year, we go a Smart Board, which was huge news, but noone knew how to work it, so it was kind of useless.

why smart boards are so "easy" to use

Naruto vs. Persepolis

I LOVE GRAPHIC NOVELS!!! Who doesn't like a book that has so many pictures? lol. JK. I was so impressed with Persepolis. It was very deep and intriguing. there was a lot of depth and meaning involved. I was not expecting it at all! I would love to bring it into my classroom if I am able to.

Naruto was fun to read, but I cannot see myself teaching it. I will, however, have it offered for my students to read during free time or for lit circles. My main goal as of late is to collect novels for my classroom in every genre and every type. I want there to be books available for everyone to read. I really want to keep in touch with my students and know what they like. I want to make reading enjoyable for my students, because I feel like too many kids do not like to read. It should not be like that, I would love to bring the joy of reading to my students!

2nd Life

Recently in class we were introduced to "2ND life" it was like we were living in a virtual world. I twas a lot of fun even though there were technical difficulties. I do not feel like this is something that will go into my class, but it will be something that I can at least introduce to my students.

I wa laughing so hard when we were doing this in class. it was so much fun. I loved watching the people ance and fly. It was too funny. We made our avatar look like she was 400 pounds with really short shorts and a short shirt. It was discusting and too funny.

http://secondlife.com/

WIKI

I was not sure if I was going to like doing a Wiki, but I really enjoyed myself, and can see myself bringing one into my classroom! They are so handy! It is a really great way to get the class cooperating and putting all of our ideas together! Reading through the wiki that we created in class, there are so many good ideas that everyone has shared! It is a wonderful resource for all of us to use in our teaching futures!

I think it would be cool to use these in the class when we are studying a novel. I think it would be a good idea to give each student a topic, a character, a chapter.. etc... and have them make a page on it! it would be a great review for the exam, and a great way to understand a novel and get the class together!

I am very excited to get started on our final film projects! I think they are going to be a lot of fun to make, and even more fun to watch.

Spring Break in OHIO!!!!

I had a very lame spring break. While everyone was partyin' and catchin' some rays, I had the pleasure of staying with my parents and working for the entire week. I was able to, however, get some reading in that was not mandatory for class. I read the Twilight series during my break. I was very apprehensive about doing so, but once I got started, I could not stop! I did not think that I would like books about vampires, but I loved them! I really understand why adolescents are in love with these novels! They are so engaging, and really can be liked by almost anyone. My cousin was the one who told me I had to read them. I am glad I did! I also saw the movie Twilight, which was a whole different story.

The movie Twilight get the all time worst acting award! Lets validate that! I must admit, the main character is VERY attractive, but one of the worst actors of all time, in my opinion. It really did not do a very good job portraying the novel. they missed so many crucial details. I think that reading books is so much better than watching the movie. It is so rewarding, and it is easier to feel what the characters are feeling.

Film Festival

Did anyone else have a fantastic time at the Cleveland Film Festival?! It was worth every penny! Not only was I able to watch an amazing movie, I also had a great experience while doing so! My boyfriend and I took the entire day and hung out in Cleveland. We went shopping in tower city, went to the film and then ate at the "Mongolian BBQ". We had so much fun! The whole atmosphere at the film festival was something that I am not used to. Everyone was there for the same reason... to watch independent films! I was able to see a suspense called "The Candidate".

The movie I chose had a very confusing and detailed plot. So detailed, in fact, it would take forever to explain. It was a mystery/suspense. It seemed to keep everyone on the edge of their seats, including my boyfriend, whom is hard to please when it comes to movies. I really wish I was able to watch more films. Next year I am planning on spending an entire day watching films.

I really think that it would be so much fun to bring my class to a film festival. it is a great experience, and something a little different. I cannot wait to bring movies into the English classroom. I really loved the activity we did when we did the scene by scene and listening to the films during class. it really sounds like an activity that I am going to love to do in my classroom!

Cleveland Film Festival

Random

Random question:

Has anyone been watching American Idol?

I am not sure how i feel about the new judge or the new way they are doing eliminations.
I honestly do not think the show is doing too well...

How do you feel?? should it have stayed the same?

I really enjoyed watching "Lost" in class this week! I am very tempted to buy the seasons on DVD. Not only did I like watching "Lost", but I also enjoyed the activity that went along with it. Rather than just watching the film for content, it was fun listening to the sounds and music, watching for different cuts, thinking about the lighting...etc... I think this is a great activity for out students! I could really change the way they watch films and television, not to mention a great way to write a paper with great content!

So get this, I was talking to my 15 year old cousin Paige, and I asked her if she has done any blogging. Apparently, She has 4 different blogs!! One with a few of her friends, she uses one as a journal that no one can read, one for a class, and one that just her dad reads so he knows what she has been up to. I never though about using a blog like this! Her parents are divorced, and her dad communicates with her via blog because they do not always get the chance to talk on the phone. HOW FUN! There are sooo many ways to blog!

Last year, I became addicted with a video blog. Have you ever heard of Ross the Intern from the Jay Leno show? Wee, he is a fun loving guy who loves Jay Leno, and loves doing a video blog. He blogs everyday except Saturday and Sunday. His blogs are honestly about absolutely nothing. He talks about what is on his mind and is very honest. He is absolutely HILARIOUS!! WE SHOULD MAKE A WEEKLY VIDEO BLOG IN CLASS!!! That would be fun, huh.

Ross the Intern's Talky Blog!

^^ CHECK IT OUT^^

WOOHOO CLASS!!

I gave my presentation today and I think it went very well! I was very impressed with all of the presentations! they all really brought back some great memories of growing up! I really wish I had even more time working on my presentation because I forgot about a lot of my favorite movies, television shows and books that I loved when I grew up! Kudos to the class for a job well done!
I would really love to have my students make their own Mulitgenre Literacy Autobiography. I think it is a wonderful way for my students to get to know each other, a chance for me to get to know my students, and a was to laugh and have fun while learning in the classroom. My only concern is time. We did not get to everyone today in class, and I do not want to take up two and a half or three class periods to get these finished. Maybe if I made the time limit three minutes, it would all work out!
Has anyone seen the movie or read the book, The Secret Life od Bee's? I have been reading it this week for fun, and so far... it has been AWESOME!! I cannot put it down! I have a personal rule for myself. I am not cannot watch a movie based off of a book, until I have read the book. I really suggest this to everyone! I think it takes away from the book when you already know what is going to happen. Plus, I like to have my own vision of what the characters look like. In my class, if we watch movies that are based off of books, we are going to read the book first!

"The Secret Life of Bee's" trailer

I hope everyone is having fun with their blog!
Blog ya Later!

In class this week we learned that there are many different ways to assess our students rather than always using quizzes. I loved the activity we did using the big sheet of paper. It really gets students involved in the classroom, and also creates a great amount of communication within the students. I think Dr. Kist brought up a wonderful point when he brought up the fact that some of our students are not going to do the reading, but if we get the students involved in the classroom, then they are still learning about the text!
I have been having so much fun putting my multi-modal presentation together. I am using PowerPoint for my presentation,a dn am having so much fun finding pictures and clips to put in it! It is interesting to see how much technology has changed throughout my lifetime! I remember having a tape player, and now I have an IPOD. HUGE DIFFERENCE! Things have really changed... and there are even bigger changes ahead of us! As educators, we need to understand and accept these changes. We should change right with them!

Woa! BLOG!

MY FIRST BLOG!!! Let us validate that. Hahaha. Anyways, I was never a big fan of blogs. Perhaps, after this class, my mind will be changed. I am going to be positive about this, and try to put a lot of effort into this blog. I do not watch much television or movies and I do not really play many video games. I am really hoping this class will get me more involved technologically.

This weekend, I went to visit my boyfriend Jacob. We played “Rock Band” all day. We had a TON of fun, and it left me thinking about ways to incorporate things like video games into my classroom. One of my goals is to try to keep up with what my students are into whether it is video games, movies television… etc… and try to incorporate them into my lesson somehow. It is important for educators to stay “hip” and know current trends so the class can be interesting.