Friday, August 30, 2013

Common Core Standards for ELA and literacy (blog #6)

What is the purpose of the college and career readiness standards?
-Broad standards that lay out the platform for students to be ready for college and career life after high school.
-states will follow the same set of standards

What are the benefits and challenges of the shift to reading and writing non-fiction tests?
-Benefits of the shift help students no more about factual information for the real world. A challenge with this is that you need a little fictional, so not enough will ruin a child's imagination. 
-not beneficial to special needs children

What are the benefits and challenges of having standards for science, social studies, and technical?`
-does not include special needs children

Sunday, August 25, 2013

How Teachers Are Integrating Tech in Common Core (Blog #2)

Summary

        Mr. Fred Sitkins is a principal at an elementary school located in Boyne city, MI who wrote an article on how technology these days is more of a pro in elementary schools than a con. In the article, Sitkins explains how the Common Core State Standards and technology, such as iBooks and iTunes U, work well together giving children a better opportunity to expand their knowledge and perform deeper thinking strategies. Sitkins emphasizes the different ways that technology can be used. One way involves adults supporting the use of technology for their kids to make and send out their writings so that others around the world can see and critique.Sitkins also believes that children using technology such as video cameras, multimedia, etc., helps them present topics better. One other way technology is a pro is that the internet and other multiple technological sources can aid a child in research whether it be for everyday life or in the classroom. The Common Core isn't just another lesson for teachers that they have to learn for no reason. The Common Core and technology teach students how to learn instead of remembering. It gives the child a chance to expand their horizons and grow more as a student then what only inside a classroom can give to them.



Opinion

      Before reading this article, I already had ideas of how I would use technology in my own classrooms. This article just helped reassure me that I was not wrong on my ideas. I agree that if more teachers use the Common Core technological system, more students will be able to explore more, have more creative ideas, and learn much more. I am only one person and there is only so much I can teach and what I think is important. However, students can take what I teach and use technology to expand more on subjects that I teach and discover more about the topics I speak on. I also agree that if a child uses technology to present a presentation they create, it will be done in a more advanced and proficient way to where they are able to think more outside the box and learn much more.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Introduction

My name is Jordan McKenzie Taylor. I am from the coast of Mississippi but reside in Hattiesburg for college. I plan on moving to Florida or Georgia after I graduate and teach. I also am interested in teaching around the world in different areas such as Africa and Italy. My hobbies include anything that has to do without outdoors! I love kayaking, canoeing, camping, and any type of sports.