Reminder!

Last IRA meeting is on May 26, 2007 at Nikko Hotel, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Maybe we can go out for lunch and invite Dr. Rivera too. Let me know.

It's Over!

Its been a great trip hanging out with all of you guys. Loved looking at your portfolios and the insights to how you put the LiveText together. I am looking forward to including all of your thoughts and ideas for lesson plans during summer session. Thank you for the many help, and I look forward to working with you all again.

Horray!!! It's relax time!!!

Finally, this day has come! We have been waiting for this day. Everybody, breathe! HAAAaaay!!! Thank goodness. Just want to let you all know that I had so much fun sharing this class with all of you. I've learned a lot from all of you. Thank you all for sharing your great experiences and ideas. Here's a special butterfly saying goodbye.Have a great summer! I'll miss you all! Hope you'll remember me always. Everytime you see a butterfly, you'll remember me. Goodbye . . .

Lainne

Last Day!

Breathe in a sigh of relief and say "I did it!" Pat yourselves on the back for surviving Spring 2007 semester of the Graduate class ED 484. I think that I will not touch a computer for a week. I have time now for my students and family. I want to thank everyone for their guidance and educational feedback. I learned a lot through collaborative learning. Dr. Rivera was a great facilitator. I was disappointed that I will not be able to take her again next fall. I really wanted to take another class with her. Her class challenged me into learning. I hope that in the future I will have a class with you all again. If you graduate before me Congratulations and good luck!

Adios My ED 484G Family!

I can't believe today is our last day of class. It seems as if it was just yesterday that we were all asking each other what to do for a particular class activity. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed our final session in ED 484G class. Everyone's portfolio looked wonderful. Your images looked great! Barbara made us all looked great in the L&L Newsletter. Our parttime photographer even made us look good for the press release. By the way, can someone please remember to pay our friend. He didn't seem that demanding because he kept hinting about clocking in for the mere minimum wage. Take care everyone and I hope to see everyone next semester.

last day of class: group hug!

Unfortunately we are not able to print multiple copies of the newsletter. Dr. Rivera will be posting it on the web and we hope it will work out. I'm thankful for everyone's cooperation in submission of articles. I enjoyed doing the layout. I wish we had more time to do it. -- Barbara

Starting with a positive note on the PEA was very heartwarming. Thank you to all of you for saying such lovely things about me. Sometimes we forget what wonderful qualities we have in us until something like this happen. The final activity on story writing is another activity that can be engaging in any classroom. Can’t wait to try this one. Hang in there, it is almost over!

Journals

I thought Lainne's journal about an instructor checking up on her past students application of their learning was interesting. It reminds me of one my student who just came from Iraq. In my second year of teaching I was teaching regular classes. I met him at one of the stores in Saipan. I was so happy to see that he made it alive. Thank god! We were talking and he said to me "Ms. S when I was at war in Iraq what you would always say to me in class stayed with me." I couldn't remember what I said. He noticed my confusion and said, "You would always tell me to stand up and repeat to the class, If you stay in one place complaining no one will ever hear you, If you move around and do something everyone will hear you! This is what I remember from your class. After graduating thats what I have been doing, moving and doing." I was so shocked that he would actually learn something because he was barely passing my class. Last year he was injured at war and he is now physically disabled. I went to visit him when I went back to Saipan 6 months ago. As I walked up to his driveway he started laughing. We talked and joked. Before I left he looked at me and said, "I may not walk but I am still moving and doing." Your students learn what you teach them. They may not learn everything but they learn something. I can see this in high school when my students will say that their 3rd grade teacher taught them that or this!

Thank you for the kind words.

Wow, that was so touching guys:) Thank you for those kind words. They were really inspiring and heartwarming. I really hope that everyone else whom I currently work with feels the same way as you all do about me. I enjoyed all the activities the same way that I enjoyed having you guys around in this class. Thanks for being a part of this class.

Everyone had wonderful journal articles that they presented. It really shows how hardworking teachers really are by the work that they create.

The activity that Dr. Rivera had presented to us was ones again fun and touching. I really had to share those thoughts and experience with you guys. I enjoyed those kiddie stories that all of you have made up. I hope you all enjoyed mine, too.

Well, good luck in that literacy review paper. It's a long one! Have fun on your paper.

Lainne

There's No Motive - We're Just Positive!

These peach roses (which I adore dearly) are for all of you. Seriously, the first topic on the agenda was my favorite. I thoroughly enjoyed today's "Positive Experience Approach" sharing session. I don't mean to be conceted (Oh well - maybe a little!), but everything you said about me was so correct - and I really love everyone for saying such beautiful things about me. I also enjoyed listening to everyone's journal article. Very interesting everyone. Our last activity on the agenda was rather interesting too. I enjoyed everyone's wonderful imagination.

PEA

The PEA activity started the class with a positive note. I really enjoyed this activity because it makes people feel special. Everyone in this class is special in their own very unique way. I was glad that we all had the opportunity to express ourselves about our partners. I know sometimes that I am a bore and I thank everyone for putting up with me. You are all special and I hope that this class will not be the last time that I will be in a class with all of you.

PEA

This is the second year I am doing this activity. I tried it with my staff and I can attest that it really works to uplift morale. Thank you all for your support. Barbara

Websites

Wow! I thought that I blogged in class. I honestly thought that I blogged right after class. It seems that I was having internet problems as well. I had no internet connection since Thursday.
Everyone presented websites that are useful I just wish the technical problems wasn't so technical I really enjoyed the interactive websites that everyone presented especially Lainne's and Barbara's. I liked their websites because my students are able to do activities within their websites. I wish we were able to see Mary's websites. They were great when I went on it on Wednesday. My students went online on Wednesday and I directed them to Barabara's websites. They were enjoying the games and writing sites.

Roving eyed “Mona Lisa”, comic strips, classic books, and touch screen technology. Wow! There is so much information out there for teachers to explore. Thank you to all of you for bringing it to life. Funny how we had technology as the topic, but our Internet connection was not working towards our advantage. Loved how we closed our session today. Great sayings and proverbs—inspirations we need every now and then to boost our self esteem. See you all next week.

Tech Resources

Gerri's 10 top sites was like a minefield. She had a number of gateways that provided links to many other sites.

Laine's 10 top sites were interesting interactive activities that could be used to supplement lessons in class. She chose some very engaging sites where one could produce activities for students such as reader's theatre.

Char's 10 sites gave good sources for information of additional resources one could use in the classroom. The RIF site was particularly entertaining. She also had sites that provide information for research and grant opportunities.

Mary's 10 sites again provided us with background - the whys and wherefores of what we do. She presented a number of "best practice" sites.

Thanks to all for these leads. -- Barbara

Technology Resources

The technology resource presentations were quite interesting. Our presentations were not as smooth and as quick as our usual power point presentations, but then again, most of our colleagues were working with microsoft word software and linking to the various sites in the internet. All of the information contributed were very enlightening and I certainly can benefit from some of the various websites for language and literacy.

I was glad Barbara brought in a copy of the Language and Literacy Newsletter. At least we have an idea of what the concise version of the newsletter looks like, as well as what others have contributed so far.

HAAAAY. . .

This day was not our day. The Internet was not cooperating with us and was giving us a hard time presenting our Technology Resources. But even with that, everything went well.

Gerri, your websites were very informative. They were very good resources that can be used by many teachers.

Char, I like your websites even though most of them were expensive:) But mainly I like those websites that give free samples and free activities.

Barbara, those sites were really good and I would really use them at least for myself. The slang website I think will be helpful for me because I have nephews who use those words. I also like the Worldwind page. That was very interesting.

Mary, you should have just presented next week:( Just kidding!!!:) Your websites seem very informative on literacy. I think those who are in Language & Literacy program should be looking at these websites because these are where they can get all the info they need for their courses.

Well, have a great week and start on your FIVE PAGE RESEARCH PAPER!

LOL (Lots of laughter!)

Last night was just full of laughter. I really enjoyed last night's session in class. Everybody shared great ideas and activities that for sure will be useful and fun for our students. Though most of the activities presented yesterday required drawing, I still enjoyed them. I felt that even if my weakness is drawing, I found myself having fun and laughing at what I do because in our class everything is accepted. I'm actually thankful that I met these four students and my professor, which now I consider my friends. I always have fun everytime we meet.

Next to Dr. Rivera’s “Write Around Activity”, our most recent class session on curricular engagement also tops the list of enjoyable learning moments. Aside from thinking critically throughout class time, I felt as if I had been on an exploration journey. At first, we were not quite sure of what to expect – in so far as appropriate response, yet we trusted the presenter, participated in the activity at hand and sat at the edge of our seats. I really enjoyed putting together the story webbing power point presentation, as well as the webbing activity. However, nothing beats listening to the various interpretations (as far as experiences and understandings). I gained a great deal of knowledge from the information, ideas and perspectives shared on our curricular engagement assignment. Thanks!

Hurray!

Give it up for JFK SPED students who participated in the SPED Olympics. We are the only high school that participated. My student was the runner for the torch. I am so proud of him. I am so proud because he is considered a regular student because his only disability is a learning disability. He had the confidence and was not ashamed to represent the SPED department at JFK. So clap your hands for those students who have the confidence to achieve!

Magazine

I proposed the idea of doing a small magazine to my students. They seem pretty interested especially in the part that we will use it to show case 1 year's activity within our class to their parents during parent teacher conference. The magazine we thought of will basically contain topics, skills, and achievements that my students have done. It will be a personal and simple magazine for my students. We haven't decided yet if we really are going to do it with all the tests that are coming up. But I am pretty sure we will be able to do it. I also mentioned to my department chair about create a department magazine for our parents.

IRA Meeting

This month's IRA meeting will be on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at St. Francis School Gym, Yona from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Last 2 chances to join before the end of the semester. Contact person at IRA is Sandy Liberty at sliberty@guam.net. See you'll there.

Curricular Engagement

Once again great ideas from all of you.
Geri—Webbing help students see clearly how information relates to one another. Another wonderful PowerPoint from you.
Charlene—I have been reading to my students. But they always stare at me with these big eyes and at times I wonder what they are thinking. Your idea about having them draw while I am reading helps me get closer to what’s on their mind.
Barbara—The comic strip activity. What can I say? It is a hoot. Also, I did not realize that there are so many roles that students can partake in producing a magazine. Looking forward to seeing ours.
Lalainne—I had some pictures of my students on the bulletin board, and today asked them if they remembered what they were doing that day. I had a lot of wild answers but it sure brought out the excitement and laughs from the students. Great idea!

Dr. Rivera—your activity makes one feel better about them and brought out the good in all of us and I got to know the others a little better.

Curricular engagement

Gerri on story webbing: The hands on activities provided a scaffold to learning how to do the activity. I never did webbing in my class and Charlene as my partner was great help. The good tip I learned was to create subtopics before details.

Charlene on graffiti board: This is another activity I had never done. Char makes it sound really interesting and useful that I did not realize before.

Lalaine on picture reflection: I like the format she introduced. It is most likely something I will introduce in ESL.

Mary on save the last word for the artist -- I like how she gave us first a background on why we are doing what we are doing.

Thanks for all the ideas -- Barbara

curricular activities

Webbing done by Gerri was interesting. You learn about topics and key terms. You learn about relationships and graphic organizers. Children can learn alot by the skills that webbing presents.
Barbara's presentation of "magazine" was educational. The magazine activity presents a wide variety of skills that could benefit our students. It is a very collaborative activity that introduces many skills and strategies that our students can learn from. This activity can be 1 semester activity and the magazine becomes the portfolio. My student would love this activity, it is very engaging.
Lalains "picture" activity was great. Students can reflect on pictures building visual and writing skills. It builds thinking skills.
Mary's presentation was wonderful. I love the idea of expanding this activity and the idea that my student always has the last word. It brings forth personal ideas for our students.
Everybody presented wonderful activities that I could use.

Yearning for more Learning

The chapter that Mary and I presented on “Maintaining a Community of Inquirers” was quite interesting. I learned a great deal from reading and discussing the seven underlying processes of inquiry for purposes of reminding ourselves of our beliefs and our vision of literacy. I am certain that education makes personal sense to everyone, as far as education always involving and connecting the known to the unknown.

Sometimes I am amazed at how a single inquiry can trigger all types of wonderful responses from my students. Some students are just waiting for the opportune time to express their perspectives and experiences on certain issues. Unquestionably, when an inquiry curriculum is rooted in personal and social known, familiarity pushes children to go beyond where they have been as they pursue new perspectives and more in-depth investigation on many other topics.

After presenting chapter 5, I was noticeably eager to dive right into the next item on the agenda, which was the ERRQ questioning strategy. I understand that my explanation of “The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing” lesson plan was rather extensive. I apologize if I was too enthusiastic about imparting my lesson plan last night. However, I wanted to unload this huge upsurge – so to speak. By the way, I enjoyed listening to everyone’s ERRQ lesson plan ideas. Thanks!

Hafa Adai

Dr. Rivera, thank your for the coloring book. My street name is Binadu. I have always wondered what it means. The book you gave me says it is a deer. What a mysterious way of finding an answer!
I love this class more than my other class, and it is because of all of you. You guys bring so much of information into the classroom which I can take to my school. Geri, you had quite a bit of different ideas on how to incorporate the ocean into various activities. Lalanie, I truely know what you mean when we have to be careful when we want to try out a concept with our DI students and hope that the DI coordinator does not walk into our classroom. Mine is only 2 doors down. Today, she walked in--twice!. Barbara, your book sounds facinating. Hope to read it some day. Charlene, I always look forward to your presentation. Because working with SPED students is no cupcake. Your presentations always show how much your students are enjoying your class and learning.

Horray!!! We're getting out early!

We had fun today just like the other days. Gerri and Mary had a really good presentation. And the rest had good lesson plans. The activity that Dr. Rivera had presented was really fun. I'm going to look for more of these Reader's Theater scripts so I can use them with my students.
Well, good luck to all of you on the next assignment. Work hard but don't forget to relax a little bit ok.

Lainne

Logic

I love Mary's idea of teaching logic. I could really see it in my kids when logic is not being used. I remember when I first had my kids, I use to wonder what happen to their logic in doing things. I realized that maybe they weren't being taught effective logic skills. Teach logic to your kids so they can use their head to decide things. I really enjoyed the (activity 5) presentations. Even when some of us are restricted with how we teach, we still find ways around that restriction. This is what teaching is all about. I learned alot from everyone. I love all your ideas and strategies. You all are really helping me in my teachings. I guess this is why I ejoy our blog and moodle sessions so much. Because we are allowed to have a collaborative learning community.

Community of Inquirers

Presentation on Chapter 5 was made by Mary and Gerri. The first half of the presentation was done by Gerri who clarified what was discussed in the Chapter. This helped in sorting out through the information provided in the book, which was a whole lot. Mary talked about the three types of logic which reminded me about the interesting idea of tension driving the logic process. She also talked about parent partnerships. We thought that the services for students in SPED get more parent cooperation. Maybe we should try to get all our students into a SPED type of service?

Barbara

About the IRA meeting yesterday . . .

It was interesting at the same time very musical again. I guess the theme explains why it's very musical. The theme for this month was "Move to the Rhythm of BOOKS through MUSIC!"
That morning we only had one presentor. She was Maria Borja Dooley, a local author. Her book was titled, "Bonita the Bat". In her presentation, she told her story of the success of her book. She read the very interesting book to all of us. We can really see how successful the book is because of its beautiful story and creative illustrations. The suthor read the story with passion and full of emotions in her voice. She explained that "Bonita the Bat" will fly from school to school in the Marianas.
IRA President Aimee Lizama presented Powerpoint on Reading lessons with music. We read different books with music. The background music was played by a band (Aimee's friends with her husband). Very interesting points were discussed. Members were given the opportunity to make up their own song with music about IRA. A few volunteer presented their song.
Read-A-Thon winners were announced and awarded that morning. The winner that's going to Toronto, Canada is so lucky!

IRA MEETING

Hi Everybody:
This Saturday March 10, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. You still have time to enroll, which is mandatory for this class. See you'll at Nikko Hotel.

Oh, what fun it is to be ...

That’s how I feel about yesterday’s class. Despite of all the tensions I had about the presentation, everything went OK!

Lalainne and Charlene—Good job with your presentation. I am till today still afraid to approach my student’s parents. Your input about how collaboration is important, that parents must become involved, and a good time to do it might be during the open house was so informative. My next year’s open house is going to be much better.

Gerri—What caught my eye about your presentation was the exit card. What a wonderful idea! Students fill out a card about what they learned that day and one question they have for that day. Cannot wait to try this one. Love it.

Charlene—You are doing so many activities with your SPED kids that I never knew was possible. It is wonderful how you have worked writing through visual presentation with the graffiti board. Loved all you artifacts.

Barbara—To me, personally, the DVD was out of this world. You are right about “We are learning as well as teaching from our students.”

Dr. Rivera—Reading as a whole class “Under the United Blue Sky” brought an ache in my heart. Make it mandatory that all of your students read this book. The plurals activity brought on some great laughs to end a stressful day into a goodnight.

This was a good evening for me.

This evening was great. I think Charlene and I did a good job in our Article 4 Presentation. And also, everyone did a great job in their individual Writing Process presentation. I learned so much in all these presentations. Now my folder got thicker! Hehehe . . . But the best part that I really enjoyed was the activities that Dr. Rivera presented to us. I'm definately going to use these fun activities with my students to get away from DI. I'm sure they'll love these activities. Out of all the activities we had this evening, I really liked the flower part. I think with the type of questions asked in this activity, it really brings out our inner selves and our sensitive side. Fun, fun, fun is what I would call this class. I'm really getting the hang of this. I'm really starting to like this class and I'm really enjoying. Have a nice evening!

Lalainne

Writing is Exciting!

Everyone did such a wonderful job presenting today! I liked the way Charlene and Lalaine were able to contribute their experiences about Direct Instruction. It was interesting seeing a Progress Report from the Division of Special Education for the very first time.

I liked the way Mary took the time to define and then mentioned all of the strategies in prewriting. She was really right about being patient and encouraging students to do their best in writing.

Charlene, I enjoyed hearing about the vast amount of learning that your students experience and how journals activate their cognitive abilities.

Barbara, I enjoyed listening to the creative suggestions and strategies that you used to encourage your students to build their writing skills. You are right! Teaching is definitely a learning process in itself.

Activity 4 presentations

Writing is a long process that must be practiced. It is a process that requires students to think, reflect, and edit. It helps students improve their spelling, sentence structure, and create ideas/questions. Students must work and practice the writing process. I noticed that everyone was interested in their students writing process. There were so many ways to introduce writing. Keep it up everyone, never loose your enthusiasm for teaching.
I thought that every one's presentation was wonderful. Barbara's idea of an e-essay was pretty interesting. This is really new to me. I could really use the e-essay as another alternative assessment at the end of the semester for my students. Its also a good way to present to parents on how their students are doing. I really want to learn how to do it. I wish we could finish the DVD. I wanted to see how it looked.

Strategies for the Writing Process

Learning logs was presented by Gerri. She presented many ways this can be done. I like the part she suggested using a daily theme. I tried using a literature log in my class which I did not think was very successful. One of the faculty who teaches in my department uses a quote a day. She uses the quote as a theme for the day.

Mary's presentation gave us strategies on pre-writing which I thought was good and something that I'd like to try. She puts the writing process in an organized fashion that makes sense. I am impressed that her students, at 1st grade, did pretty well in webbing.

Lalaine's presentation had very stylistic illustrations. She used a butterfly theme throughout the different slides. I like that she brought student samples to show the class.

Charlene mentioned that she provided food at her sharing. I find that works really well even in my department. She brought colorful samples that she posted on the wall. Like Mary, she stressed on the pre-writing. She told us about her use of graffiti board in reflecting about the book, Faithful Elephants. She modified the circle writing strategy by introducing editing.

This sharing process is very helpful in generating ideas for my program.

Thanks -- Barbara

Presentation

"How you teach is just as important as what you teach." Good job, Barbara. Loved your concept that we teachers need to "buy in" our students and lead from behind. My students need the opportunity to read different things other than books. I brought in today's newspaper. Some browsed through it. I guess there was nothing interesting in it. (I don't blame them. I did not find anything interesting in it either.) I do not have any children's magazine. Anyone, if you have an extra copy, please pass me one. Thank you.

Lesson Plans!

I think that I speak for everyone when I say that I went over board on my lesson plan. I should have learned that I tend to stress out when the work is as simple as ABC. Everyone's ideas for the poetry lesson plan was educational and worthwhile. If its ok with everyone I would like to take ideas from each one of you to use in my classroom. The different presentation and ideas sparked my interest for a new activity for my students.

Good job, Barbara!

Barbara's presentation was quick but elaborate. I hope my presentation turns out the same way, quick but elaborate. Besides the good presentation, I really liked the sharing of our poetry lesson plan. It gives us more ideas on activities and creativity. Mary also shared a good website where we can get poems and even here the real authors read their own poems. We heard Robert Frost's voice and that really gave me a different interpretation of his poem, "The Road Not Taken". Thanks for sharing, Mary.

Work, work, and more work... We'll all be so busy this week especially for me and Charlene because we both are expected to do two powerpoint presentations. Good luck to us, Charlene! And to all, have a busy and literacy day!

I really enjoyed Barbara's presentation on The Authoring Cycle as a Curricular Framework for Reading. Barbara's presentation reinforced the fact that students need many opportunities to do more exploring by reading many different things.

Additionally, I really enjoyed hearing the various poetry lesson plan ideas from our colleagues. Listening to Robert Frost read "The Road Not Taken" was such a treat. He had all the right emotions for all his verses and stanzas. Plus his voice was so powerful.

Finally, the counting rapidly out loud in English and Chamoru was quite an experience. At first, I felt confident counting quickly from 1 to 10 in English. However, when we switched to a combination of quick responses in English and Chamoru, my brain was not processing the information fast enough and everything I wanted to utter was not coming out right. Now I realize why we have to be more patient and understanding when teaching students to speak the English.

Authoring cycle as a curricular framework

I am totally sold on the authoring cycle. I would like to see if we can do a training on how to do this on Guam.

Lesson plan sharing is such a good resource of ideas for me. What other teachers are doing in class and what is successful for them is information I gain that makes the course productive for me. Such as Charlene's special vocabulary binder, and Geri's poem strategy about "I Am From" encouraging students to write about themselves.

Thanks so much -- Barbara

Presentation

Yaay! Lets clap for Barbara for doing a great job. I thought that Barbara did a good job at explaining what the Authoring cycle is. I could really picture the process of Authoring Cycle and its benefits. One idea that she quoted was learners expect entertainment and engagements. I say bring it on. As long as I am still young I can learn to entertain and engage my students to read. The key is the techniques and strategies that create meanings that you would use. Lets all be creative and spontaneous but with meaning. These are just some of the ideas that really caught my eye. I as well as the rest of us can relate to all these topics. Because these have an impact on all of us.
*How you teach is just as important as what you teach
*You move back and forth between authoring and learning to expand meaning
*create an environment filled with books- provide opportunity
*have a variety of reading activities with different strategies--keep interest
*Millennial student is a non-lineal in learning
*Learners expects entertainment and engagements

About Saturday Morning

Hey guys,
I was at the Nikko Hotel this Saturday and I had fun. But unfortunately, I didn't see you guys there except Gerri, who was so awake that morning! Where were you guys huh? Hard to wake up that early in the morning huh? Well, let me just share with you guys what happened at that IRA meeting. That morning was very musical. Students from Mt. Carmel were there to perform all throughout the morning. And the instruments they played were xylophones and drums. They were terrific. I wish I knew how to play an instrument well. And of course they had three presentations and the one that I was able to see was "Panel Theatre with Fire Works". That was awesome. The presentors for this were from Japan and they brought with them products from their country that they have been using in the classrooms for thirty years now and are still very effective. These products were called Panel Theatre. It's just basically using felt like material from Japan and creating different visuals with it. It was a really good, entertaining, and funny presentation. Although it was difficult for us to understand them because they were talking and singing in Japanese, they were still able to get their messege across because of their wonderful product that's very educational. I wish you guys were there to see it. I'm glad I ended up at that section of the ballroom. That morning was a success for me. I look forward to attend upcoming IRA meetings because of that experience, even though I didn't win a single prize from the raffle! But hopefully, I'll win next time.

Yesterday's Class

Hello Everyone
I already miss you guys. I have not laughed this much in a long while. The activity was wonderful especially after a long hard day at work. The stories where funny and Dr. Rivera, what a concept! I look forward to using all the ideas generated by everyone to use the write round activity in future endeavours. I also liked the idea that Dr. Rivera went over the chapter. It refreshes my mind and made me look for things I missed in the textbook. Dr. Rivera, when you mentioned "Don't fear writing" well, that was like you were talking to me directly. I loath writing. But, I am learning just like my students to keep working at it. Also, you mentioned about giving students choices, such as, learning centers. Subtly, I have began planning on how to intergrate all this ideas into DI instruction without rising eyebrows. As I mentioned in class,I have squeezed journal writing into my DI instruction time as of Monday. The students do this after they finish all DI work and while waiting for me to start a new lesson, or during recess and lunch. The students love this new concept. Today, my students were so impatient waiting for me to give them a new topic for journal writing. By the end of the day one student came up to me and said she wanted another topic so that she can keep writing. Wow! If only we had more time and NO DI. I have not read any of my student's entries yet. I want them to keep writing and hope to bring home their stories this weekend. See you all on Saturday 8:30 a.m. Nikko Hotel.

Learned a lot today!!!

I enjoyed sharing my experiences today with my colleagues in class. We just had so many things to discuss. I also enjoyed listening to my classmates' experiences and views on the topic. But the most enjoyable thing today was the "Write Around Activity". And the best part of it was when we shared the stories we wrote for this activity. We came up with crazy and funny stories. Because this activity is such a fun activity, I plan to use this activity in my own classroom. Besides the activity, I've learned how to get the livetext started (somewhat). But I really need to get started on my livetext. It's my first time to do all these. I'm very much new to these things, so I hope I get some support from my class. Thanks in advance!

Lalainne

Totally Tuesday!

Doc, thanks for taking the time to tutor us on the LiveText portfolio once again. You are so patient, understanding and knowledgeable about - just about everything (I guess).

I thought the various perspectives shared on Chapter 2 was very interesting and thought provoking. The review of the syllabus and course description was definitely necessary, because our brains are still in shock after looking at your assignment requirements. But I guess it helps to talk about it.

In any event, I especially enjoyed our "Write Around Activity" today, especially the part about Tun Jose building a gazebo by the beach and inviting the entire neighborhood to celebrate. Have a nice day everyone!

Write around activity!

Good job everybody! Wasn't it interesting! I loved all the different ideas that everyone came up with. Surprisingly the stories came out witty and expressive. However, I have to apologize for my misspelled words in some of the stories. My mind went blank! I don't know what happened. I had so much ideas running through my head that at times. It was fun. Lets do it again sometime.

The Authoring Cycle

I love the idea that the Authoring Cycle presents. Its an idea that allows our students to think for themselves and expand their thinking. I found as I read Chapter 2 that the ideas presented are a combination of many ideas that we as teachers do use in our classroom. The wonderful idea about this cycle is that your able to know your kids minds and thinking. Your able to see their world through their eyes through their stories. They are able to express themselves confidently for what I could see. I visualize also that it engages the students because of the different sections or corners that they travel to. But the most important part about the Authoring Cycle is like what Mrs. Rivera says "The cycle is ongoing, it never ends" and this is what I think our kids need. A never ending proof that what they are doing in class is worth something after all.
As we had on our discussion in class I did find some points to my classmates questions. They asked questions like "How does the teacher have so much time to do this cycle?" or "What was the studies time line?" These are questions we have to ask when an idea is introduced. The question that I ask also is "What happens to the students who go through the cycle when they move on to the next class level?"

Chapter 3 assignment

I'm glad to do the Chapter 3 assignment - authoring cycle for reading - because I can use it in my own teaching. I hope I can bring out some other ideas for strategies in using this type of curriculum.

Barbara

Did I get it right this time?

I'm hoping that I get this right this time. I've been trying to blog but I never seem to get it right. Well, let me talk about my day today. I'm stressed out (as usual). My students and the work I do stresses me out. But they also make me happy. I'm even happier now that I finally perfected this blog (I hope).

Lalainne

Made It

As with the ED 646 blog, going through Yahoo also worked for this blog. Thank you.
However, I am still showing as Reading Workshop.
Barbara

It's Wednesday

Geri, I have not found you annoying yet! We have been drilled by Dr. Dungca about daily learning logs for many semesters. It is coming all back to me. I have TRIED to keep it up even in my daily teaching live. It is helpful, especially when parents start complaining.
Charlene, it is true about "teaching is like war." It is same in the 1st grade. Absoultely no suport from fellow teachers, adminstration, and parents. No wonder new teachers are dropping like flies after a few years of teaching. Hope to see you at the IRA meeting on February 10th.
Dr. Rivera, what do you think of my poetry/poem idea? Can I start on it?
Mary

Activity 2: Learn & Log

My Chinese horoscope maintains that people who were born during my year are incredibly talkative - to the point of annoyance. Perhaps there is some truth to that prophecy. Nevertheless, as you might expect, I obviously never fall short of offering my opinion on many issues. I feel that having the opportunity to capture and record one’s thoughts and ideas in a daily journal is essential for future contemplation. Trust me, you’ll need it for your portfolio later on.

Activity 2--Learning Log

Phew! I just finished inputting all acitivites for the moodle session. It was time consuming and I need to find a better strategy for the next time. Anyway, reading the textbook was very interesting and will make an effort to go back and read Chapter 1 again because there were many times I kept asking myself "Does what I read make sense to me?" I am also looking forward to working on the poetry lesson once I get the green light from Dr. Rivera. I also posted the information for the IRA meeting. Here it is again--February 10th, Nikko Hotel, 9-11 a.m. $25.oo. Dr. Rivera, do I have to check the blogg and input everyday?

Am I doing it right? I am clueless.

Mrs. Rivera
This concerns the moodle. I am not really sure if I am doing it right. Do I wait for three hours and keep replying or do I just post 1 and that is it? Please give me some clue on whether I am on track or not.

Learning Log: Activity 2

Teaching is like a war for me and my students. I teach SPED English for LD students. Students who have low attention span and have trouble reading and writing. The authoring cycle reminds me of the new movie "Freedom Writers". A wonderful and inspiring movie about a realistic teacher who teaches. The way she teaches her class is like the authoring cycle in which each student use reading and writing to observe and tell about their world. They inquire about their world as they work through personal issues and reach out to explore new ideas and questions.
My students need opportunities to write and read. The Authoring Cylce presents many ways for my students to learn what they are writing or reading about. Ways such as writing letters, taking notes, reflecting, oberving, illustrating, writing, editing, and publishing. The Athoring Cycle offer them many different types of opportunities that I think would actually work. It would actually work in ways that is different from traditional teaching and this is what my students need. A different way were reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and representation are taught effectively not passively.
I think it would benefit my students in ways that the cycle would co exist with their ESLRS as well as SOE conceptual framework: Knowledgeable Scholar, Effective Communicator, Reflective Decision-Maker for personal, profesional, and social growth. This is one way that we as educators can teach our students to be active learners. A cycle where many techniques and subjects could be incorporated into a themati lesson not just for the classroom but with the school motto as well.

don't now how

Mrs. Rivera i don't know how to enroll into IRA. Help!

HOME AT LAST!!!

Hooray! "...I'm home at last!" What an opportune time for the title to coincide with the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day this month - wouldn't you agree?

Doc, I appreciate and thank you for being a life saver. You never seem to amaze me with your wonderful talents in technology and in constantly leading me in the right path. You are definitely the master of technology at the the School of Education - because I know so. And look how long you patiently waited for me to post a message in this blog spot?

Seriously, I'll look forward to seeing everyone in class next time we meet at the UOG Computer Center. Adios!

Huraay!

Yihaa! I finally did it right. I hope! see everyone soon!