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.