Today I brutally killed my students by giving them a nearly-impossible quiz! I thought it would be easy but challenging enough, but no, I need to expend the topics way more. Sorry guys!!! =(
And something crazy happened today-- about 15 students and I got locked inside the classroom because the door was jammed! After about 10 minutes, the door was removed (with help from a few door kickers!), we were all relieved, especially myself since there was no blood shed inside the room! =D
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
re: Writing in the 21st century
I believe that blogging is a very innovative way to teach writing and Internet awareness in the classroom.
As a blogger myself, I blog to share my ideas with friends, keep my relatives (who live all over the world!) up-to-date with my happenings, and often, just to keep notes for myself. Blogging helps with my self reflection and thinking, and sometimes it gives me new ideas. These are reasons I keep blogging, and I believe that as long as it's a meaningful task, students will enjoy it as well. It's something they're relatively familiar with (working in the Internet), it's fun and gives them ownership (they now literally own a blog!), and hopefully it will give them a better understand of each other and help with creating a positive classroom environment.
Because blogs can be read by virtually everyone on this planet (and maybe....... even beyond???!!!), bloggers have to be very careful with what they want to put in their postings. What do they want to let others know about themselves? Do they want to post secrets? Gossip? Hurtful comments?
So, we as teachers, have the responsibility to, not only teach the "how to"s (though, in some cases, we are the ones being taught!), but also the students' own responsibilities and safety as they post in the virtual world. What should be blogged? What are some online rules bloggers should know? How can students protect themselves? How can we keep track of the students' online activities (or should we??), especially during a time when technology moves way faster than we can keep up with? I guess these will be our on-going challenges as we work with blogging activities.
As a blogger myself, I blog to share my ideas with friends, keep my relatives (who live all over the world!) up-to-date with my happenings, and often, just to keep notes for myself. Blogging helps with my self reflection and thinking, and sometimes it gives me new ideas. These are reasons I keep blogging, and I believe that as long as it's a meaningful task, students will enjoy it as well. It's something they're relatively familiar with (working in the Internet), it's fun and gives them ownership (they now literally own a blog!), and hopefully it will give them a better understand of each other and help with creating a positive classroom environment.
Because blogs can be read by virtually everyone on this planet (and maybe....... even beyond???!!!), bloggers have to be very careful with what they want to put in their postings. What do they want to let others know about themselves? Do they want to post secrets? Gossip? Hurtful comments?
So, we as teachers, have the responsibility to, not only teach the "how to"s (though, in some cases, we are the ones being taught!), but also the students' own responsibilities and safety as they post in the virtual world. What should be blogged? What are some online rules bloggers should know? How can students protect themselves? How can we keep track of the students' online activities (or should we??), especially during a time when technology moves way faster than we can keep up with? I guess these will be our on-going challenges as we work with blogging activities.
Miss Tam's First Post!
Hi everyone! =)
As an ice breaker, she'll -- or rather, I'll -- do a short introduction of her-/my-self.
I'm a teacher-in-training at a wonderful university, the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. I'm in the junior/ intermediate stream (so that would be from grade 4 to grade 10). Hopefully I will find a job soon, and become a real teacher!
In faculties of education, we students have to go practice teaching at schools, and these are called "practicum"s. I'm currently in my third (and last!) practicum placement. It has been quite a bumpy ride; everyday I'm learning something new from my wonderfully energetic students!
Just like anyone else(surprise! Teachers are human being too!), my life doesn't usually, though most of the time it does -- evolve around my profession. I enjoy reading Peanuts comics, painting my nails, playing video games =)
Miss Tam is really looking forward to making some friends online! Feel free to drop by and say hi! =D
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