20. Common Core in Action: How Two Science Teachers are Implementing Common Core

In an article found in edutopia discusses how it may be a challenge for teachers in subjects areas other than math and English. With this said the article describes two teachers who use LDC (Literacy Design Collaborative) as a model to help implement the common core into their lessons. One of the two teachers, Kate Abole teaches science. She describes how she balanced instruction with traditional science activities and lessons. For example one day may consist of reading an article, while the day will consist of doing an activity. The other teacher, Christopher King who used similar methods as Katie but with ninth and tenth grade levels. 

I feel that the LDC model is a great way to help the students progress and involve themselves with the lesson. I believe this is a way to let the students learn and remember down the road, rather than just memorize and forget later. 

19. Evolving Classroom Education: Where Is K-12 Technology Headed?

Mathew Lynch has said in this article that in the past decade, classrooms have become more than a hub for learning; they have transformed into showcases for the latest technology. Lynch explains how new teachers cannot see the importance of technology and the advancement with learning as well as older teachers who have seen it grown.  He also adds how in the future more developments will come in play. One development he mentions is BYOD, known as Bring Your Own Device. Instead of asking students to put Smartphones or tablets away durning class time, teachers are starting to encourage those devices in the classroom.  Another development stated is Natural user interfaces. This is the use of the body's movement to provide outcomes. The advantage of this type of technology is that it expands the reach of what students can use it. Blind, deaf, physical disabled, and autistic children can better learn through use if of this still-evolving technology. Also Lynch mentions the development of Personal learning environments. This type of learning is student-centric. PLE's focus on allowing students to choose resources, often through electronic formats, for individual learning that fits their own style and pace.  While colleges and universities move to adjust rapidly to advancements, K-12 institutions ae just the opposite. For technology to truly make an impact, the barriers in its way in public schools need to come down. 

I agree with how he explains the advancement of technology. Also within the classrooms devices are becoming more prominate everyday. I feel eventually regular pen and paper will be obsolete. I feel the three deveolpments are good and can help the students better themselves. 

18. Voki

17. Prevent Bullying

Why do children feel it is okay to harass another child so baldy? Even to the point where it becomes suicidal... Doesn't this make you stop and think! I mean what significance do they get out of it? Yes, every student wants to be popular, but is it necessary to break down another to get what they want? I'm just torn with this subject, and it brings an emotional toll on me every time it comes into conversation. 

I will never forget the nights someone close to me would come home crying because of bullying. It would make me furious. This person that was close to me had to endure counseling because of suicidal thoughts. I was never the type to bully. I also spoke to everyone and never excluded anyone from any activity. 

I feel that there should be time every month in schools that is set aside for assemblies on bullying. I feel that reminding students what affects this causes could help benefit the problem. During the assembly allow time for group discussion within the different grades. You could also have testimonies from bully victims, and also from people who were bullies themselves. 

16. Augmented reality snags a coveted spot in classrooms

An article, "Augmented reality snags a coveted spot in classrooms" was written by Laura Devaney. An augmented reality uses technology to blend the real world with interactive and enhanced content. She begins the article by telling a story of student that holds a tablet in front of a series of famous paintings. On each painting, something comes to life-sounds, animation, or a pop-ups fact linking the painting to hhistorical events. This is augmented reality- which, due in part to an increase in access to mobile devices and augmented reality apps, is becoming increasingly common in K-12 classrooms, states Laura. She also explains how an art educator, Theresa McGee, feels towards using the augmented reality in the classroom. "Students can explore, and they really dig deeper into their own learning," Theresa says. 

I feel this article was very helpful. It allowed me to become better acquainted with the term augmented reality. I feel through Laura's examples and her knowledge it would make me want to use augmented reality apps within my classroom. I feel this tool could better the students by allowing them to see the bigger picture of the lecture. I also feel any extra, outside the box tools help the students

15. Five Essentials to Create Connected Students

The article, "Five Essentials to Create Connected Students" was written by an educator, Vicki Davis. She begins this article by describing how the students reacted the day the new update for the Apple products was released. Every student worked around their lunch schedules to make sure they were around WiFi to download the latest update. Davis observes that while most students are connected, there are also who are not. Some students are more worried if they will have a food when they get home rather paying a cell phone bill. But Davis states that being connected isn't just for socializing; it's a life skill. In this connected world, there are invisibly disconnected kids, disconnected from the knowledge they need to be successful, Davis states. She also feels as an educator they should care about the way institutions discourage connections through social media. Some say that connecting is a civil right, but she also thinks that they need to know the essentials skills for connecting. Here are the the five essentials Davis believes students should know.

The five essentials to know for the well connected student-
1. A connected author
Students must be able to write and communicate in online spaces in contextually appropriate ways.

2. A connected publisher
Students should have efolios and personal websites full of great academic work.

3. A connected conversationalist
Students need a voice and to know how to interject and extend a conversation.

4. A strategic disconnector
We must help this generation have the discipline to put down their phones strategically to have a well -rounded life: while driving, dinning, and studying.

5. A curious, lifelong pursuer of ingenious solutions.
We educators must shift this generation from being the consumers to being the creators.

 My opinion on this article is not very strong of agreeing or disagreeing. I feel torn between the fact that not every child will have phones or access to technology. However, I also ask myself is this fair to the students that can afford the technology to hold them back? I do agree on the fact that if you allow the students to have technology there are basic essentials they need to know. I wholeheartedly agree with the one one about the strategic disconnector. Students should know when to set aside the phone to have a well rounded life. This can also go for adults too! 

14. 21st Century Skills

An article written by the president for 21st Century Skills, Ken Kay, begins by describing a "tipping point," the moment when a critical mass of circumstances come together and sets us on a new and unstoppable course. Scientists, economists, and sociologists all use this term to describe moments when a significant change occurs and results in a new reality that is markedly different form the old. Kay believes that we are on the threshold of a tipping point in public education. The moment is at hand for a 21st century model for education that will better prepare students for the demands of citizenship, college, and careers in this millennium, he states.

He uses this article to introduce the context and framework for the 21st Century Learning developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. The vision for 21st Century offers a framework that should be expected of students once they leave school to venture successfully into higher education, workplaces, and independent life. He stresses more on the outcomes stating they are the design specs for the rest of the system.

Why do we need a new model for education in the 21st century, Kay asks. His answer is that the world is changing. The global economy, with its emerging industries and occupations, offers tremendous opportunities for everyone who has the skills to take advantage of it. Another reason is that U.S. schools and students have not adopted to the changing world. Kay believes that our current public education system is not preparing all students for the economic, workforce, and citizenship opportunities and demands of the 21st century.

What should a 21st century look like? Kay feels meeting challenges we face requires a new model for education, one in which every aspect of our education system is aligned to prepare Americans to compete.  The framework focuses on results that matter. With this said, 21st century education must be tied to outcomes. Kay says the critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and the other 21st century skills are the tools people need to move up the economic ladder.

My opinion about the 21st Century Skills framework is that I agree on most parts. I agree with the fact that our world is changing, and in way I guess our education needs to build a better format. But there is a part of me that still likes to hold on that original way of  learning. I know all children learn in different ways and expressing their creativity is important, but does this baby them? I mean students today rely on what people tell them do to instead of working through problems themselves. They seem to need so much guidance. So, I feel that preparing for the independent lifestyle is important, but know that beginning with their education is where that independent lifestyle lesson will begin.

13. Why Tough Teachers Get Good Results

An article by Joanne Lipman states that she had teacher once that called kids "idiots". He made them rehearse to their fingers almost bled. She states that today he would fired. But when he died a few years ago,  forty years worth of former students and colleagues flew back to her New Jersey hometown to play a concert in his memory. She was stunned by the turnout, and also what amazed her was the success of his students. Research tells us there is a positive correlation between music education and academic achievement. But she states, that alone did not explain the belated surge of gratitude for teacher who tortured them.

She says that we are in the mist of a national wave of self-recrimination over the U.S. education system. Every day there is something hand-wringing over our students falling behind the rest of the world. She wants to ask what did her teacher do right? Comparing her teachers methods with the latest findings in fields from music to math to medicine leads to a single, startling conclusion: it's time to revive old-fashioned in the sense that many kids, with strict discipline and unyielding demands. Projects and collaborative learning are applauded; traditional methods like lecturing and memorization-derided as "drill and kill"- are frowned upon.

She believes the conventional wisdom is wrong and these eight principles explain why.
1. A little pain is good for you.
2. Drill, baby, drill
3. Failure is an option
4. Strict is better than nice
5. Creativity can be learned
6. Grit trumps talent
7. Praise makes you weak...
8. ...while stress makes you strong.


My opinion of this article varies in different aspects. I am torn between the strictness along with memorization and the conventional way teachers are integrating to today. To be honest, I believe there should be strictness in the classroom, but not in a over dramatic sense. I feel that teachers should expect their students to accomplish as much as needed. I also feel that strictness gives students the will to embrace what they can do, rather then depend on someone telling them what to do. However, I do believe that memorization does hurt the students in some ways. If you are taught to memorize your lesson, how can this help you in the long run? Will the students still remember this knowledge when it is needed?

12. Inspiration Comments

1. Erica- Great job on activities and could improve on color for map to help stand out for the students.

2. Jacqueline- I love the bingo activity and could use less game activity

3. Mary Kathryn- Love how your first activity interacts with the children.

4. Jennifer- Remember to smile, but great job on your whole map overall with activities and main topic.

5. Amanda- I love how they read the story and identify the theme, but maybe should introduce how to find context clues before reading the story.

6. Jordan- Great job on presenting yourself throughout the presentation.

7. Johnathan- Very good job on map! Love the color and topic. Remember to smile!

8. Victoria- I love how your pictures go along with your activities.

9. Allison Martin- I love your creativity within your lesson.

10. Callie- Remember to smile, but great job on your lesson.

11. Madeline- I love how your lesson involves to allow your students to go outside for their own research.

12. Madison- I like how you are aware of the students capabilities within the classroom, and allowing them to break into groups.

13. Brittany- I love your references with combining more than one story into your lesson.

14. Nicole- I like how you involve illustration within your lesson.

15. Deanna- I like how you let the students write what they think the garden will look like before they actually see it.

16. Lauren- Great idea with the food within the lesson. This is a way to grab your students attention.

17. Allison Gore- I admire your group activity with reviewing their knowledge. 

18. Tommi- I like how you allowed the students to pick a part to act out from a part of the book.

19. Thy-  I love your map and the colors and placement of the activities.