Making Movies

Nancy Barile's article, "A Teen Soap Opera to Learn SAT Vocabulary" is a great example of using technology in the classroom. She had her students, who often spoke English as a second language, write and produce their own soap operas to learn their SAT vocabulary. Each week they had to use fourteen vocabulary words in the dialogue of their screen play. This allowed for vocabulary to be learned in a fun and creative way. When the screen play is produced, the context in which the vocabulary is used in dialogue will stick in their heads and allow them to remember the meaning of each word.
This lesson is a great example of using technology in the classroom. It also gave me another idea about how to incorporate technology into literature lessons. I could have students take Shakespeare's plays and modernize them into a short film. Not only would this help in understanding Shakespeare's often confusing language by putting it into modern context, but it also helps students to remember the plays plots for future courses.

website used: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom-solutions/2011/01/teen-soap-opera-learn-sat-vocabulary

Twitter in the 4th Grade

Those who use Twitter often refer to it as social media, but now teachers can call it a classroom tool. Christina Rojas's article, "Tweeting teachers: How one New Jersey Elementary School is Embracing Twitter" acknowledges the many ways Twitter can improve schools. At Springfield Elementary, teachers are using Twitter in various ways to get parents and students involved with school. Each day students are ask to write on a piece of paper, no more than 140 characters describing their day. Then the teachers open the class's Twitter account and input student's tweets. Parents are invited to follow the class on Twitter to stay up to date on their child's learning.
Twitter is helping parents stay in touch with their children's learning and also opening up other possibilities for teachers. Some use Twitter to tweet questions to fellow teachers; therefore improving their skills as a mentor to students. Other teachers are trying to connect classrooms through Twitter and this can be classrooms from the same school or one across the country. I never realized that Twitter could be so versatile in the classroom. When I start teaching, I may use Twitter to keep in touch with parents and I would also like to keep my students up to date with assignments and answer any of their questions through Twitter since it could be more efficient than email.

tiny URL on Twitter: http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2015/02/tweeting_teachers_how_one_nj_elementary_school_is.html?linkId=12535846
Following @ScholasticTeach

Looking Like a Teen While Teaching Teens

I will admit that I am at a slight disadvantage going into the high school teaching profession. I am pretty short, so walking through the hallways with authority may be a bit tough if I look like a teacher myself. Earning the respect of my students is the scariest aspect of teaching because I can achieve nothing without their respect. But are teenagers really that different from adults? Do they have a natural rebellious side that wants to come out. According to Andrianes Pinantoan, " most teens are simply trying to fulfill their goals socially and academically while discovering who and what they want to be and how to get there."
This article explains that teens come across as more rebellious because they have more boundaries than adults have. In pushing those boundaries, they are learning what they feel comfortable doing and what goes against their morals. Pinantoan explains that morals will never be learned if a student is not given a chance to test right and wrong for themselves. With a strong support system of family, school and community, Pinantoan explains that most teens will not feel the need to rebel, at least not to the extreme extent. This article tells me that, as a teacher I should not write off the rebellious student as someone who will not listen. I will just have to work harder to understand where they are coming from and establish that I am someone they can turn to if help is needed.

website used: http://www.cerebralhacks.com/brain-myths/are-teenagers-really-more-rebellious/

Feminist Theory in the Classroom

As a Women and Gender Studies minor, Nancy Barile's blog post entitled, " Film and Feminist Criticism in the High School Classroom" shows that feminist theory can be taught in the classroom without stirring up controversy. Barile demonstrates a great way to incorporate technology into the class even if showing movies was one of the first techniques. By discussing gender stereotype and its use in media, she is starting a discussion about topics that are much discussed in college. A broader view of stereotypes opens up a variety of topics for papers and discussion. In addition, since students in this century are use to entertainment in the form of film and television, incorporating film into the topic of feminist criticism ensures that a connection between the two subjects is made.
Barile points out that once the connection was made, her students told her that watching television is just not the same, it was ruined. She feels that she did her job because now her students will not blindly watch anything and gain wrongful perspectives on men and women. They are left to produce their own opinions of the world.

website used: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom-solutions/2010/08/film-and-feminist-criticism-high-school-classroom

New Teachers and Difficult Students

Nancy Barile's blog, "Classroom Management--Kids Speak Out" peaked my interest because soon I will be substituting at a high school with a very weak discipline policy. Being short and looking like a student myself, because I am one, I find it very scary to think about the possible difficult students I could face in the classroom. Barile managed to turn her two worst students around and into A students. She used their help to gather student's perspectives on what good classroom management entails.
Apparently a test that students will do to figure out if their teacher is a push over is to ask to go to the bathroom. They would stay out of class for a long period of time and if they came back and the teacher does not say anything, then they are a weak teacher. Those teachers will face more boundary testing then a teacher who calls the student out on their infraction.
After hearing all of the students' opinions, Barile made a list of rules teachers should follow in order to promote respect in the classroom. The list included having high expectations for every students because students need to feel like their teacher believes in them. It also said to establish rules right away and enforce them. However, humor is important because not all students react to strict teachers. This article really clamed my nerves about dealing with difficult students. I saved the article and plan on memorizing her suggestions and utilizing them as best as possible.

Site Used: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom-solutions/2010/08/work-past-time-catch

Music Used for More Than Just Dancing

When I study or do homework, I usually listen to classical music or Tibetan Singing bowls. I heard these forms of music were good for concentration because there are no lyrics to listen to. My eigth grade teacher use to put on classical music while we read in class; I believe she started my interest in classical music. Andrianes Pinantoan says in, "Can Music Improve Your Memory?" that music can do much more than just help concentration. Music can help people learn a new language, and help with medical issues such low blood pressure, Alzheimer's, and depression. According to Pinantoan, children who listen to music or are taught music at a young age show signs of a higher IQ and better memory skills compared to those who do not have any association with music.

The genre of music listened to is important as well because music effects a person's emotions. Pinantoan sites an experiment with rats to exemplify music's effect on emotion. Rats who listened to angry rock music ended up eating each other. Classical music showed positive results in various cases that Pinantoan discusses. It produces calming emotions that can help addicts who are trying to stop using, and can help people who are depressed produce happy endorphins.

Classical music is more useful then just having background noise that is not distracting. I will keep using music while studying and doing homework because it is calming. If it is also helping my memory or mood, this is great too.  I will put it on in the background while teaching class in hopes of promoting interest in classical music to my students.

Site Used: http://www.cerebralhacks.com/brain-exercises/can-music-improve-your-memory/

Teaching Literary Criticism

Having been an AP student in high school, Nancy Barile's blog entry, "The Art of Literary Criticism" peaked my interest because it was about how she taught her students the tools to close reading. She started by providing her students with examples of literary criticisms about a story they had to read. After doing this several times for different readings, she asks them to write an essay based on the prompt she gives them that focuses on aspects of literary criticism. Then at the end of the year she asks them to write a literary criticism of a novel without giving them any prompts.
Barile also asks the students to keep journals as they read in order to keep track of the plot and their own thoughts.
 The way Barile breaks down the process sheds light on the way all lessons should be broken down, which is thoughtfully. I know I can write a literary criticism without hesitation, but that is only because the concept is engrained in my memory. Teaching literary criticism to someone who has no idea what it is, would be difficult, but the way Barile breaks down the concept makes things more understandable.
website used: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/classroom-solutions/2011/04/art-literary-criticism

Memory in the Classroom

Andraines Pinantoan discusses how memories are formed in, "How Memories Form-And Why Should You Care". We all probably know the basics. There are long and short term memories and often memories can be activated by a sound or smell. However, Pinantoan points out that memories are not always accurate because they can be influenced by other memories. These other memories could have occurred around the same time, in the same setting, or might have been a similar situation that caused facts to get mixed up.
Pinantoan's emphasis on sound, smell and setting influencing memory, gave me multiple ideas on how to run my classroom. I have been told in the past to study for each of my classes in different parts of my house in order to better remember the information I take in. If I had a math test, I could better remember a practice problem if I envisioned myself in the kitchen where I studied. But if I had a history test, then I would envision my living room because I studied for history in there. However, why use this strategy just for studying? In my classroom, I could utilize these memory tricks to help my students retain the information they learn through out the year. For each section taught, I could have the desk arrangement, posters, classical background music, and even air fresheners change when I switch to a new section.
I hope that in doing so, my students will be able to recall information due to their memories of the classroom setting at the time the lesson was taught.
website used: http://www.cerebralhacks.com/education-learning/how-memories-form-and-why-you-should-care/