Final Blog Entry

I have found technology integration within curriculum and across instruction to be extremely motivating for students. Students thrive on new and innovative ways of learning. As a teacher, I am increasingly interested in the educational opportunities presented and find technology integration to be widely popular amongst professional development gatherings.

During the month of September I used technology in the classroom. The fourth grade social studies curriculum requires students to become familiar with the six regions of the United States. Students worked in groups of three and were responsible for inquiring about weather, culture, food, religion, monuments, transportation, and schools concerning their particular region. Students used helpful websites, watched specific videos, and used literary sources to retrieve information. According to Grappling’s adaptation of technological uses, it was not necessary for technology to be apart of this project, but as a teacher I felt that its practice was essential to a child’s success in life.

I truly felt that this technology enhanced project strengthened student learning and understanding of this information. Students not only acquired facts about their designated area of study but they also learned seemingly simple tasks such as logging onto the internet, conducting an online search, and the use of a word document program. As confirmed in Grappling’s technology literacy uses, research of this project is done not only for students to become “experts” on their designated region but to also learn the tools and processes that technology has to offer. More importantly I felt that this project allowed students to gain the life skill of computer use that is so often prevalent in today’s world.

The end is near!!!

I cannot believe that my first year of teaching is coming to a close!!! I am amazed by all of the things that I have learned. I have to be honest and say that I am ready for a fresh start. I know that behavior management is something that I need to work on. I plan to be more consistent next year! I will be teaching 4th grade again so the curriculum will be familar to me. I also am looking forward to not having fellows coursework hanging over my head. I will be able to make my kids my #1 priority :)