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Lesson 8 - How will I use my blogging skills in my classroom?

I will use blogs to publish assignments, resources, and keep students and even parents up to date on class events, due dates, and content being covered. Also to  help students' master content and improve their writing skills. My first step in blog creation is choosing a platform.  Edublog.com  is the number one site for education blogs. It lets you create and manage teacher and student websites. You can customize your design and even add photos, #videos, and podcasts. Learn more about this free, private, and secure website platform in their engaging  edublogging video . Kidblog.com  is a safe, secure publishing platform designed for grades k-12.  It’s free for up to 50 students per class. Some of the features include no advertising, privacy, password-protected, no personal information needed from students, and simple to use so students spend more time publishing. WordPress.org is a free blogging site and a good choice if your blogs go public. There is no need to purchase a
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Lesson 7 The Teenage Brain - the Male Brain

After reading and pondering the debate about teens lacking adult reasoning capacity, yet being held to adult consequences, what do you think this means for you as a teacher? As a teacher, I believe this means that I need to have grace and reasonable expectations. Just because my student is taller and stronger than me doesn't mean they are capable of making adult decisions.  As a teacher, this could be tricky. Students could pull the "I'm a teen, my brain isn't developed so I didn't do my homework" card often. I just need to be creative and in tune with my students. With the information I learned, I am thinking I will need to change my teaching technique and not just bunch all teens in the same category. Male teens obviously need more hands-on and guidance activities.  
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After watching the videos on Math and Music, how does this information impact you as a teacher?

It impacts me as a teacher in the sense that with the wealth of information I gained from the videos, I would encourage students to play an instrument knowing it not only affects their brain but also changes it. They have the potential to get higher test scores. I will also play music as well as have the students engage in music as much as possible. In regards to math, knowing having some math knowledge at home helps their math skills,  I will send home and encourage math games and activities. I will have math games available at school. I will incorporate math throughout my day in a fun way. 
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How does the information from the videos in Chapter 5 on Language and Reading impact me as a teacher?

The language and reading videos were a confirmation how important language development and reading are. I want to teach kindergarten, so this is vital information for me to know and to hone in on. I feel like I can prepare myself (depending where I teach) for students who will come to school with no prior reading and who won't be read to at home throughout the year. I can at least do my part at school to expose them to as much rich literature and opportunities to read with others and listen to an audio as possible. I found the videos very enlightening especially how infants need human interaction to grasp language. Also how the back of the brain is affected for those with dyslexia. The information was informative. I know have the background knowledge to be sensitive to those who could have dyslexia and perhaps have a conversation with the parents or with specialists. I am such a passionate (prior) homeschooling parent who has read continuously with and out loud to my kids and s
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Lesson 4 Helping Kids Succeed

What does it mean to be  relational  as a teacher?  Relational as a teacher means: having a positive relationship between the teacher and student. Instead of the teacher being a  "dictator", there is an equal respect between the teacher and student. There is a communication that exists between the student and teacher that is similar to a friendship. The teacher knows the student's weaknesses/strengths.  The teacher is aware of possible personal family issues at home.  definition of relational: concerning the way in which two or more people or things are connected. How will you interact with your students to accomplish this? The way I will interact with my student to accomplish this is:  Reaching out - checking if my student has any questions or struggles Honing in on my student's interests and talents. - knowing my students well enough to find out their talents and interests through conversation, questions and possible quizzes  Being real - being vulner
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Lesson 3 Attention, Emotions, & Learning

The videos about attention and emotions impacts me as a teacher in the following ways:  a. I realize there are a lot of attention deficits/problems I will be faced with. I feel like I need to be well equipped with knowledge and a bag of "tricks" and ultimately be flexible. b. There are so many factors to consider when teaching. It's not just about making lesson plans, teaching and grading. I will be dealing with families, students from negative environments, students who have been in abusive/stressed homes, students who are predisposed to aggression etc. Just juggling all these factors impacts me as a whole. I need to be well rested, patient, flexible and focused.  c. I'm encouraged (and nervous) that I can control a lot of my environment. So if I'm going to bed late or stressed out, this affects my classroom greatly. I can essentially bring toxins to class.  d. The stress my students possibly deal with at home is brought into my classroom and therefore it
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Lesson 2 Vision and Hearing

The vision and hearing video inspired me to play piano music and bring my diffuser in tomorrow to help the students relax while testing.   Right now I'm a sub for middle school English. I am curious if they will do better with the essential oil diffuser and the "study" music.  I knew that plants were beneficial but not to the extent it mentioned. I am excited to put plants in my future classroom (even my home where I have kids). I was fascinated with how light affects our mood and how studies have shown students do better with brighter classrooms. I was intrigued that different smells affects our mood, anxiety, fear etc. All this information from the book and the video gives me insight to potential leaning problems but also how to make my classroom better and the best learning environment possible If I see a student tilting their head or having headaches etc, I have the knowledge now to have grace on the child and to have them see a doctor asap. All this information
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