Saturday, September 19, 2015
Post # 2
Nation Educational organization
One of the national educational organizations that I have been using during my teaching and while not teaching is the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages ACTFL. This is a very helpful organization to help all the teachers in all different states to keep them up on the latest education. Also, teachers can share their issues and ideas with other teachers. Their web can be found here. The social media of ACTFL are Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , Talk Radio and YouTube , which are the most popular social media
My membership total is $49 per year.
The basic is $ 29.00 , Film $5.00, Heritage $5.00, SNS $0.00, Teacher $5.00, Culture $5.00
with this member ships I get asses to the latest magazines, brochures, books, videos, films, and new ideas on teaching a foreign language. Also, if I need help with something on the education area I can join a group of teachers and chat about it.
Yes, they are always having conferences. The one that is coming up is the anual Convention and World world Language Expo at San Diego Center in San Diego California on October 28, 2015. the cost is $155.
State Level Education
My state education organization is REMC Association of Michigan . I wish I had found this link to this website long time ago. Is filled with so much information about how to use technology in the classroom. Also, has lot of ways to teach students on a fun way. REMC has other big organizations such as Michigan Department Education, Maul, Maisa, and Mel. This site offers many information such as newsletters download, online learning news, and has many multiple videos that teaches teachers how to use technology with students on a fun way. I am so happy that I have found this site it is very helpful and fun to watch. To asses for most of the information I do not need a membership. you can stream videos on the projector in school and that also can be very helpful for students. They also, have some events coming up. in October 27, 2015 they are coming to grand rapids to teach teachers for long hours. I am not sure how much they are charging because I did not sign up.
Their social media are Facebook, Twitter and ISTE Affiliate Member.
Grand Rapids Public Schools' Technology Plan
Grand Rapids Public Schools the largest school district in Kent County and the third largest school district in Michigan. It is composed of 30 elementary schools; seven middle schools including the them schools; 15 alternative schools; 6 are residential programs 5 early childhood centers serving both general education and special education students; 8 special education centers and an adult education program.
On my research I found out that GRPS provides 36,000 devices for 17,000 students on the whole district and has 1,400 educators (teachers)
GRPS Mission:
"Our mission is to ensure the achievement of high standards by all students by enhancing the use of instructional technology, we support their growth into knowledgeably skilled and confidents citizens capable of seceding in their work, personal and family lives into the 21 century".
GRPS Vision Statements:
By the Michigan Technology Standards
"Technology literacy is the ability to responsibly use appropriate technology to communicate, solve problems, and access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information to improve learning in all subject areas and to acquire lifelong knowledge and skills in the 21st century".
As I was reading Grand Rapids Public Schools' technology plan, I came to the conclusion that they expect teachers to use technology every day and most of the time they are teaching. Also, the departments of Michigan of education expect high expectations on teacher to make the most of technology while they teach to improve students education and be able to keep up with 21st century. Looking at the number of devices 36,000 that GRPS have to offer and the amount of students which are 17,000 and teachers 1,400 is seems like there should be enough devices for students and teachers, but unfortunately thats not the case. I was at Union High School for the whole semester and I never saw students use any kind of device to do any type of work or to research something. The only time a device was used in class was when the teacher put in a movie, taking attendance and when the whole class work as a group. Also, I never saw the teacher taking students to the computer lab. No, the GRPS technology plan does not match the use of devices in the school and their vision statements and the Michigan Department of education.
http://www.grps.org/images/departments/mis/pdfs/grpsTechnologoyPlan201215.pdf
Grand Rapids Public Schools the largest school district in Kent County and the third largest school district in Michigan. It is composed of 30 elementary schools; seven middle schools including the them schools; 15 alternative schools; 6 are residential programs 5 early childhood centers serving both general education and special education students; 8 special education centers and an adult education program.
On my research I found out that GRPS provides 36,000 devices for 17,000 students on the whole district and has 1,400 educators (teachers)
GRPS Mission:
"Our mission is to ensure the achievement of high standards by all students by enhancing the use of instructional technology, we support their growth into knowledgeably skilled and confidents citizens capable of seceding in their work, personal and family lives into the 21 century".
GRPS Vision Statements:
- Facilitating and inspiring students learning
- Designing and developing digital-age and learning experiences and assessments
- Model the digital -age, work and learn
- Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility
- Engage in professional growth and leadership
- How many computers are in the classroom? There is only one laptop in the classroom, which is used by the teacher to take attendance and do other things that he needs to get his lesson plans ready to teach
- Does the teacher have a computer connected to a projector? The teacher not alway have a computer connected to a projector. some time he connects it when he want to show something to the class, like a movie or when doing work together.
- Does the students have their own devises? No, students do not have their own devises
- Are students able to bring their own devises? How many computer labs are in the building?They bring their own smart phone with them but they are not allowed to take it out of their pockets and backpacks . There are only two computer labs in the whole building.
- How many movable carts (e.g., a cart containing a classroom set of laptops or tablets)does the building have? I do no think the have movable carts with devices. I did my students teacher last winter and I do not remember ever seen a cart with devices. No computers, no laptops or tablets.
By the Michigan Technology Standards
"Technology literacy is the ability to responsibly use appropriate technology to communicate, solve problems, and access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information to improve learning in all subject areas and to acquire lifelong knowledge and skills in the 21st century".
As I was reading Grand Rapids Public Schools' technology plan, I came to the conclusion that they expect teachers to use technology every day and most of the time they are teaching. Also, the departments of Michigan of education expect high expectations on teacher to make the most of technology while they teach to improve students education and be able to keep up with 21st century. Looking at the number of devices 36,000 that GRPS have to offer and the amount of students which are 17,000 and teachers 1,400 is seems like there should be enough devices for students and teachers, but unfortunately thats not the case. I was at Union High School for the whole semester and I never saw students use any kind of device to do any type of work or to research something. The only time a device was used in class was when the teacher put in a movie, taking attendance and when the whole class work as a group. Also, I never saw the teacher taking students to the computer lab. No, the GRPS technology plan does not match the use of devices in the school and their vision statements and the Michigan Department of education.
http://www.grps.org/images/departments/mis/pdfs/grpsTechnologoyPlan201215.pdf
Friday, September 11, 2015
Josefina's Biography
Education/Profession:
Hi, my name is Josefina. I am original from Mexico I have been here for 20 years. I have been in college for ever, it seams! :-( I am very exited I am taking one of my last class at GVSU. I am graduating with two majors, Spanish and Education. My minor is Psychology. I did my Teacher Assistant at Union High School on winter 2015. The best part of all was that I got to create my Spanish lessons and I got to teach them. It was very exiting every time I got up in the morning and thinking that I had everything ready to go and teach. I think that if teaching Spanish makes me feel excited I believe that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Not every body gets up on the morning and feels this excited to go to work.
I have been employed by Grand Rapids Public Schools for almost 10 years. I was first placed at Palmer Elementary for four years working with ELL Students. Most of the time I work with students that just had arrived in the United States and did not know a single word of English. It was very difficult situation because they could not understand me and I was an estranger for them. I was stuck in a situation that I had no idea of how I was going to get them to trust me. One of my philosophy in education is that students in order to learn from the teacher, teacher first must win student's trust.
I put my self on the students situation to see if I could figure out something. I realized that in order for the students to learn English, I had to first learn their language, even if it was just a few words but I had to show them that I was interested on their language first. During the weekend I dedicated some hours on learning the very basic of Somali Language. The next day I had the students laughing and learning English while they were correcting me with my Somali pronunciation.
I did the same thing with a couple girls that just had arrived from Italy.
As soon as students start to feel comfortable with teachers they will learn what ever the teacher is trying to teach!
After four years my position was eliminated so I got transfer to Harrison School. I worked there as a general paraprofessional helping teachers with interventions and other things that the teachers needed help with.
After four years, again my position got eliminated and the only position there was left was working with children with Special Education. I worked there with a very challenged group and they help me to see my life and others life differently. I learned so much from them!!
I miss them a ton!
Family/hometown: I come from a big family of nine, seven brothers and two sisters. Most of my brothers are all over United States and one of my sister still in Mexico with my parents and my other sister lives in Texas. I have two children and I am getting married on October 17, 2015. My home town is Santa Monica Ozumbilla which is Guanajuato (the state). Guanajuato is known for being the heart of Mexico and also, for las "Momias" Here is a link where you can browse:
http://www.momiasdeguanajuato.gob.mx/english/
My personality/things that I like to do
I am that kind of girl that if I believe on something and I know it is realistic achievable I put my whole mind and find a way to achieve or to accomplish my goals. I remember when I started college, people would asked me "how long will it take you to become a Spanish teacher?" and I would tell them that was a career of four years going to school full time but it was going to take me longer because I was going to school only part time. Family though that I was going to give up half way of my career and they were and still surprised that I did not give up. Also, I am very easy going, I do not worry too much about things that I do not have control of. I do get very nervous with school work specially if I do not know what to do. On my time off I like to connect with people from Mexico, I like to go to the gym and I like to read books in Spanish. I am also kind of boring person if I compare my self to other girls. I rather stay home and watch Telenovelas and relax instead of going out to a Bar and parties with friends, but I do have a very fun night during the week. My fiance and I go to clubs and dance and dance until our feet can't move anymore. We do that every Saturday nights at the downtown.
I have been employed by Grand Rapids Public Schools for almost 10 years. I was first placed at Palmer Elementary for four years working with ELL Students. Most of the time I work with students that just had arrived in the United States and did not know a single word of English. It was very difficult situation because they could not understand me and I was an estranger for them. I was stuck in a situation that I had no idea of how I was going to get them to trust me. One of my philosophy in education is that students in order to learn from the teacher, teacher first must win student's trust.
I put my self on the students situation to see if I could figure out something. I realized that in order for the students to learn English, I had to first learn their language, even if it was just a few words but I had to show them that I was interested on their language first. During the weekend I dedicated some hours on learning the very basic of Somali Language. The next day I had the students laughing and learning English while they were correcting me with my Somali pronunciation.
I did the same thing with a couple girls that just had arrived from Italy.
As soon as students start to feel comfortable with teachers they will learn what ever the teacher is trying to teach!
After four years my position was eliminated so I got transfer to Harrison School. I worked there as a general paraprofessional helping teachers with interventions and other things that the teachers needed help with.
After four years, again my position got eliminated and the only position there was left was working with children with Special Education. I worked there with a very challenged group and they help me to see my life and others life differently. I learned so much from them!!
I miss them a ton!
Family/hometown: I come from a big family of nine, seven brothers and two sisters. Most of my brothers are all over United States and one of my sister still in Mexico with my parents and my other sister lives in Texas. I have two children and I am getting married on October 17, 2015. My home town is Santa Monica Ozumbilla which is Guanajuato (the state). Guanajuato is known for being the heart of Mexico and also, for las "Momias" Here is a link where you can browse:
http://www.momiasdeguanajuato.gob.mx/english/
My personality/things that I like to do
I am that kind of girl that if I believe on something and I know it is realistic achievable I put my whole mind and find a way to achieve or to accomplish my goals. I remember when I started college, people would asked me "how long will it take you to become a Spanish teacher?" and I would tell them that was a career of four years going to school full time but it was going to take me longer because I was going to school only part time. Family though that I was going to give up half way of my career and they were and still surprised that I did not give up. Also, I am very easy going, I do not worry too much about things that I do not have control of. I do get very nervous with school work specially if I do not know what to do. On my time off I like to connect with people from Mexico, I like to go to the gym and I like to read books in Spanish. I am also kind of boring person if I compare my self to other girls. I rather stay home and watch Telenovelas and relax instead of going out to a Bar and parties with friends, but I do have a very fun night during the week. My fiance and I go to clubs and dance and dance until our feet can't move anymore. We do that every Saturday nights at the downtown.
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Hi, I am not sure I was suppose to put my hyperlink in my blog or on blackboard. Here is my hyperlink. I did my teacher assistant with the Grand Rapids Public School at Union High School. Here is all the information About Union High School.
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