Today's Class

Todays class was awesome. My husband said that today was a creative and great way to end the program. I really enjoyed it. I did not know that it would turn at so great! Good luck to all of you!

Thanksgiving Break

I enjoyed some of my, but not thoroughly enjoyed. I worked on classwork Monday thru Wednesday, took a break on Thursday and Friday and got back to business Saturday night and some of Sunday. Christmas break will be better. So will the rest of them, because I am only taking one class until gradution. I feel as if I am overloaded with work. However, its almost over. I have to hang in their for a few more days.

Research Project

The school I work at has been chosen to be a particpant in a research project. The experience is great. I have received six new computers in my class donated by the district for the study. My question is if the district has more computers then why didn't I get them in the first place. Either way, the research project is computer based and I am now able to have eight kids on the computer at one time. Thats almost half the class. The students are really engaged while they are on the computer. I often hear them singing are saying "hey look at this." Kids think it is a priveldge getting on the computer and sometimes ask if they can use the computer when their work is finished. I am excited. The program also collects data for the teacher and allows for easier differentiated instruction. It also has a lot of work tailored to each individual child's need that is printable. I hope my students continue to have success in the study and keep enjoying it as much as I am.

Large Scale Initiatives

http://infotech.aicpa.org/Resources/Top+Technology+Initiatives/2009+Top+Technology+Initiatives+and+Honorable+Mentions.htm
The AICPA Information Technology Center present the top 2009 technology initiatives
One that I found was the Information Security Management. This tool helps with protecting information, minimizes threats and minimizes the chance of information being stolen.

Another initiative by this research center is mobile and remote computing. This initiative proposes the idea of people working from where ever at any time of day. It allows individuals to collaborate on various digitized documents from anywhere.

Training and competency is another initiative discussed at theis center. Instead of poeple coming to train others businesses are using computer based training such as vodcast, podcast and etc. to train staff.

Mentor

I have been blessed to have had a great mentor. My mentor was a third grade reading and language arts teacher. I was her student teacher and she was my cooperating teacher. She had previously been teacher of the year and she was the team leader. When I was working with her I was pregnant with my son. Before I left she brought me a bag of things for my baby and an office set. The set included a stapler, staple puller, staples, tape and etc. She even came to visit me in the hospital and brought more gifts for my son.
She influenced me greatly in the way I teach. She gave me pointers in different lessons and always reported positively about my teaching experiences. The first year that I taught I would visit her in her room and ask her various questions. I still use the reading advice and materials she has given me today. Her students were successful and mine have been successful also.
She has had the greatest impact on me as a teacher. I learned a lot in college, but the experiences with her taught me a great deal also. Today people come to my class room and ask about my materials and want copies and want to know about some of my teaching strategies. I learned alot of information from teaching at a Reading First school. My professor asked me if I had previously been a reading coach because of my knowledge of teaching reading. Some of the strategies that I learned came from my mentor and some came from trial and error. Thankfully there wasn't much error.

Essays or blogs?

I like doing blogs so much better than essays. They seem more informal and they allow personality to flow. In all four of my MTT classes I have had to write a paper. I heard that they do not have to in the first MTT classes now. Not fair! However, I can't complain I have become a better writer, but with a lot of hard work. Oh well, no use of crying over spilled milk.

Running out of what to say

I really do not know what to say anymore. This is almost my last blog and I have run out of things to say. If I do not get to tell you all on Saturday that I wish you all success, then I am telling you know. Also have a Merry Christmas. Oh my gosh it is right around the corner. I have not had a chance to do much Christmas shopping. After my last final on December 15, malls better beware. Does anyone know when the final is for this class?