Q:Tell us the level of students with whom you plan on teaching as well as the content area. Then, describe the benchmark and/or grade level indicators you were working with on the Newsletter assignment. Finally, reflect on how your newsletter activity represents a learner-centered activity where your future students would be able to construct meaning regarding the benchmark or grade level indicators through the use of word processing.
A: I hope to teach children in the first or second grade and my specialty area is going to language arts. My newsletter was aimed toward children in the first to second grade. In my newsletter I took my students to a local farm. The farm is a wonderful place to learn and grow. Because it is more hands on, you benefit from the experience more than you would a zoo looking through glass at the animals. By the use of visual aids ( one of the benchmarks) the children were able to bring together three different types of animals with three different similarities. They were also able to use technology by graphics ( multiple clip art) and electronic resources by using the computer to do some research on their chosen animal. By going to the farm and doing this newsletter it will help students with their computer skills, along with using their correct sentence structure. I think that this is a beneficial exercise because it will help with building a good foundation on proper research techniques because they have to use books and/or computers to find unknown information about a animal, in this case. This project will also help with following directions that are required to complete the project, which is also another benchmark for the K-2 program.
7 comments:
Ashley,
You address all three aspects of the prompt. I do think you could have provided more detail on the specific benchmarks because the key here is the "backward design" process where what we teach comes form the benchmarks. All in all - a good job. - CB
Ashley:
I think it was important how you addressed the importance of children engaging in hands-on activities. Children learn, and remember, a lot more when they are physically engaged. It sounds like children would really enjoy doing this. :D
Sarah K
Ashley, I like how you used an off-site school environment to add to the learning environment.
Sharon Turby said...
Ashley/
I also agree that children learn and will remember more when they actually do and see something, like going to the farm and doing the newsletter. I liked your statement about it's better to go to the farm doing hands on projects rather then just looking at animals!
-Kate Collier
Ashley,
I believe that you did a great job at explaining and answering the question given. You also did a great job of giving the children in your class a hands on field trip, which ultimately makes it easier for children to talk about.
Ashley,
I think it's a great idea taking them to a farm to get a hands-on experience. I agree with you on how kids at that level learn more on a hands-on project rather than just looking at the animals.
Ashley,
I really like the hands-on approach you took. The environment at a zoo and a farm are completely different and I think you were right when you said that a trip to a farm would be more beneficial than a trip to a zoo. Good job!
-Tristan Lysowski
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