Geocaching!

Well this has been a crazy past week.  On Monday we were out of school because of a "crazy" storm that passed through Johnson City.  It was actually kind of nice to be out because I got so much homework done. On Wednesday I was unable to make it to class because of a "family" situation.  I really hate that I missed Social Studies class.  Social Studies class is ALWAYS fun and last Wednesday was no different.  After talking to other classmates and Dr. Meier I learned that my class went on a geocacaching savanger hunt.  Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices.  By using geocaching, you can teach latitude and longitude in the classroom.  Latitude and longitude can be difficult to teach elementary school students but with geocaching, you can make it easier.  Hopefully one day I can be involved in geocaching because it seems like a lot of fun.  Here is the website for geocaching, http://www.geocaching.com/.  Make sure you take a look!! 

Teaching Social Studies in the Classroom

This week while I was in the 2nd grade classroom, I had an eye opener.  I have been going to this classroom for the past month and a half and never once have I seen my teacher mentor teach Social Studies.  Well, Friday, one of the students asked the teacher when they were going to learn and use their Social Studies book.  I was shocked to hear my mentor teacher say, "when we have time".  I could not believe what she had said.  That situation opened up my eyes and showed me that I do not want to be a teacher who pushes Social Studies to the side.  Social Studies is important an should be taught every week.  I am just upset because these students in 2nd grade want to learn Social Studies and the teacher does not see.

By the way, I have officially passed ALL of my Praxis!!! I am so relieved and happy! 

Box City!

Diverse City!!!

This week in Social Studies class, I learned how to make a box city, which I absolutely loved!  Box city is such an awesome idea and activity for any age, even college students.  First, we had to design a place to build the city, which was a tarp that Dr. Meier made, then we named the city Diverse City, and the roads.  One of the road names was named World Avenue while the other roads were named after the continents of the world.  After we designed the city, we started building the buildings out of boxes.  Some of the buildings that we built were a courthouse, Walmart, a school, a bank, and a recycling center.  After we got done building our city and determining where each one of the buildings went, we reflected on the city and how we could incorporate this in different grade levels.  I thought our city was awesome!!!  One day when I have a classroom of my own, I plan on doing a box city with my students!!!

Making Social Studies Fun!

Throughout this semester, I have really come to love Social Studies.  I never really seen the point in Social Studies until this semester.  I have been taught that Social Studies is a subject that every teacher needs to be teaching their students.

This past week in block, I have been learning how important it is to teach students history of the past in a fun and educational way.  I thought the plays that we acted out on Monday were an excellent way to approach the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre.  I believe incorporating plays such as those two really makes the students want to learn more because they are able to interact instead of listening to a lecture.  On Wednesday, we made little history books of ourselves.  I found this activity very fun.  A teacher could use this activity in the classroom for introductions or even talking about history and time lines.  I liked this activity because I was able to see how I have grown up over the past 21 years.  On Wednesday, Mrs. Meier also talked about how to make history fun in the classroom.  I remember having Social Studies teachers in the past just tell facts about an important event then expect us to remember them.  Mrs. Meier has showed me if you want to make history fun, put it into a story, show evidence and arguments, and let the students interact.  The Library of Congress has numerous pictures of artifacts that you can shows students.  I liked the one that Mrs. Meier showed on what Abraham Lincoln had the night he died.  Students would love to look at these types  of thing.

Well, as you can see, I am loving Social Studies class. I am seeing more and more how you can make Social Studies fun for students but also very educational.  Just because you are talking about history does not mean it has to be boring. 

Here is an excellent website teachers can go to get Lesson plans and pictures of real artifacts:  http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/

Finding Your Critical Voice

In social studies class and in some other classes this week, the main focus has been on finding your critical voice as a teacher.  I have read several articles to find out that every teacher and soon to be teacher has a critical voice, it is just a matter of finding that voice and expressing it.  I believe it is extremely important to have a critical voice.  Without a critical voice, you have no beliefs or saying in what goes on in the classroom.

I really enjoyed reading the article, “Speaking in a Critical Voice” by Marilyn Page.  This article and the article on Valerie in CUAI 4241, really opened up my eyes to see that as a teacher you have to have a critical voice in many situations.    A lot of teachers go in schools without a critical voice.  They do things as they are told to do.  These teachers have no say in the environment of the classroom or how they want to teacher their students.  To be an effective teacher, you have to be aware of your critical voice.  To activate my critical voice, I am going to use my information and experience in college.  In my classroom, I am going to stand firm on my beliefs.

Well I hope everyone has a good rest of the weekend!! See you all tomorrow!