Lesson Plans

I just wanted to let you all know that I have not strayed away from my Literature Discussion Based Lesson Plans but I will not be teaching it till after Spring Break. I am very anxious to teach them though because I think the students will enjoy what I have planned. I am excited to hear what they will have to say in response to my questions and also their thoughts on the book. I feel like the book relates to many of the students in my class in the way they are not from the United States and living in Michigan for various reasons. It also has the theme of "fear" which is a popular theme for students young and old. I can't wait to tell you more after I do indeed teach the lesson.
I will definitely keep you posted!!

Lesson Plan Thinking...again...

So after discussing my Language Arts literature piece I would be using for my lesson plan, my CT gave me a Literature-Based Map Skills book. This book contains various children's literature that relate to the Middle West of the United States. My CT selected three children's book found in the Literature-Based Map Skills book which were Wagon Wheels by Barbara Brenner, Dakota Dugout by Ann Turner, and Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. After reading through these three books I found that Thunder Cake would be the most fun, informational, educational, and practical to use in a forty minute literature based discussion. A majority of the initial literature-based map skills book it focuses on various questions concerning map skills and application. My question though is the thought of integration of subjects. I think it is a great book especially because it is about a girl living on her Grandma's farm in Michigan. The story also focuses on the little girl's fear of thunderstorms and her grandmother helps her realize just how brave she really is. But, I am questioning the thought of the focus of using such map skills in my lesson. My CT said she loves using literature and children's books for integration of subjects. I too agree that it is important for teachers to integrate such subjects for students but when i am teaching my lesson how do I stay focuses on a literature based discussion than a social studies lesson? I have a lot of thoughts and want to know from you what I should do with this book that my CT said I should use.

Digital Native or Immigrant

When asked to take this digital natives quiz, I felt pretty confident in that I am a digital native over a digital immigrant. Looking over the website (http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/articles/digitalnatives/index.htm) I found myself nodding and agreeing with the various digital technologies that they were labeling students and young workers as being a digital native. I can recall all the way back to elementary school and having my first experience on an old Apple IIe. They were located in our computer room and we had various typing lessons and were able to play games (Oregon Trail and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego). I than moved to a public school in 5th grade where I found myself in a classroom with two computers, library with computers, and its own separate computer lab. Playing various typing games and being able to browse the internet for educational purposes I was quickly enthralled with the computer. I remember my dad and mom finally purchased our first family computer when I was in 5th grade. It was such a joyous occasion and all I could think about was being able to IM my friends from school. At that point I feel is when I truly started my journey on becoming a digital native. I was able to experience various aspects of using my own home computer to sift through the web and do fun educational games. I continued on my digital native walk experiencing technologies in the classroom and grew in knowledge on doing those various things. I continued my growth with the amazing piece of technology of a cellular phone. I honestly would not know where I would be without my cell phone. Even as a student I have used my cell phone for educational purposes and using the technology of the internet and text messaging for one of my classes. Starting college I was able to have my own desktop computer and could use my iPod, and in the last year I got an Apple MacBook laptop. Being able to use my computer via wireless has put a spin on technology and the various ways of communication. I think this is an important aspect to consider for future students (not only at the college level but even elementary through high school students) will technology grow so much that students will not have to write with pencils/pens and paper but can use their laptop to do everything.
I feel this class has opened my eyes even more to being a digital native. Using blogs and our e-notebooks to journal our thoughts and opinions has enabled myself to become more technological advanced. I have read some of my friends various blogs but have never activated one and posted myself. I am in full support of doing both of these tasks and give credit to this course of enabling us to take part in these. As technology is advancing we as future teachers need to be aware of what is actually advancing and we need to take that and try to incorporate into our classroom. The younger generations are going to be at their prime in what they know about technology and it is our duty to be able to use that in our teachings.
As my digital journey is still continuing I want to learn as much as I can about various ways to use technology in the classroom. Although I was confident in referring to myself as a digital native, I still am learning and want to take in as much as I can to further myself and my students knowledge. I know that I am able to use a computer, IM, blogging, internet games and sites, but who knows what new digital media and technology will bring tomorrow.