What's Your Philosophy?

Need help writing your Philosophy of Education? Below are a few helpful guides:

http://ftad.osu.edu/portfolio/philosophy/Philosophy.html

http://www.uwsp.edu/education/block1/Preparing%20to%20Write%20a%20Personal%20Philosophy%20of%20Education.htm

These sites guide you along in the process to create a solid philosophy statement, while explaining the Do's & Don't's.

Great Links For All:

Here are some helpful websites for those who are teachers, those admiring to becomes teachers, and everyone inbetween:

Math Site: http://www.bestedsites.com/mathlinks.html

Science Site: http://www.bestedsites.com/sciencelinks.html

Games: http://www.bestedsites.com/games.html

Language Arts Site: http://www.bestedsites.com/Languageartslinks.html

Having trouble adding videos to your blog?

The other day I was trying to add a YouTube video clip to my page and had some difficulty adding it so it could be visible on my blog page without having to click on the link and then go to another page before one could view the video...so if anyone else is having some trouble here's how to do it......To post a Youtube video:

You have to copy the "Embed video" link of the video
Go to Blogger
Click New Post
Click "Edit HTML" (right above the posting area)
Paste the code in

(Thanks Dr. Luongo!!!!)

Power Teaching...Positive or Negative?

Hi everyone!!!!

This is mainly for elmentary school teachers...

Many of you may have already heard of this new trend in the classrooms today and might have already seen video clips, but I wanted to post the video of "power teaching" and see what everyone's opinion is...is it positive or negative?

Assessment...What is it?

Textbook definition for assessment is described as: the process for obtaining information that is used for making decisions about students, curricula and programs, and educational policy. There are a large number of assessment techniques that may be used to collect this information. For example, these techniques include informal and formal observations, oral questions and discussions, classroom tests/exams, homework, class projects, and research papers. The most common way to assess a student is by a test, which can become controversial, for not all students are the same.

Shaun Longstreet, explained assessment in a variety of ways. He broke down different types of components, dimensions, and techniques as a way of "decoding" assessment and how to assess a student. He first tackled the four (4) dimensions of learning: 1. declarative, 2. procedural, 3. conditional, and 4. reflective. Declarative is the "what" process and is the basic foundation for the second level, procedural, also known as the "how" stage. The third stage is called the conditional stage and here a student questions "when" and "where" to apply learning objectives and how to analyze the subject. The last stage is known as reflective. Here the main question is "why." This includes the evaluation process, how students can become creative in the classroom with specific topics, and the value of learning for both the student and teacher; what we as educators value for our students.

The two (2) types of assessment are: 1. summative and 2. formative. According to the text summative assessment is "providing information for a final judgement of worth or accomplishment." For example, an exam or paper. This form of assessment, provides an instructor with the knowledge of "gaps" in the classroom, it also helps with student achievement. The second type of assessment is formative assessment, the "providing of information for improvement." This is typically an on-going process, where observation and feedback on students work is crucial. This type of assessment also allows a teacher to intervene with assistance.

Types of techniques commonly used for assessment, includes: probe and the muddiest point techniques. A probe is used to discover what a student(s) thinks or knows about a specific topic or subject that will be discussed. This also provides the instructor with information on where his or her students are for that subject matter and how to approach the topic. The muddiest point is a technique used after a ceretain subject is addressed. This provides the educator with unclear elements being taught.

Although there are several types of techniques used to assess children in the classroom, the most important technique to use is communication. Through communication an educator can provide a rationale, explaining how a student can achieve in the class, strive for clarity, plan for consistency, keeping the course objectives in mind, and respond quickly by explaining changes along the way and make improvments when needed.

Source: You Tube video: Classroom Assessment Techniques and Text: Assessment and Grading in Classrooms, Brookhart, Susan and Anthony Nitko.

Introduction

Hi! My name is Christina and I'm an Education and Urban Studies major. I'm looking forward to this class and working toward my certification to become an elementary school teacher.