Recent Changes

Evidence 1: EDT 674 Reflection Question 1
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Rationale 1: I wrote this reflection after watching two different videos about the children of today. I reflected on how I am dedicated to improve my teaching by understanding and include more technology in my teaching. This is my goal at every level that I teach. I see the need for this change, and have taken many steps to work towards this goal, including enrolling in the Marian Tech ed. program. In addition I continue to seek out learning opportunities that will help me to incorporate more technology into my teaching. The email snapshot simply shows a communication between me and the Technology Integration Specialist in our school district. It demonstrates my commitment to learning new technologies and using them with my students to enhance the learning in my classroom.
KSD
One of the resources I use often is the Technology Integration Specialist in my school district. He publishes monthly tech tips and spotlights on various web 2.0 tools. He describes how they can be used in education, and includes screencasts on how to create or use the tools. A few of the latest topics have been on QR codes, Jog the Web and What Was There? All of which I have investigated further and found ways to use the tools in my classroom.
9.S.4 The teacher draws upon professional colleagues within the school and other professional areas as supports for reflection, problem-solving and new ideas, actively sharing experiences and seeking and giving feedback.
my classroom.
9.D.4 The teacher is committed to seeking out, developing, and continually refining practices that address the individual needs of students.
I understand that children of today are digital natives and the want to use technology as a learning tool in any way they can. Using technology in a variety of ways will help to develop the 21st century skills my students will need to be successful in today’s world. My completion of the Marian Tech Ed program exemplifies my commitment to my goal of learning about and implementing the use of multimedia and technology in my classroom to enhance the learning of my students. Above and beyond that, I continually reach out to my colleagues in my search for the best learning tools I can find.

Final Grant Proposal
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NEA Grant Recipient
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The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.
Evidence 1: I have written and sent home a letter to the parents of my 4th graders explaining the project we are doing with our partners from Ecuador.
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Rationale 1: This letter had been sent home with all of my 4th grade students to inform their parents of the project we are doing with our partners from Ecuador. It demonstrates my commitment to foster positive communication with my student’s parents. I feel it is important that they know what we are doing in class. It explains that my students have been partnered up with students from Ecuador, and will be communicating via written letters, the use of a blog and Skype. I clearly explain what a blog is, and how Kidblog is a safe and effective means of communication for us. I also explain what Skype is and that we will use it towards the end of the experience. Parents need to be informed of the safety features of these forms of communication so that they do not worry about their child, and so they support what we are doing in class.
This form of parent communication helps me to develop as an educator because each time I communicate with parents I am seen as an effective educator in the eyes of my students’ parents. Parent appreciate and value this kind of communication, therefore they value me as their child’s Spanish teacher. The parents know what we are doing and are in support of it. I have heard praise from parents for this project, and reports from them that their child is excited about what we are doing!

Home* Standard 1* Standard 2* Standard 3* Standard 4* Standard 5* Standard 6* Standard 7* Standard 8* Standard 9* Standard 10*
Teachers are connected with other teachers and the community
The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support pupil learning and well being and acts with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.
Evidence 1: I have written and sent home a letter to the parents of my 4th graders explaining the project we are doing with our partners from Ecuador.
..\Parent letter.docx
Rationale 1: This letter had been sent home with all of my 4th grade students to inform their parents of the project we are doing with our partners from Ecuador. It demonstrates my commitment to foster positive communication with my student’s parents. I feel it is important that they know what we are doing in class. It explains that my students have been partnered up with students from Ecuador, and will be communicating via written letters, the use of a blog and Skype. I clearly explain what a blog is, and how Kidblog is a safe and effective means of communication for us. I also explain what Skype is and that we will use it towards the end of the experience. Parents need to be informed of the safety features of these forms of communication so that they do not worry about their child, and so they support what we are doing in class.
This form of parent communication helps me to develop as an educator because each time I communicate with parents I am seen as an effective educator in the eyes of my students’ parents. Parent appreciate and value this kind of communication, therefore they value me as their child’s Spanish teacher. The parents know what we are doing and are in support of it. I have heard praise from parents for this project, and reports from them that their child is excited about what we are doing!
This sort of parent communication benefits my students because as we all know, children are not always forthcoming with information about what we are doing in class. This letter opens the doors of communication between my students and their parents about their learning and experiences throughout this project.
KSD
10.K.1 The teacher understands schools as organizations within the larger community context and understands the operations of the relevant aspects of the system(s) within which s/he works.
My letter was shared with my 4th grade parents and with my administrators. That way everyone understands what this project entails and invites concerns and questions by both parents and administrators. It also brings awareness to the great things that are happening in my Spanish classes.
10.S.4 The teacher establishes respectful and productive relationships with parents and guardians from diverse home and community situations and seeks cooperative partnerships in support of student learning and well-being.
The letter provides parents with links to Skype, Kidblog, to my Jog the Web on Ecuador and to the school from which our partners in Ecuador attend. It provides parents with an in depth understanding of what we will be doing throughout this project and asks for their support and questions. This has been one more step I have taken to establish a respectful and productive relationship with my students’ parents.
10.D.4 The teacher respects the privacy of students and confidentiality of information.
The parent letter I have sent to my parents reflects my commitment to keeping my students safe while they use the internet and other web 2.0 tools. I explain to parents that students will not be allowed to share any personal that could make them vulnerable in any way. I explain to parents the security settings with Kidblog are set to provide the utmost safety for my students.

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
Evidence 1: EDT 674 Reflection Question 1
[[file:///E:\Marian\EDT%20674\Reflection%20Question%201.docx|E:\Marian\EDT 674\Reflection{Reflection Question 1.docx]]1.docx}
..\email snapshot.docx
Rationale 1: I wrote this reflection after watching two different videos about the children of today. I reflected on how I am dedicated to improve my teaching by understanding and include more technology in my teaching. This is my goal at every level that I teach. I see the need for this change, and have taken many steps to work towards this goal, including enrolling in the Marian Tech ed. program. In addition I continue to seek out learning opportunities that will help me to incorporate more technology into my teaching. The email snapshot simply shows a communication between me and the Technology Integration Specialist in our school district. It demonstrates my commitment to learning new technologies and using them with my students to enhance the learning in my classroom.

Home* Standard 1* Standard 2* Standard 3* Standard 4* Standard 5* Standard 6* Standard 7* Standard 8* Standard 9* Standard 10*
Teachers are able to evaluate themselves.
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
Evidence 1: EDT 674 Reflection Question 1
[[file:///E:\Marian\EDT%20674\Reflection%20Question%201.docx|E:\Marian\EDT 674\Reflection Question 1.docx]]
..\email snapshot.docx
Rationale 1: I wrote this reflection after watching two different videos about the children of today. I reflected on how I am dedicated to improve my teaching by understanding and include more technology in my teaching. This is my goal at every level that I teach. I see the need for this change, and have taken many steps to work towards this goal, including enrolling in the Marian Tech ed. program. In addition I continue to seek out learning opportunities that will help me to incorporate more technology into my teaching. The email snapshot simply shows a communication between me and the Technology Integration Specialist in our school district. It demonstrates my commitment to learning new technologies and using them with my students to enhance the learning in my classroom.
KSD
9.K.3 The teacher is aware of major areas of research on teaching and other resources for professional learning (e.g. professional literature, colleagues, professional associations, professional development activities).
One of the resources I use often is the Technology Integration Specialist in my school district. He publishes monthly tech tips and spotlights on various web 2.0 tools. He describes how they can be used in education, and includes screencasts on how to create or use the tools. A few of the latest topics have been on QR codes, Jog the Web and What Was There? All of which I have investigated further and found ways to use the tools in my classroom.
9.S.4 The teacher draws upon professional colleagues within the school and other professional areas as supports for reflection, problem-solving and new ideas, actively sharing experiences and seeking and giving feedback.
Technology Integration Specialist in my school district has been a great resource for me. His monthly spotlights on various web 2.0 tools have been very helpful. Link above is a snapshot to an email that I sent back to him telling him thank you for the information and letting him know that I found the spot light on Jog the Web very helpful and useful in my classroom.
9.D.4 The teacher is committed to seeking out, developing, and continually refining practices that address the individual needs of students.
I understand that children of today are digital natives and the want to use technology as a learning tool in any way they can. Using technology in a variety of ways will help to develop the 21st century skills my students will need to be successful in today’s world. My completion of the Marian Tech Ed program exemplifies my commitment to my goal of learning about and implementing the use of multimedia and technology in my classroom to enhance the learning of my students. Above and beyond that, I continually reach out to my colleagues in my search for the best learning tools I can find.