Our Turn!

My fieldwork group was group 4. We decide to complete a big undertaking, and build model pond ecosystems with the 5th graders. At first the teachers weren't very into, which, at first it was a lot to handle. Hearing that there will be mosquito fish, and dragonfly nymphs in your classroom is a bit overwhelming. Dr. Smirnova and the education department bought a model pond kit, that came with many resources. This kit and it's contents were extremely useful! For our direct, inquiry, and cooperative lessons, we incorporated this theme into our lessons. It was extremely challenging to combine both 5th grade students and live aquariums, but I think we accomplished our goal. Our lessons were a bit different than the other groups due to the fact that we were incorporating living things which was a time sensitive matter.
We taught our direct lesson two days out of our regular Tuesday/Thursday class period. When we went in to teach the first day, there was much excitement in the room. Being that the students knew we were going to be making "Classroom pets" they were ecstatic. I couldn't believe how well behaved the students were, they followed the directions and were helping each other. I enjoyed seeing this. It was definitely organized chaos! 

The picture above shows myself working with one of the groups. They worked well together, and we made a role sheet, so each team member got to do a specific part of the set up. This was helpful and alleviated fighting. The students all really enjoyed the lessons. We made the lessons hands on and minds on. Everything could be related back to the ponds. This helped the students build on the independence. If they had a question, they knew they could find the answer in their "Table Top Pond Guide." This lesson was extremely interactive, the students were able to watch their ponds grow. I think everyone involved enjoyed it! It was a lot of work, but when the end result is as good as this, it was worth it! 

A Snow Day Turned Virtual Day

Spring semester always seems to be a tough one. Last Spring semester it seemed as though we could not catch a break from snow, this year hasn't been too bad! Today, we were supposed to go to a fieldwork session at Bishop Dunn Memorial School. Unfortunately,  the snow had cancelled their school day. Dr. Smirnova informed us we would be having a "virtual classroom." I was not too sure about what that meant, but after experiencing this type of setting, I loved it! It was run by Dr. Smirnova via a video chat and the rest of the class was incorporated via their own video chats. I really enjoyed it. Dr. Smirnova would ask a question, and then the class would respond via chat response or voice response. The site looked like this picture below. 

This was a great experience for us to go through. In this day and age, technology is key to a classroom. Although I don't think we could use this setting with elementary school students, peers colleagues, or parents could use this service. It is another type of technology tool I have learned from Dr. Smirnova's class. Below are some screen shots from the virtual classroom day!  

Types of Assessment

All assessments are important to students learning. Assessment is a way for students to show what they have learned in their class. We learned about types of assessment this semester. There are three types of assessment. The three types are summative, formative, and diagnostic. It is our goal as teachers to not just give our students test after a unit is complete (summative), but to be checking our students understanding constantly (diagnostic). It is also important for teachers to different ways to assess their students. Not all students learn the same, likewise, not all students have the same test taking strengths. Using different forms of testing provides an equal opportunity for all students. 

diagnostic assessment is daily assessment like checks for understanding, and making sure the class is in agreement.

Formative assessment is a weekly assessment, and can be school or district wide. This is a more serious form of assessment than diagnostic. 

Summative assessment is end of the year tests or state tests. These are the most serious, and are usually bigger and more detailed than the other two.

Drawing in College? Who knew

"On the first day of my Junior year of college, I was given markers and a piece of paper and asked to draw a scientist." I never thought I would say those words, but, yes, that is just what I did. I cringed a little because I am a terrible drawer. I work at Bishop Dunn, in the after school program, and I get made fun of by 2nd and 3rd graders on a daily basis of how terrible a drawer I am. Given the said materials, we were asked to draw our version of a scientist. After we completed our master pieces, we were able to walk around and view our peers' work. It was a very fun activity, and many of our scientists shared similar characteristics. Many had goggles/glasses on, lab coats, and crazy hair.

I feel like many, not all, of my past science teachers fit the description of the scientists that I drew. Especially, Professor Schraldi, my drawing's namesake. He had this crazy hair, and these big glasses he would wear. He had a lab coat on all the time, even if we were just taken a test, and he genuinely enjoyed science and all of it's aspects. He was definitely a positive figure when looking back on my science career.

This was a great activity, and I believe you could use this with not only science and scientists, but many other subject areas. Its a great way to see into a young student's mind, and to get a better look at their interpretations as a whole.

First Day: Check!

Our first day is finished, and I am just how I thought I would be, overwhelmed! But, following my past post advice, I am taking it all in and will keep going. My mom's advice on every first day of school was, "Be like a sponge, take it all in." So of course, I did just that. Listened to everything, and let all details, small and big, seep in. Unfortunately, I still felt lost when I sat down in my dorm trying to process it all. 

Most first days go the same, syllabus, rules, expectations, and outcomes, but not in this course! On the first day we went right into learning, which I enjoyed! We started out with a "What's in the bag?" mystery game. Unknowingly we began using the scientific method to try and guess what was in the bag. Each student was given a chance to hold the bag and then make an inquiry of what could be a possible item in the bag. I think it was a very fun way of introducing a new topic to the class, and this is definitely something I will keep in mind for my future class.

Science and I have always had a love/hate relationship. Loved it in elementary school because of the hands on activities, hated it in middle school due to the courses I were required to take, and loved it in the later years of high school due to the fact that I was able to choose the course I took. Videos like the below one are the parts of science I love, and find so interesting! Its not something you can read in a textbook, its the hands on activities that I believe can help students learn.

My goal is to learn to love science, and become a better teacher of science! I want to become much more technically advance, and I know I will do so in this course.

Pre-Adventure: Newness, Nerves, & Navagation!

So, the anticipation is building to the new semester! This will be, by far, my hardest semester. That being said, I am a bag of mixed emotions! Hence, this post's name! I know I have been in tough situations before, but I have learned to deal with the newness and nerves, and navigate through those feelings to get to the positive outcome. I think this action can be used for any of life's situations. Each event that occurs in our life is something that will change us in the future. Using those negative feelings such as nerves of the newness to power through can help to navigate the "unchartered waters." So, for this extremely difficult semester, that will be my goal. Little by little, I take the good and the bad, and get through it, knowing I will come out a better and more capable person on the other side.