Blog Post 6

http://heatherdavis3rd.weebly.com/ 

When I did this assignment, I actually couldn't find any of my previous teachers' websites. So instead I typed in a last name with classroom attached and I actually found something! I found Ms. Davis' 3rd Grade Class from Inman Elementary School in South Carolina. The page was actually very impressive. The teacher keeps up with the website every week to update parents on what their children are learning in every class. I also liked that the teacher includes the kids schedule so if the parent needs to schedule a doctors appointment or something of that nature, then they know exactly what their child will be missing. Overall, the website was very impressive and definitely is comprehensive enough so that a parent doesn't even have to ask what their child did in school today; they can instead ask, how are you liking poetry?

I envision myself using technology mainly for communication purposes. One of the number one ways to be unprofessional is to not respond when people need something from you, whether it was through an email, text, call, etc. Using technology for communication purposes is very helpful because if you are out of the office for one reason or another, people still have a means to get in contact with you. Communication is one of the best ways for a team to be competent and efficient and that means being easily accessible. Technology allows for that, so actually using that technology is something I will need to do in a professional capacity.

To start, I would just say I loved the Technology Sandbox. The employees up there were absolutely amazing and they were so willing to help all of us. One of the best pieces up there to be used in a classroom would be either the smart board or the Osmo. The smart board is pretty obvious; it will keep students engaged while also using something that is hands on to demonstrate what I would be teaching. The Osmo is something else I think would be amazing to have in a classroom. The Osmo creates a more competitive environment and I think that students do enjoy a little friendly competition every once in a while. This allows them to have some fun and learn things at the same time. Whenever a student thinks it is a competition, they don't want to be embarrassed, so they study the material that much harder. That is why classroom Jeopardy was always so successful, and I think the Osmo would be a modern day version of that.