Partnership for the 21st Century Skills Website- Reaction

This website was very interesting to me as I began to explore what all it had to offer. With me teaching in the 21st century, it was exciting to see a partnership that supports 21st century education and the many resources this site had to offer educators. In order for students to be successful in the 21st century, a framework has been established. This framework is based upon 21st century standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction. In order for our students to be successful in the 21st century, as educators, we need to follow this framework.

As I explored this site, I enjoyed watching some of the videos that showed 21st century teaching. As I am a visual learner, this was very good for me because it gave me an example to go by and it showed me what 21st century teaching/learning looks like. I also enjoyed watching the teacher of the year video. I only watched a few minutes of it but what I heard was very intriguing to me. One comment that Mrs. Sara Wessling made was "we must meet students where they are." This is a very true statement. We can not expect students to come to where "we" want them to but yet as teachers, we need to meet them exactly where they can function and learn. I really enjoyed listening to Mrs. Wessling because she made some great statements that many teachers need to take with them into their classroom in order to become 21st century teachers. Another thing she said was that we need to teach to the student and NOT the test. I know that in my own teaching, I am guilty of teaching to the test and not the student. One reason is that I know that I am accountable for the end of the year testing but as Mrs. Wessling mentioned, if I teach to the student then they should be able to take the test because I taught them on their level and ability. This something that I am going to have to work on in my teaching because it seems that everyone is saying, "teach to the test"!

Something that I took away from this site was that in order for my students to come 21st century learners, I need to become a 21st century teacher and that starts with me becoming familiar with 21st century learning and the framework provided. I hope that through this course and the remaining classes in graduate school that I can learn to become a 21st century teacher.

Any suggestions for how to become a 21st century teacher?? :)

Using Blogs in my Classroom

Although I have never used blogging in my classroom, I do feel that it would be a great means of communicate between school and home. If I were to use blogging in this manner, I would post important dates such as test dates and assignments that are due for parents to be up to date. I would also use it to ask for any suggestions or questions that parents may have about things that are going on in the classroom or any concerns they may have regarding their student.

I would also use blogging as a means of displaying all star students either for a job well done in class or great behavior. Through using blogging in this way, I feel that it can increase student motivation because students will be able to see their name posted and the reason they are being displayed as an all star student. I also feel that it will allow parents to get involved in their child's education because it would be every parents dream to see their child's name posted.

I teach 3rd grade in which I teach math and science. This departmentalization is something new for me this year but I do enjoy it thoroughly.

Blogging....Something New To Me

Blogging......this is definitely something new to me. I have always wanted to try out blogging but have never set my mind to doing it. I have been invited to a few blogs and I have even commented on a few but as far as making my own, I have never done it until NOW! :)

I really hope that I can use blogging as an effective means to communicate with my fellow colleagues and with my parents at school. Through this process, I hope to take blogging to a new perspective and begin to use it in my classroom. Have any of you educators ever used blogging in your classroom or had your students participate in a blog? If you have, please comment on how well you felt it worked and how your students reacted to blogging.