Final Reflection

I hope to be teaching early elementary students. I will be a special education teacher. Obviously my students will have special needs which will of course, vary from one student to the next. Each student will learn differently. I want to teach in away that is integrated so that all the students will "see" the lesson. I want my students to learn by doing.

I would like for my students to be able to Skype with other classrooms like theirs. I would like for them to tell others what they learned and explain it to them. I feel that I you can show someone what you have learned and explain it clearly then you really know the material. I believe this will be especially valuable when teaching math and science lessons.

I intend to implement a class blog and web page. No more lost assignments or "I wasn't sure what to do" excuses. I think this will be useful the students as well as their parents. So the parents can see what is happening in class, as well as what should be happening at home. I am very excited about the kids having their own blog and for them to use it like the old fashioned notebooks I used to keep as a child.As well as a daily journal.

However, first and foremost I want to create an environment of respect. Respect for me, their classmates and the rules set out for them in the classroom as well as in the digital world. I will set rules and expect them to respect and honor those rules. In this happens everyone can be content. They must learn respect for each other and their "superiors". In today's world not enough of our youngsters know the value of respect.

Now and Then
I wouldn't change what I wrote at the beginning of the semester. I still think respect for me and fellow classmates as well as self respect is key to a productive learning environment and I still would like to be able to incorporate related lessons like history and art. But I have learned about so many new ways to do this. There are so many tools out there for us right at our fingertips.

For example, when learning about the Alamo my students could try to skype or twitter with students who've been there! Or take a virtual tour of the Louvre for art lessons. We can visit the Grand Canyon and learn all kinds of geological facts right through our laptops, Ipads and even phones! These are really exciting technological times. There are new advancements every day. Virtual classrooms will allow a sick child to come to class everyday and also American students can attend class in Japan and vice versa we have so much to learn from and teach each other around the world it's mind boggling! Final Reflection Video