The End Has Come...It's Time to Say Goodbye..... 

(Final Reflection)

This semester went by so quickly. I can’t believe my Research in Social Studies methods class has come to an end. It seems just like yesterday the class had just begun, and I was nervous to see what the course would bring. Now as I look back, I can really say it was quite a journey, and a true learning experience. I have learned so much, and I really value what I have learned.

            Throughout the course Dr. Smirnova always challenged us with different assignments, tasks, and even with our fieldwork experience. Even though at times some of the work was a challenge, I now realized the reason for it was to enhance our learning. Everything we learned from the different instruction lesson plans, SmartBoard, PREZI, cooperative learning, jigsaw, blogger, unit planning, micro teaching, current news articles in the classroom, and pbworks was Dr.Smrionva’s way of molding us to become the right teachers for the future learners. Overall my learning experience in the course was very positive. There were times I felt overwhelmed especially with designing the unit plan, but I stayed positive and hung in there. We were given so many useful tools and types of instruction strategies.

In our fieldwork experience, Dr.Smirnova gave us the task to work in groups and challenged us to design our own unit plan. As part of the assignment for our unit plan, we were also to teach one direct instruction lesson plan and one inquiry lesson plan to the 5^th graders at Bishop Dunn. My group was able to design two very good lesson plans. The one lesson I felt my group was very successful creating was the inquiry lesson. We designed our lesson on the idea of a scavenger hunt, and were able to give the 5^th graders a worthwhile learning experience they really enjoyed. Most importantly as they were having fun, they were engaging in learning and reviewing the major concepts or facts about significant historical figures in early America. Another significant successful learning outcome was jigsaw. I never before really understood the concept of jigsaw, but after given the task to complete a jigsaw activity I now realize its true value. In jigsaw students are each a piece to completing a puzzle and I think its wonderful how each student’s role is important to completing an ending result.

Reflecting back on the course I can’t say I have suffered any loses. What I can say is that I have gained a significant amount of useful and beneficial knowledge. The knowledge and skills I was taught were important skills I needed to become the teacher students in the future need. I was given the skills to enhance student learning, and skills to engage them in meaningful and purposeful instruction. Having learned about PREZI, SmartBoard, teaching strategies, micro teaching, jigsaw, and cooperative learning are all tools I can include in my teaching toolbox to use for my own classroom one day.

I have really grown as an individual throughout the course. In the beginning of the course I was really nervous and wondered if I would be overwhelmed with the information and new tools Dr. Smirnova would be teaching us.  What I have found is that I am no longer that individual wondering how to use different tools to engage students. I now have the tools and skills to enhance student learning. Most importantly I have learned ways to provide instruction other then the commonly used instruction of direct. Even when I use direct instruction, I know I can still incorporate students into the lesson by engaging them in questions using SmartBoard and giving them a fun matching activity using vortex. I have also learned inquiry and cooperative learning are great tools to incorporate in the classroom. I have learned it is ok to use these types of learning tools. From my experience in fieldwork and from my class discussions, I have learned it is important for students to engage in their own learning. Using hands on activities, working in groups, exploring, and doing their own research is a great way for them to grow as learners. Most importantly students use their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Learning through inquiry and cooperative learning allows students to make their own understanding of learning, and therefore in return learning becomes more meaningful for them. This course has really shape me to realize what kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be the teacher students really enjoy learning from. I want them to excel in learning, and I want their learning to include all types of diverse learning methods.

Social studies from my own experience in school had always been a dull subject. From what I can remember it was a subject that had a lot of memorization of facts and terms. I don’t ever what my students to feel the same way while they are in my class. I want them to have an enjoyable learning experience that they can explore, make their own realizations, and one that they find purposeful. I plan on making sure I include all students in my lessons. I want them to be involved even when I teach direct instruction. I plan to incorporate hands on activities that students can really learn from. I also plan on using cooperative groups in the classroom. I believe with cooperative learning students learn from one another, share ideas, and form new ideas. 

In my ideal social studies classroom, I would create a room that looks like a room from the past. I would like to have artifacts, encouraging posters, timelines, and I would make sure to put students’ desks together in groups. I want my social studies classroom to be an envirnoment students feel safe, comfortable, and one they can grow in. I want the classroom to be an area that students can share ideas, explore, investigate, create meaning of their own understanding, apply what they learned to meaningful activities, and collaborate with other peers.

I have really learned so much from the course. This course has really helped me to shape my ideas about teaching, and what is important to incorporate in the classroom in order for students to excel.  I want to be the best teacher I can be, and this course has really instilled in me to believe I can!

Remember: 

Social Studies learning CAN BE FUN!! It is up to you the teacher to make it a worthwhile learning experience for your students!! The CHANGE BEGINS WITH YOU!!!

Interviews Oh My! 

In class Dr. Smirnova had us take part doing mock interviews.  I would have to say overall this was a great experience. I was actually amazed to learn about the different types of questions I can face one day in a real interview. What I learned was I need to really prepare myself, remain confident in my replies, know what I am talking about, and really show how much I believe in my teaching philosophy statements.

Two of the questions I found enlightening was the color questions Angela and Claudine asked. Shocked at first by the questions and unsure how to respond, I quickly realized color feelings or color settings is something I never thought about when it came to a classroom. This was a question I was unsure how to answer and I wasn't sure if it had a right answer. The one question I found difficult was the question Claudine had on direct instruction. I can’t remember the exact wording of the question, but I remember it was a question I couldn’t provide Claudine with an answer to at all.

Overall the questions were very creative and enlightening. Some of the questions were questions I never imagined ever being asked. This was a very valuable experience. It taught me to be prepared for anything, and most importantly even if I am unsure about a question I must remember whatever answer I reply with I must remain confident!

The role play we participated in class is excellent for teachers to use in social studies. Teachers can use this as an activity for students to work among each other, and ask questions to check for understanding in an interview form. This is a great way to use this activity, since it reinforces students to realize what they actually know and what they don’t know. 

 Unit Plan Reflection

Wow! The Unit Plan was a challenge! I think the hardest part was coming up with ideas that we all liked and worked for all my group members to use. Once we had our ideas down, the process became smoother.

The best part I really enjoyed from our unit plan was designing and teaching the inquiry lesson. Our inquiry lesson was a scavenger hunt which we called “Discovery Hunt”. The students were required to use a map to locate their clues. Once they found their clues, they were then to use critical thinking to decide which historical figure the clues represented. At the end, students presented their clues and the class was to decide which historical figure the clues represented. This lesson was my favorite part of the unit plan because I was given the opportunity to see one of my lessons make students smile while engaged in learning. This actually may have been one of the greatest feelings ever. I would definitely have to say this lesson was one of the most successful parts of our unit plan.

After creating our two main lessons, it was time to incorporate the four activities. Brainstorming, sharing ideas, and using internet sources we were able to design our activities. Since our activities were designed to be short, we made sure to include ways to hook students to the beginning of our activities.  We used a word search, questions, a video clip, and a cross word puzzle. We felt these were really great tools to engage students to the start of the lessons.

After completing our unit plan we felt very good about ourselves. We were excited about what we created, and the hard work we put in creating our unit. Currently, we are working hard on putting our unit plan together in pbworks. I can’t wait to see the ending result. It’s going to look great!

The unit plan, though it was a difficult challenge to complete, it was a good assignment. I never before designed a unit plan. Since I am student teaching next semester, I really value what I have learned from the unit. I plan on using the same skills I acquired while learning how to design this unit plan with my future unit plans as well. 

Geography Awareness!

Geography awareness is a weeklong event that takes place in November. Many schools participate and involve students in being aware of geography by incorporating special events or activities in their schools or classroom.  Students celebrate this week long event with learning!

Geography awareness week is very important for students to take part in. When students become aware of their community, their surroundings, and the world around them, then students are able to grow respect and an apperception for it.

Below is a link for teachers to find valuable and great activities to use in the classroom:

Click Here

Below is a link for teachers and students to use to become aware of geography awareness: 

Click Here

Using Current Event News 


Articles in the 

Classroom!

 I never realized before how teachers can really use current news article to include in their students social studies learning. It is so important for students to be aware of what is going on around them in the world today. Looking through the different sites, I was amazed to see how easy it is for teachers to include current news articles in the classroom. The best part about the three websites was they each provided fun ways or activities that allow students to read the current news articles.

In the blog “Free Technology for Teacher”, the author writes about the importance of students reading the current news. The author also writes how current event news relates and ties into many things teachers and students do in the classroom. The current events news articles tie into social studies and teachers can find articles that are appropriate for students while being relevant to what they are currently learning in the classroom.

Current news in the elementary classroom is a great website that provides teachers with a ton of valuable resources. The website gives teachers different activities and tools they can use with their students to include current news in the classroom. One particular activity I read and really liked was the “News Scavenger Hunt”. In this activity students are provided with a list of things to find on the front page or inside a newspaper. Teachers can have students hunt in the newspaper for different subject terms (math terms, grammar terms, sports terms, nouns, or verbs). Teachers can also use this activity to group students together, so they can collaborate on searching together and sharing ideas. This activity can also be used as a contest (the group who finds the most wins). I really liked this activity. It is a short simple inexpensive activity teachers can use to engage students while enhancing their learning on the current news.

The Pearson website was another great valuable website for students. Teachers can assign or students can independently visit the website to learn about the current news. On the website students would click on current news. Under this, news is broken up from years then down to months. The website even has the most current news up to December 2011. Under each month, students can click on whether they want to read news about world news, U.S. news, business news, and disaster and science news. This is such a valuable resource to give students. It’s a great way to engage students in current news. The best part about the website is that it is centered on elementary school children. The articles are appropriate for students to read and understand. This website is a great resource for teachers to incorporate in their classroom to hook students to the current news articles. 

Fieldwork Experience 

Fieldwork was a great experience! I really learned a lot and feel as if I have grown as a person. I really enjoyed my experience with fieldwork. What made this fieldwork experience so great was the fact that we were given a real class full of real students to teach. It made me feel as I were a real teacher with a class of my own! Besides my own teaching experience, I also enjoyed watching my other peers teach their lessons. Watching them teach was great. It allowed me to see other ideas, and ways others present their material using direct and inquiry instruction to teach students.

Overall the fieldwork experience was great. I learned how to teach different content using direct and inquiry instruction. I also learned how to use different tools to hook students to the start of the lesson, how to check for understanding during the lesson, and how to engage them in an activity at the end of the lesson. I acquired all of this by watching my peers’ lessons.

Through observation I can’t really say I noticed things go wrong in anyone’s lesson. Two major things I can remember is running out of time and not finishing, and at times the students would get to loud. In my group’s own lesson we encountered this, but we were able to overcome this by redirecting the class by having them put their hands up. Besides that, I feel all of my peer’s lessons and ours were successful.

Observing my peers, I noticed every group had a different teaching style even if we all used direct and inquiry instruction. My peers were consistent in the material they taught, and all used tools to enhance their lessons especially during direct instruction. They all made sure to check for understanding by asking questions. They also made sure to give an activity at the end of their lesson to engage students, while most importantly having the students review what they were just taught.

What surprised me about fieldwork is how much of an impact inquiry instruction makes on students. Students are so eager for new things, and using inquiry allows them to become involved while applying their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students were very engaged in the inquiry lesson and used the previous knowledge they were taught to help them solve their activities. It was amazing to see how they used their content knowledge, and applied it to their activities they were given to solve. I hear many of the students say, “That was fun.”

In class we read and discussed how important inquiry based learning can be. Teachers are so use to and many still stick to direct instruction. Using inquiry lessons can really make a significant impact on student learning. The great thing about inquiry learning is that it is student based and not teacher based. Most importantly, it allows students to apply their content knowledge while exploring and investigating. This type of learning allows students to learn based on experience rather than facts and drills. Students are more engage, and learning becomes more meaningful and purposeful for them. 

 “Discovery Hunt”

Lesson 2 – Groups 3

 and 4 

Collaboration has always been the key! For our second lesson, which was inquiry, we decided it was best to combine with group 3. Boy was that a success!! Combining the two groups gave us 5 heads in total to come up with a brilliant lesson to give the 5^th graders at Bishop Dunn. Brainstorming and sharing ideas, we finally decided to do our lesson on a scavenger hunt, which we called “Discovery Hunt”! 

We wanted to give the students an activity they really would enjoy, learn, and most importantly be successful in completing. The Discovery Hunt was a great idea! When the students were given the directions, they were so excited and couldn’t wait to go outside and begin. The students really worked hard as a team to find all their spots on the map, locate the spots outside, and collecting their clues. The students demonstrated a true success at reading their maps and finding their clues! 

Next the students came inside, and now it was time for them to investigate their clues. Each group really worked together sharing ideas and the previous knowledge they acquired to determine what each of their clues represented. After they finished collaborating, all the teams were successful in figuring out their mystery historical figure!

Lastly, students were given the task to present their clues to the rest of the class. Each group was to show the class their clues, and the class was to determine which historical figures the clues represented. The class was very successful on identify the historical figure each group’s clues represented.

This activity was very successful! The students really enjoyed themselves. They were so excited and did an excellent job following directions. Every group was successful in following their maps, and finding their clues. The students all used critical thinking and problem solving skills to figure out their mystery historical figure. I was very pleased with the outcome of the lesson. It put a smile on my face to see how much the students were enjoying the lesson. They had a ton of fun, while most importantly reviewing the facts and concepts about the historical figures! I wouldn't have change anything about the lesson! 

Our Turn

My group- 

Group 4 

Direct Instruction 

The time has come that it was our turn to teach a lesson to the 5^th grade Bishop Dunn students. Our instruction for the lesson was direct instruction. We designed our lesson to teach the students about Pocahontas and John Smith during the time of Jamestown. We figured this would be two important fun historical figures to teach, since these are two historical figures students are very familiar with. 

We started our lesson with our anticipatory set questions. Our questions were based on the students’ prior knowledge they had previously acquired from the other groups. Once our short discussion was over we began the lesson!

We wanted to introduce the students to a biography map, show them how to listen for important facts, and include them in their biography maps. To demonstrate this I read a passage and Erica modeled how to fill in the biography map my listening and recognizing important facts from the passage. The students really seemed to grasp the flow and how the biography map works.

Next, Corey gave direct instruction about John Smith. He really engaged the students during instruction by his humor and tone of voice. Corey made sure to check for understanding by asking the students multiple choice questions during his instruction.  The students really demonstrated they understood the content they were given, since the class was able to score a 100% on all the multiple choice questions. During instruction, the students were given a biography map to fill out on John Smith. Erica and I made sure to walk around the room and assist students with any help they needed. Amazingly most of the students were successful at filling out the biography map independently. Some students needed assistance, but Erica and I were right there to keep them on track! 

To end our lesson we gave the students a fun vortex true and false game about Pocahontas and John Smith. The students really enjoyed this. Amazingly, all the students were able to match the correct facts with the correct person! The students really proved they understood the content they were presented with, and mostly importantly it stuck with them!  

Overall I would have to say our lesson went very well. Students seemed to be very interested in learning about the historical figures John Smith and Pocahontas. The vortex activity was very successful. Students were excited to play, and were very successful in completing the vortex activity with 100% accuracy! In my opinion, our lesson turned out to be successful!!