In keeping with my content area, I decided to check out a couple foreign language blogs. One that I found particularly interesting discussed a variety of foreign language topics, which I appreciated. It wasn't narrowed down to one issue, but instead explored several different ideas and questions that someone learning a foreign language might have. The link is: http://learnaforeignlanguage.blogspot.com/ One post that I thought was neat involved seeking out native speakers to increase one's fluency. This is something that I've looked into and have heard from others that it's a great way to brush up on your skills and become a more confident speaker. There are several ways to go about doing this such as identifying regions or cities that have a large population of people that speak that language. Organizations that have been designed to help people acquire a foreign language are also a good source, as well as simply putting an ad in the local newspaper. Regardless of the route you decide to take, it's a great way to improve your skills and learn more about the that particular language or culture. Another topic that was discussed involved the different ways in which learning a foreign language is beneficial. Many people are aware of the fact that society is becoming increasingly global, and the acquisition of a foreign language is very valuable. In order to remain competitive with the rest of the world, it's imperative that we focus on incorporating this into the curriculum of schools. Additionally, learning a foreign language is a great way to exercise the brain. Many older adults are looking to foreign language learning as a way to keep their mind active. Soooo...basically, I found that this blog had a lot of interesting comments and feel that it would be helpful for someone who was thinking about/in the process of learning another language!

Job Fair

This past week I went to my first job fair in Ft. Collins, CO. It didn't turn out great, but I feel that I learned a lot and will be able to use the information that I gathered for future job fairs. The positions that were in highest demand were Spanish, ESL and Special Education teachers, so as someone in the field of French, I was kinda out of luck. However, I did end up interviewing with one school and I'm really glad that I was able to do this. Interviews can be tough and you have to be able to think quickly and respond in ways that set you apart from the other hundreds of people applying for the job. Immediately after the interview, I was able to reflect on some of the answers that I'd given and realized how I could improve upon them in the future. This week's UofM job fair will likely be similar and I'm hoping that I will be able to talk to more schools about my year in SMAC and the experiences that I've had. The job search is definitely a lot harder and more time consuming that I thought it would be! You have to do your research on the schools and be prepared to answer a wide variety of questions. You also have to be really persistent. I think it's good that our program is coming to an end because I know that I really need to focus on the job search right now and it's difficult to do so when dealing with other homework assignments, projects...For now I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and continue to fill out applications whenever possible and wait to see what happens:)

MACUL

Yesterday was the MACUL conference and we all headed down to Cobo to check out the newest tech-related teaching issues and ideas. As someone who isn't as enthusiastic about technology as others, I was surprised to find myself really enjoying the presentations and I walked away with a lot of new information! The first session that I attended discussed the dangers of the internet and safety measures that can be taken to help our kids avoid falling into these traps. It's incredible to me that 16 yr. old kids know how to hack through filters and access sites that they shouldn't be seeing, but apparently this is not uncommon. As teachers, it's imperative that we educate ourselves and our students on the dangers of the internet and help them understand how it can affect them in the longterm. The man who presented offered examples of classrooms that were participating in activities that allowed students to see first-hand how the internet can be detrimental to their future, which I felt was a great idea. Kids would create resumes or portfolios and then post them on the internet with the idea that they would perform a search of themselves and see what turns up. I thought that this was a great way of showing them that you really have to careful what you post on the web.

The second session seemed interesting at first, but it turned out to be a little bit strange. The idea behind this presentation was designing lessons that incorporate the five senses. The speaker provided research and examples of this teaching strategy as well as an activity for the audience to try. I liked the idea of using music to stimulate student's senses and get their creative juices flowing, but some of the exercises were a little bit out there. While it was certainly interesting, I'm not sure if I'd use these strategies on my own students.

The third session that I attended was the most interesting to me, which is funny, because it was all about learning how to use Web 2.o tools. As I said above, I'm not a big tech person, but this session made me want to be!! First of all, the presenter was insanely enthusiastic and did a great job of showing off these tools. Second, the tools that she did present were so neat and I would really like to use them in the future. Some of the tools that were discussed included Tripit, Yelp, Remember the Milk, Ustream, and Jott. My tech knowledge is really limited, so these may not be anything really new and exciting, but I definitely enjoyed learning about them and hope to use a couple in the future. I think the hardest part for me is that I feel so behind in the world of technology and it can be overwhelming sometimes when you think about everything that's out there. However, these tools seem pretty easy to use and I think that the more I use them, the more comfortable I will become with all this tech stuff. Overall, it was a nice way to spend a Friday and I was definitely able to take some new ideas and info away from the conference!

MACUL Session 1: Safety on the Internet

This session involves the dangers that exist online and how we can help our kids avoid these traps. The guy that is giving the seminar has made some really good points and seems very knowledgeable on this topic. Interesting stuff!

He's talking about how filters are fairly ineffective and the best way to help your kids is become educated on this topic. The knowledge that kids possess today is quite significant, and many of the actions that are taken by administrators and teachers, like creating filters, aren't doing enough.

AND I'm really annoyed because this thing won't post!!!!

You have to have the ability to monitor online activities to take legal action.

CIPA - Children's Internet Protection Act

Schools must have a policy and implement certain procedures in order to recieve the E-rate discounts

CIPA supports the use of chats, email...but simply wants to make it safer for students to use these options. WOW!

We need to think about what kids are doing now and what they might be doing in the future that will be related to using the internet and online activities.

Elgg.net - create your own social networking platform that is installed on your own served and you decide how much is public or private... pretty cool!


Ning: Also lets you create your own social networking site.

Ed-Safe Alternatives: takingitglobal.org - how to make a social impact on the world, get more involved

-Now required of the curriculum in Pennsylvania
-Public site
-Very carefully monitored, a safe place for students

BeRecruited.com- Helpful for students

Crowdspring.com - Graphic designers-if you need a logo, someone who can design or create websites...post what you need and people will respond to your request

Des Moines - Students are creating online portfolios for colleges and employers to find and then search for themselves to see what admissions will find about them...pretty cool!

Overall, good presentation and I feel like I learned more about this topic. The presenter was really enthusiastic and included good information and websites to reference!

MACUL Session 1

MACUL TEST

Teaching!

The week before Thanksgiving break I taught and planned a lesson and was observed by my field instructor for the first time. It was definitely a little nerve-wracking, but everything turned out really well! I have taught segments of lessons throughout the Fall and have also been in charge of helping the students review for exams and quizzes, but this was the first time that I was in charge of the entire lesson and was being observed. I was pretty nervous at first, but after a few minutes, I realized that I was totally at ease and having a great time with the students. We were reviewing for test and I had come up with three activities to cover the material and maintain the interest of the students throughout the hour. Each exercise went really well and the students did a great job of participating appeared interested in reviewing for their test. One activity involved a backpack that I carried around the room from student to student and as they pulled an object out, I asked them a question about the item. Because this is a beginner level French class, many of the students are very shy and hesitant to speak. I was so excited when several of them volunteer to participate. They seemed to enjoy digging for something in the backpack and answering the questions! After the lesson was over, I had a chance to talk with my field instructor and discuss various aspects of the hour. I told her that I'd been really nervous beforehand, but the anxiety wore off almost immediately. We talked about some of the reasons that I felt this way and I found that it was really helpful to break down the different parts of my lesson and the way I worked with the students. Malli gave me great advice on what she liked about the lesson, what could work a little better the next time, and suggestions for other activities in the future. I think that I'm so worried about doing everything right and perfect for my students that I forget that I'm still a student too. My experience in the classroom is so important to developing my style as a teacher and every time that I'm at Wayne I'm learning more about what works, what doesn't, how the kids react, classroom management...etc. It can be difficult because there is so much to take in, in such little time!

I do think that the debriefing session was helpful and I appreciate all the feedback that I get from both my field instructor and my mentor. I want their advice and suggestions because I have such little experience in this area. Also, just something that I found interesting....One of Malli's suggestions involved getting the class to quiet down. Instead of saying "Shhhhhhh," she told me to simply stop talking and stand silently. She had noticed that when I said "shhh" some of the kids didn't always stop talking. By standing silently, I'm not trying to talk over them and those who are paying attention will help and try to get their friends to quiet down. I also taught 4th hour that day and at one point they began to get loud and I just stopped talking and stood still. Almost immediately, the class quieted down...I thought that was pretty neat!