"Reflections of Assistive Technologies."

            First, I must say, this video was quite the eye opener. It was very impressive to see all these students and professionals succeed even with what most of us would think as life-stopping disabilities. These examples show that anyone can exceed with given the right tools.
           Jessie was one of the examples with learning disabilities. I love how her mother was her biggest cheerleader and believed in her. Her use of voice recognition to type was a very smart way for her to excel in her schoolwork. It was very cool to see Randy working in a professional workplace even with his disability. He was able to use screen reader software and speech synthesizer that would read text out loud to him to help him do his job everyday. Todd's technology that he used as a quadriplegic in the work place was quite impressive. He is only able to use his mouth so he uses it to control his computer with "puffs" and moving his mouthpiece around. I can imagine being paralyzed can be disabling for anyone but he doesn't let that get in the way of his career. Nate used old fashioned techniques to get past his learning disability. He used tutors and good-ol perseverance. Jessie, who is in a wheel chair also has determination through her disability of being a little person and being in a wheelchair in a world not meant for the everyday person with disabilities.
             These videos are something I can take into the workplace with me and apply it to my students, whether they have major disabilities or not. Every one of my students will learn differently and it is up to me as a teacher to help them learn in their unique way. There isn't a "one size fits all"! With some students, I may have to use assistive technologies like these to help them succeed. As a teacher it's up to me to introduce them to these tools and show how they can be used to help them excel.

Everything worth knowing: How can we tell who is smart and dumb?

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing it is stupid."- Albert Einstein

       In a classroom there are no "smart" students and "dumb" students. We all know that everyone learns differently and at different paces. There is not one correct way to "learn" something. I, myself am a "hands on" learner. I don't learn by hearing or reading something. I learn from actually doing tasks. This is an approach all teachers must take. There are no "dumb" students. If students aren't catching on to a lesson, its time to take a different approach. All students will learn if they are taught in a way that they understand and in a way that will interest them.

Blow Up the Gradebook

    In theory, the idea of blowing up the grade book is great! I like the idea of keeping lesson plans fun and with not much pressure, giving students the "controls" on their learning and not just punishing them for their failures and rewarding based on letter grades. As a student, I wish all classrooms were like this. I like the idea of moving at my own pace. As a mom and being full time employed, I will have weeks that I won't have time to do as much homework as other weeks. In high school, this also would have come in handy. I worked and had extra curricular activities. As a teacher it is ideal also for our students to actually learn and not just be jumping through the hoops and going through the motions just to get the letter grades they desire.

    But how do we take this idea into action when our schools are filled with so many government issued tests. There is so much pressure on teachers for their students to "make the grades" to keep school and district numbers up. And also, how do we prepare our students for the "real world" when we don't give them deadlines and let some fail and let some succeed?  

       I wish I knew the answer. I am hoping though that this class helps me gain some of those answers. With the help of technology and teaching aids, I hope to be the best teacher I can be and not only make learning fun but to help them succeed in the future as well.

Classroom of the future

      In the Classroom of the Future videos, I was quite surprised at how much they actually predicted correctly. They were pretty spot on in thinking that technology would become a huge communication tool. Between teachers and students as well as students and other students, we use technology (i.e. email, skype, social networking) to communicate assignments, instructions and share information on what we are learning. They also were correct in predicting that we would use computers and "databases" for research.
       It's hard to imagine 20 years from now what technology will be like. It's unbelievable to me how quickly technology develops. It feels like yesterday that smart phones didn't exist and now it's rare to see someone who doesn't have a smart phone in their hand. I predict that the future will be with even more technology integrated into the classroom. I'm sure every first grader will own an ipad to do their homework on. Smart boards will be in every classroom and blackboards a thing of the fast (This may already be in affect. It's been a few years since I have set foot in a first grade classroom). I picture my son coming home from school with gadgets to do his homework on that the average parent may not know how to use. I can tell you one thing, my son will be far more advanced at using technology that he will be teaching his mother a few things.

    "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans" -Woody Allen

     I'm a planner. I always have been. But I come by it rightfully. It's in my genetics to plan. You could blame my type A personality I inherited from my father.  I had my life all planned out and it looked really great on paper. I was 21, going to Boise State University for a degree in Health Promotion. I was going to finish school and land myself a great career. Well, here came life curve ball number 1! I got pregnant into my 3rd year of college with the biggest blessing to come into my life. Chance Clifford Garrett was born November 14, 2009 at 7:29 pm. He weighed 6 lbs, 14 oz and was 20.5 inches long. After that my plans changed. At that point, the most important thing in my life was to stay at home and raise my little boy. After 3 years of being blessed to be a stay at home mom, here came life curve ball number 2. I found myself a single mother trying to get back on my feet. I've waitressed for what has been almost a year to kind of get my surroundings figured out and get a new game plan.
       So here I am, almost a year into single parenting, and I have decided to go back to school for Elementary Education. This was actually my passion in high school, but my passion for health and fitness took over and I went that route instead. Well, now that I have my son, Elementary Education seems to be the right path for me. The number one priority in my life has not changed; my son. Teaching would give me summers off with him, as well as school breaks and hopefully the same hours, giving me the most time at home with him.
       I know its going to be hard and at times might just plain suck. But I am determined to finish my education. I work full time, and am a mom full time and now I am adding school to my itinerary. Reading that out-loud makes me almost second guess my decision! Its a lot on my plate, but honestly, I am sick of working for 3.25 an hour and depending on tips to pay the bills. I'm ready to get into my career and prove to myself, my son, and everyone around me that its possible.
       Despite life's crazy curve balls and my plans that haven't quite worked out, I am honestly the most blessed person on this planet. A great support system, my friends and family, a great job and a beautiful little boy at my side have put me where I am today, and I am so so thankful.