Project 16

Blog Post 5 Part B

     This blog is a continuation of Blog Post 5.  Blog Post 5 is about PLN's.  A PLN is a personal learning network.  Personal learning networks are a great way to connect anywhere and with anyone around the world over the internet through things such as social media.  I started my PLN by using Twitter. I created an account and followed professors from the University of South Alabama and even followed world wide known educators. Over this semester my PLN has grown. The more it has grown, the most I have become interested and educated. I have continued to follow educators and educational cooperations. I have become very inspired and interested by reading their tweets. Even though my time in EDM is almost over, I know I will continue to expand my PLN experiences and educational ideas.

Blog Post 16

Final Reflection Video

Project 12 Part B

Blog Post 13

What Did I Leave Out?

     For this blog post we were assigned to create an assignment for our class that we didn't cover or learn about this semester. Throughout this class, I learned a lot about project-based learning and how to be a successful teacher using technology, but I did not learn how to be a successful teacher without using technology. I believe that using technology is great and is a first choice, but not all counties and school systems can afford a lot of technology. I chose to create a blog post assignment about learning how to be a successful teacher without technology. This assignment is to watch the video Teach Teachers How to Create Magic by Christopher Emdin. Once the video is viewed, respond to the followed questions in a blog post. 

                                  1. Have you discovered how to use magic?

                                  2. How will this magic help you in your classroom one day?

My response to the above assignment:

     Christopher Emdin opens the TEDtalk by telling a story for the audience to imagine in their minds. He automatically drew me into the video with his voice and stage presence. Emdin asks the question of why we educate by using and studying old texts that are written by people who are dead. He then goes on to talk about stressing over lesson plans. He states that no matter how prepared we are they may not be right for the classroom. He inspires and shares that the magic is creating a classroom atmosphere where our lessons as educators should tell a story. The magic is creating a classroom of students that are drawn into the lesson by a simple movement that speaks a thousand words. Capturing our students by our words is what we should strive for in the classroom. We should be expressive and interactive which will draw them in. This will help me one day as an educator because I will not be so depended on using technology to drawing my student's attention. I have learned the magic of using my voice and simple movements to get their attention. While technology is a great tool to use in the classroom, it is my job to teach students. 

Project 6 C4K 3

     The first comments for kids that I did for this assignment was by Ian.  Ian's blog is called English Project: Survivors. Ian wrote this blog to share about a book he read and did an English project for. The book was called Survivors and is written by Erin Hunter. Ian lists the main characters of the book with the main story line. He describes the book to have some suspense and drama. He thought that this book was great and recommends it to everyone. I commented, "Hello Ian! Thanks for sharing and recommending this book. I will have to check it out. Keep reading and look forward to hearing about more books that you read. Great post!"
     The second blog I read was by Deneed. Deneed's blog is called My Bucket Lost. Deneed shares in this blog that her goals in life are to go to high school and then go to college. She is not sure what career she wants to pursue yet, but she has time to figure that out. I commented, "Hi Deneen! I am currently in college and I am going to school to be come a teacher.  Have a bucket list and goals you want to meet in your lifetime is great! Going to high school and college so that you can get a job that you love and that will provide for you sounds awesome! I would love to learn more about what kind of job you want and what you want to do after high school. Happy blogging!"
     The third and final blog that I read for this assignment was by Rico.  Rico's blog does not have a title, but was posted on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Rico's blog is all about a piece of art that he drew with his aunt. The art is a drawing of a wolf. He is very talented and should continue to draw because he will only get better. I was very impressed with is talent and look forward to seeing more of his work. I commented, "Hello Rico! Wow, you are a very talented artist. I was automatically drawn to your blog because my brother is a very talented drawer as well. I like your wolf and you should definitely continue drawing. I look forward to seeing more of your posts and drawings. Happy blogging!"

Blog Post 12

C4T #3

     A Creative Solution to the Homework Wars. This blog is about homework. Mr. Spencer shares with us that he used to be against homework. As he continued in his career of being teacher he learned the importance of homework if it is done correctly. He gives five ways that he has found for homework to work and be successful with his students. He changed the outlook on homework for his students and parents. Homework became a success and became fun for his students. I commented, "Hi Mr. Spencer. I am currently in college in plans to become a teacher one day.  As a former grade school student I was always against homework and never understood the point. Now that I am an adult and in college I see the importance. I really enjoyed reading this blog and the five ways that helped make homework work for you and your students. My favorite approach would have to be the show and tell approach. This has definitely given me a differently outlook on how homework should be handled in the classroom. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to keeping up with your posts."
For my third comments for teachers assignment, I was assigned to a teacher's blog named John Spencer. John Spencer is a great teacher to learn from. He is inspriring and shares his mistakes and experiences for the readers to learn from. The first post that I read by him was
     The second blog that I read by John Spencer was Why I Do the Same Student Projects Over Again. In this blog Mr. Spencer shares that he used to think that teachers should shred and throw away their lesson plans at the end of the year and start fresh. He wrote this post to explain that his way of thinking was wrong. He learned that we should not throw away past lesson plans or projects, but use them to modify and make the next years better. We should use our past ideas and activities to our advantages. This post was very inspiring and good to learn as a future teacher. I commented, "Hello Mr. Spencer. I am in college and going to school to become a teacher. Thank you again for sharing your blogs and experiences. They are very educating and encouraging to me as a future teacher. I like all of the different projects that you use in your classroom. I totally agree with the fact of not throwing out last years work, but instead modify it to make it better. I do not think we should just throw out lesson plans or projects, but use it to make ourselves better. Thank you for your inspiring and experienced posts!"

Blog Post 11

What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?

1. Back to the Future by Brian Cosby
     In this speech, Brian Cosby is speaking about a class that he once taught. He shares about a time that he asked his students questions like, "What is your address?", "What state do you live in?", "What country do you live in?", etc. When he asked his students these questions, surprisingly, so many of them did not know the answers. Cosby also knew that he had students in his class that were mostly second language learners. He began to get his students engaged about science through using technology. His student were using project based learning with technology through blog posts and as he called, "High Hopes" projects. Cosby gave a lot of new ideas and thoughts that made me think. He pushed the thought that we can not create passion with creativity. I learned that there are no limitations when it comes to teaching and there are definitely no limitations when it comes to learning. The learning atmosphere and opportunities that he allowed for his students were incredible and I hope I can be a teacher that allows my students to grow and learn.

2. Blended Learning Cycle by Paul Andersen
     Paul Andersen is an A&P biology teacher. He is a teacher that likes to create acronyms for his students to help them remember what they have learned. In this video he uses an euler's disk and spins it on the table. The disk will spin for a long time without stopping and starting again. He uses these acronyms to get his students attention. He then tells teachers to as a question. Make the students' minds wonder and be curious. He calls these questions, investigations, videos, elaborations, reviews, and summary quizzes, "Quivers." He shows the importance of incorporating all of these into daily plans for the classroom. I learned from Paul Andersen that it is okay to use other sources from around the world to incorporate learning into my classroom. Yes, I need to be creative and teach according to my students' needs, but I can use other sources to help me be more successful. I also learned that incorporating quivers, as he calls them, helps my students to learn on a better level. It also helps me to see and know how much they truly absorb and learn. 

3. Making Thinking Visible by Mark Church
     Mark Church and his students in this video created a banner that in a few words described what they already know about human origins at the beginning of class. He allowed them to hang their banners at the front of class and discuss what they know. At the end of class, after they had learned more about the human origins, he allowed them to write another statement on their banner. I like this method of teaching a lot. I learned that teaching with this type of method the students realize they have learned a lot of new information about the topic within a short amount of time. It caused some of them to want to change what they had wrote on their banner at the beginning of class. It is a great way for students to realize that they can always be a learner and that they do not always know everything about everything. 

4. Building Comics by Sam Pane
     Sam Pane in this video is teaching his students how to be safe with and on the internet. Pane has his students create a Digital Citizen Superhero. He wants his students to be a good technology citizen. He wants to teach them to take care and to take pride in what they do. Pane does a great job incorporating other subjects into this one subject. He incorporates language arts into technology. He allows them to do peer reviewing through comics. The students are so engaged and it all seems so fun. I have learned how important it is to create students with good digital citizenship. I want to create this in my classroom one day. I also hope to do fun things such as comics with technology with my students. 

5&6. Project Based Learning by Dean Shareski and Roosevelt Elementary's PBL Program 
      Videos five and six are about Project Based Learning. Project Based Learning is a great way to combine learning math, science, language arts, and history all into one place. It is also using technology which is automatically a great way to get students engaged today. In this video, a school in Canada combines these subjects for their students. The teachers quickly realized that their students were understanding and learning so much more because it was joined together. I feel like through these two videos I have expanded my knowledge about Project Based Learning. Over this semester, I have viewed a lot of videos about Project Based Learning. However, I continue to see and learn the importance of it. It keeps the students engaged and brings learning to a whole new level. I cannot wait to incorporate it into my classroom one day.

Project 6 C4K 2

 

   The first student's blog that I read was by Maya. It was called The Fault In Our Stars. Maya read the book The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. She is sharing with us in her post how she thought the book was wonderful. She tells how many pages the book has and that it is a realistic fiction book.  Maya goes on to tell us a few details about the book and does a great job of not being a spoiler with too many details. I commented, "Hi Maya! You did a great job on giving main details of the book without spoiling important details. I have been wanting to read this book as well as see the movie. I enjoy reading the book and then watching the movie to compare the changes made. You are not the first person to recommend this book in such a great way. I will definitely have to find time to read it! Glad you loved the book and keep up the great blog posts!"
     The second student's blog that I read was by Skye.  It was called PLAN Testing. Skye tells us the bold and honest truth about testing. She shares that it is not fun and no one ever wants to go through it. Positively, Skye gives us great ways and tips for preparing for a large test such as a the PLAN test. Her advice is very accurate and are tips that I still use to this day as a college student. I commented, "Hi Skye! I am a student in college and have taken many different types of tests in my school career. You have done a great job of telling others how they should prepare for a test. Taking tests can be very boring and tiring, but they do pay off when you get to do something successful because you prepared correctly. Great post and keep up the great work!"
     The third and final student's blog that I read for this assignment was by Lisa. Lisa's blog was called The House of HadesTh. Lisa was reading a book called The House of HadesTh by Rick Riordan. In this blog, Lisa shares the basic details about the book and its characters. This book has so many characters that she said she could not list them all. She shares that she loved the suspense and adventure of the book.  She recommends it to anyone. I commented, "Hello Lisa! This book sounds very interesting. I love to read and especially like to read new things. The suspension and adventure sound interesting. Thanks for sharing this book and I look forward to reading it."

Blog Post 10

What can we learn from Mrs. Cassidy?

     The first video by Kathy Cassidy that I watched was Little Kids...Big Potential. This video was interesting to me.  She shares with us the many, many different ways that technology can be used in the classroom. She uses all of her technology in such a unique and creative way. She does not use the common classroom technology like SMARTboards and blogs. She uses Nintendo DS's and NintenDogs. I love that she uses these technology tools to teach her students how to work together as a team. 

     There are three part videos to the interview with Dr. Strange and Mrs. Cassidy. The three videos are Interview Part 1, Interview Part 2, and Interview Part 3. In these videos they discuss the importance of technology in the classroom. Mrs. Cassidy gives great ways for beginner teachers to begin with technology. She tells those teachers to begin with the technology that they like or the technology that they are most familiar, such as YouTube or blogging. The techniques that I learned from Mrs. Cassidy on using technology is to simply use technology. I should take advantage of the technology. Technology is not going away and as a future teacher, I must adapt and learn to be creative with it. I really enjoyed watching and learning from Mrs. Cassidy and I look forward to applying technology to my classroom one day!

Blog Post 9

What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?

1. Seven Essentials to Project Based Learning

     After reading this article I learned seven essentials for project-based learning.  The first essential is called an entry event. This gets the students engaged into the project.  It allows them to start conversations and create interests for the students.  The second essential is called a driving question.  A driving question should be an open ended question that gets students to begin thinking.  The question should be a way to overview what the students are learning at the time.  It should give the students the knowledge and purpose of the project.  It also allows the students to know what information to put into the project.  The third essential for project-based learning is to remember to not give students a limit.  Allow them to explore and be creative in their own ways. We should not tell them exactly what we expect of them, but instead give them the basic guidelines which will allow them to create on their own. The fourth essential is technology.  We should use as well as allow the students to use it.  It's the twenty-first century!  They can use the technology for communicating and exploring. We should not keep them from that.  The fifth essential is to help create students that want to ask their own questions so that they learn more. Teachers should not just tell them information.  We should tell them in a way that gets their minds curious and causes them to ask more questions.  The sixth essential for project-based learning is feedback and revision.  Feedback and revision is important to cause students to become successful at creating quality work.  When they receive feedback and revision on their work, whether positive or negative, they will know what to improve on for the next project.  The seventh and final essential is to publicly present the product.  When students know they have to present work to the class, they want to work harder and make a better product.  Students take pride in their work when they created it and came up with all the ideas.  Allowing them to present their product builds up confidence in them.

2. Project-Based Learning For Teachers

     Project-based learning is important for teachers to incorporate in their classroom because it creates students that are able to be creative and inspired learners.  This video tells teachers that we should not be asking the question of "what" but "how".  Project based learning allows them to think on their own with a driven question from the teacher.  In classrooms today, we expect students to follow specific instructions and follow them exactly.  It seems that students today are not allowed to explore, think, or be creative on their own.  Project-based learning creates and allows those things to be reincorporated into the classroom atmosphere. 

3. PBL: What Motivates Students Today
     After watching this video, I am more concerned about what motivates students and I question if they are really learning.  The student in this video, says that she wants to be  veterinarian when she grows up but seems to be only concerned about her grades.  Are the students today only concerned about make the "A" and only absorbing the knowledge long enough to pass the test which leads to forgetting what they memorized?  As a future educator, I long to create students that genuinely want to learn  as well as want to make good grades, but I do not want the grades to be their main motivation.  Students should be taught so that they learn the knowledge for long term, not just for a test. 

4. High School Teachers Meet the Challenges of PBL Implementation
     Project-based learning is for all grades and even for any subject.  Project-based learning is not conformed to a specific way or type.  It can be changed and reformed to fit the needs of the subject of students.  There is not a right or wrong way to create a project assignment for students.  Teachers just need remember to accommodate the requirement and information for the age classroom they are applying it to. Project-based learning can be fun and affective for any grade or any subject but it just needs accommodate for the specific situation for the best results.  

5.  Students Solve the Problem of Watery Ketchup by Designing a New Cap
     This article was unlike any other project-based learning assignment I have ever see or heard.  The students were using a ketchup cap and determining, "what really bugs them."  These students seemed to be engaged in the project.  They seemed to enjoy making their own ketchup cap.  Their driving question was, "it bugs me when."  This question did not limit the students to a specific answer or project, but allowed them to think and create their own project.  This article did a great job at showing that students are capable of more than we give them credit.  As a future educator, I need to remember to ask my students the driving question and then allow them to think and explore on their own - outside the box.

Project 9

Project 13

Is it Magnetic?

Image Source: Texas Watchdog

This project teaches students in second grade the difference between magnetic and nonmagnetic objects. This project also teaches students how to work collaboratively to complete research and writing assignments in a timely manner,

Is it Magnetic? Lesson Plan
Is it Magnetic? Lesson Calendar
Is it Magnetic? Project/Evaluation Rubrics
Is it Magnetic? Project Checklist

VIrtual Poster Sample (Included at end of Lesson Plan)

C4T #2

   
 For my second comments for teachers blogging assignment, I read two blogs by Krissy Venosdale. I really enjoyed reading her blogs!  She has bold and interesting views on the classroom and how the atmosphere should be organized.  Her blogs caused me to stop and think about the subject she is writing about on a deeper level.  I then, create my opinion about the topic and it inspires me to be a awesome educator one day.
     Krissy Venosdale's first blog that I read was Make School More Than Worksheets.  In this post, she talks about how when she was in school the teachers always gave out worksheets. The teachers would keep the students busy with worksheets and that was how her and her classmates learned.  She continues to say that she does not think that the learning environment should be full of worksheets. The students should have fun learning while being hands on and engaged.  I commented, " Hello Krissy Venosdale!  I am a student at the University of South Alabama.  I am in a EDM blogging class.  I really enjoyed reading your post.  I too, was a student that was given worksheets and I would work to make that A.  I totally agree that students today have so much technology at their fingertips.  They will navigate a world that we cannot fully imagine.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts!  I am encouraged and want to be a teacher that does not give worksheets, but allows my students to be involved and hands on."
     The second blog I read by Krissy Venosdale was The Things We Use.  In this blog, she gives many different technology tools and asks what we see when we see that specific tool. For example, she asks, "Do you see an iPad?" Then she compares the technology tool to another life necessity to a child like training wheels. After comparing what we see when we see these technology tools to other tools we see in a child's life she asks, "Do you see a bunch of tech tools or do you see learning opportunities? Do you see yourself as the expert in the room, or the learner along side your students?" I commented, "Hello Mrs. Venosdale! My name is Courtney Doyal and I am a college student. I am currently in a class called EDM 310 and every week we learn how to become a better teach and how to use sources to our greatest advantage. The only words I had after reading this post was, "WOW!" It brought the debate about technology in the classroom to another level. You really showed the necessity for it by comparing it to something as simple as training wheels on a bike. I completely see tech tools as a learning opportunity. Even though I am not in my own classroom yet, I do not think I will ever consider myself an expert. I will always be a learner along side of my students. I truly believe the saying, "you learn something new every day." I never think you can be too educated or too old to learn something new. I forever want to continue learning and becoming a better person. Awesome post and thank you for sharing you thoughts!"

Blog Post 8

     Randy Pausch's video, Last Lecture was entertaining and kept my focus all the way through.  I feel like I learned and was reminded about a lot of things through his lecture.  The thing I liked most about his lecture was that he told his life experiences which turned into life lessons for the listeners.  Pausch introduces "brick walls" in his lecture.  He shared the dreams he had as a child.  He wanted to be an astronaut and then he wanted to be an NFL player.  He explains that the brick wall lets us prove how badly we want something.  If we want it badly enough, we will push through the brick walls of life to achieve our dreams.  He was told no time and time again to his dreams, but he continued to push through and strive until he achieved them.  He then began to remind us that we should encourage our students to succeed and we should never give up on them!
     He explained that it is important to raise up students that are able to be "self reflective."  This causes students to push to be better and strive to do more.  If we do not set a standard bar for our students they will do more.  He gave an example of his past class that did more which led to the faculty and parents eager to come see their final products.  We can teach them to self reflect through peer reviews and allowing them to see their mistakes.  We should not just throw away their work or assignments, but give them back so they can see what they need to work on.
    Pausch reminded us that to be an educator we must always be a learner. We must always be willing and ready to expand our knowledge.  His example on how to be a learner to be one that never quits. We should never be willing to say that we do not know or that we know enough.  If we do not know, learn it! Then finally and probably most importantly, I learned that I should never give up on my students and never stop caring for my students.  At the end of his lecture, he asks the audience if they figured out the head fake yet.  The head fake was his was of telling us that his lecture was not for us to hear about how dreams are achieved, but instead, how to lead a life. What kind of life will you lead to your students and the people around you?

Project 6 C4K 1

     One of my EDM 310 assignments has been to read kids' blogs.  We call it comments for kids. These kids are students in grade school and they are blogging and expressing themselves through writing which I think is awesome!  Their teachers are showing them how to blog and how to use the internet in a positive way at a young age. To see this many students using the internet at such a young age for more than social media or entertainment purposes is very refreshing.
     The first student's blog that I read was about basketball. This was female student in the 5th grade. She has a huge passion for basketball and is on the school team. In this particular blog she was telling us how she and her team are undefeated so far in this season. The team is getting ready to go to state and she hopes they can keep up their winning streak. I commented on her blog and wished them great luck on their game in hopes that they win! I encouraged her by telling her that practice makes perfect, so if she and her team work together and practice they can surely win.
     The second student's blog that I read was Ice Fishing by Samson. Samson shared with us in this blog that he got to go ice fishing the previous weekend. He said that he did not catch much but it was still a lot of fun. I commented,  "Hello Samson! Ice fishing sounds like a lot of fun.  Unfortunately, where I live, it does not get cold enough to go ice fishing.  Hopefully, one day I will get to expeience ice fishing.  I'm glad that you had fun and hope you catch something next time you go ice fishing."
     The third student's blog that I read was Famous Phonies by Caitlynn. Caitlynn is reading a book called Famous Phonies by Biranna Dumont. In this blog, she is sharing about this book and how she has almost completed the book. She gives the example that George Washington is a phony. She says she is really enjoying the book and suggests that everyone should read it.  Caitlynn had a few typing errors in her blog. In my comment, I tried to express to her, in an encouraging way, that she had errors in her post.  I commented, "Hello Caitlynn! I have never heard of this book before but you have me interested. I will have to check it out and read it. I do not think the title fits the book because it does not sound like that would be the topic at all. Great job on your post! Just remember to always proof read your blogs for errors before you post them. I noticed a few simple typing errors. Keep up the great work and I hope you continue to make reading fun!"
     The fourth and final student's blog that I read was Share Your Genius by Jesus.  In this blog, Jesus shares that this is his first blog and he is excited about it. He reminds us that we are all special and extraordinary in our own way.  He wants everyone to learn to share as we learn so that we can embrace the awesomeness together.  He then asked for everyone to share in a comment what makes them special or extraordinary. I commented, "Hello Jesus! I am also a new fan of blogging and I am in college. Something special about me is that I am going to school to become a teacher. I have a huge passion for helping and teaching kids! Keep up the great work. Happy blogging!"

Blog Post 7

How Do We All Become Learners? 

     This week I was assigned to watch different videos and reflect on them. Becoming a teacher is a very exciting thought to imagine.  I am so close for that official moment. I have a year and a half left in school. I feel that I have so much to learn still.  I feel my strengths as a future teacher are being creative and always having a plan way ahead of time.  I am not a procrastinator, which I think is a positive quality for a teacher.  My weakness is probably flexibility. I have a hard time changing the plan or schedule when I already have things planned out.  I think that in order to be ready to be a project based teacher in the next year and a half, I need to start buying supplies and preparing for the future projects that I want to engage in with my students.

     In watching all of these videos, my favorite videos were the ones in Mrs. Tassin’s 2nd grade class. This class was so engaged in using technology as they learned.  The students were having so much fun and were on another level of focused learning. Mrs. Tassin used many different apps on the tablets as extra learning tools for her students. The students throughout the video were creating their own projects with the technology. After completing their projects, they were eager to present what they had created to the class.

     The last two videos, We All Become Learners and Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten, really show how the classroom setting and the use of technology is changing and growing.  We All Become Learners, Michele Bennett explains that the typical thought and setting of a classroom is changing. He shares how he believes that students are teaching teachers, teachers are teaching students, and students are teaching students.  The second video, Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten, Dr. Strange and other guests on the video are sharing with us about kindergartens using iMovie to create book trailers. This video blew my mind.  I am in college and I am just now learning how to use iMovie and these kindergarteners are using it like its second nature. Dr. Strange even referenced and compared the kindergarteners to college students.  The kindergarteners were engaged and eager to create their trailers and to learn while us college students have to be forced and pushed to learn how to use something new, such as iMovie. 
     How do we all become learners?  To become a learner, we must be eager and excited about learning.  A positive attitude will go a long way.  We must also be ready to ask questions and keep an open mind. Even as a teacher one day, I need to be open to letting my students teach me something new while at the same time teaching them new things. 

Project 7 Part B

C4T #1

     For my second comments for teachers assignment, I viewed two blogs.  The first blog I read was What am I Supposed to be Learning by a teacher named Mrs. Palmer.  Mrs. Palmer shares with us in her blog post that she believes in allowing her students to have a hands on learning experience with the Common Core Standards.  She allows them to think and explore for themselves.  She gives steps and visual aids like pictures and videos of ideas.  She also shares ways to allow your students to be hands on.  Her students seem to really love and enjoy the atmosphere that Mrs. Palmer creates for learning.
     The second teacher's blog that I read was Make School More Than Worksheets by Krissy Venosdale.  I really enjoyed this post, it was simple but she got her point across.  Ms. Venosdale explains that when she was student, she only had boring worksheets as her assignments.  She just did the worksheets to get her "A," but never learned anything.  She never was engaged in learning. She also sees that learning should be fun and hands on.  She lists all the wonderful tools that she has used or found that makes learning fun for her students.  I replied to her post and shared with her that I agree and believe learning should be hands on.  I was also, a student that was bored with worksheets and just did them to get the grade.  I never learned anything from those worksheets.  I truly learned when I was given the opportunity to be hands on and involved.   I enjoyed reading both of the blog posts and I am continually encouraged and inspired for the type teacher I want to be.