Professional Development Reflection

As an educator it is easy to become consumed with how to engage and teach your students. As a result, it is equally easy to forget how important it is to continue your own development as a professional. The world does not stop evolving when I graduate. Technology doesn't cease to improve. This means that if I am going to be able to reach my students in new and exciting ways it is important that I continue to learn in order to be able to teach.

What would our schools look like if every teacher only taught what they learned when they were in college? Considering many teachers don't retire until they're in their 60's, there would be generations of students who are still under the impression that the Cold War is still at the top of America's foreign policy agenda. Granted this is an extreme example, but it makes my point. If I fail to continue my education beyond graduation I would be doing a disservice to my students and to myself.

Knowing that there are numerous resources available for continued professional development makes me more confident in my life after graduation. Educational opportunities can be available, but without taking advantage of them, they are worthless. Being able to educate myself on the my continued professional development makes pursuing such abundant opportunities less daunting.

WebQuest Reflection

I've come to understand that there is more to teaching than trying to impart knowledge to students. Yes, I want my students to learn, but if I can't inspire and motivate my students, I won't be able to impart anything to them. The key to motivation and inspiration in learning is finding interesting lesson plans that will do more than engage the students in the assigned projects, but to help them to see the real world applications of the material.

In my course area, Literature, it can be all too easy for students to think, "what's the point?". In my own education I have met people who have found my pursuit of a literature degree to be merely a pursuit in the ability to claim that I am well read. As an educator, it is my responsibility to show my students how Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet can reach them where they live. My WebQuest lesson plan covers both of these points.

By guiding students to think beyond the play of Romeo and Juliet and look at the relationship depicted in the play, I am helping the students to draw relevant correlations between dramatic love, which is often idealized inappropriately, and healthy dating relationships. This is what the goal is of the WebQuest Romeo and Juliet: True Love? I am asking students to think critically, work collaboratively, and to be creative beyond the normal scope of acting out a scene.

The technology involved in this lesson plan is equally important to the student. The utilization of preselected websites allows the students to focus on the material to aid them in avoiding the common pitfall of research: becoming overwhelmed. Furthermore, this application of technology is interactive and inspiring. To go even further, the students will be creating a video that will be posted on YouTube, thus engaging them in a medium that they are familiar and comfortable.

Professional Development

Copyright and Plagiarism Reflection

It is really quite amazing how frequent and pervasive copyright infringement and plagiarism are in the educational system, especially when you consider how a majority of it is unintentional. In learning about these topics, it was equally surprising to realize how little I knew on the subject. For example, I was unaware that it is considered copyright infringement to use more than 10% or 3 minutes of a song in a multimedia project. I had always assumed, like most people, if you purchased the song, you can use it, at least for educational purposes, without it being against the law.

Understanding copyrights are extremely important for students. In the real world and in the business world it is expected that people will know and abide by the law. Unfortunately, many people fail to educate themselves resulting in a lapse of communication. In addition, it's important to convey to the students that copyright laws are not just about preventing the unlawful use of materials protected by others, but also about protecting their materials as well. By educating students on copyrights, you are helping them to be law abiding citizens, people who value the work of others, but also value their own work.

Although the issue of fair use and copyrighted materials are important issues to cover, students will find the topic of plagiarism to be far more relevant to their academic careers. Many students understand that copying words out of a book and passing them off as their own is wrong. However, many students may not realize the potential plagiarizing pitfalls that await if the they don't understand how to properly cite their sources, fail to adequately use their own words, or even misuse quotations. It's scary, but unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism and potentially grounds for expulsion.

By properly shining a light on these topics I can further ensure my own understanding, but also ensure the success of my students in the mastery of these concepts. Glogster is a fantastic means of sharing this information and kicking of a more involved discussion. By providing my students with an interactive learning experience like, Glogster posters provide, I take a potentially scary and dull drum topic and make it more approachable and fun.

 

Excel Lesson Plan Reflection

The Microsoft Office Suite is a widely used software package utilized for both business and higher education purposes. This is just one of the many signposts that indicate the growing role of technology in the world at large. A decade ago it was a benefit to have an employee who possessed the technological skill set to use the Microsoft Office Suite. However, this benefit has evolved into an expectation. No longer is it acceptable to be proficient in one of the multiple applications within the Office Suite, i.e. Word. For students pursuing a college degree and for job applicants pursing a means of employment, it is expected that each qualified individual will be experienced in Word and Excel. As an educator, it is my job to ensure that the students I teach are well prepared to meet the expectations of these institutions.

Excel is one of the more challenging programs within the Microsoft Office Suite. It requires the user to do more than type and make use of simple formatting to produce an effective and appealing product. As a result, students may perceive the use of this program to be daunting and thus, shy away. This hesitancy is understandable, but it is also surmountable. By integrating the use of Excel in classroom projects, I am helping students to familiarize themselves with a program that is both important and often misunderstood.

In many ways, Excel is the Shakespeare of the Office Suite. Students are put off by it as a result of its reputation. As their teacher it is my goal and responsibility to break down the material for the students so that it is both manageable and approachable. With my spreadsheet lesson plan, it was my goal to combine these two seemingly insurmountable subjects to help build the confidence of the students and reinforce concepts. The end product was a lesson plan that involved creating a portion of a timeline that is generated within Excel for Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

The Hamlet timeline asked students, in groups, to build a timeline for a specific section of the play. I provided an example of a spreadsheet timeline for this project that also worked as a starting point for the students to build off of. Hamlet is a complex play with a lot of plot and subplot activity that can be confusing. By asking the students to build a timeline for specific sections in the play they are being asked to dissect a portion of the play for plot points. This will reinforce their understanding of the text as well as help to make Shakespeare more manageable aiding in their analysis of Hamlet.

By requiring the students to use Excel in the creation of their timeline, I am giving them the opportunity to explore a program they may not otherwise utilize. In addition, by using this program to build a timeline students are able to recognize that there many different uses for Excel outside of the standard pivot table or graph. This will help each student to recognize the endless technological possibilities available at their fingertips as long as they are willing to think outside of the box.

The final component, which I feel is essential to the success of this lesson plan, is the collaborative learning component. Despite my best efforts, there will always be a student who doesn't feel comfortable approaching me with questions or concerns regarding a project or the subject matter. However, regardless of a student's inability to approach me directly, it is still my responsibility to ensure every student learns and has their educational needs met. For many students a group setting is an environment that is more conducive to voicing confusion about the material as they are not typically alone in their wariness. This means that students who may have otherwise suffered in silence are able to engage their peers in dissecting the material not only clarifying it, but also increasing the level of retention.

PowerPoint Lesson Plan Reflection

Up to this point, I have been focused on how I can use technology to engage my students and their parents. I have thought of different ways to utilize my technological skills to make learning more fun and the information I wish to share more appealing. However, with the PowerPoint Lesson Plan I not only found a way to apply my technological skills, but also to help my students apply theirs while at the same time, helping them to comprehend the material we were covering.

This lesson plan focused on the creation of a modern day inferno using Dante's Inferno as the premise. With older texts, i.e. Dante's Inferno, The Iliad, etc. the language the author's used and the references/subject matter can make the text seem unapproachable and irrelevant. By asking the students to apply the subject matter, i.e. the inhabitants of the inferno in a modern context, it helps to illustrate to the students why this book is timeless. In addition, by framing the subject matter in relatable terms, the students are able to better understand what the author's original intention was.

However, regardless of how clever an idea may be, if it fails to engage students, it's useless. If I asked students to build a modern day inferno using construction paper and glue sticks, only a small fraction of the students would find this interesting. Not all students are artistically inclined in a physical medium. The beauty of technology is that with the right information, anyone can produce a professional piece that they are proud of. With so many students living in and playing in the technological medium already, by taking this lesson plan and asking students to build their idea of a modern inferno using PowerPoint, I am engaging the students on a more relevant level and helping them to hone their own technology based skills.

It would be easy to stop there, but I chose to take this lesson plan one step further. In the working world, cooperation and team work is a key component to success. By making this project a group project and allocating the tasks across relevant class periods, I am encouraging the students to work together as a community to accomplish a common a goal. In small groups they are asked to complete a PowerPoint presentation that depicts 5 types of Inferno Inhabitants with modern day examples. However, I have no assigned these inhabitants to the groups. The students are asked to communicate with one another to ensure that there are no duplications and to ensure all inhabitants will be represented. All of this communication is encouraged to take place both in the classroom, but also utilizing the class discussion board on the class website.

The online discussion board and class website are also key components to this technology based lesson plan. I want students to not only be engaged in the material, but with each other. The class website offers a discussion area to iron out concept issues and even discuss any confusion regarding the text itself. Students are also asked to share any interesting resource materials they may come across during their research that may prove interesting or beneficial to other class members. One of the requirements of this assignment is that students provide two hyperlinks to interesting resources they discovered in their research. In the past students have been pitted against one another in competition, but by asking them to share their resources, they will realize they are working within a community rather than working against one another.

 

 

RSS Reader Reflection

As a solitary teacher in a classroom, it is easy to become isolated. The isolation of educators not only erodes the morale of teachers, but it also prevents the continued growth and education of teachers. Through the utilization of the RSS Reader, teachers are able to stay connected to a very large community of teachers.

In our digital age, teachers are of all ages are reaching out to the great ether, sharing their triumphs and frustrations as participants in the educational process. Whether they are just venting, attempting to remind themselves why they want to be teachers, or are trying to reach out to other teachers, many educators are blogging. These blogs are valuable resources to all teachers as it reminds us that we are not alone. These blogs give teachers of all experience levels a means of connecting with one another in ways that teachers prior to the invention of the blogospere couldn't have even imagined. Teaching can be emotionally draining and just knowing that you're not alone can make all the difference.

The community of teachers online isn't just a resource for emotional recompense for those needing validation or a shoulder to cry on. Teachers are able to share lesson plan ideas and project concepts. This is important because none of us are bottomless wells of fabulous and inspiring teaching ideas. Sometimes we hit a brick wall and having an online resource in which we're able to search and draw from to find tested plans that engage the students is a win win scenario for everyone.

The utilization of the RSS Reader is an intriguing and innovative tool for educators that brings all of this together. Rather than scouring the internet and bookmarks for these resources, I am able to subscribe to the resources using Google Reader. In addition, I can share these resources with my fellow teachers so that they, too, can avoid the pitfalls of isolation. This allows me as a teacher to "Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership" while also "Model[ing] Digital-Age Work and Learning".

Rubric Creation Reflection

One of the more perplexing parts about teaching, beyond educating, is evaluating what students have learned. As I learn the various ins and outs of becoming a teacher, it's reassuring to know that others have come before more, faced with the same questions and concerns. As a result, there is a huge plethora of knowledge and tools at my disposal.

The rubric is a wonderful tool that allows me to clarify the goals of my lesson plan. By outlining what I want to see from a student's work, I am able to organize my own thoughts. This ensures that I have a comprehensive lesson plan that will help my students to achieve their academic goals while at the same time, it gives me a tool to assess the achievement and progress of each student. Furthermore, the rubric gives students a clear and concise reference for what my expectations are for their work. This ensures that there is no lapse in communication.

Considering the time constrictions all teachers face, whenever we can save time it's a blessing. For this reason the rubric building tool online is a lifesaver. With the pre generated rubric templates I am able to build a rubric that fits my needs in a fraction of the time.

Technology Supported Lesson Plan Reflection

One of the most important characteristics of a good teacher is being prepared. Through the preparation and execution of thoughtful lesson plans, a teacher is able to navigate her class through a meaningful adventure in learning. In addition to being an important organizational tool, lesson plans offer an opportunity for an educator to be creative and engaging.

During the course of designing my technology supported lesson plan, I was unaware of how truly labor intensive the design of a lesson plan is. As a teacher I want to make sure that my students are engaged in the material and learning. This is not a simple task. From ensuring my compliance with state curriculum guidelines and utilizing ITSE guidelines to ensure my inclusion of technology to devising a lesson plan that fits within a 45 minute class period, lesson plans are extremely challenging.

The hardest part about devising a comprehensive lesson plan is juggling the lesson plan with the overall big picture goals I have for my classroom. In a perfect world I would be able to map out the entire years lesson plans like a learning road map. I envision a giant wall with push pins, books, and post its and various pieces of colored string tying the lessons together in a cohesive plan.

However, this is not realistic. Even if I were able to sit down and plan out an entire year's worth of teaching, I shouldn't want to. Each class will be different requiring me to utilize different tools and approaches to reach them. If I were to limit myself to an elaborate design for my own peace of mind and organization I could end up ignoring the needs of my students, which is the last thing I want to do.

The best approach to designing lesson plans is to limit my "big picture" scope to units based on the readings I have chosen. I can have goals for the class, but I need to avoid being rigid in my planning as stuff happens and challenges arise. I have worked out a series of questions to ask myself as I design a lesson.

1. What is my overall goal in reading this book in class?
   
2. What curriculum standards can be applied to aid in the achievement of this goal?
   
3. What are some effective approaches that other teachers have discovered in teaching this material?
   
4. How does this approach work towards achieving these goals?
   
5. In what ways can I utilize technology to engage the students?
   
6. What means am I going to use to determine the effectiveness of this lesson?
   

Assistive Technology Reflection

As a teacher, I need to be aware of all of the possible obstacles my students may face. Not every student will be challenge free. In fact, most students will face some learning obstacles during their academic career. As a result, it is important that I am not only aware of these potential obstacles, but of their possible solutions.

Through this research I was able to educate myself on various assistive technologies that will help my students who face challenges be active participants in their education. It's easy to think that these technologies are expensive and potentially unrealistic for every day classroom use, but that is simply not the case. I was surprised to find that some of the most helpful assistive technologies are included as part of the standard package with Windows operated PCs and Apple computers. From "sticky keys" that transform multiple key strokes into one to simply enlarging the text on the screen to make it easier to read, assistive technology is everywhere.

There is a quote that I found extremely inspirational during this research and in general:

"I have discovered few learning disabled students in my three decades of teaching. I have, however, discovered many, many victims of teaching inabilities." ~ Marva Collins

It is my responsibility to ensure that none of my students are abandoned at the doorway because they face challenges I am unwilling to help them navigate. I am their educational advocate. There is no such thing as being too prepared to help a student learn because at the end of the day, there is no such thing as a student who can't learn, only a teacher who is unwilling to figure out how.                

 

 

 

Back to School PowerPoint Presentation Reflection

As an educator it is my responsibility to not only educate the students, but to give them every possible opportunity I can. This includes taking advantage of every opportunity I can to involve each student's parents in hopes that they will take an active role in their child's education. Just as my Back to School Brochure was an opportunity to initiate this contact, so too, is my Back to School PowerPoint presentation.

Where my Back to School Brochure left off, my PowerPoint presentation picked up. I was able to fully introduce myself to the parents, giving them a brief history of my personal educational background. It was my intention that by getting to know me as person and not just a representation of an educational system that their child participates in, the parents would be more apt to approach me with questions, concerns, or suggestions. By being able to engage the parents, it is my hope that I have a better chance at engaging the students.

A goal of the PowerPoint presentation was also to familiarize the parents with my classroom, a few of the academic highlights, and to demonstrate my proficiency with technological tools. By making the parents aware of the expectations I hold for their children they will be aware of the classroom culture I aim to cultivate. Furthermore, by offering the parents a view of the books we will be reading in class in addition to my planned use of a class website, I providing an opportunity for the parents to involve themselves as much as they can in their child's education. Perhaps by providing this information early in the school year, it will encourage the parents to read the novels along with their child allowing for additional conversations at home.

At the end of the day I am confident that this technological tool helps me as an educator to reach my goals in communicating with the parents of my students. I am hopeful that this tool will also be the spark of inspiration that is needed to generate moments of opportunity and learning between parent and child.

 

Internet Safety and Classroom Rules Flyer Reflection

In a world where new technology is emerging virtually every day, it is difficult for busy parents to stay on top of what new worlds are becoming available to their children. If parents aren't aware of what potential dangers and benefits are available in this burgeoning technological world, how can they be expected to protect and teach their children? As an educator, my responsibilities don't stop at the classroom door, especially if I choose to engage my students in a virtual classroom. This internet safety and classroom rules flyer is the way in which I help to bridge the gap between these worlds.

In a concise and well organized flyer I have included a lot of material that I hope will aid in the awareness of the parents and students. The students and I will have engaged in an in depth discussion regarding classroom expectations and internet safety by way of my PowerPoint presentation, but the parents should also be clued into the basics of these discussions. It is my goal that this flyer will not only bring awareness to the parents, but also inspire a conversation between them and their child.

My goal with this flyer is not only to reaffirm the discussions students and I have engaged in about internet safety, but to assure the parents that any access to the internet is not frivolous or without guidelines. For this reason, I also included the school district's policies regarding internet access and the use of technology. I think that this flyer does a thorough job of communicating to the parents that we take their child's safety and education very seriously.

In addition to providing the parents with the basic rules and guidelines that have been set up for safe and appropriate internet use in the classroom, physical or virtual, and the school district's policies on this matter, I included several resources for this parents to explore. Each of these sites discusses various aspects of internet safety and how each parent can set appropriate boundaries in the home to ensure the safety of their child. There are also links to resources such as computer filters for the home computer to help guide the students away from inappropriate or unsafe material as deemed by family standards.

I think that the material contained within this flyer is very important as are the goals of awareness and safety. The flyer is visually appealing to draw the attention of the parents and the information is concise to keep the attention of the reader. Plus, with the inclusion of a "permission slip", I am ensuring that the parents are engaged, at least on some level. All of these aspects added together demonstrate that I am a teacher who is not only well versed in technology, but an advocate for its appropriate use. With evidence that I have taken the time to assemble such a clean and clear document for something as standard as a flyer, I hope my dedication to excellence is apparent as are my adherence to the ITSE standards.

Internet Safety and Classroom Expectations PowerPoint Reflection

I really enjoyed creating a PowerPoint presentation educating the students on internet safety and the classroom expectations. To begin with, the information that was contained within the presentation is information that the students need to be aware of. However, standing up in front of the classroom lecturing about "stranger danger" and the importance of arriving to class on time is not an effective means of getting through to the students. This PowerPoint offers a viable and high-tech solution to reach the students.

The downside to this presentation is that it is a PowerPoint about rules which is a teenager's kryptonite. So, I did my best to liven up the presentation with colorful graphics and text. In addition, I wanted to move beyond the "no chewing gum in class" and "raise your hand" classroom rules. My goal was to set forth classroom expectations that inspired rather than dictated. To illustrate this, I made each expectation tie in with an important quote. I even incorporated Yoda from Star Wars. It was my hope that these aspects of the presentation would help to not only keep the attention of the students, but to engage them.

In addition to engaging the students while in the classroom, I also wanted to engage them in our virtual classroom with the class website. By making this presentation interactive and available online, I am giving my students continued access to this presentation for future reference, but also as a way of owning these expectations. This will also give them practice with interacting with future presentations that are related to our course work and reading while helping each student to become an active participant in his or her own education.

Considering the amount of time I would like my students to be engaged with the online classroom setting I think it would be beneficial to have a PowerPoint presentation and classroom discussion dedicated to appropriate online behavior and safety. This information is so critical in ensuring each student's continued safety and future well being that I don't think that it would be "over kill". The YouTube video I have included in this initial presentation goes a long way in starting a discussion about the importance of being aware of what you post online. However, due to the potential future implications each poor posting choice holds, I feel it would be wise to have an in depth discussion that includes not only this topic, but the issue of "sexting" as well.

Through the utilization of this technological tool, as an educator, I think that I have not only accomplished my initial goal of engaging and teaching the students, but I have opened the door to important future discussions. Furthermore, by being able to demonstrate my professional proficiency with technology in the classroom, I am meeting the ISTE's Educational Technology Standards for Teachers.

1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.
   
2. Design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.
   
3. Model digital-age work and learning.
   
4. Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.
   
5. Engage in professional growth and leadership.
   

Back to School Newsletter Reflection

I am quite happy with my back to school newsletter for parents. This tool has allowed me to communicate directly with the parents in an approachable fashion. It not only gave me the opportunity to lay a foundation of expectations, standards, and highlights, but more importantly it opened up a very important line of communication between myself and the parents. Parental involvement is critical for the educational success of students. By demonstrating to the parents I am a teacher who is happy to answer questions and supportive of suggestions from both students and parents I make myself more approachable.

Just as the content helped to determine the effectiveness of this newsletter, the appearance of the newsletter was equally important. Some parents may have had negative experiences with educational settings. By providing a newsletter that is visually appealing and upbeat in nature, I help to negate any potentially negative expectations. Furthermore, the information is organized in manageable pieces with distinct headings. This helps to ensure the parent reads the important information, but also avoids overwhelming the parent with unnecessary words and sections.

This back to school newsletter was so successful that it inspires me to create one for the students. It is important that the parents are involved in their child's education, but it is also important that the students benefit from the feeling of a classroom community as early as possible in the school year. By extending this tool to my students, I would be communicating to them that they are important to this process and community. Using the newsletter tool for both parents and students has the potential to be a good tool to introduce new books we will be reading in class as well.

The in classroom applications of this newsletter are limitless as communication tools should be. In addition, it has helped me as a professional to determine what is important information and what is not so vital information that might bog down the brevity of the text. I've also discovered new ways in which to work within a word document to make the visual aspect of the document more exciting thereby setting the tone for what I write and the reader's expectations.

Technology in the Modern Classroom

  
 

Dear Parents,

As our children grow, they are growing in an ever changing world, bursting at the seams with possibilities. Many of these possibilities are a direct result of the evolving technological landscape that defines our current world. When faced with new technology, our children jump at the opportunity to experience and conquer gadgets that once upon a time seemed only as plausible as the reality depicted by The Jetsons. From cell phones, iPods, and computers to game consoles, digital readers, and net-books, the educational applications of these new world devices are limitless. Throw in the wonderful world of web 2.0 technology and there seems to be no world, virtual or otherwise, that can't be conquered.

It is common for many parents and students to think that most of the technologies I listed hold merely entertainment value. Most people have only interacted with this technology for the purpose of entertainment or social networking. It is my goal as your child's teacher to utilize these devices to engage each student, broaden their horizons, and stoke the fire of curiosity so it will burn beyond their years in school. Here are just a few examples of how I plan to use technology in the classroom to accomplish these goals:

• Class Website
  

  The Internet is a wonderful resource when used responsibly. It not only affords students the opportunity to explore otherwise unavailable resources, but it also allows me to extend the classroom environment beyond the walls of the school. Through the use of a class website, students will be able to access interactive PowerPoint presentations, podcasts of readings and lectures, a moderated discussion board, preapproved course related internet links, a class calendar, and even course relevant games. This site also offers a means of contacting me, which is available to both students and parents.
  

  In addition to extending the classroom environment for the students, the class website also extends the classroom out to you, the parents. All of the features that are available to the students are also available to the you, giving you the opportunity to be as involved in your child's education as you would like. You can see what piece of literature we are reading in class, observe the online discussions inspired by this reading, and even keep an eye on important due dates and class events.
  

• Podcasts and Interactive PowerPoint Presentations
  

  Each student is unique and as such, each student has a unique way of looking at the world and learning. Rather than ignoring this fact and following past traditions of assigning reading and lecturing at the front of the class, I will use technology to address each student's learning style. Some students are auditory learners while others are visual learners. With the utilization of Podcasts and Interactive PowerPoint presentations, it is my goal to engage each of these types of learners.
  

  As a Literature teacher, I would like to believe that all students share my love for reading, but that just isn't the case. For some students, reading can be a taxing endeavor. As a result, a high regard for the written word is something they do not hold. However, by giving these students podcasts (an audio broadcast) that assists them in their reading, as their teacher I can begin to open up their eyes to an entirely new world of the written word. We will meet on common ground.
  

  Some students, although very capable readers, need additional resources to help reinforce the themes, concepts, and vocabulary we will encounter in various assigned readings. To aid in this reinforcement and to help improve reading cognition, there will be PowerPoint presentations that address the various aspects of the work ranging from themes and character development to the personal history of the author. Each PowerPoint will have pages that link to preapproved outside resources to encourage additional research. Through the use of pictures, videos, narrations, and additional websites students will be able to discover that there is more to a story than the words on the page.
  

• Online Discussion Boards and Peer to Peer Collaboration
  

  In class discussions play an important part in learning. Not only do they help to foster a sense of community by establishing a dialogue, but they also encourage students to think outside of the box. Through discussions, students develop critical thinking skills they will use for the rest of their lives. I encourage all of my students to speak up and let their voices be heard. However, I also understand not every student is comfortable with participating in an open, in class, discussion. To help alleviate some of the stress associated with speaking up in class and to ensure the ideas of all students are heard, I ask that in addition to participating in classroom discussions, students converse on appropriately themed topics on an online discussion board.
  

  This discussion board ensures all students are engaging in thoughtful conversations about our readings and other related topics. The sense of community that is developed through these discussions opens the door for peer to peer collaboration that otherwise might have been awkward. Students who may have been struggling with an assignment can work with one another to find a solution. This means of collaboration reinforces the concepts and improves the confidence of the students.
  

 

Technology is a tool of engagement. With the aid of this tool, it is my hope that the skills your child learns in my class go beyond that of a traditional classroom setting. It is my aim for each student to learn an appreciation for the written word, but more importantly, learn an appreciation for their own intelligence and abilities. By meeting on the common ground of this technological turf students will be afforded the opportunity to see new perspectives; perspectives that will help to shape the people they will become. I am looking forward to embarking on this journey both with your child and you.

  
 

Sincerely,

  
 

Mrs. Hight