iPads & Literacy Learning

In working on my Master’s (and now again in my PhD)  I came across an article on a teacher who used an IPad to bring a child up a full grade level in reading in a six week period. My son has an IPad and LOVES it, so what better way to help teach him than through using what he loves?! Wrong! For some reason, he cannot separate the use of his iPad for learning and fun. If he has to read he would rather read a hard copy (I understand that) and he prefers to do learning activities that do not involve his iPad unless it is an educational video. Why is this? I wish I knew! Using the iPad in learning is innovative, but this situation caused me to think deeper about innovative curriculum and instructional methods. I think sometimes it is easy to think that innovation means the implementation of technology. This is not true. As a homeschool mom of a middle schooler with special needs, developing instructional methods and learning activities that are innovative is the key to my child’s success. Therefore, just the right amount of technology use and hands-on learning must take place.

I would love to hear your experiences on innovative methods and curriculum in the literacy classroom for those students who struggle with reading.

Innovation in Education

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2017), innovation is a new idea or method as well as an introduction to a new approach.  Innovation in education calls for new teaching and learning approaches to be used that will actively engage all students.  In my experience, innovative curriculum often (a) changes the role of the teacher and student, (b) encourages students to take responsibility for their learning, and (c) is authentic.  I have found that students learn and retain more when they are actively engaged in the learning process by getting to choose topics and projects.  Project-based and problem-based learning often allow students to do just that while still meeting state standards.  Giving students a choice and more control does not mean that it is a free-for-all, but it does mean that teachers become more of a facilitator than a lecturer resulting in a deeper engagement and learning experience.

It is common to think that when hearing the phrase, “innovative curriculum” one is referring to the implementation of technology in our classrooms.  Lindenmuth (2015) expressed that simply integrating technology into our classrooms does not make it innovative and therefore, is not enough.  Technology is a great tool for any classroom because information is just a click away and it allows students (& their teachers) to connect with others from around the world.  Thus, helping them to build the 21^st-century skills that they need to be successful both in and out of the classroom.  Therefore, as teachers, it is vital that we review and analyze all resources to help ensure the success of ALL students (Green, 2014).  As an educator striving to provide innovative curriculum for my students, I would love to hear about some of the innovative ways you have used to engage your students, especially those with special needs.

 

References

Green, L. S. (2014). Through the looking glass. Knowledge Quest, 43(1), 36-43.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2017). Innovation. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innovation

Lindenmuth, D. T. (2015). A model for expanding tech in classrooms. School Administrator, 72(9), 12.

Examining the Relationship Between Culture and Learning

            I have always considered myself very accepting of others no matter their ethnic background, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation but while reading our course material this week I realized it’s not enough to just be accepting. I’m sure many of us have heard people make statements like, “they are in America now, so they need to speak like us and be like us.” That statement always makes me stop and think about all the changes people face when moving to a new area. There are changes from state to state and city to city. My family and I have moved a lot in the last few years and although it’s been just in the tri-state area it is still hard to adjust to new cultures and people. In the video, “Cultural and Linguistic Diversity,” Dr. Eugene Garcia stated that we are all diverse and it’s our roots that shape and sustain us. This tells us that a person’s culture isn’t so much based upon their race as it is their family and how they were raised. So to take away a students’ identity would be to say that they don’t matter.

         I believe that it is possible for teachers to be culturally aware without oversimplifying or stereotyping. In order for this to happen though we must make a conscious effort to do so. We must have what Erickson and Mohatt call teacher radar to figure out what we need to do to connect with out students. (Nieto & Bode, 2008).

         In order for us to support students’ cultural differences in learning preferences and/or communication styles we must get to know our students. Children will learn more in an environment where they feel safe, comfortable, and accepted.  My oldest son, who is in 7^th grade, just wrote an autobiography for a class at school and they all had to share them. I thought this was a great way to get to know the students and for them to get to know one another. All through the elementary school that I work in they did similar activities. We need to admit the possibility that students’ identities may influence how they experience school and, hence, how they learn. (Nieto & Bode, 2008). One of the major keys to having successful students is to learn about them and use all our differences as learning experiences.

More on Diversity

 “Diversity in education is not a waste of time. It should be a national goal, and it’s a goal we’re going to keep fighting for. “ (Daschle, 2012). We have not always had equal education for all and now that we do we must reach to all students no matter their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. It is important that we accept the always changing world. “We need to educate for the world today, not as it was.” (Nieto). In America’s recent history, equal education and equal opportunities have not always been an option. Many people have fought for these rights and freedoms. With our continually changing culture and the growing diversity we must continue to fight to implement multicultural education into our schools.

In talking with some of the teachers in the school district that I work, I found that more things were done to implement multicultural education than I thought. I was pleasantly surprised with this discovery. Although we don’t have a lot of ethnic diversity in the small community that we live in, we are teaching our children about other cultures anyway. I believe that this helps our children to be open to and accepting of others.

In my school district there does not appear to be any achievement gaps from one ethnic group to another. We do, however, see achievement gaps in those with a lower socioeconomic status. Children coming from a low socioeconomic status may come to school hungry, tired, dirty, or scared and worried about what is waiting for them when they get home from school. These children usually have to worry about things that others do not which causes them to not be able to focus well on their studies. Another thing that factors into achievement gaps in lower socioeconomic statuses is a lack of early education by parents and guardians or parent involvement in their children’s schooling. One of my colleagues shared with a about a student she had in one of her first years of teaching that came from a family that did not have much. This little boy loved sports but was struggling with his schoolwork and his parents were unable or unwilling to help him catch up on his work. In order to make a difference for this little boy my colleague worked with him before and after school to catch him up then allowed him to do odd jobs for her to earn money so that he could buy basketball shoes that year. It was nice to hear because it lets me know that all children are important to her.

As I researched and found the data for diversity I found that there are many implications for us as teachers. We need to be sure that the curriculum reaches to all students. We must be aware of student’s differences and be flexible and willing to change. Building relationships with our students is very important because it plays a big role in their personal success. If we use Sonia Neito’s Seven Characteristics of Multicultural Education we should have no problems in reaching to all of our students.

Diversity

In what ways does your school implement multicultural education?

Without implementing multicultural education into our schools we will lose the whole purpose behind public education. Multicultural education is a philosophy, a way of looking at the world, not simply a program or a class or a teacher. (Nieto & Bode, 2008). It is important that we as teachers reach to students and their families no matter their race or socioeconomic status. Building relationships with our students and their families lets them know that they are important to us and will help them to be more successful. When I went to my colleagues this past week about how we implement multicultural education in our district I feel that it really got people thinking about what we do as a district. They began to open up and share various stories and experiences. This type of reflection and discussion helps us to continually look for ways to be effective for every child. If we are not careful we as teachers can get in a rut because of the busyness of our day to day lives so keeping in communication with each other keeps us flexible and open to change. “Good schools, like good societies and good families, celebrate and cherish diversity. “ (Meier, 2002).

Creating Confident Learners

“Above all, excellent teachers are engaged every day in intellectual work, the kind of serious undertaking that demands considerable attention and thought. They devote substantial time and energy to their teaching and, over time, they develop extensive expertise and confidence in the work they do.” (Nieto). Having confidence in what you do is very important. If we as teachers don’t have confidence then how can we teach our students to be confident. I feel that being a part of a PLC is a way to build confidence and become more engaged in what we do. When I was working as a preschool teacher we were on our own in anything that we did. We were given goals that each age group was to meet but we were never given the opportunity to sit and collaborate with our colleagues. I feel after the reading this week that had we had PLCs in this school that each teacher would have realized the need “to ensure the success of each student”. (DuFour). Having time for “adult conversations” would have allowed us to feel more in tune with our colleagues. It would have also allowed us to gain ideas from one another that would have benefitted the students.

In reading a fellow teachers’ blog I learned that using the 4Cs of the Common Core Standard, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication, are very important when creating assessments. In her blog she stated the following: “The assessment must have value other than “because it’s on the test.” It has value to the individual student who is taking it. It must intend to impact the world beyond the student “self,” whether it is on the school site, the outlying community, the state, country, world, etc. And finally, the assessment should incorporate skills that students need for their future. That is, the test must assess skills other than the mere content. It must also test how eloquent the students communicate their content.” I never really thought about how beneficial participating in or creating a blog could be until preparing for an assignment for grad school. They let us know that we aren’t alone in things that we face from day to day.

Blogging, Professional Development Groups, Inquiry Groups, etc are great ways to ensure that we stay in tune with current trends and issues in education.

More on Being Reflective

“Being reflective essentially means being an independent thinker. It means knowing how to reason, to think for yourself, to combine intuition and logic in the process of solving problems. It means being introspective about phenomena that take place both within your internal world and in the world around you. This task, we believe, is among the most important missions of the teacher, for teaching involves so much more than presenting information, applying technical skills, or managing a group of children. It is a process by which people are taught to evaluate constructively.” (Kottler, Zehm, Kottler). This passage really made an impact on me. I have always spent time reflecting on things but never took the time to write it in a journal. I have recently learned that writing it down is very important because it allows you to go back and see how you have changed and improved.

Keeping a journal is a great way to be reflective. There is a teacher I’ve recently read about who uses the first ten minutes of each school day as a time of reflection for her and her students. They use this time to write in their journals. These journal entries are then used for things such as stories, debates, and discussions. I feel that this is a great way to teach your students to take time to think and reflect on the things around them, as well as the things they do. Once I am back in the classroom full time again I plan to set aside a time of reflection each day with my students just as this teacher did so that my students can learn the importance of being reflective.

I also feel that it would be beneficial to talk with colleagues about how their lessons went and gain their insight into ways that lessons could be taught differently and more effectively. “By gaining a better understanding of their own individual teaching styles through reflective practice, teachers can improve their effectiveness in the classroom.” (Ferraro).

 

“Great teachers know when to make decisions quick and when to step back and reflect.” (Danielson, 2009).

 

On a Personal Level

I talked some about my youngest son in one of my other posts so today I wanted to talk a little more about that. I know that there is always someone out there that has it worse than I. I  constantly remind myself of this on days where I am feeling very overwhelmed. He started getting chronic double ear infection at 2months old. This lasted until he was 2 1/2. We went from doctor to doctor and to the specialists with no results I finally went to the speech therapist at the school I worked at before I had him and then back to the ENT. This time the ENT finally listened and put tubes in his ears. By this time he was about 2 years behind where he needed to be. It’s so frustrating as a parent knowing that something is wrong and not getting the help that is needed. My advice to those I come in contact with is you know your child better than anyone else so if you feel something isn’t right don’t stop pushing until you have the answers.

My husband pastored in various cities and states from the time our youngest was born until the summer before his 8th birthday. We were finally able to get him speech services through the public school even though we had chosen to homeschool. The therapist was great but didn’t seem concerned about any other delays outside of speech. This became frustrating to me as a mom and a teacher but also to him and we knew it was time for a change. At this point we decided that it was time to go to a school district where they would listen to our concerns and truly care about our son as an individual and want to see him succeed. The speech therapists along with his classroom teacher and other teachers spent a whole semester testing him and trying to figure out the best way to help. I am amazed at the progress he has made and how much his teachers really care. We got no answers really from the testing other than he has characteristics of deaf and hearing impaired children but it helped knowing his strengths. It also gave the teachers direction in how to better help him catch up to where he needs to be.

I always thought because I am a teacher my kids wouldn’t need extra help or special services, or need to be held back but I wouldn’t trade him for the world. He is getting the help he needs and that’s all that matters. I know that he will grow up accepting people for who they are because of the criticism he has personally gone through. I just wish I knew how to help him more outside of school without causing him to shut down on learning again.

In working on my Master’s I came across an article on a teacher who used an IPad to bring a child up a full grade level in reading in a 6 week time period. My son has an IPad and LOVES it so what better way to help teach him than through using what he loves?! The article didn’t go into detail as to what she used so if anyone has any thoughts or advice I would greatly appreciate it.

On Being Reflective

     Children learn to be reflective when they can see for themselves that this is a valuable way to be. Even if it will not directly make them more money, win friends, and influence people, they will learn to find more peace within themselves and will develop more wisdom about the way the world works.

    I had been dealing with burnout so I took a break from the classroom for a while but I spent some of that time homeschooling my children (which I guess wasn’t really a break at all. ;)) I thought maybe it was time for a career change  but as I started looking to go back for my Master’s I remembered what had drawn me to teaching in the beginning. It wasn’t for fame, money, or status but to make a difference in the lives of children. We have to “empower them with the skills to overcome their challenges so they can be the best they can be.”  I have realized that “we have a choice…become frustrated and complain about what should be or deal with reality.” I understand that things won’t always be how we think they should be but as long as I keep a positive attitude and focus on what is truly important, I will be able to make a difference in the lives of those around me.

     Personal reflection is a way of life, not just an interesting intellectual exercise. When you begin to acquire and value the habits of personal reflection, your professional life will be enriched. (Kottler, Zehm, Kottler, 2005). In order to be more effective I must write down my daily reflections. I knew that being reflective was important in both my personal and professional life but I didn’t realize how important writing it down was so that I can go back and see how I have changed. I understand now more than ever how important it is to “accept them where they are and not where they should be.”

     My goal is to gain confidence in who I am and what I do. I believe that if I don’t have confidence then I won’t be able to teach my students to be confident. Children learn by example and I want to teach them not only academically but also socially.

How can I gain this confidence I need? How can I let my guard down and trust those around me to help me be the best I can be? Maybe my confidence will grow by reaching out to my students and colleagues and making deposits into their accounts, as was talked about in video I watched for one of my classes.

I have not been one to sit around with others and discuss how bad students are or how bad my job is. I stay away from conversations like that. There have been times when these types of conversations went on though and I did nothing to stop them because I was to shy to speak up. I want to share with others how much our beliefs can affect us and our students. I will encourage others to keep a positive attitude and to become lifelong learners so that our students will learn to do the same. The challenges we face in education will not go away but you can change the response to the challenge. The choice is ours.

     I have been energized by the communication with other teachers outside my district. Communicating with others has always helped me to stay focused on what I have been called to do. Children and young people have always been drawn to me and would share with me things that they wouldn’t tell anyone else. My family and I moved quite a few times in the last few years and because of my shyness I began to not reach out and not be so open with people.  In the last few weeks I have gotten back that desire to open up and allow myself to be that kind of person again. I feel energized and ready to share.

     Being a teacher is a big job and one that should not be taken lightly. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with the knowledge of knowing that it is up to me to make a difference in the lives of the students I have contact with. Although it is overwhelming I feel challenged to keep positive beliefs no matter the circumstances. I want to be the best I can be so that I can teach my students to be the best they can be.

My desire to see my students grow and succeed is what will keep me going. To teach in a manner that respects and cares for the souls of our students is essential if we are to provide the necessary conditions where learning can most deeply and intimately begin. It should be clear that becoming more reflective as a teacher depends very much on how you define yourself as a person.

From Reflection…

From Reflection to Action

“Personal reflection is a way of life, not just an interesting intellectual exercise. When you begin to acquire and value the habits of personal reflection your professional life will be enriched.”

My Challenge

Since I am not currently teaching full time I am going to write about a challenge that is on a more personal level. My youngest son suffered chronic ear infections for the first two and a half years of his life. We went to doctor after doctor and even to the ENT to try to get him some help since I knew from my teaching experience that his speech wasn’t developing properly. Finally at two and a half they put tubes in his ears and what a difference it made but by then he was behind. We moved quite a bit over the last few years and it seemed no speech therapist or teacher shared my concerns of his delays in academics. School became very frustrating for him and lowered his self-esteem. As parents we knew that something had to change so we moved back to my hometown to a school district where we knew he would get the help he needed. The principal didn’t want to listen to my concerns or even hear any history so she would have an idea of how to deal with him. Through all of this he got one of the most amazing teachers in the world. She is someone I would love to have as my mentor. Even with a number of kids in her class that needed extra help she made sure that each child was getting what they needed. I sat in meetings with her as she told me the progress he was making and how thrilled she was and as she is telling me this she has tears in her eyes. How easy it would have been for her just to let him get by but she pushed and encouraged him all year and the results were astounding. She truly lives by the quote, “failure is not an option.”

What I’ve Read

I read two articles that discussed ways to help students with literacy that dealt with learning difficulties. The first article was called, “A Breakthrough for Josh: How Use of an IPad Facilitated Reading Improvement”. It talked about how a teacher was encouraged to use an IPad as part of a diagnosis and tutoring project with a fifth grade ADHD student. This young boy was in fifth grade but read at a second grade level. He was very drawn to the IPad and could stay focused for quite a while when using it. They used it to (a) record him reading, (b) play reading games, and (c) read books. Within this six week tutoring project he went up a whole grade in his reading level. “The device not only helped the student focus attention, it facilitated his becoming much more metacognitive in his reading.” (McClanahan, Williams, Kennedy, & Tate, 2012). Although he was still behind he now had the confidence in himself that he could learn. I chose this article because my son loves using the IPad and although I have installed many educational apps on it for him I felt that this may have ways to help him with reading that I hadn’t found.

The second article I read was called, “Language Delays, Reading Delays, and Learning Difficulties: Interactive Elements Requiring Multidimensional Programming”. This article talked about how delays in speech can cause delays in learning to read and other learning difficulties. This article caught my attention because I felt it dealt with the challenge I am facing with my son. The axiom stated byMcGee and Purcell-Gates (1997) holds true: “Children learn to read and write successfully if their teachers accommodate their instruction to the children, and they struggle if they do not.”

New Insights

I gained a lot from my research this week. Technology is so important to our life today that anyway we can incorporate it into helping our students learn the more they will gain. I am always looking for ways to help my son in his reading struggles and what better way to do it than using what he loves, his IPad. I plan to use these ideas I learned in the article not only to help him overcome the challenge of reading but to also help my future students.

Actions and Evaluations

In order to monitor how these methods are working I plan to do an assessment on the students before I begin using the IPad in my goal to improve reading levels and then again at the end of the six weeks. I will use an assessment test to find out what reading level to start at so that self-confidence is built along the way. I believe that reading comprehension and fluency will be gained by using what I learned in this article.

“Reflective teaching means looking at what you do in the classroom, thinking about why you do it, and thinking about if it works – a process of self-observation and self-evaluation.” We as teachers need to continue to learn, not just from reading and attending conferences, but also from our students. When we do this we show our students how important it is to become lifelong learners.