Session II

		Today I met with Avery for our second session. While we reviewed some of the many sources for researching the internet, I was able to avoid being at the controls for the most part. She was the one sitting at he computer, I was behind monitoring and assisting when needed. We reflected on Inquiry based learning (which I had previously introduced to her), and talked about how we can use the sources on the computer to learn. She seemed to really enjoy using the computer, and by that token being at the controls of her research rather than me doing it for her. Here's what Avery had to say!

Session I

Today I had my first session with my cousin's kindergarten-aged daughter Avery. We had a great time talking about America and what she thinks it means to be a citizen in this country. I had to sort of explain citizenship and that it isn't something we can take for granted because there are so many people who do not have the freedoms we enjoy in America. It isn't very easy for a 6 year old to understand that concept, and that said I think she is incredibly smart and understanding of the world she lives in! She seems to benefit from the inquiry based learning style, because she herself is a very inquisitive (and talkative I might add) little girl. I introduced to her my Essential Question: What does it mean to be an American citizen? I also introduced a Unit Question: What are some symbols American citizens should know? We then created a KWL chart of the things Avery knows, and wants to know, and I plan on allowing her to tell me what she learned during our last session. I will at that time post an updated KWL with the 'learned' section completed.

Check out Avery's blog for her thoughts on our session!

American Citiznship

Here is my video on American Citizenship and symbols. Enjoy!

Excel Spreadsheets

I have never been very fond of excel, and in part this stems from a lack of knowledge on how to use it, and also a lack of knowledge on how it can be used. That said, The session 9 assignment challenged me to use my noggin a bit and really study and learn the assignment at hand. The benefit of this is that I now have a better understanding of how to use spreadsheets in excel not only in the classroom, but in general.

Today's classroom is, as noted, ever-changing. The new technologies that work their way into use refuse to stop developing. The result is a changing style of teaching and learning. New teaching styles that incorporate new technologies truly embrace he use of organizational tools. The first and foremost of these is Excel. What better way to stay organized than a spreadsheet? In fact, for us teachers who grow weary of calculating numbers an looking at graphs, it will actually do the math for us. This could be used to keep an electronic grade book, or even possibly a nifty tool for students to use in their research. Ultimately the use of these spreadsheets has a big place in today's modern classroom. In a world where paper books are going by the wayside, why not keep our records and statistics electronically as well?

Click here for a GREAT example of how spreadsheets can be used (note that there are formulas entered on the .pdf that make for easy calculation and easy graph creation).