Education Psychology
Article Reflection #1

Its not just the principal who makes the school personel strong, it's the parents to in my opinion. Yes, a principal is to be there for all the teachers for guidance and support. Not all kids are disrespectful and rude, there are kind and well rounded kids too! In order to have a successful school and great teachers, well there already great, but even better is having a principal who cares about the teachers and students. A great principal comes with a great philosophy. They have there set ways to help there colleagues. When there philosophy of being a principal is strong, a discipiline plan comes along with that too.
If a school does not have a discipline plan, there will be many problems for example, bad attitudes, volgar languages, fighting, vandalizing and bullying. When a principal offers support and guidance things begin to change. Teachers will better understand how to handle certain situations. They will not possibly "hate" their job, question themselves "why did I ever decide to teach?" , or leave the field of education. When they have a principal who cares it makes the life of teaching easier for a teacher who is struggling.
Pros-
With a good principal there are attitude changes, a better school atmosphere and children begin to change in a good way. Parents are appt to become more involved and want to know how their child is doing in school.
Moving on....
The color of ones skin shouldn't matter at all about what their eduction might entail in the future. There are trends and beliefs with each culture and usually they keep the trend going. No one should make inferences on ones life choices according to skin.

1st Grade Math

Dice Addition

Lesson Plan

Application-

Today’s Math Lesson we will be learning to add numbers using dice. Using dice will help you count because you can use the dots to add a number to another number.

 For example:      +  = 8.

First, provide some details regarding:

• Learners: This lesson is geared towards 1^st grade ages 7 to 8 year old students.
• Learning outcomes: Students will grasp the concept of adding by using dice. The dice will help them understand how you get the answer of adding two numbers together.  At the end of this lesson, students will know how to add to separate numbers and find the answer with or without the dice. My goal for this lesson is for my students to be able to add numbers 1 through 6 without using the dice. I know that not all students may not reach my goal by the end of the lesson and will still be able to use the dice if needed. The dice will be a great manipulative for my students to use to understand how adding works. 
• Assessment: Complete 2^nd worksheet. After each student is complete, they may work color or read.

Second, break down your activity into a timeline of planned events and procedures. Here you should describe what students and the teacher will be doing chronologically during the activity. Below is one of the good examples from previous reflections:

• To begin the lesson, I will show them a dice and ask someone to raise their hand to tell me what they think it is. I will then explain its shape and “why do you think we will be using dice today in out lesson?”  Next I will explain that we are going to count the dots each time we roll the dice to add.
• I will use my PowerPoint to begin the lesson. I will be teaching as I model the equations aloud on the smart board with the dice in the PowerPoint. Using the smartboard, I will use a PowerPoint for my students to add the dots on the dice. I will call upon several students so that they have an opportunity to shine. If the student answers the problem wrong, I will stop to show them the correct answer and why.
• To finish the lesson, I will pass out an addition work sheet paper #1 Addition Dice Roll. They will only be adding number 1 through 6 as we did with the dice. When they are finished and turn in their worksheets, they will use their iPad, or computer to play “Sum of all the dice” on ABCya. When they have played for atleast 15 minutes, I will direct them to the next game on ABCya to play “Roll to the Finish”.

_________________________________________________________________________

• What are your strategies and why do you think your strategies are appropriate to teaching this specific content?I believe that a good strategy in Math when learning to add, is using the Dice. It is a great  manipulative for students who are visual learners.

        What makes you believe it would help your students comprehend this particular content? Give specific examples from your described activity. I know that if a student who is a visual learner have the opportunity to use dice to count the dots and add together, they will feel more assured when beginning to add.

• What would be some conceptions and pre-conceptions that students of different ages and backgrounds bring with them when learning this particular content? Some conceptions and pre conceptions that students might show are prior knowledge in the specific area, or none at all depending on their parents, or whom ever they live with. What would you be concerned about students' prior knowledge, experiences, motivation? Again focus on the content and your teaching strategy, not the technology! I would be concerned of all my students prior knowledge, experiences, and motivation since I am their teacher, I want to know exactly how they think a certain something is or works so I know where they need help. All children have specific learning areas and needs. If I can teach them specifically what they need to know and more, I am doing my part as the teacher covering all bases.

• What main instructional strategies would this technology use serve in your activity? I would use a PowerPoint to serve as my main lescure and online Math games for another activity and practice.   How would using the technology support the way you teach this activity? Technology could offer more ideas of ways to present a lesson., instead of just talking, and handing out a paper. I could use videos for the students or who visual and auditory learners.  Please give examples and be specific to your described activity. I used the Dice addition power point from smart exchange, two fun apps from ABCya.com. Think about your main teaching strategies that this technology would support.
• What different classroom management strategies you might need to consider when using this technology in the activity? How I could monitor who has played how many games before moving on to the next game or activity. Give examples and be specific to your described activity.

• How would using this technology enhance the way the content is represented in your activity (e.g. demonstrations, explanations, examples, illustrations, analogies, and etc.)? Technology would enhance the content represented because I can do and show many other examples, ways, or ideas of the same lesson by showing videos or other activities with technology. That is why you think the selection and the pedagogical use of this technology may enhance what you teach (the content in your activity). Give specific examples from your activity to support your answer and keep in mind the learning objectives that you stated previously. 
• In what different ways students practice or understand the content in your activity that would otherwise not be possible without the use of the technology? If I couldn't use technology, I would have many foam dice for my students to use for the lesson, instead of the PowerPoint that automatically rolled them for you. I would have them do the work sheets along with it. Also, I would have made up some dice that were laminated and magnetic so I could interchange them on the board and use them for examples. In addition to motivational benefits, what else can students do with this technology as they are learning the content?

Smithsonian X 3D

Personally this web site has sparked my interest more than I thought it would. Growing up I never really cared much to learn about things of the past in History. Using the Smithsonian site, I think it would really spark students into wanting to know more and be excited to learn more about History. Educators/Smithsonian X 3D says "The SIx3D viewer offers students the ability to explore some of the Smithsonian’s most treasured objects with a level of control that has never been possible until now". Seeing a piece of history, learning about it and them giving them the option to re crate it, would be great. 

Thingiverse

Thingiverse is a great site to be able to reference ideas of already printed 3D objects. I really liked the Educators link. It had many great objects to get ideas from or to print the same one. My favorite part about it is the link to the object where it has an overview of the item and how you can use it. A lesson plan I thought was a great idea was the "Teaching Angles by making a Modular Protractor". I am a visual learner and I still to this day will draw out the angles when solving a problem. I believe that making this modular protractor would benefit students who are visual learners. 

3D Printers in the Classroom

I believe that we need to start implementing 3D printers to schools. Teachers could have the ability to spark the interest of students who may have a hard time wanting to learn subjects they already do not like. 3D printing can really get to the point of something your teaching and apply it to the lesson as some students are visual and kinesthetic learners, 

Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge: A Framework for Teacher Knowledge

Technology has been around for years and it improves daily. Everyday we learn something new with Technology. A classroom is a great place to use technology. Why? We are constantly talking about differentiated learning and technology can be inserted here as a great source of learning. Differentiated Instruction is as Carol Ann Tomlinson has said, "differentiation means giving students multiple options for taking in information (1999). Differentiating instruction means that you observe and understand the differences and similarities among students and use this information to plan instruction"(Carol Ann Tomlinson). As teachers, we need to know how we can use technology correctly in our classrooms for another way or source for our students. Each child learns differently. Some children learn better straight from the book, others it simply is just there because they understand it, some are kinesthetic, visual and auditory learners.

Whatever it takes: How beginning teachers learn to survive.

My second article was over how teachers make the transition from student to teacher. We go through the schooling we need to become an educator. We do the assignments, quizzes, tests, observation hours and internship. It should be easy right? The truth is, its not as easy as it may seem to some. Yes it should be a passion to want to teach, not teach because well its a job. Many people go into their internship and its great! It's when you are in your own classroom it hits you that "Oh my what am I doing here? Why did I chose this career? As it is stated in Whatever it takes: How beginning teachers learn to survive, "No other professions takes newly certified graduates, places them in the same situation as seasoned veterans, and gives them no organized support". They take on their career lightly and smoothly as they transition in. It is not saying they get it easy and it is not hard, it means they do not get put directly in place and there you go its all yours.  It could all be different if schools used a system like a mentoring group. That is being there for everyone, importantly the first years teachers. Mentoring groups would be the group of colleges that can ask questions when needed and not feel like there annoying the veteran teacher. A veteran teacher should like helping with questions other teachers have because they may learn something from it as well or see that "hey I could change it up and try that too". We should be able to talk to everyone at your job whether its teaching, banking or being a nurse. Help one another because one day you will need their help too. All in all, the article was great because I never did think of it that as we are being thrown into it our first year. Technically we are not because we have learned the education we need from the best professors and teachers. It will just be nerve racking the first year learning the ropes of being a teacher finally!!!

Miracle Maker- Anthony Maker
It is crazy how much Technology has evolved in the last 100 years, and even longer than that! I still can not wrap my mind around the fact that a printer can make organs for myself and others. There are many people today who are awaiting the call that they have a kidney or liver for them. I would have never imagined a such thing as an organ printer. A printer that uses humans cells, tissues and blood. Then in a few seconds you have your kidney! Atala and a team of researchers built replacement bladders for 7 children. Seven years later, all 7 children were in good health.

The Home of the future Summon the Comfy Chairs.
I have recently heard of a robot who vacuums, sweeps and mops. I can not disagree, it would be a great thing to have around when I am not in the mood to work. In the article "The Home of the future Summon the Comfy Chairs" it stated that their are even robots who can move around the room to remind kids to pick up after themselves and even more be their for you to kick your feet up on at night. I personally do not think I would like a robot following me around in my house, or even be programmed to clean while I am away or sleeping. Robots are neat and some can be useful, while others like the Robot who follows children while they clean is non-since I believe.

The 25 Best Inventions of 2015
There are so many inventions now that technology are apart of. Who would have thought of Power Pasta or Period Panties? Weird, but cool I guess. My favorite invention is the The Sensor that sniffs out Gluten. I recently found out that I can not have food with Gluten. It is hard finding food I like without Gluten. Going out to eat is just as hard, because some places do not have gluten free. The Gluten free sensor would be very useful I think. Also the "Superior Stethoscope" would be a great and more reliable tool.

The Best 25 Inventions of 2016
Why do we need Cannabis Pens that could replace pills? This is dumb in my opinion. We already have enough "pot heads". Sorry for that rant, but it is true. The article also talked about solar panels that are flat and do not take up room. It would be nice to have flat solar panels, rather than the big bulky ones. All in all, the inventions listed in this article are neat for the most part. Technology is great!