Week 5

Wow! We are halfway through the term, it is unbelievable! This has certainly been a busy, yet informative term! I learned so much, especially with the curriculum maps due this week. It has been a daunting, but educational task.

I am also beginning to feel a little more comfortable with blogging. Not saying that I AM comfortable, just moved up a point on a 1-10 scale. Maybe moved from 0 to 1! My interest in using blogs in my classroom have grown tremendously though! My mind is spinning in circles with all of the new things I want to try, with blogs being one of the many! I wonder if my class of boys or girls would buy into blogs more than the other? Hmmmm...something to ponder!

I found a website at http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech217.shtml that gives some pointers for teachers contemplating blogging in their classrooms. I have skimmed through it and have book marked it for more detailed reading later. Maybe someone else will find it useful.

Week 4

The discussion this week was very interesting! Authentic assessment is something that I would love to learn more about and incorporate more in my classroom. I think the biggest problem is time. With all of the standardized tests students have to take and we have to prepare for, there seems to be less and less time for authentic learning and assessment. Does anyone have a really cool idea for an authentic assessment for 7th grade language arts?

Unit 3 Already!

We are already in week 3! There is so much going on! I have had a lot going on in my personal life and both my classes seem to be a little more consuming of my time. However, I am trudging forward with determination to finish. I am becoming more confident with blogging and even have begun to ask some of my students about it to gauge their knowledge. I hope to try to incorporate blogging into my curriculum next year. If anyone has any suggestions or insight, it would be appreciated!