Blog Comment Due Sept. 22

Classroom Computer Protocol and Technology Update

The beginning of the school year was hectic and there were several issues with technology during the first two weeks. Because we were "behind" so to speak, we didn't go over usual technology protocol for use and care of tech tools.   Please read the entire blog and follow directions at the end.  Reading and commenting will count as a blog grade.  After you have read the blog, make a comment at the end of this post.  If you don't comment, I will assume you didn't read it.  Your comment should include this statement:  "I have read the classroom computer protocol and technology updates and I will do my best to abide by them.  Include one other statement from the blog that you learned.  Sign your name.  Due by Friday, September 22.    

• Check the number to assure you have the right computer
• Make sure it is fully charged and ready to go. 
• Although we will not use the Macbooks every day, we will use frequently, have it already opened or immediately pull it up when you get into a class, this will help save time.  
• When you return your Macbook to it's tray at the end of class, be sure it is in the right tray and the charger lights up.  This is a courtesy to others.
• Do not carry your laptop by the screen.  This will harm the built in camera.
• Clean the screen with wipes that are provided and never spray anything on your computer.
• Keep drinks and food away from your computer.

1.  Screens Down – Anytime someone is speaking (teacher, speaker or other students), screens will be tilted down.  Nothing is more distracting to you or to others around you than someone surfing the web.  Putting the screen down will help bring attention to the task at hand.
2. Tech-Tips – It is required for you to have a Chrome toolbar set up on your computer. Always make sure you are logged in to your Chrome toolbar.  Your name should appear in the top right corner of your screen.  The minimum bookmarks you should have at this time are Canvas, BISD, My Blog, Your Blog and additionally you should have the goo.gl URL shortener as an add on.  Others will come at a later time.  Bookmarks are a HUGE time saver.  
3. Sound – All laptops will be muted during class time.  If you are working on an independent project, you may listen to music with your headphones.  Do not assume you can leave headphones in when you enter the classroom.  When I begin speaking, remove your headphones. Do not charge your phones from the laptops. 
4. Camera Use – Your laptop is equipped with both a digital camera and digital video recorder. With these tools, we will create a multitude of projects from footage and photos you take. There are expectations that the photos and videos taken are appropriate and in good taste. The subject should always be asked before an image is taken of them. Privileges of these two tools will be revoked if used inappropriately. Please refrain from taping video and snapping pictures of people without permission.
5. Self-Management – If it is not related to the task assigned, you should not be doing it during class. This includes email, Googling, and social networks. Self-Management of digital access is a lifelong skill that relates to productivity.  Do not change the home screen on your computers. Manage your files and keep desktop clutter to a minimum.  
6. Saving work – You should be saving your work.  Everyone has a Google Drive.  You should save all of your work in your own drive.  You can drag all types of files into the drive, even if they are not google files.  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, jpg, png, PDF..

Thanks for reading.  Now comment!  

Blog Due September 8

You watched The Ron Clark Story recently.  Ron Clark founded The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, GA. Please click here and explore his website.   If you are on social media such as Twitter and Facebook, consider following him to see what exciting things are going on in his model school.  

If you missed the movie, it is on YouTube, watch it!

Your assignment is this, address the following questions in a conversational dialogue. Remember, you will need to follow the rubric for best results.  Refer to the prompt in your blog.  

Written content on blog:

• Why are rules important for learning? 
• How can rules help to keep a classroom running smoothly?
• What often happens in a classroom that is void of rules?  

Google Doc with pictures:

• Create a Google Doc of your rules, then Hyperlink your Google Doc Link of the classroom rules you made.
• Include the consequences to your rules.  Rules are nothing but words, without consequences.  

Due Friday, Sept. 8 before class begins.
As always, you will need to follow the rubric.
Have a great week!

Blog Rules

RULES FOR BLOGGING IN EAT 901
(Look for your assignment at the bottom) 

POSTING:
You will create your own blog.  This is where you will POST a response to my prompt on your blog.  Here are some quick guidelines on how to make a good POST.  Expert blogger, Darren Rowse, offers ten tips that will help you become an expert blogger.
Ten Tips for Writing a Blog Post


COMMENTING:
Other times I will ask for a COMMENT.  You will comment directly on my blog.  A comment is exactly what the name implies.  It is short and to the point.  It gives your opinion in a short amount of words.  In many cases, it may be a sentence or less. 

GUIDELINES:
All posts and comments must be concise, contain meaningful content, avoid the use of inappropriate language or content, and make attempts to use proper writing mechanics - grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation.  

All interns will need to cite the reference material on which they are commenting.

All interns will need varied sources of media that include related pics, videos, links, etc.

Here is the rubric showing how you will be assessed.

Criteria	Points	Score
Quality of Writing, Organized Interesting style and voice Informative and reflective Organized	10
Writing Mechanics Grammar Punctuation Spelling Capitalization Construction	15 -1  for each error
Presentation Formatting Font Background Use of color Title	5
Multimedia - 3 different sources 1 should link to blog assignment 1 should link to reference article At least 1 pic, video, or additional link Adds perspective	10
Deadlines – Blog is posted by deadline (no late grades).	10
TOTAL	50

Blog due Friday, December 9

Title: Absences add up

Attendance is important.  How many times in your site school, have you had to work with a student who has been absent?

Click on this link and search the website on things that can be done to improve attendance.  Regardless of the reason, they hurt a child's ability to succeed in school.  Look at your own attendance record, have you missed class two times per month?  If so, have you gotten behind in your work?  

In your blog, you need to discuss three ideas of how to prevent student's getting behind due to absenteeism.  What can be done to encourage good attendance?  Incentives?  Extra help? Consequences?  Talk to parents? Think about this.  If you are wanting to become a teacher, you should be modeling good attendance to your students.

As always, use the rubric for best scoring results.  This is due on Friday, Dec. 9 in class.

Blog due Friday, November 11

Title:  Teachers Go Beyond the Call of Duty -- What's Your Calling?

Congratulations to all of the BCTAL - Birdville/Haltom members who competed in Crowley, TX on Saturday, Nov. 5.  All 15 participants qualified for state in one or more events.  The TAFE Teach Tomorrow Summit will be held in Arlington at the city's convention center, the Sheraton Convention Center, and the University of Texas - Arlington.  Mark your calendar for February 17 - 19 to take part in this exciting experience.

Whether you competed at BCTAL, worked behind the scenes on a TAFE project, or prepared a Teacher Created Material for your classroom, you were all involved in a TAFE experience.  Reflect on what you were called to do during this experience.  You may want to consider some of the following as you write your reflection.

• What criteria did you use to make your decision about what contest(s)/competition(s)/project you selected for this course requirement?
• Knowing what you do now, would you make any changes about that decision?  Would you select a different contest/competition/project?  Team members?  
• What were the obstacles/difficulties you encountered?
• What have you enjoy best/least about your contest(s)/competition(s)/project?
• If doing it all over again, what would you change?
• What have you gained from following through with this experience?
• Are you looking forward to anything as a result of your participation/completion of this?
• How do you plan to use your activity in your field site classroom?  (non-competitors)
• TAFE competitors may discuss their plan to prepare for the Teach Tomorrow Summit in February. 

Those who attended the TAFE Region XI Conference Leadership Day in Crowley may include that experience in their commentary.  You may find some great pics to use on the TAFE server to include on your blog post.

Remember to follow the BCTAL 901 blog guidelines - 3 media sources: blog prompt, reference support, and other media of choice.  Happy blogging!

Blog due on Friday, October 21

TITLE:  My First Day as an Intern

What a great day it was.  The first day of your internship saw many smiling faces including EAT interns, mentor teachers and students in your new field site classrooms.

Include the following information as you write about your internship so far.  Remember to make the content interesting by elaborating your answers.   Work on making your post visually interesting as well.

Year I and II

1.  What school have you been placed in?
2.  What grade level? Subject(s) taught while at your school.
3.  Your mentor teacher's name.
4.  How long has he/she been teaching?
5.  Add the link to your teacher's BISD webpage.
6.  How did you prepare?  What did you wear?  Introduction?  What did you take along?
7.  How did you feel when you first walked into your site school classroom?
8.  Describe some of the things that happened this week in  your new classroom?
9.  Describe how you felt after your stay?
10.  What are you most looking forward too doing in your classroom this year?
11.  Include a picture of you and your mentor teacher.
12.  Include a picture of you in a setting in your classroom.  A picture of you with your mentor teacher meets the criteria for both 11 and 12.

Year II Interns Only
In addition to the above list, compare the similarities and differences of this year's experience to last year's experience.

Blog Due Friday, October 14

Title:  What Would You Do?

Read the scenarios below.  Choose ONE of the potential situations you could encounter in your internship.  Post an entry on your blog that reframes the outcome by generating a solution that would be an appropriate and professional way to handle the situation as an EAT intern.  Your response should have clarity while avoiding vague recommendations.  Be sure you state which Scenario you are writing about.  

Scenario 1

You left campus for lunch and when you returned to campus you missed the bus that transports EAT interns to your field site campus.  You don’t have a car, but your boyfriend (girlfriend) said that he (she) could take you to your field site.  You took him (her) up on the offer.  When you boarded the bus to return to your home campus, another intern asked why you weren’t on the bus earlier.  You asked the intern not to point this out to your EAT teacher, Mrs. Crabapple, since no harm was done.

Scenario 2

You are at your EAT field site.  Although you know you are supposed to have your phone put away at your field site, you check it and see that you have a message from another intern in your class.  He said that he had an early dismissal and left the field site campus just a little early, but when he did, he forgot to sign out.  You think this is a bit strange because you never saw him ride the bus to your field site in the first place, but you agree to sign him in and out because you want to let him know he can trust you.  After all, Mrs. Meddlesome, your EAT teacher, stressed that it is important to establish relationships with your students and others with whom you work.

Scenario 3

You have just arrived at your field site.  Your teacher is absent and you have a substitute.  Previously, you have been in charge of monitoring the reading groups each day, and even though you were not aware that your mentor teacher would be gone, you know that you need to follow the routine so the students will progress. The substitute tells you that she has everything under control and you may leave because there is nothing for you to do. You decide your field site mentor will have plenty of time to get the reading groups caught up tomorrow so you go to the classroom next door where your EAT friend is interning.  The two of you move to the corner of the room and work on homework the rest of the period so you won’t disturb anyone.

Scenario 4

You are about to change into your field site attire and realize you have forgotten your field site shirt and name badge.  The bus will be leaving in three minutes.  You have on jeans with holes, and a low cut top.  You saw Mrs. Picky, your BCTAL EAT teacher, at your field site yesterday.  Since you think she will not be stopping by to visit interns at your field site, you hop on the bus without your EAT attire, taking your chances that you will not be discovered.  After all, if your field site mentor teacher and principal don’t say anything, there is no harm done, right?

As always, follow the blog rubric for best results. NO LATE GRADES!