Blog Due: Sept. 27

Title:  My Learning DNA

Create a post that includes the following elements of information that will affect your future classroom.   Remember to refer to this blog prompt in your post.

Characteristics That Add Value to my Teaching (7-10)

Identify 7 - 10 characteristics or personality qualities that you feel you possess in a high degree that will influence your teaching positively on a regular basis.  Describe how each characteristic will influence your classroom.

My Multiple Intelligences (2-4)

Discuss your top 2 - 4 Multiple Intelligences.  Describe how they will specifically influence your classroom management, planning, and environment.  Embed a screen shot of your results to the multiple intelligence quiz.





My Learning Preferences (Dunn and Dunn) (3 - 15)

Identify those learning preferences that will affect the decisions you make about how your classroom looks, sounds and operates.  Be specific in your descriptions.  Add interest with images of your learning preferences.


My Learning Styles (1-2)
Are you a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner?  What do your scores say?

Cone of Learning
Discuss your revelations from the Cone of Learning presented earlier.  How does this relate to you and the way you best learn?  How will you apply this to your future classroom?

My Gallup Significant Themes (5)

Add the 5 significant themes from your Gallup StrengthsFinder instrument to your blog post.  Use a one sentence description to explain what or how each theme applies to you.

Word Cloud
Embed your word cloud consisting of at least 20 - 30 words related to your learning DNA.  Be sure to add your name in your word cloud.  To keep your first and last name together, insert a "~" between the words.

Use Worditout.com or WordClouds.com to create your cloud.

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.