C4T #4

Mrs. Hines is a kindergarten teacher from North Carolina. She posted information on her blog about Dr. Seuss', Read Across America. All schools participate in this annual event in the early elementary grades. However, Mrs. Hines took this activity to a "new level." Using Skype, she allowed her students to read across America with other elementary students throughout the country. As I read the post, I felt the excitement that her students and visiting parents felt during this day of reading. It is amazing for students to be able to experience such an outstanding activity. Students from kindergarten to sixth grade, had a wonderful opportunity to actively be involved in this project. This reading exercise that her kindergarten students were able to actively participate in was pertinent to educating children using technology. Mrs. Hines utilized the technology that is available to her and her students to make the experience relevant and exciting.

I believe that Mrs. Hines' Read Across America activity can be extended to many grade levels throughout elementary school. Upper elementary students will be able to be actively involved in this activity as well as younger students. There is no limit on this type of project. A teacher can use this activity in a school-wide project, a school system-wide project, a nation-wide project, or a world-wide project. It might be best for a teacher to begin on a smaller scale until she and her students become familiar with the technology usage. As the teacher and students progress, they can extend the project to different participants. For this type of activity, it takes preplanning and motivation on the teachers part, but the outcome of the final product is well worth the effort.

The second post that I reviewed from Mrs.Hines is titled, Reflection On A Lecture. Mrs. Hines attended a lecture on differentiated learning. The lecture was presented by Carol Ann Tomlinson, Professor of Education at the University of Virginia. After attending the lecture, Mrs. Hines felt so strongly about the issues presented, she immediately posted on her blog. The first point that Mrs. Hines comments on is that differentiation leads to self-confidence. She states that it gives students a desire to continue to learn and possess a greater understanding of the content. When teachers teach students how to learn, they are offering them the ability to take those skills and apply them in many future situations and contexts. She also states that being proactive instead of re-active will address many situation that will arise in the classroom, but this will take a significant amount of time, effort, and planning. In order for students to learn as much content as efficiently and accurately as possible, technology should be involved. Technology will help teachers organize, monitor , and track student's performance. Last, skills that the top ten percent of learners were once expected to know, are now required by all learners. Content must be designed for all learners, and all learners must be content creators.

I believe the best way to achieve this goal is to implement technology and emphasize differentiated learning. All students must be given the same opportunity to learn and development academic success. Teachers must ensure that this will happen in their classroom. The classroom is a diverse place, and student's individuality must be recognized when learning and education is occurring.