Limited Cell phones permitted

In this article, the Nashville, Tennessee administrators are giving cell phones to certain students. These students are leaders but they do not have to pay for the cell phones from out of their pocket. The expenses are been taken at the school expense. The school district’s rationale behind this move is to try to keep a safe environment and to report any major disruptions they may be happening where an administrator or teacher is not located at the time. The only students that are allowed to use the cell phones are the students that are selected to be on the Metro’s student advisory council. In order for the students to obtain the phones, the students must have written permission from their parent, phones are turned back in at the end of the school year, they receive 500 minutes per month, they cannot text on the phones, and they are responsible for any minutes occurred over the 500 minutes.
This can be good to have but it can also be negative. Like in the article, Dave Burton stated, “If another student sees this one calling, he may be seen as a reporter, and that may also lead to negative implications for that student.”

This article was very interesting to me and I am going to try to look into it some more.
http://educationalissues.suite101.com/article.cfm/limited_cell_phones_permitted

Computer Addiction

This is another article I came across to blog about and it hits very close to home if not in my lap. Clicking on the different links and reading the warning signs, who suffers from it, and a rapidly growing problem for children was very interesting. My daughter loves being on the computer and surfing the internet. If it is not her cell phone is on it is the computer. She is thirteen years old and knows more about the computer than I do. She knows how to download music to her IPOD touch, design things for projects that she has to complete. I was just so looking forward to helping her with her projects but I actually needed her help with certain things. She loves to be on facebook and myspace. She says she would die if she was not able to use the computer or her cell phone. To me this is an addiction because she is saying she cannot live without it. When I was growing up we were playing with baby dolls, making mud pies, and drawing with crayons. This modern age of technology is growing much faster that we can barely keep up with it.

http://www.clickingaddict.com/computer_addiction_article_directory.html

Cell phones in the classroom

I was looking for articles pertaining to technology to blog about when I came across this one on the internet. This article is basically talking about how certain school districts banned cell phones in the classroom because it was such a huge distraction. After the horrific Columbine tragedy, some districts have reconsidered and allow students to have cell phones in the classroom.
Cell phones can be of great harm or of great use. In the case of the Columbine Tragedy it was a great help because the students were able to get in touch with their parents and communicate the things that were happening. On the other hand I know several students where their cell phone has been very harmful. You have girls and guys taking pictures of their private parts and sending them through picture message. The people they send it to send it to others and or show others. In some cases the schools have gotten involved and students have been suspended for this behavior even though it was done at home and on their own personal phones.
In my daughter’s school, they can have their cell phone but it must remain off or in their locker. If they are caught with their cell phone it will be taken away. The first offense is for thirty days. The second offense is for sixty days. The third offense is for the remainder of the school year. In either offense the parents must come get the phone from the school.

http://teachingtoday.glencoe.com/howtoarticles/cell-phones-in-the-classroom

Other suggestions in using technology in Pre-K settings

I am looking for other suggestions or ideas on how I can use technology in my Pre-K classroom. We have limited funds, so I cannot purchase any items or software for the computer. I have a language master, but there is only so much that you can do with this particular technology. We have a camera in the classroom but it is only supposed to be used by the teachers to take pictures of the students in action making several things when they are in each center. Then we use these pictures to place in their WSS folder as part of their observation. I am completely out of ideas. Does anyone know where I can find or purchase cheap merchandise for my class? I try to use my laptop as a source when we are talking about the different themes and I can find a website that relates to that theme. It’s hard for the students to gather around my laptop and see. I have to show it at least three times for the students to get the total effect. This wastes a lot of my class time to teach other concepts.

I really need your help in this matter!

EDU 590: Principal

Have you told your principal or boss that you are taking EDU 590?

Have you told your principal or boss that you are taking EDU 590?

No, I have not told my principal that I am taking EDU 590. My principal would not care if I was taking this course or any other course. For one reason, he is working on his doctorates. The second reason is that he is more concerned with the students in grades three and five passing the Georgia CRCT test and making Adequate Yearly Progress for the year. If you look in the newspapers now and google it on the computer about Georgia schools, the CRCT test, and cheating, you will see that a lot of the Georgia schools are under review to see if the students or someone has changed the answers on the tests. In a way you cannot blame the people for cheating because their jobs are on the line because of this test. If students don't pass three years in a row then the state comes in and takes over the school. OOPS! I got a little off subject there. But again no my principal would not be interested in what I am doing in trying to increase my knowledge and education not only for myself but the education and benefits for my current students and students to come.

Michigan Cyber School with Bruce Umpstead

This article about the Cyber School in Michigan was very uplifting. I truly like the way Michigan is trying to help their teens that dropped out of school or teens who were kicked out of traditional schools. The state of Michigan are giving their teens a second chance to earn their high school diploma instead of just kicking them out or let them drop out of school. If I were in Michigan I would be glad to be an educator because they are really doing everything that they can to help to children succeed for the future. I am just so amazed Dr. Bruce with what you are doing for your children in Michigan to have a very enlightening and prosperous future. I would constantly brag about the state of Michigan and their education department. They are not taking from their educators but are trying to help their students as much as possible. I am quite sure that the educators in Michigan have a very high moral. Way to go Dr. Bruce. You are a total inspiration to me and I am quite sure you are a great role model to educators in Michigan and the other students you have taught.

Article read:
http://detnews.com/article/20100120/SCHOOLS/1200349/At-risk-students-embrace-online-learning-at-Metro-Detroit-cyber-school

Technology and Non-Technology Lesson plans

When this class first started and I saw that we had to do a technology and non-technology lesson plan, I thought to myself "Oh my gosh I am about to fail this class. How in the world can I do a technology lesson with Pre-K? I am going to have to stay after school with the Prime time students to get my lesson completed. After looking at the Michigan standards and working with Dr. Bruce, I said okay this is going to be pretty easy."
Quickly after Dr. Bruce made a suggestion of what I can do my lesson on and how I can do it, I got to work on writing the plan and doing it. I thought the kids wouldn't be able to get the words without the colors being on them to give them some kind of clue but my students are actually doing pretty well. I have had to skip some days because we have had several things going on at the school, so I am about a day or two behind on completing it but it will get done and posted before time. They are learning the words quicker to me by using the language master than the index cards with the color words on them. I am excited to see how it all pans out. I will let my fellow classmates know what my findings are as soon as I get the lesson completed.
Good luck to you all.

Joe's notebook

I viewed the video of Joe's notebook and it is hilarious. I thought this was some kind of joke or prank just to get on youtube. After watching and watching the video over and over again, this kid seems as though he doesn't know what a textbook is. I thought maybe he went to a school where everything was on the computer and all he had to use was a computer. Clearly there cannot be a school system where they are technology based only. He knows about words that are blue that he can click on them and it gives him a link to another page. He also knows that if he clicks on a picture it can get larger or lead him to other information about the picture or topic that he wants to learn more information. The girl in the video was laughing like Joe is a total nuisance and she could not believe that this was being recorded. She knew things about the computer and since they are in the same school I am quite sure she knows about the books as well as Joe knows about books. Joe probably spends most of his time on the computer or some other technology that he really is dense when it comes to real books.

Opinion on Cutbacks of teachers and double-dippers

I want to get some other views and opinions about people who have worked in the school system and retired but now they are back working in the school system. These people are receiving their full retirement benefits plus receiving a full paycheck from where they left off from the system. The system is furloughing teachers and other workers but if they would stop these retirees from double dipping then I and some of my coworkers feel that some of these furloughs would not have to be taken. The system is taking from us while others who are retired are not really being affected at all. We feel that the system is totally misconstrued. They are making the wealthy even wealthier and making the little people suffer from the decisions that they are making. In Fulton County, we did not receive a pay raise, our insurance increased, plus the system took three days from teachers without pay, cut the paraprofessionals ten days, the principals were cut five days, and assistant principals were cut twenty days. "Governor Purdue" is still cutting the funds for education. Why cut the education fund when our children are the future. Georgia is already one of the states that are behind in education but he still insists on cutting the education budget.

Michigan State Plan Draft Blog

After reviewing the 2010 State of Michigan Technology Plan Draft, I was really excited and delighted to see a state that is working so diligently in teaching their children to learn in a digital age. I love the way they are integrating technology in the classroom. I admire the way they are adding all grade levels from Pre-K through 12th grade. I also like the way Michigan is making technology a requirement as a course in High School.
I have been in a Pre-K classroom for three years and technology is not as important as the other grade levels. We are required to have a computer learning center, but our children do not operate the computer because there are no programs of their level installed on it. We have asked to get software or get anything that is available installed on our computer, but we are told there are no funds available to purchase software or get any installed.
The system that I work for their main goal or expectation is for the children in grades third, sixth, and eighth to pass the CRCT and to meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). Georgia has made this has a requirement ever since President George W. Bush passed his Bill of No Child Left Behind. That’s a totally different story there.
I encourage the state of Michigan’s education Department to continue the excellent work in preparing for the future of their children and paving the way for their children to have great success in this world that is filled with technology.

Wikiality--Wikipedia

My first time ever hearing about Wikipedia is when my assistant teacher had to find research on a paper for one of her classes that she was taking to complete her Bachelor’s degree. I had been totally out of touch with the use of this particular site because I am a Pre-Kindergarten teacher and of course we do not complete research papers. When I learned of this site through my assistant I was well-pleased with it. I would look up different singers, actors, and actresses. I was learning things about these people without having to go to a library to look in an encyclopedia. I was totally excited and amazed with Wikipedia. I thought the site was very trustworthy and honest. I didn’t know any different because I have been out of school since 1997. Now that I have learned that Wikipedia is not a factual resource, I would not advise this to be a part of education.
After viewing Stephen Colbert’s video on “Wikiality” on Wikipedia, I advised my thirteen year old daughter that Wikipedia was not a reliable source. I asked her if she had used Wikipedia for a source for research that she had completed. She replied, “Yes and why do I want to know that?” I stated to her that the information obtained on this site may or may not be factual and that the information can and may be altered at any time by anyone. I told her that I watched a video on “Wikiality” by Stephen Colbert and he stated that, “Any user can change any entry.” She was totally amazed by what I was telling her so I let her see the video for herself. After seeing the video, she made the statement that she will never use Wikipedia again as a source of information and she will be sure to let her teacher know about the site and the video that she viewed.
I have a stepson who attends Troy State University. I asked him what different sources he used to gather information for research or if he ever used Wikipedia. I discussed with him the same thing that I discussed with my daughter. His reply was that he needed to find a different source to use to gain information when he has to find different sources for his research papers. He also thought that Wikipedia was honorable and dependable and he does not want to take any chances when it comes to his college education and degree.
I personally believe that the use of Wikipedia should not be used as a source to collect information. We should be teaching our students to only rely on sources that contain factual information and can be backed by other outside sources as well. We are teaching our children about the use of reliable sources and never to modify or revise the truth. Misusing information or altering information not only hurts the person that is involved but it also hurts you when everything is said and done.