Posted on March 30th, 2009 by mssigman
Having taken classes online and in the classroom and taught in the classroom both with computers and without computers I have learned a few things.
1. 21st century skills include CREATIVITY, collaboration, time management, problem solving…and a few others I can not name off the top of my head. Students need to have a very different [...]
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Filed under: Technology Literacy, Uncategorized, Web 2.0, WiFi, internet access
Posted on March 29th, 2009 by mssigman
Last year in my classroom I spent entirely too much time debating discipline decisions with students. They were constatntly saying “but” and I felt that I always had to answer them. I lost hours of teaching time to answering “why” and “but” questions. I felt and still feel that trust is essential in a classroom. [...]
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Filed under: Middle School Science, Safety, Science
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 by mssigman
While applying for a summer internship position I had to answer the 6 essay questions about my teaching. It gave me a chance to reflect on my teaching life and philosophy. I am posting the questions and my answers here. Please feel free to comment as I have not yet turned in my application.
Teaching Experience: [...]
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Filed under: Middle School Science, Relevance, SMART, Science, Technology Literacy
Posted on March 22nd, 2009 by mssigman
I usually read books, but I found a book in audio format and was intrigued by the name, “Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire”. It’s by Rafe Esquith, a 5th grade teacher who teaches students of roughly the same background as my own students. In listening to this book I feel uniquely guilty about the [...]
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Filed under: Science
Posted on March 19th, 2009 by mssigman
As I have been ruminating about 21st Century Skills and my students I am trying to decide what skills are the most important that I should focus on at the middle school level. The skills needed to be able to compete in the 21st Century workplace include…
creativity
collaboration
flexibility
research
communication using multiple formats
self-directed learning
Those are the ones that [...]
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Filed under: Middle School Science, Relevance, Technology Literacy
Posted on March 18th, 2009 by mssigman
I was researching the 21st century learner idea and found a website for the Center for Educational Learning Leadership and Technology (CELLT). Here is an excerpt from their home page describing the goals of the curriculum they have created and posted online.
The 21st Century Skills Curriculum and ePortfolio is a series of lessons and assessment [...]
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Filed under: Web 2.0
Posted on March 17th, 2009 by mssigman
This is horrible to admit, but I just rediscovered this blog. I have been teaching at a middle school in Urban Phoenix now for a year and a half. I have learned many new things, but have not been able to make technology any more available for my students than it was. I find my [...]
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Filed under: Uncategorized
